Volume 09: Crafting Green

Recycled, repurposed, and reused materials are the focus of the projects in this issue, which will also feature a DIY holiday gift guide. Create cool crafts and save the planet at the same time! Our November issue focuses on all things green: Eco-friendly projects, features on crafters and companies that promote environmentally friendly practices, and just in time for the holiday frenzy, an inspiring gallery of DIY gifts.

View a list of all links referenced in this volume

Table of Contents

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Celebrating What Comes to Us Naturally: Being Green by Tina Barseghian in Welcome to Craft
Green doesn’t have to be defined, put in quotes, expounded upon, or capitalized, because it’s a part of our everyday vernacular. Page 10

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Suffer the Little Children ... by Susie Bright in Susie's Home Ec
And let them take a stitch. Page 14

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Under Armor by Katie Kurtz in Handmade
Ingrid Goldbloom Bloch creates bustiers, garters, and underpants from recycled soda cans and hardware. Page 16

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Remade in France by Johanna Bailey in Handmade
French designer Frédérique Morrel recrafts vintage needlework into useful items. Page 18

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Hardly Strictly Wearable by Megan Mansell Williams in Handmade
Seattle artist Sarah Hood makes tiny sculptures that also happen to be jewelry. Page 19

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Transgressive Textiles by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith in Handmade
Maggie Orth creates electronic fabrics. Page 20

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Grotesque Menagerie by Thomas Walker Wilson in Handmade
The beasts of Jessica Joslin’s menagerie are equally haunting and compelling. Page 21

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Renting Is the New Buying by Ulla-Maaria Engeström in Linkages
Are being green and having a little bit of luxury from time to time mutually exclusive desires? Page 22

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Curio in Curio
Some of our favorite handcrafted objects on display. Page 24

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Studies in Portraiture by Julie Jackson
Attention to detail takes on new meaning in the work of Michael Aaron McAllister. Page 28

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Whose Craft Is It, Anyway? by Rachel Hobson, Diane Gilleland
Elder crafters respond to the slogan “Not your grandma’s craft.” Page 32

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Blooming Design by Erin McKean
A new web-based service allows crafters to customize 
fabric design. Page 34

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Craft a Green World by Autumn Wiggins
An idealist’s perspective on creating a sustainable future. Page 38

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Resources for the Eco-Crafter by Victoria Everman
Find sustainable craft supplies for any project. Page 39

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Toadstool Tote and Rain Bucket Hat by Betz White
Fuse your plastic shopping bags into fun, retro-modern accessories. Page 40

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Big Ideas by the Staff at Treehugger and Planet Green
A selection of the hottest green goodness on the horizon. Page 46

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

One-Track Mind by Tina Barseghian
Michelle Kaufmann sees nothing but green on the horizon. Page 48

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Solar Power by Michelle Kaufmann
Preserve herbs with a sun-dryer made from reused materials. Page 49

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Unraveling Cream City Ribbon by Faythe Levine
A peek into the only cotton ribbon manufacturer in the United States. Page 52

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Second Lives by Laura Kiniry


A roundup of resourceful crafters who revive all manner of objects. Page 54

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

The Future of Fashion by Victoria Everman
The designers of Pamoyo go open source. Page 56

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Hydroponic Veggie Garden by Brookelynn Morris
Grow your own with this compact system, perfect for the urban gardener. Page 58

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

To Knit or Not by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
The worthy get the spoils. Page 62

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Mix-and-Match Greeting Cards by Diane Gilleland
Combine 3 paper-crafting techniques to make truly custom cards. Page 63

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Fancy Feltwork by Tiffany Threadgould
Transforming old wool sweaters into new creations never felt so good. Page 67

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Reclaimed Vase by Natalie Friedman

Make a papier-maché vessel out of an old plastic container. Page 70

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Button-Up Bud Vase by Linda Permann
Crochet a cozy that'll transform a bottle into a cute vase, or use it as a bottle wrap. Page 73

