Bella Dia

How to Write A Tutorial (Also, How To Make A Daisy Chain)

Now, I gotta say right off - I might be really stepping in it here: writing a tutorial on how to write a tutorial?!  Who do I think I am?  Well, I'm just  someone who loves and appreciates a good craft tutorial and would like to see more of them in the world! 

I've been involved in craft blogging for 3½ years now and have seen many, many tutorials in the blog world; also, since starting The Crafty Crow two months ago, I have been on a one-woman mission looking at children's craft tutorials and have seen 100's just in the last few months.  Besides writing my own tutorials here at Bella Dia, I've had experience in contributing patterns and instructions to books and all this leads me to tell you - a good tutorial takes a lot of work and is hard to do!  So this tutorial about how to write a tutorial is well, double jeopardy?!  Mostly, I am trying to share what I look for in a tutorial and what I think makes a good tutorial.  I sure don't want to sound like I'm the know all end all here - it's just my opinion and what I've learned from my last few years of doing this. 
So here goes!

Note: I am going to be using
a new tutorial of mine about how to make a daisy chain for my example (in blue). Since I don't have any daisies but I do have lots (and lots and lots) of dandelions
I'll be using them as my flower of choice.

How To Write A Tutorial

1. Specific Title.  Be specific in the title of your tutorial versus a cute but mysterious title that no one will know what you are talking about until they read the post.

How To Make A Daisy Chain instead of Daisy Daisy Give Me Your Answer Do

Optionally: Give a cute title but with a specific subtitle.

Daisy Daisy Give Me Your Answer Do: How To Make A Daisy Chain

By naming your tutorial in the title it will make it easier for people to search for it in your blog archives and easier for search engines to find it too. 

2.  Begin with a picture of the completed project.  Yep, right at the beginning so everyone can see what they are
going to make :) 

3.  Give an overall description of the project.  How long did it take (hours, minutes, days), what is it good for (gifts, recycling, just plain fun, etc.), age range or ages of who did the project (adults, kids with adult help, 3+, etc.) and the difficulty level, any tips (messy, outside, ventilate, etc.), any materials that are hard to find or unusual and where to find them.

Daisy (dandelion) chains are a fun last minute activity that children of almost any age can make.  I didn't have any daisies on hand but any sturdy-stemmed flower will do and if you're lucky like me you'll have a whole backyard full of dandelions just waiting to be made into beautiful garlands! ;)

4.  Materials and tools list.  Make a list of everything you will need to complete the project.  If you use a particular brand I'd love to know that too.  You know what makes a materials and tools list even better?  A picture!   

Materials:  as many sturdy-stemmed flowers as you want

Tools: fingernails

Special Note Regarding Pictures:  The more pictures in your tutorial the better but you need to have at least one for each different step. Clear pictures with a clean and contrasting background.  Close-up views and sometimes a picture of the whole work space for perspective.

*click on pictures for a larger view*

5.  Procedure.  This is the hardest part.  Depending on how complicated the tutorial is, try to break it down into clear easy steps, numbering is helpful, and add the obligatory picture for each step.  Using bold and italic typefaces can indicate new steps or important tips.  Different colors can be helpful too but don't go overboard because it will make it more confusing.  Definitely add any precautions or pointers or "don't do what I did" kind of help.  Watch your vocabulary and try to be consistent with
the words you use.

Step 1: Gather your flowers; stems need to be thick enough and strong enough to hold together after making a vertical cut within the stem.

Step 2: Make a small split in the stem with your fingernails.  It only needs to be big enough to slide in another flower stem.  The split pictured is about one inch below the flower head but you can vary this as you please.  The closer the split to the flower head then the closer together the flowers will be on the garland and the further away from the flower head then the further away the flowers will be from each other on the garland. 

Step 3:  Slide the stem end of another flower through the split until it stops at the flower head.  You may trim off the first stem about 1/2" behind the split. 

Step 4:  Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until your daisy chain is the length you want or you run out of flowers.

Step 5:  If you want to make a crown then slide the very last stem through the split of the very first flower and pull so the circle is complete.

