Hot Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Assemble a handy book to organize ribbon
If you're an arts and crafts fanatic then you probably have more than your fair share of ribbons lying all around the house. You snip off one long piece from the roll and then you have to go and tape it to itself again to keep everything in place, and then eventually you give up and the remaining ribbon ends up in an odds-and-ends jar.
How To: Upcycle an old tank into an overall tank top
Got an old tank top that has a beautiful print but whose shape is a little out of fashion? Don't just let it collect dust in your closet or toss it over to Goodwill! Check out this DIY video to learn how to sew together an overall tank top.
How To: Add personal embellishments to a tote bag
You're probably more than aware by now of the recyclable, reusable tote trend at most stores. Rather than waste a plastic bag, which is non-renewable, you tug along a few cloth tote bags to the store to put your purchases in.
How To: Make eccentric fabric coasters with Whitney Sews
Still using those boring plastic coasters that you got at a sale at Ralph's? Add some personal style to the mix the next time you serve your friends some soda by making your own coasters!
How To: Cast on from the Clover Wonder Knitter (6-pegged head)
If you've already tried the 3-pegged head on the Clover Wonder Knitter, it's time to try out the 6-pegged one. The Crochet Crowd shows you how to cast on from the 6-knobbed head with ease. This tool is a great way to experiment with your knitting skills!
How To: Cast on from the Clover Wonder Knitter (3-pegged head)
Clover's Wonder Knitter is a nifty little device that comes with a 3- and 6-pegged head. This is a great little device to experiment with and The Crochet Crowd is going to show you how to cast on from the 3-knobbed head. Also, check out the 6-pegged head tutorial.
How To: Knit a picot cast on for baby sweaters, blankets and other knitted projects
Master knitter Judy shows you how to knit a picot cast on in this knitting video. If you haven't figured out how to cast on yet, you should probably watch her video on that first. This is a sweet edging for the bottom of a baby sweater or blanket. There are many other instances where you would want to use a picot cast on, as well. Learn it with this up close demonstration by Judy Graham, Knitter to the Stars.
News: Massive Origami Boat Floats Down the Thames
Everybody has some kind of calling in life and it looks like artist Frank Bölter's is the construction of life-sized origami boats. He's done it before, and he's at it again. His latest creation recently set sail on the Thames as a part of London's Drift10 art exhibition.
How To: Knit Ribbing
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) ...
How To: Make quilled Christmas bells for a card
Are you really into making your own greeting cards? Then you should definitely introduce quilling into your craft oeuvre. Quilling creates a rococo 3D effect that makes every design you adhere to a card more interesting.
How To: Craft quilled wreaths and candles for a Christmas card
When it comes to presents, take it from us: Homemade and coming from the heart is nice, but there's very little that can beat a brand new iPad sitting beneath the Christmas tree. While we do prefer our presents nice and shiny, homemade cards are another matter.
How To: Make a Mexican friendship bracelet with an "S" spiral
Friendship bracelets are the most personal testaments to a good friend that you can make. Celebrate your friendship while creating a work of art that will last a very long time by weaving together this friendship bracelet with an "S" spiral.
How To: Sew leggings using the M6173 Pattern by McCalls
Leggings have the unique ability of covering you up (as long as we're not talking sub zero temperatures here) and keeping you warm and fashionable at the same time. They allow you to continue wearing certain fall dresses into fall. and look great in a pair of boots.
How To: Transform your old jeans into fashionable shorts
Got a pair of old blue jeans that fit you like a glove but you recently spilled a can of paint all over the bottom and now it just makes you look like a contractor every time you wear it? Don't toss your jeans out!
How To: Customize your jeans six different ways with DIY tips
Just because when you bought your jeans it said that it was just one type of jean - bootcut or skinny - doesn't mean you can't wear it in different ways by either rolling them up or by slashing in holes to make them look worn.
How To: Fold a beautiful Marie Antoinette paper doll
Queen Marie Antoinette was both loved and despised by her people, but there was one thing that was undisputed: Her exquisite (though often over-the-top style). Big poufy gowns with lots of underwire, towering white wigs, and frilly lace and ruffles made her look like a sparkly birthday cake.
How To: Fold an origami English rose paper doll
The English rose has traditionally been a beautiful young woman who glows with beauty and sensibility. Yet she is also very English and possesses a stylish and endearing quirkiness.
How To: Fold funny origami kissing lips
Kissing lips are probably not the first thing you'd think of folding using the origami method, but trust us, after you've tucked and molded that 1,000th crane you'll be dying for something new.
How To: Fold a beautiful origami Japanese brocade
When you hear the word "brocade," you're probably thinking more about richly woven fabric than folded paper. Well, this origami Japanese "brocade" is based on the brocade look - an embossed, studded cloth.
How To: Fold a 3D "Starlight Princess" origami woman
If you've folded more origami cranes and frogs than you can count and you've exercised your fingers to the point that they can do handstands when you're not looking, then you are ready to embark on a truly glorious origami folding mission.
How To: Fold an origami 3D man wearing a tuxedo
Okay, so you can probably tell by the picture of this project alone that it isn't for origami beginners. That being said, if you feel you are a true origami folding, finger aerobatic champion, then check out this video to learn how to fold a complex 3D man wearing a ruffled tuxedo.
