DIY Life

In a world of larks, I have the misfortune of being an extreme owl; if it were really true that the early bird catches the worm, I would probably have starved a long time ago. So on days when I have to get up at the crack of dawn, I usually find myself needing a nap... even if I've had a full night's sleep.

With the recent news that a 20-minute nap appears to help people stay alert for the rest of the day better than caffeine or extra sleep at night, it seems I'm not alone. So it stands to reason that an article that was in the Boston Globe this week, "How to nap," has been making the blog rounds for the last few days -- it explains all the most vital information on the topic in a small, visually-appealing package.

For example, it tells us that there are certain lengths of time that are better for napping than others; morning people (the aforementioned larks) will probably need a nap earlier than night people might; a light blanket and an eye shade can be extremely helpful in getting the most restful sleep, and so on.

While the Boston Globe article lays out all the basic details you should know about napping in a handy info-graphic format, you may also be interested to read a similar great post that Francesca wrote here last year: Power Napping Made Simple.

[via both BoingBoing and Lifehacker.]

I have a healthy collection of bandanas. I decided, if I can't figure out something to do with them, I've got to throw them out. I have entirely too much stuff!

I was delighted when I found this tutorial on how to make a throw blanket out of bandanas.

I've found bandanas in lots of department stores, online stores, and even ebay. You can find all sorts of colors, styles, and designs. I've found all sorts of them, like penguins, skulls, cupcakes, Dora, Disney Princess, Tinkerbell, Betty Boop, Harley Davidson, and even your original design in funky, non-traditional colors.

The tutorial reads well, and has lots of wonderful pictures to accompany you on your blanket-making journey. You'll need 12 bandanas, 6 for each side, and some batting.

Stitch up 3 rows of 2 bandanas for each side, throw in the batting, sew that sucker up, and you've got an awesome little bandana throw blanket for a nice price. And, not nearly what they'd charge for one of those things in a boutique!

And, if you're interested in other cool ideas for bandanas, check out Anna's post!

It's the beginning of the month, so, as usual, that means a new issue of MagKnits, the free online knitting magazine that hails from the UK (as well as a large, lovely picture of yarn, above).

This month, there's lots of cold-weather goodness: a baby blanket, a scarf, two hats, some fingerless gloves, and a sweater. Several of them are things you should be able to finish knitting in a weekend or so, but a few of the projects are larger commitments. On the down side, while they're all nice and potentially useful, the patterns are somewhat less unique than usual.

You'll find more detailed discussion of this month's designs after the break.

Depending on where you live, winter driving can be anything from an adventure to just plain stupid. If you are going to be out on the roads there are some car preparation and driving tips that are crucial. How to Winterize your Car.....and your Brain for Winter Driving outlines important tips, from preparing your car for the season to safe driving behavior and habits in specific conditions. Along with their tips, they have a supplies checklist for a vehicle emergency pack.

Vehicle emergency pack

1. Flashlight
2. Flares
3. First-aid kit
4. Blanket
5. Warm winter clothes
6. Bag of sand or salt (to use for traction if your tires get stuck)
7. Snow-brush, ice scraper and snow shovel
8. Wiper fluid
9. Paper towels
10. Food and water

You might already have some of these things in the trunk, but have a look through and make sure everything still works. Add the items you're missing and throw them together in a backpack. Hopefully you only ever need to go in there for some sand or an ice scraper, but if you do ever find yourself needing flares or warm blankets, it could save your life.

November's MagKnits went up a few days ago, slightly late. This month brings us seven new knitting patterns, perfect for late autumn and early winter.

Most of the patterns this month are what I would describe as "quietly useful": attractive, without bowling you over. The standouts are the two sweater patterns: Basic Black, my favorite of the new designs, is a stylish v-neck cardigan, while Fibonacci is a slightly more complex cardigan with stripes and a shawl collar.

Read more about the rest of the new patterns after the break! There's a bunch of cold-weather accessories and a few baby items, one of which is an innovative solution to a problem lots of moms have.

It's the beginning of the month, and web-savvy knitters know what that means: a new issue of MagKnits to check out. This month, there are only five patterns, but they all look good.

There's a pretty short-sleeved horseshoe lace cardigan, Rainbow Socks that exploit the properties of self-striping yarn by using short rows to turn the usual stripes into arcs, and a lace headband. The Lása Shawl Headband is basically a short, narrow lace scarf; you can choose your level of difficulty, and it would probably be easy to modify if you wanted something longer. A good beginning lace project on the easiest level, a way to practice more advanced techniques if you'd like to, and a nice gift.

That covers the wearables, but what about everything else? The Burridge Lake Afghan is a beautiful, symmetrical Aran showpiece, designed to be interesting to knit (there is minimal reverse stockinette stitch, which is ordinarily so common in Aran designs). Also, the pattern uses Trinity stitch, which is worked on the wrong side, so you won't zombie out every other row. I mean, afghan rows are long.

Finally, Bitty Boo is the issue's "whimsical" pattern: a tiny felted ghost for Halloween!

M.E. Williams taught us how to knit Harry Bear and I've written before about re-stuffing a tired and worn teddy bear. I guess we're not satisfied with the mounds of stuffed animals we have under beds and packed away in closets. It doesn't matter how many you or your children keep around there is always one or two that get that special spot on the bed and stick around far longer than the others. It is quite rare to have a Teddy Bear that was hand crafted just for them.

This adorable teddy bear pattern is available free by Denise Ilmanen. She enlarged this particular pattern by 225% and printed it out. Here are the instructions on making a bear, complete with pictures so that you can check your work along the way. These instructions will work with any pattern that involves a number of pieces.

I love this bear's long arms and floppy look. You can just imagine a child falling in love with this bear. You can use any fabric, but you'll want something relatively sturdy. I would suggest using pieces from a worn out cuddle blanket, or one of your child's baby sleepers. If you're making it as a gift, ask the parents if there is any special fabric that they'd like included. This is a fun way to add a bit more sentimental value to an otherwise regular Teddy Bear.