Arts & Crafts: Page 17

Learn a fun and easy way to decorate your clothes with these iron-on freezer paper stencils. This video will show you how to create stencils perfect for personalizing aprons, tote bags, or t-shirts. With these stencils you can make thoughtful gifts for all of your loved ones.

Visible jogs become frequent when you don't know the secret to knitting the perfect stripe. But just because it's a secret, doesn't mean it isn't easy to do! In this video demonstration, Judy shows you the secret to knitting jogless stripes. Basically, you knit the first row of color the way you normally would, then slip the marker off when you get around to the end. Next, instead of knitting the next stitch how you normally would, you just slip it off and then start knitting all the way around...

Sounds like an anomaly, right? When I was a kid folding frogs, my mother gave me origami paper that was most certainly dry. But the works below by Vietnamese-American artist Giang Dinh were folded with one *wet* piece of paper. It's a technique called "Wet-Folding", invented by the great Japanese origami master Akira Yushizawa (pictured right).

Knowing how to knit a picot hem is a good technique to learn.  Usually, at the bottom of a garment you will have a ribbed edge.  A picot hem, as pictured below, is a nice alternative.  It's quite easy and here's how to do it.

There are different kinds of knitting needles to choose from for different projects.  You will find wooden, plastic or aluminum in different lengths and shapes.  There are straight, circular or double pointed.

There are two basic stitches in knitting.  One is the Knit Stitch.  The other is the Purl Stitch.  All knitting patterns are based on these stitches, so you'll want to know how to do both of them.  The Knit side of your work is generally called the Front or Right side, whereas the Purl side is generally called the Back or Wrong side.  This is important to remember when you're following a pattern.

The two basic stitches in knitting are the Knit Stitch and the Purl Stitch. Once you know how to do both of them you can put them together to make RIBBING.   RIBBING is usually, but not always, used at the bottom of a garment, as well as at the cuffs and at the neck. It's also a good stitch to use when you want both sides of the fabric to look the same like for a scarf or a blanket.  RIBBING is usually K2 P2 (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches) but it could be K1 K1 (knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch)...

Some people think that knitting is difficult, but it really isn't. All knitting is actually based on only  two simple stitches, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. The Stockinette Stitch is the most common of all the Knitting Stitches. It's very simple.

There will be many times when you will want both sides of your work to look the same.  One of those times, for instance, might be when you are making a scarf.  Another time you might be making a shawl.  Or it might be a baby blanket, an afghan or a throw.  You'll see, as you're knitting, when you would want to use a "double sided" stitch.  This is one of the best of those stitches and it is called THE SEED STITCH.  It's very easy.  All you need to know is the knit stitch and the purl stitch and...

There are certain stitches that work well when you want both sides of the work to look pretty much the same.  These stitches are good for scarves, shawls  baby blankets and throws.  One of these stitches is called the MOSS STITCH.  It's a pretty stitch and easy to do.  Of course, you can use the stitch for sweaters or anything you want.

Most people think that you have to be a whiz with the needle and thread as well as proficient on the sewing machine in order to make or tailor your own clothing. But the truth is that for easy modifications, like turning an old t-shirt into a modified, chic top, all you need is a pair of scissors and perhaps a stitch or two.

I love circular needles! I use a circular most of the time, even when I am knitting straight. One of the reasons I love knitting on a circular is because with a circular needle, you don't have to worry about dropping a needle. You just have one. It's particularly good to knit straight on a circular needle when you're making a large project such as an afghan or blanket, but I use one even if I'm knitting a small project such as a scarf or wash rag. The photo below is of a scarf I'm making with...

Why should women get all the pretty hats at Easter time? You can make a fun and seasonal Easter hat for a boy quite easily! This video shows you how to take a plain hat and turn it into a birds nest hat. You will need: a hat (a plastic party fedora will work just fine), a wide strip of ribbon for the brim, a pair of scissors, some raffia, artificial leaves, a stuffed or toy bird and some craft glue.

Need some stripes in your knit-work? Judy's going to lend you her expertise and show you how to make stripes of two rows. She starts out adding a row of red yarn above previously knitted gray row, to make her stripes. Just follow her guidelines for stitching and you should have no problems knitting stripes in your future projects.

Tie loose ends together - in the literal and original sense sense of the phrase - by sewing together the ends and/or hems of your knitting projects like a pro. Whether you're fusing together two pieces of wool-knitted cloth to form the back of a beautiful winter sweater or just want to join patchwork knits into a rasta-cool beanie, knowing how to stick pieces together is integral for a tidy project.

A baby cocoon is a snug swaddling blanket that can be used to easily keep a new baby warm. This tutorial shows you a few techniques that you can use to crochet a baby cocoon for yourself or as a gift. This technique uses a crochet loom, so you'll want access to one of those in order to complete this project. You will also need to use a few basic hand sewing techniques to join the different pieces together when you're done.

The tunic stitch is another one of those real easy patterns that looks more difficult than it is. It's a strikingly beautiful pattern. Although both sides are not the same, they are both attractive so you can use either side. The picture below is of the right side.

Why ever would you want to throw a cowboy-themed party for your little cowboy? Two words: John Wayne. The epitome of wild West cool and the exemplar of the "strong and silent" type, John Wayne made the cowboy badass. So give your boy the coolest party in the world by creating a cowboy theme.

Some things are too good to keep bottled up. Give your guests a taste of what's to come at your Fourth of July party, BBQ, or slammin' block party by making your invitation look like a hamburger. Who can resists free food, right?

Canvas shoes like Vans and Converse are the most popular casual shoes in the world, and have become high-style items over the years as well. They are easy to paint, cheap, and make perfect canvases for custom shoe art. Watch this video for three great tips that will improve you custom canvas shoe painting projects and ensure your kicks come out as fly as possible.