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Furoshiki Fabric Folding by Jimmy Ho
Wrap that's as good as the gift. Page 76

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

T-Shirt Tote by The Designers at Burdastyle
Upcycle that old tee into a tote. Page 78

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Mosaic Masterpiece by Brookelynn Morris
Bedeck a wooden table with your old (but meaningful) plates and ceramics. Page 82

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Vintage Book Stash by Matt Maranian
Repurpose library discards to create a concealed cache that's fit for a small-time jewel thief. Page 90

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Precious Pendants by Robyn Kleinhans
Make a charm necklace using precious metal clay. Page 98

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Los Angeles by Cathy Callahan in Travel Crafty
Tap into the crafty offerings of the City of Angels. Page 106

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Yerba Maté by Lincoln Kamm in Quick Craft
Make this South American tea the traditional way. Page 110

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Red Wine Vinegar by Alastair Bland in DIY: Ferment It
Go gourmet with leftover wine. Page 111

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Magically Clean Eco Tawashi by Narumi Ogawa in DIY: Clean It
Crochet this pretty and practical acrylic sponge to clean your dishes without soap. Page 114

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Electronic Embroidery by Becky Stern in DIY: Light It
Stitch a high-tech wall hanging that doubles as a nightlight. Page 117

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Photo Flipbook by Helen Bradley in DIY: Flip It
Use your own photos to create this classic hybrid between book and movie. Page 120

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Sharp Magnetism by Adam Mann in DIY: Hang It
Create a magnetic rack to hang your blades. Page 123

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

How to Make Ratatouille by Élena Nazzaro in Art of Cooking
Élena Nazzaro explores the art of putting together a colorful ratatouille. Page 126

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Eco-Fashion Refashion by Natalie Zee Drieu in CRAFT: Collections
We adore these designers for their green fashion sense - from sustainable and organic fabrics to clothing that’s recycled into something new and stylish. Page 128

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

SketchUp by Emily Albinski in 101
Model your project ideas in 3D, with free software from Google. Page 130

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Gingerboard House by Tootie Maldonado, Billie Lopez in Play
Cook up these cute, no-baking-required houses for a reusable gift box or creative handmade tchotchke. Page 136

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Bazaar by Natalie Zee Drieu in Bazaar
Crafty goods we adore. Page 140

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Think Outside the Cereal Box by Tiffany Threadgould in Recycle It
These projects are fortified with real recycling flavor. Page 144

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

It's Easy Being Green by Nick Dragotta, Saul Griffith in Crafty Howtoons
Make a bird feeder with an old plastic bottle. Page 146

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Personal Print and Pattern by Grace Bonney in DIY: Design
Customize your home with designs of your very own. Page 148

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Life Cycle by Wendy Tremayne in Re: Fitted
The I ♥ Roswell project: It’s free, adapted, and homegrown. Page 150

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Holiday Card Ornament by Cathy Callahan in Old School
Use this year's cards to make next year's ornaments. Page 152

Subscribers: Read this article now in your MAKE Digital Edition!

Mosaic on Wheels by Carla Sinclair in Makeover
A bicycle sports a fresh tile mosaic. Page 160

Mulitimedia for this Volume

Bucket hat pattern from Toadstool Tote and Rain Bucket Hat

Download now: PDF

Mushroom template from Toadstool Tote and Rain Bucket Hat

Download now: PDF

Electronic 
embroidery pattern from Electronic Embroidery

Download now: PDF

Charging caddy tutorial video from SketchUp

The video version of the tutorial in CRAFT magazine

Download now: QuickTime .MOV

Wall-mounted caddy tutorial video from SketchUp

In this video, you learn how to use the Arc Tool to make hanging slots on the back, and the Follow Me Tool to add some rounded edges.

Download now: QuickTime .MOV

Business card template from Think Outside the Cereal Box

Download now: PDF