Join me as we sit down with Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith to talk about where their ideas come from, and why you shouldn’t be scared of crafty disasters. Derek and Lauren have been called the DIY Royal Family: they own the Curiosity Shoppe, Derek is an editor at Ready Made Magazine, and together they post weekly DIY projects at Design Sponge. Join us!

The podcast includes a quick overview of making felt beer cozies, perfect for enjoying a cocktail outside as the temperature drops. To make a pair, you’ll need a 100% wool sweater from your closet or a thrift store. Set your washing machine to hot, add the sweater, and let it agitate, but stop the cycle before it spins. Check your sweater to see if it’s felted. You’ll know it’s done with you can’t see the stitches anymore. Let it air dry, then simply cut the sleeves off a few inches below the wrist. Embellish or leave plain, and stash the rest of the now-felted sweater for another project. I'll post a collage of inspiration soon!

And remember, you can now find the Make Grow Gather podcasts in iTunes. Please subscribe to help my fledgling show, and thanks for listening!

(click here to download podcast)