Wednesday Window Shopping on Etsy!

Well, the candy's all gone, the costumes are put away, the spooky cobwebs are off the windows, and now it's time to turn our attention to November and the rapid approach of the holiday season!  This week's theme is "kits"; maybe because I personally think kits make great gifts and handmade kits on Etsy are just amazing!  So let's look at a sample of the many "kits" you will find on Etsy!
Astrology Cross Stitch Kit by ThreefoldDesigns

This cross stitch design features the Astrological symbols of the twelve zodiac signs. This would be a good design to start with if you are new to needlepoint.  Threefold cross stitch kits include an easy to follow pattern & instructions, a generous supply of pre-sorted wool from the Australian Tapestry Workshop, a blank open weave canvas and a tapestry needle. I prefer to work on blank canvas rather than printed, as it is so much easier and clearer to follow a graph pattern.
Viking Knit Kit by vanillabeadstore

This EXCLUSIVE kit was constructed so that everything you need to begin creating Viking Knit is all in one place. There are many sites on the internet with “free” instructions for Viking Knit – but you get what you pay for. Having struggled with several sets of these “instructions” before I had my “ah ha” moment, I knew there was room for one more tutorial. Other kits exist, with other methods of working this ancient technique, but we believe that ours is the easiest to follow, with very basic, easy to use tools thus avoiding over complication of something that is really very simple.
PDF Victorian Paper Doll Kit--Sweet Abigail by Percy & Bloom

Sweet Abigail is The Princess of Dressing Dolls! 
I have painstakingly reproduced her from an original Raphael Tuck & Sons paper doll from 1894. Much care was taken to retain the authentic signs of her age. Abigail was tucked away for over a century and now she can be yours to enjoy! Abigail measures 8 1/2" tall and comes complete with four dressing gowns and four coordinating hats. The PDF file is 7 pages. It includes a formal cover page, helpful hints, a reproduction of the original box cover, the four outfits and her body. Abigail also comes with two different hair colors; the original Raphael Tuck design, blond hair and blue eyes and my version, brown hair and brown eyes. With both heads included it allows you to create two different dolls that all the outfits will fit.  Detailed instructions and sketches are easy to follow. You can recreate her just as she was over 100 years ago! 
The PDF file will be emailed to you with in 24 hours of purchase. 
Yarn Spinning Basic Kit by mainewoodsyarn

This is our beautiful maple wood drop spindle kit which we handcraft in our studio in Maine. It has been stained in rosewood color. The spindle weighs approximately 1.7 ounces and is 12" tall. The kit comes in both top or bottom whorl. Please let us know at time of purchase if you want a top whorl kit, otherwise a bottom whorl will be sent.  This is a basic kit for those who want to give spinning a try with less financial investment. The kit includes 2 1/2 ounces of undyed roving (enough to make a skein). There is an illustrated instruction booklet to get you started and a plastic drawstring bag to keep it all in. 
Japanese Binding Kit and Tutorial by erinzam

True DIY! If you are interested in giving book binding a try, but don't quite know where to begin, this kit is a great introduction.  Included are all of the supplies that you need to make one 3" x 4" book and complete instructions for four different Japanese stab bindings. The instructions are written out as well as illustrated to make each step clear. Choose to make one of the bindings with the included supplies and once you get the hang of it, you can make the other bindings with your own materials.



And the list goes on and on! Simply search kits on Etsy and you will find a wide range of "kits" in all categories!  They make the perfect gift...even if you want to put it on your list for Santa!! :)
Hope you have enjoyed this week's episode of Wednesday Window Shopping on Etsy! Take care and have a great week!