6. Review.  Check for errors.  Read it through several times to see that it makes sense and proceeds logically. If possible, have someone else read it and give you some feedback. 

Here are some examples of
great tutorials:

Crafty Pod's button pendant
Sycamore Stirring's coffee filter butterflies
Future Girl's fabric lining for a crocheted bag

If you have any other suggestions
for what you think makes a great tutorial please leave them in the comments.  Thanks so much for indulging me here and I hope this helps some of you put together your own tutorials :)

Now I'm off to check out the tutorials
in my archives...

How To Put A Button In Your Sidebar

This tutorial is for Typepad but I imagine the basics are pretty similar for other blogging platforms.  For my example, I'm going to be using my Crafty Crow button. 

You need two things:

*the button image (or any image for that matter as long as it is the right size - my button is 120 x 120)

*the url (web address) that you want to go to when someone clicks on the button; i.e. http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow

~ Let's begin! ~

• upload the image to the files section of your blog (click Control Panel tab then Files tab)

• where it says Upload A New File click Browse and find the image on your computer - then click Upload (I usually put the image that I am going to use on my desktop so it is easy to find.)

• after it is uploaded, find the filename (in the column to the left on the same page) and click the link icon (looks like a little chain link)

This is the url for your image - keep this window open!

• now open the Typelists tab in a new window

• click on Create A New Typelist

• in #1 choose a Link list

• in #2 choose a name for your list

• then click Create New List

• in the Title field put the url of your image (copy and paste it from the window you left open)

Now this is the trickiest part - you'll have to change the html a bit.

• remove the part show in red:

<a href="http://belladia.typepad.com/CCButton2.gif">Download CCButton2.gif (8.4K)</a>

• and change it to this (new part in blue):

<img src=
"http://belladia.typepad.com/CCButton2.gif">

Make sure the quotes are in there because they make all the difference!

Tricky part done!

• now in the URL field put the web address that you want to go to when the image is clicked, for example:
  

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/

• now click Save

This new Typelist has to be added
to your blog.

• go to your blog's Design tab and click Select Content

• click on the box next to your new Typelist and click Save Changes at the bottom

Click on Order Content if you'd like to change where the button is located on your sidebar.

Be sure to click on the button from your blog to make sure it works and you're done!

I have to assume there are other ways of doing this but this is how I do it and it works :)  If any of you more experienced computer people out there have any tips please leave them in the comments!  Thanks, I hope this helps someone :)

Sweet Heart Crochet Pattern

My valentine gift to you - a tutorial for a crocheted heart! Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to come by and all the nice comments you leave for me :) You're my sweeties!

Sweet Heart Crochet Pattern

Stitches Used:
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
decrease: join 2 sc stitches to make one (video here)
increase: do two sc into one sc space (make two stitches where you would usually
make one)

Materials:
•any yarn, any weight; the bulkier the yarn the larger the heart and vice versa
•crochet hook recommended for yarn that you’ll be using
•embroidery needle for weaving in tails

Finished Size:
Depends upon yarn used, but using worsted weight yarn with a size H (5mm) hook the heart is approximately 4" wide and 3" tall.

Pattern:

The heart begins from the bottom point.

*Tip: after each row is completed, count your stitches to make sure you have the correct number.*

Foundation chain: 3 chains plus 1 turning chain.

Row one: 3 sc then make one turning chain; turn work. There is a single turning chain at the end of every row and you always turn your work at the end of each row. Total stitches in the row is 3.

Row Two: One increase in the first sc, sc in 2nd sc and another increase in the last sc. Total stitches in the row is 5.

Row Three: One increase in the first sc, sc in each previous sc and do another increase in the last sc. Total stitches in the row is 7.

Row Four: Repeat as above with an increase in the first and last sc and do regular sc for the middle stitches.
Total stitches in the row is 9.

Row Five: Repeat same process as previous rows. Total stitches in the row is 11.

Row Six: No increases. One sc in each previous sc. Total stitches in the row is 11.

Row Seven: One increase in the first and last sc and regular sc for the middle stitches. Total stitches in the row is 13.

