Unpinning Pinterest 7/16/12

I'm going on vacation later this week, so things are going to be a little mixed up. But don't worry, there's still going to be lots of great stuff, including a free pattern on Friday! For today, it's another issue of...

1. Keep your yarn safe and clean with recycled bottles: Theresa Gunderson has written up a great tutorial on how to turn plastic bottles into yarn holders. I love the green aspect, and anything that keeps the precious yarn safe is a good thing. I can't help but think this will help prevent some tangling too!
2. Standing Double Crochet Stitch: The Lion Brand blog has a great technique buried in this motif afghan crochet-along post (though that's worth checking out too!). It's a great way to avoid that ch3 look that can stand out so much, when you're joining a new color. It's so simple and easy once you've seen it!
3. Flip Flop to Crochet Flat Tutorial: A Crafty Cook has a great photo tutorial on how to turn flip flops into crocheted flats. I love love love this idea. My daughter lives in her flip flops in the summer, and even if they're in good shape at the end of the season, by next year they'll be far too small. This gives them a whole new look, perfect for fall! Also great for ones where the strap has broken, or for the super cheap ones that will be going on clearance soon.
4. Elongated Loops Crochet: It's like a new take on broomstick crochet, with the look of hairpin lace, but way way easier (and without the funky loom thing)... I'm not sure what it's called, but I like it! The site is in Russian, and running it through Google Translate gave me the name I'm using here. It helps a little bit with the instructions too, but the pictures are so great you don't really need them. I can't wait to use this technique!
5. How to Wind a Center Pull Ball of Yarn by Hand: Lion Brand blog gets a second mention this week for this great tutorial on winding your own center pull balls. I've been admiring the gorgeous nostepinnes on etsy, but now I know I can do this with stuff I already have - love that too!
6. *Bonus Pin* No-Scrub Bathtub Cleaning: Even after it was tested at The Craft Patch, I was skeptical. And a little hesitant, because Dawn is expensive! So I did my own version - a generous squirt of Dawn mixed with about a cup and a half of white vinegar. No where near half and half, but enough to get it real sudsy. I shook it up, squirted it on the tub (I used a water bottle with pop up top, as I didn't have an empty spray bottle around), and left it to sit overnight. The next morning, I used a sponge to wipe it down and was delighted to see it totally worked! Before we'd put off cleaning the tub as long as possible...and then maybe a little longer. Which is why there are no pictures of my tub. But now I can have a clean bathtub AND all the time for yarns! Yay!

I hope you've enjoyed this edition of Unpinning Pinterest, and gotten some new tips and tricks to try (I swear by that tub cleaner now, seriously!). Whether you're on Pinterest or not, I do my best to weed through it all and pull out the very best stuff to share with you here. If you're on Pinterest, what's the best stuff you've pinned lately?

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