How To: Make a handwoven cloth bohemian bracelet
Bohemian jewelry is all the rage in Hollywood. Stars pay literally hundreds of dollars to get their bohemian jewelry fix, but you don't need to spend more than a few bucks - if any - to tote around a beautiful piece.
How To: Make a DIY double braided elastic headband
Bohemian headbands are everywhere in Hollywood. Fashion designer and waif Nicole Richie is frequently spotted wearing them around town as well as on the red carpet (showing just how versatile they are), and Mischa Barton doesn't leave the house without one.
How To: Upcycle old jewelry into a fashionable bracelet
Got a bunch of old mismatched (or just plain fugly) necklaces and bracelets lying around? If you're like us, your first thought is "ew" and your second thought is to toss them, fast. But there's more fashionable potential in these jewelry pieces than you think.
How To: Create your own Native American bone flute
The Native Americans were reknown for their ability to make use of every part of the animals they hunted for food. In this tutorial, you're shown how to make a traditional tribal flute from the leg bone of a deer.
How To: Make a DIY spiral braided bracelet with a charm
Bohemian ware is all the rage these days - from bohemian headbands to necklaces to hemp jewelry, the braided, slightly undone look is all the rage. Get in on the trend without dropping mad stacks at a store by creating this cute spiral braided bracelet.
How To: Wrap a small knitting loom for crochet
A knitting loom is a small tool you can use to expand your repertoire of crochet stitches. It's not difficult to master the trick. Watch this video and learn how to string your own knitting loom with a styler pen.
How To: Fix frays when knitting with homespun yarn
Fix your frays! This home knitting video tutorial will teach you how to solve fraying problems when knitting with homespun yarn. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get rid of frays in your own homespun yarn, watch this helpful video tutorial.
How To: Make a festive paper box with Dawn of Dawn's Stamping Thoughts
Looking for your next craft project? Why not a bright and festive paper box? This video guide from Dawn of Dawn's Stamping Thoughts will teach you everything you need to know. For all of the details, and step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Crochet a scarf with a right-handed Afghan or Tunisian stich & a crochet shell
Learn how to use a right-handed Afghan (or Tunisian) crochet stitch with a crochet shell when crocheting a scarf. You can easily modify the size to make a baby or a full-sized afghan. For step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Crochet a scarf with a left-handed Afghan or Tunisian stich & a crochet shell
Learn how to use a left-handed Afghan (or Tunisian) crochet stitch with a crochet shell when crocheting a scarf. You can easily modify the size to make a baby or a full-sized afghan. For step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Make a homemade Diwali greeting card
For this Diwali, try making your own homemade greeting card for family members and friends. You don't need much to make your own card for Diwali (aka Divali, Deepavali or the festival of lights). Even children can make DIY cards with some raw or unused materials. Diwali is a five-day festival, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and usually occurs from mid-October to mid-November.
How To: Crochet a looped fringe using the broomstick technique
Learn how to to make a light, non-chain-stitched loop fringe using broomstick crochet. Though called the broomstick technique, you needn't use an actual broomstick, just something that recalls the shape of one—like, for example, a cardboard paper towel tube. For detailed instructions, watch this free video crochet lesson.
How To: Create a chain loop fringe when crocheting
This video presents an overview of how to do a loopy fringe when crocheting. It's easy; all you'll need are loops of twelve chain stiches and then single crochet. For a complete overview, and to get started incorporating loopy fringes into your own garments, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Create a twisted Solomon Bar paracord bracelet
In this clip, we learn how to make a twisted Solomon Bar bracelet with paracord. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's quite easy. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started making your own paracord bracelets, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Make a cute Thanksgiving turkey hair clip
This is a great seasonal arts and crafts project that you can do to turn a basic barette into a Thanksgiving themed hair clip. By using just a little bit of fall colored ribbon and some brown felt, you can make a cute turkey barette!
How To: Create a faux quilted pumpkin for a fall decoration
Add a little fall feeling to your home with this lovely craft - create faux quilted pumpkins. You will need a styrofoam ball, fat quarters of fabric in various fall colors, crafting glue, a paint brush and a small piece of wood to use as the stem.
How To: Sew stuffed pumpkins as an autumn decoration
Here's an adorable and fun decorating idea that you can use all through the autumn! Make a patch full of adorable stuffed fabric pumpkins. You'll need some orange and green fabric scraps, straight pins, a hand sewing needle, scissors and stuffing or batting.
How To: Fold an Origami Peacock or Turkey
If you fold this out of some blue, green or violet paper, it's a peacock! But if you decide to make it from brown, orange or yellow paper, it's a turkey! Make a dozen of them to use as Thanksgiving decorations!
How To: Bind Off on a Purl Stitch
You've come to the end of your work and are ready to BIND OFF, but you're on a PURL row. What to do? You've learned how to BIND OFF on a knit stitch, but this is something new. Usually you will do the BIND OFF stitch on a knit row, but now your pattern is telling you to BIND OFF on a Purl row. Sometimes, like in ribbing, you will need to do both. If you've never bound off purling here are the instructions to follow.