Row Eight: Repeat as above with two increases. Total stitches in the row is 15.

Row Nine: Repeat as above with two increases. Total stitches in the row is 17.

Row Ten: No increases. One sc in each previous sc. Total stitches in the row is 17.

Row Eleven: One increase in first and last stitch with regular sc for middle stitches. This is your last increase. Total stitches in
the row is 19.

Rows Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen: No increases just three rows of 19 sc each.

Now you will start making the right
lobe of the heart.

Row Fifteen: 9 sc, chain 1 and turn. Remember, at the end of every row you need to chain one for your turning chain.

Row Sixteen: One decrease (combine the first two sc into one). Finish row with sc. Total stitches in the row is 8.

Row Seventeen: Begin and end with a decrease. Decrease with the first two stitches of the row and decrease with the last two stitches of the row and regular sc for middle stitches. Total stitches in the row is 6.

Row Eighteen: As above, begins and ends with a decrease and regular sc for middle stitches. Total stitches in the row is 4.

Row Nineteen: Only two decreases. Total stitches in the row is 2.

Snip your yarn and weave in the tail. (See picture below for weaving in the tail).

Now to make the left lobe of the heart.

Put a slip knot on your hook.

Row Fifteen Part II: Sc into 9th sc from the left side. (There will be one unused sc in the middle of row fifteen).

Complete row with 8 more sc, chain 1 and turn. Total stitches in the row is 9.

Row Sixteen Part II: Sc into first 7 sc then do a decrease (combine two stitches into one) with the last two stitches.
Total stitches in the row is 8.

Row Seventeen Part II: Begin and end with a decrease. Decrease with the first two stitches of the row and decrease with the last two stitches of the row and regular sc for the middle stitches. Total stitches in the row is 6.

Row Eighteen Part II: As above, begins and ends with a decrease and regular sc for the middle stitches.
Total stitches in the row is 4.

Row Nineteen Part II: Only two decreases. Total stitches in the row is 2.

♥
The heart part is done but
don’t snip your yarn yet!

Starting where you just finished your last decrease, sc all around the outer edge of the heart. (One sc in the space at the end of every row. Sometimes it is hard to find the right space, just do your best and try not to make two sc into one space.)

When you reach the tip of the heart do 3 sc in one stitch to make a nice point. (Remember your original three sc in your first row? Stitch your 3 sc increase into the middle stitch of those three.)

When you reach the cleavage of the heart do a decrease (combine two stitches into one) to gather it in a bit.

When you get back to your starting point snip your yarn, pull the tail through and weave it in.

Your done!

Leave it plain or have fun experimenting with different edgings. You may need to add some increases at the widest part of the heart when you are doing edgings.

Blocking:

This is how I blocked my hearts:

*Spread a towel over a firm pillow.
*Use straight pins to shape the heart.
*Mist with water and pat down.
*When completely dry remove pins.

Video Tutorial: How To Make a Slip Knot for Crochet

This is my very first video tutorial so I thought I would start out with something simple. Just about every crochet book shows you how to do a slip knot to get started but honestly, when I look at the drawings I think they look really confusing. Hopefully this little video will make it a lot easier for crochet beginners to get started.

As seen in the video: Hang your yarn over your hook, cross one strand over the over (it doesn't matter which one is on top or bottom), pick up the strand that is on the bottom, wrap it around your hook and pull it through the loop. Use the tails to pull it close against your hook.

A Tiny HTML Tutorial: title tags

Okay, put your mouse over the picture above - next to your cursor the information should say "Img_4633_2"   See it? 

Now, do the same on this picture.  Instead of "Img_4633_2" you should see "Toulouse".  You change this by changing the information for the title tag in the html of your post.

How you do it:

Go to where you see the html for your post.  For the image above, the html looks like this:

---

< a href="http://belladia.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/25/img_4633.jpg"img width="350" height="262" border="0" src="http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/images/2007/11/25/img_4633.jpg" title="Img_4633_2" alt="Img_4633_2" / > < /a >

---

The tag in red is the title tag. 
Between the quotes is where you put the information that you want to show up when someone puts their cursor on your picture.  So, if I want to say, "Toulouse between the sheets" then I put that info between the quotes like this:

title="Toulouse between the sheets"


Try the picture now...  Got it?  Easy peasy!

