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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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DIY Library Pockets

January 15, 2014 5 Comments

DIY Library Pockets for Kids' Play or Lending Your Personal Library

As a child I used to build Lego computers so I could play library. I’d check out books to my stuffed animals, whose library cards were my parents’ old business cards. It should come as no surprise then that I’m a real life librarian today (seriously). Why not let your weirdo kids explore their bookish side and build them an at home library kit?

And for those of you who don’t have kiddos, like myself, you can use a grown-up version of this idea to turn your personal collection of books and movies into a lending library. This will help get your books back, I swear. Just don’t go charging your pals late fees –  I can tell you from professional experience that NO ONE likes late fees.

Supplies

 #1 coin envelopes, which are 2.25 x 3.5 inches
scissors
1/2″ circle punch
ultra fine permanent marker
acid free glue
old business cards or cardstock cut to fit in a #1 coin envelope
fancy date stamper (optional)

DIY Library Pockets for Kids' Play or Lending Your Personal Library

Directions

All you need to do to make the pockets is cut the flap of the envelope off at its crease, as shown. Then, use the half inch circle punch to cut a half circle out of the flap (non seam) side of the envelope. They’re really simple but look really elegant when they’re done.

DIY Library Pockets for Kids' Play or Lending Your Personal Library

Next, just use a few dots of non-acidic glue to attach your pocket, seam side down, to the inside cover of your books. You can use some old business cards or cardstock to note when a book is being lent out/due back, and you can personalize the envelopes however you like!

DIY Library Pockets for Kids' Play or Lending Your Personal Library

I love this idea for lending books to friends, as well as for letting kids play library. But you don’t have to take my word for it! :)

DIY Library Pockets for Kids' Play or Lending Your Personal Library

Filed Under: How-to Tagged With: books, craft, crafts, date stamp, diy, lending, library, library pockets, play library

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Amanda

    January 15, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    When I was little, I wrote books just so that I could attach homemade book pockets and force my family to check them out of my makeshift library. I, too, am now a librarian. :)

    Reply
    • Heidi

      January 15, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      Lol, YES! That’s awesome.

      Reply
  2. Julie

    January 16, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    I will definitely be doing this for my kiddos! (just yesterday they were playing library thanks to the enormous stack of books that we brought back from our local branch this week….)

    Reply
  3. Erin

    January 16, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Genius! This totally brings be back to school days. I have a fear of lending books and not getting this back. Definitely giving this a try :)

    Reply
  4. Amberjane

    May 7, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    Such a cute idea – thank you for sharing :)

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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