Learn how to bead a necklace with this jewelry making tutorial. This lesson teaches you which tools you'll need, how to create your own necklace design, and how to successfully complete your beading project. Take what you've learned here to design your own handmade bracelet and necklace set!
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Want to make an elegant, unique piece of jewelry? Learn how to make a wrap-around macramé charm bracelet! Follow along with designer Brittany Ketcham as she teaches you the macramé bollywood and ladder stitches to weave seed beads and C-Lon around leather cord. Find out how to craft a button clasp for the bracelet, and see how to change out your C-Lon cord so that your bracelet can change color as it progresses. Use the bracelet as a perfect homemade gift for a friend, or keep it for yourself!
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You can do a lot with a single crochet stitch, but you can do more if you add in a double crochet, too! This short lesson walks you through the steps for creating the vital double crochet stitch - also known as a treble crochet stitch. You’ll learn two styles so that you can follow different patterns that involve this stitch. You’ll be glad to have learned this classic technique!
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Learn how to make homemade soap! Homemade soaps are especially great for party favors or hostess gifts. In this lesson from The O’Neil Sisters, discover all the basics of soapmaking at home. You’ll learn how to select and prepare the soap, colorant, and scents, as well as how to package your finished products for cute party gifts.
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You've bought a bouquet of flowers at the store, but how do you take that jumble of stems and turn them into a beautiful flower arrangement? In this lesson, uBloom teaches a very literal shortcut: cutting the stems short to fit in a low vase, bunching all the blooms together and inserting stems at angles to support one another. This technique makes it easy and fun to arrange flowers nicely, and the lesson includes tips on tools you'll need and how to prepare the the water and flower food.
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Show us a photo of your flower arrangement! Prefer not to purchase a fresh bouquet? Try faux-flowers or flowers plucked from your garden.
Granny squares are great beginner crochet patterns, but also give advanced crocheters plenty of opportunities to experiment with variations. Learn how to crochet a granny square in this lesson! Tamara from Moogly explains the crochet stitches needed to start the pattern, and shows how to add new rows and corners and complete a pattern you can be proud of.
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Knowing your way around a sewing machine opens up a whole new world of creativity! From clothing to home décor to customized gifts, sewing provides you with a range of opportunities to use your skills, save money, and bring your artistic designs to life. In this sewing lesson, Mimi G shows you around a sewing machine, explaining the most basic functions that most machines are equipped to do, describes the most necessary tools you’ll need to begin, and teaches you how to read a pattern.
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Want to learn how to crochet? First, you'll want to buy some yarn and a hook. Then you'll need to learn these two steps: how to make a slip knot and how to chain stitch (the foundation chain). In this beginners crochet lesson, crocheting and knitting expert Gilly shows you these simple crochet fundamentals, as well as how to choose the size of your hook. Once you get this down--and learn how to crochet rows --you'll be ready to crochet that purse, baby's hat, or scarf you've been dreaming about.
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This one is for you advanced crocheters - learn how to crochet a crocodile stitch with cotton yarn and an H hook. Put together techniques such as working around the post, a double crochet, and a slip stitch to create rows and rows of crocodile scales. Crochet rounded or pointed scales and keep your rows even by maintaining a pattern for your number of scales. Use this stitch as an add-on or crochet an entire piece with the crocodile stitch.
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This lesson will teach the budding painter how to add dimension to an acrylic painting of the ocean by using the wet-on-wet technique. By layering and blending colors of wet paint, artists can create a realistic painting of ocean waves crashing, complete with variations in tone and color. This lesson teaches how to mix paint to achieve a richer picture, as well as how to add reflection to water and give sea foam the illusion of volume by using highlights and shadows.
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In for a long car or airplane ride? Bring along your beading tray and whip out a cute Bollywood beaded macrame bracelet (or two!) designed by Brittany Ketcham. This lesson from Beadshop lists all the supplies needed, which include: Chinese knotting cord, metallic seed beads, thread snips and a thread burner. You’ll need to know how to tie a few knots, but you’ll learn how to stitch macrame. Make a ton of these DIY bracelets in multiple colors for stacking!
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Rag rugs are attractive, hard-wearing & incredibly cheap, easy and great fun to make, especially using a Salish Loom. Lynne Milsom from Fibre Arts Bootcamp guides you every step of the way from where to find rags, how to cut the strips, warp the loom, weave, splice and everything else you need to know, in order to complete your first rag project.
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Looking for a new stitch to incorporate into your crocheting? Look no further than the shallow single crochet stitch. This stitch looks so much like it was knit, no one will tell the difference! In this lesson from Yarn Obsession, Sedie demonstrates how to complete this stitch, beginning with the base chain and allowing an extra stitch for the turning chain. Once your chain is completed, learn how to do the shallow single crochet, plus how to turn and create the next row of stitches.
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Do you have trouble keeping track of your crochet chain stitches? It’s a pain to count out each row! Learn how to stitch a foundation double crochet for a more accurate count. This stitch creates a thick and distinct initial chain to serve as the foundation for the rest of your piece. Begin with a slip stitch on your hook, chain a few links, yarn over, and pull through for a clean foundation double crochet.
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Are you a quilting enthusiast looking for a practical, DIY kitchen accessory? In this lesson, learn how to make an insulated pot holder that doubles as a trivet. Crafty Gemini demonstrates each simple step, from gathering your materials to setting the final stitch. Customize your piece with decorative stitching, colorful fabric, and/or extra insulation; the final product will be one-of-a-kind.
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Looking to grow your artistic side? Try watercolor painting! This lesson will outline all the supplies you need to get started on your journey. Watercolor is a form of visual art that traditionally uses water-soluble paints on thick paper. You’ll learn the basic brushes and colors you need for a starter-kit, as well as how to choose a palette and pad of paper. Once you’ve got the essential tools and supplies you need, you’ll be ready to create original and beautiful pieces of art.
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Looking for a quick and easy DIY quilt top? This lesson by Fat Quarter Shop will show you how to use a jelly roll to create a 36” by 36” quilt that is colorful, quirky, and most of all, simple to sew together. You’ll learn how to assemble strips of fabric to create blocks, and then cut and combine those blocks to create the quilt. By following this quilting pattern, you’ll be able to create two blankets from each jelly roll you purchase.
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Looking for a new jewelry making technique? Learn how to locker hook beautiful handmade bracelets out of yarn, ribbon, recycled silk, and fabric. In this lesson, Theresa Pulido will share tips and tricks from her most recent book on locker hooking, Locking Loops. A cross between needlework, crochet, and latch hook, locker hooking is a unique needlecraft that is equally fun for kids and adults.
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Your favorite jeans may be expensive, or maybe they just fit perfectly. But just because a hole appears in your favorite Levis or Lucky’s doesn’t mean that you need to retire them. Extend the life of your jeans (and save some cash while you are at it) by learning how to repair them. All you need is a thick piece of cloth, scissors, straight pins, thread and the zig zag stitch on your sewing machine. They may not last forever, but your favorite jeans just got a new lease on life.
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Take a picture to show off your new sewing skills! Don't have a pair of jeans to repair? Try using a scrap piece of fabric instead!
Bead weaving without a beading loom? Believe it! This lesson shows you how to weave a bracelet from a pattern with just a design tray, warp thread and a weft. This woven bracelet consists of KO thread, beading needles, seed beads, compassion suede, ultra suede, transition beads and pony beads. With just one setup, you can produce 4 woven bracelets! Set aside a rainy afternoon and invite your friends over for this fun DIY jewelry project.
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