Just go slow, make sure you don't lose the quotation marks, and have fun.  It's a great way to give a little information about your picture. 

Edited to say thank you to Alice for code help in making this post easier to read - Thanks Alice!

Button Bouquets

First, thank you so much for all the kind comments regarding my whining. As soon as I started reading your thoughtful words I began to feel better - just knowing that there are others that feel the same way and allowing me to vent brightened my day. A big hug to each and every one of you!

Second, there will be a shop update on Friday the 23rd. Yes, the day after Thanksgiving. It will be at 10 a.m. Mountain time (9 a.m. on the West coast and 12 noon on the East coast.) I hope you'll have time to take a peek amidst all the other happenings going on.

I've been having fun going through my button stash and making these little button bouquets. It's a great way to highlight some of your favorite vintage finds. I'm planning on putting up a tutorial for them after the holiday weekend.

Here's the supply list if you're interested in making some: a wooden spool of thread (I get old ones from the thrift shop), 3 or 4 buttons, floral tape, light weight floral wire, green crepe paper, some wall putty or clay or something similar, narrowish ribbon, glue, a small piece of felt for the base, wire snips, and scissors.

**oops! Thanks to Sarah, I corrected the East coast time zone!

Vintage Vertical Stripe Crocheted Blanket Pattern

This blanket is intended to be made from leftover yarns. You need to know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, and add in a new color if you want to change colors in the middle of a row. I used 27 different colors, some more than others. Most of the yarn is Wool-Ease by Lion Brand but there is some Simply Soft by Caron and a few others that I've lost the wrappers for so I don't remember what they are.

At 250 chains, the blanket is 6' 9" long and the width will be a little over 4' wide when I'm done. I used a size "I" hook because that's what the yarn called for. (If you look at the wrapper around the yarn it will tell you the suggested hook size.) I'm getting about 17 rows to every 6". Once you get going you'll be able to do a row in about 20-25 minutes so you can use those figures to estimate your time.

To start, chain 250. At the end of your chain, chain 2 more - this is your turning chain for double crochet.

Now for your first row, double crochet in each chain (your first double crochet will be in your 250th chain).

When you get to the end of the row, cut your yarn and knot off by pulling the cut thread through the last loop on your hook. You just completed the hardest part of the whole blanket!

Next, choose your new yarn color and make a slip knot with it on your hook.

Insert your hook with the slip knot into the space between your last two double crochets. (Remember you will be working into the space for the whole blanket).

With your hook through the space, make a single crochet, then chain two.

Double crochet in every space until the end of the row but...

in the last space double crochet twice in the same space. Cut your yarn and knot off. Can you see how the last two double crochets in the same space make a little "V"?

Always flip your blanket at the end of a row - you work from right to left. With a new yarn on your hook, insert your hook in the first space between your last two double crochets - the space in the "V".

Double crochet in each space until you reach the end of your row and always make two double crochets in your last space. You always begin your row by inserting your hook in the "V". Continue this way until you reach the width that you desire.

I'm planning to do a scalloped edging around the finished blanket so I'll add that here when I'm done.

Believe me, the hardest part is the first two rows but after that it just gets easier and easier. I've left all the yarn tails about 5" long so they'll be easy to weave in later on. This is a great beginner project and works up pretty fast for a blanket. If any of you give it a try I'd love to hear from you and maybe I'll even start a Flickr group so we can share our results. Have fun!

Fabric Panels: How To

Gosh, you all are so sweet! Thank you for the nice comments about my new studio - if I could, I'd have everyone over for tea, lemon scones, and crafty conversation :)

My fabric panels are super simple and I wanted to share how I made them. The inspiration was what many of us face when we have fabric we love but can't bear to cut it - what to do? I used foam core, double stick tape (I like poster tape especially or ones available for scrapbookers) and wall putty to put them all together. Cut your foam core to accommodate the piece of fabric that you are using. Make sure you have about 1" to 1 1/2" of fabric to fold over to the backside.

