Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Load and press a backing onto a quilt
When the patchwork side of a quilt is done, it's time to attach the backing. This how-to video demonstrates the process of machine-sewing the backing onto the quilt, specifically with a zipper for ease of replacement. Watch this video quilting tutorial and learn how to load and press a backing onto a quilt.
How To: Origami an orizuru Japanese crane
Orizuru quite literally means "paper crane" in Japanese, and has become the ultimate origami project. This video slide show allows the user to click at their own pace, clarifying the process of folding an orizuru paper crane into 9 simple steps. All you'll need is one single square sheet of paper, or 1000 if trying to complete the Japanese legend of gaining a wish upon completing that much origami. Whatever reason had for folding the origami crane, the orizuru is a beautiful Japanese traditio...
How To: Make a chain mail suit or shirt
For all your jousting and costume needs, finally, an instructional video guide to building a chain mail suit of armor. While periodically inaccurate for Renaissance Fairs, Medieval Times employees or reenactment actors might be curious to either learn how to make the suit or at least witness the process. Chain mail was used as a protective armor in Medieval times, and was nearly impervious to arms of the period, but new advances in weaponry caused it to become obsolete. Chain mail is essentia...
How To: Fold polar animal origami with Michael LaFosse
Michael LaFosse, origami artist, created this series of video folding lessons to teach you how to craft a variety of polar animals, using just square pieces of paper. Wildlife from both North and South Poles are represented, and you can even learn how to fold their glacial habitat. The individual videos are separated into various degrees of origami skill. Just beginning? Try folding an iceberg or a cute penguin first. If you're ready to challenge yourself a little, the intermediate lessons in...
How To: Make a pair of ear hooks
This video jewelry-making tutorial shows how to make a pair of ear hooks to create your own dangling earrings. This video lesson will guide you step by step on how to make your own earrings findings - a pair of ear hooks to dangle your beads on. You will need flat nose pliers, 2 eye pins, 2 tiny beads, and you're ready to follow along with the instructions in this video to make a pair of earring hooks.
How To: Crimp a crimp bead or tube
Improve your jewelry making technique, watch this video and learn how to do basic crimp bead or tube crimping.
How To: Make an aluminum flower bouquet out of soda cans
Watch and learn with the GOMI crew. This instructional arts and crafts video shows you how to turn your empty cans into cool, beautiful flower bouquets. Recycle cans and make a fun flower design for your bedroom, dorm room or front porch. Place the aluminum flowers in a recycled glass bottle to use as a vase for your beautiful bouquet.
How To: Origami a fortune cookie
Michael LaFosse is at it again and this time he's bringing a little fortune into your future! Work along with the master as he shows you step by step instructions in this how-to video on how to fold a fortune cookie box. This project makes a perfect party favor! Follow along with this video origami tutorial and learn how to fold a fortune cookie. Origami a fortune cookie.
How To: Origami a tulip flower
Want to make a beautiful plant that never needs any watering? Then grab some paper and fold the springtime surprise in this how-to video alongside origami master, Michael LaFosse. It makes a perfect gift or even an invitation! Follow along with this video origami tutorial and learn how to fold a tulip flower. Origami a tulip flower.
How To: Origami a dinosaur
Take a trip back in time with Origami master, Michael LaFosse, as he folds an ultra cool dinosaur. Fold along with the instructions in this how-to video and you'll have your own Jurassic pal in no time! Watch this video origami tutorial and learn how to fold a dinosaur. Origami a dinosaur.
How To: Sew a tote bag and make-up case
In this video series you're going to get started on making a fabulous tote bag with a matching make-up case.
How To: Fold a safe-T dart paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the Safe-T Dart. The Safe-T Dart is a good, slow flyer. This is an intermediate origami project. Do you think the Safe-T Dart looks like a duck in flight? Fold a safe-T dart paper airplane.
How To: Throw a paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to throw a paper airplane and ensure a safe flight. Make sure all your folds are clean and crisp. Check to see if both sides of the plane look symmetrical. Adjust the tail flaps to steer your paper plane in one direction. Get ready, get set, take off! Throw a paper airplane.
How To: Fold a lock-nose dart paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the lock-nose dart. The lock-nose dart is a simple yet sophisticated paper plane. This is an intermediate origami project. The lock-nose dart is a championship flyer. Fold a lock-nose dart paper airplane.
How To: Fold a shuttle dart paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the shuttle dart. The shuttle dart airplane is an accurate, long distance flyer. This is an intermediate origami project. You will need one piece of origami paper to complete this paper craft plane. You can almost fly the shuttle dart to the moon. Fold a shuttle dart paper airplane.
How To: Fold a double flap glider paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the double flap glider. The double flap glider airplane actually flaps its wings. This is a beginner origami project. Who want to test lfy the double flap glider? Fold a double flap glider paper airplane.
How To: Fold a super suzy paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the Super Suzy. The Super Suzy airplane is a zippy flyer. This is an intermediate origami project. You will need two pieces of origami paper to complete this paper craft airplane. The Super Suzy is a cute, acrobatic paper plane. Fold a super suzy paper airplane.
How To: Fold a two-piece jet paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the two-piece jet. The two-piece jet airplane is a sharp, fast flyer. This is an intermediate origami project. You will need two pieces of origami paper to fold the two-piece jet. Fold a two-piece jet paper airplane.
How To: Fold an art-deco wing paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the art-deco wing. The art-deco airplane is a good, slow flyer. This is an intermediate origami project. You will need one piece of origami paper. The art-deco wing plane is a complex an sleek paper craft design. Fold an art-deco wing paper airplane.
