Deborah Norville: From Yarn to Wallpaper

Deborah Norville loves crafts -- especially yarn projects! Monday, we asked you to share the non-traditional ways you used yarn in your craft projects. We asked Deborah to share an example of how she has thought outside the box with yarn -- and she provided this beautiful needlepoint project, made with worsted yarn. Find a selection of Deborah's yarn in Jo-Ann stores or on joann.com!

Below, Deborah answers Linda and Kim's questions from Facebook.

Linda Bradford
When did you begin to knit and what was your first project?



Hi Linda:
I first was SUCCESSFUL at knitting when I was probably eight years old, though I remember a long period of frustration before that TRYING to get the knitting thing right! The first thing I made ... and truly, it was a 'thing' was a little bit of yarn that was two different colors, two different yarn weights -- but it was knit! That little bitty piece of knitted material served many years of duty for my various Barbie dolls. Sometimes it was an elegant scarf, sometimes it was a blanket when Barbie was marooned in the woods, sometimes it was a rope for a rescue (my Barbies were very much into adventure!) and believe it or not, I actually found that little piece of knitting a few years ago, along with all the Barbie stuff my own little girl played with.

My first USEFUL knitted items were two needle mittens (before I became 'confident enough' to attempt double points!). I tend to make an item ad nauseum and then move on to something else. Mittens became ski hats, which I made for a while, having fun making up different kinds of border motifs (snowflakes worked best), then hot water bottle covers ( you can get the free pattern on my website www.DeborahNorville.com ) and lately I am in blanket mode. All three of my children have gotten theirs. And now that my nieces are all having babies ( and I am the only family member who's into knitting ), Aunt Debbie did a pink one for a baby last September and a blue one is in the works for the little boy that's arriving in June! :)

-Deborah

Kim Brunner Stella
Question for Deborah- Do you have a craft idea using wallpaper? I have wrapped boxes. Made fans and cones for Christmas tree decorations. Need a fresh idea.


Hi Kim:
I bet you are like me: Wallpaper is so expensive you can't bear to throw away the leftovers! Well, among the things I have done (in addition to the wrapped boxes you mentioned), is make a wonderful coordinated wastebasket for the room you have just wallpapered. There are prefabricated wastebaskets you can get at craft stores, you can take a cheap metal waste can from the dime store and over it -- or -- another fun idea is to get your local ice cream store to give you one of their left over ice cream bins. They come with a metal ring along the top and bottom edges which make it both sturdy and give you a clean edge for your wallpaper project.

Here's another idea for your wall paper that is NOT prepasted: Use it as shelf and drawer paper. Assuming the pattern is appropriate it makes for a wonderful liner that again, coordinates with the room you've just decorated -- or gives a fun surprise to a closet shelf or dresser drawer.

And speaking of closets, have you thought about wallpapering the closet? I did just that with a beautiful blue and red toile in one of my guest rooms -- and -- papered the clothes rod as well. If the paper has a complementary or matching fabric, take the look one step further and cover padded hangers with the matching fabric. Your closet will be beautiful. There is, however, one problem: It will be so pretty, your guests will NEVER want to leave! :)

-Deborah