Place the double stick along the edges of the foam core, gently pull the fabric over each corner and press down onto the tape, and then working from opposite sides, gently pull taut the fabric along the sides and press down onto the tape.


I used wall putty to put them up so I wouldn't have a bunch of little holes in the wall. It also makes it easy to move them around and take down if you want to use a panel as a background for a picture; see here.

If you don't want to wrap the fabric around (or there just isn't enough fabric to do it) then put the double stick tape along the edges on the front and press your fabric on. You might need to neaten the edges a bit.

I think it would be so cool to create a whole quilt on the wall with the panels butted up next to each other, don't you? There's actually a ton of stuff that would be fun to do using this method. If anyone gives it a try let me know, I'd love to see!

Pom-Pom Tutorial

This is a tutorial for making pom-poms
using your fingers. This one is a small, two-finger pom-pom (about 1" in diameter) but you can make bigger ones by using more fingers. As far as yarn choice, thinner and softer yarn will make a more pleasing pom-pom.

Okay, let's get started! With your index and middle fingers together and holding the end of your yarn down with your thumb, begin wrapping the yarn around your fingers. Be careful not to wrap too tightly - no purple fingers!

Cut your yarn when you've finished wrapping; for this pom-pom I've wrapped the yarn 75 times. *Tip: For any size pom-pom, you'll probably wrap the yarn twice as much as you think you will need.

Cut another piece of yarn, about 12", and squeeze one end through your fingers between the pom-pom and your palm. Bring the other end of the yarn string through your fingers at the tips.

This is a picture of the backside, make sure your yarn string wraps all the way around your pom-pom bundle.

Begin a knot, pulling as tight as you can, then slip the pom-pom off of your fingers.

Still pulling tightly, finish off the knot.

Holding the pom-pom yarn strings,
use your scissors and cut through all the loops of the pom-pom.

This is what it looks like after you've cut all the loops, a woolly bully mess!

Now comes my favorite part :) Still holding the yarn strings, start cutting down your pom-pom. *Tip: you'll probably end up cutting twice as much off as you thought you would.

Trim with the scissor blades flat along the pom-pom to help get a smooth finish. Check it from different angles and fluff it up with your fingers, then trim some more. Be sure to trim around the bottom end where you are holding it. The pom-pom should feel firm when you're done.

Voila! A pretty little pom-pom!
I keep the yarn strings on until I'm ready to use it, then I trim them off the same length as the rest of the pom-pom.

No Knot, No Tail

No Knots!

I have a few pet peeves about sewing but my biggest one is tying knots. I have that little bitty sense of dread everytime I have to do it - partly because I can't see up close as well as I used to and partly that I like to make several knots and I hate the angst I have over trying to match them up so they're on top of each other. Anyway, here's a nice little technique for handsewing to do away with knots :)

#1 double your length of thread/floss and thread the *tails* through the eye of the needle; this leaves a loop at the other end of your thread

#2 starting from the back of your fabric, bring the needle up through the fabric to the front side but do not pull all the way through - leave the loop of your thread on the backside

#3 push the needle through to the backside, leaving a small space between your original stitch and this new one

#4 *this is a picture of the backside* after pulling the thread through from the front put your needle through the loop on the back

#5 *this is a picture of the backside* now pull your thread firmly and you are ready to begin stitching!

No Tails!

One of my other pet peeves? Little thread tails poking up through your work ;) I use this technique on my softies/stuffies/stuffed toys.

#1 okay, you've finished sewing up your seams and you've created a knot on the outside of your work

#2 with the tail still attached, reinsert your needle as close as possible to your last stitch and then bring your needle up as far as possible from that stitch (basically the length of the needle but you can scrunch your fabric up on the needle so it will go further)

#3 it should look something like this

#4 now pulling the thread taut, scrunch the fabric up against your last stitch, then snip the thread close to the fabric and let go

#5 voila! no peek-a-boo tails!

I hope this helps some of you and my directions are clear enough. I'll permalink it in a side column for future reference.