How To: Fold a housefly paper airplane
Watch this instructional paper craft video to fold a paper airplane called the housefly. The housefly airplane is a good, slow flyer. This is an intermediate origami project. Doesn't this paper plane sort of look like a housefly? Fold a housefly paper airplane.
How To: Origami a fiddler crab
Watch this instructional origami video to fold an origami fiddler crab. You will need one piece of origami paper to compete this paper craft project. The fiddler crab is a difficult origami endeavor, so be patient. When completed, decorate your origami fiddler crab with cute black eyes and pink claws.
How To: Weave Byzantine chainmail
This metalsmithing video segment shows how to speed weave Byzantine chainmail.The Byzantine chain is a popular metal weave pattern for supple and flexible necklaces, bracelets, and other pieces of jewelry. This video assumes you know how to construct 2x2 chainmail units.
How To: Sew a Snail's Trail quilt block
Watch this quilting demonstration of how to sew the Snail's Trail quilt block. The Snail's Trail is an intricate quilting design that will teach you how to manage fabric piecing. Watch this instructional quilting video to properly sew the Snail's Trail quilting block with a minimal amount of errors. You can also print out the quilting block pattern for your own reference.
How To: Sew the Light and Shadows quilt block
Watch this quilting demonstration of how to sew the Light and Shadows quilt block. You can download and print out the Light and Shadows quilt block to reference as you sew this pattern. Light and Shadows is a fairly easy quilt pattern made up of squares and rectangles.
How To: Sew a Ghostwalk quilt block
Watch this quilting demonstration of how to sew the Ghostwalk quilt block which includes curved patches. The Ghostwalk quilt block is a spooky pattern that you can download and print out for your own reference. Once you learn how to sew this curved patterns, you can add regular curves to any patchwork quilt.
How To: Sew a cat's paw quilt block
Watch this quilting demonstration to sew a cat's paw quilt block. This pattern is also known as bear's paw and beggar's block. This video shows a 27 inch cat's paw quilting block.
How To: Transfer photos onto fabric
In this video you will see how to transfer a photograph onto a piece of flannel fabric. You will have to treat the flannel with Bubble jet Set 2000 to help the photo stay on the fabric longer. Use an inkjet printer to make sure the ink soaks into the fiber. Tape the treated flannel onto the printed picture and run the paper through the printer again. The printer should print directly onto the fabric without trouble!
How To: Sew curves on a patchwork quilt
Watch this instructional quilting video to sew curves on this spooky patchwork quilt using simple estimation. See how to sew a curve for a Ghostwalk patch or a Drunkards Path patch. You will have a smooth curve and won't be pulling out your hair!
How To: Measure your quilt for perfect borders
You can easily "square up" your quilt by adding borders that have been measured for perfection. The trick is to leave extra space where the fabric will stretch the most. Watch this instructional quilting video to account for small changes that occur in the sewing process to sew an exact border on your quilt.
How To: Layer your quilt for basting
If you put the layers in your quilt together correctly, your quilting will be much easier, and your finished quilt will look like a professional did it. Watch this instructional quilting video to properly layer the fabric in you quilt for basting.
How To: Alter a pre-existing quilt
Try a quilting experiment to make a radical change to your hand crafted quilt. In this video, the original quilt was much larger, and has been cut down to groups of 9 blocks. See how a different swath of fabric is sewn right through the center of the quilt.
How To: Get ready to machine quilt
Make your sewing space perfect for machine quilting. Watch an experienced quilter set up and make the first few machine quilting stitches. This video is helpful for those who work in a combination of hand sewing and quilting with a sewing machine.
How To: Tie a knot in your thread for hand sewing
See how to tie a knot in your thread for hand sewing. This knot can easily be hidden inside a quilt. This is a simple quilting lesson, but worth taking the time to learn properly. You don't want your quilt falling apart at the seams.
How To: Blindstitch in quilting
Watch this instructional quilting video to learn how to blind stitch. A blind stitch is terrific when you don't want stitching to show through on the face of your fabric. You will be able to attach a label, secure your binding, and attach appliqué pieces to your quilt.
How To: Chain sew patches in quilt blocks
See exactly how to chain sew half square triangles to make a quilt block. When you have a large number of quilting block you may find that they don't line up exactly. Watch this instructional quilting video to several quilting patches together at once, in a chain formation.
How To: Line up your quilting fabric for a straight cut
See how to line up the selvedge edges of your fabric so you cut straight strips every time. Complicated quilts require almost every piece of fabric to have precise dimensions to fulfill an exact geometric purpose in the quilt design. Watch this instructional quilting video to hang your fabric as a way of measuring and folding your fabric for cutting.
How To: Use a rotary cutter for right handed quilting
Watch an experienced quilter glide through four layers of fabric to make a clean cut with a rotary cutter. This instructional quilting video shows how a right handed person would cut fabric. You will also need a straight edge and a cutting mat in addition to a rotary cutter in order to make straight cut in quilting fabric.
How To: Tie a knot in thread for hand sewing or quilting
This instructional sewing video shows an easy way to tie a knot in your thread for hand sewing an quilting. This is a simple sewing trick, but it's worth taking the time to learn how to tie a failsafe knot. Don't let your sewing projects fall apart at the seams.
How To: Crochet a simple pansy flower
Crochet a pretty pansy flower. Follow these crochet instructions to knit a pansy flower ornament. You may want to reference some written flower pattern crochet instructions in addition to watching this video. Use this cute crocheted pansy flower for ornaments on larger garments, pillows, or hair ties.
How To: Knit a basic purl bind off
This instructional knitting video demonstrates how to knit the basic purl bind off. After you cast on, knit and purl your pattern and finish your project, there's just one more step that has to be completed: get your project off the needles. The purl bind off is a simple and quick method for making a finished edge.