Sewing machine

Toadstool Tote and Rain Bucket Hat

Toadstool Tote and Rain Bucket Hat

The eco-savvy shopper brings her own reusable bags to the store, at least when she remembers them. But when life hands you lemons (or wasteful plastic bags), make lemonade — or in this case — toadstools! The Toadstool Tote and coordinating Rain Bucket Hat are made entirely from plastic shopping bags. When layered and heated […]

Otedama

Otedama

Need to improve your hand-eye coordination? Take up juggling. And make it crafty by whipping up a set of these soft, colorful Japanese juggling toys. All you need are some fabric scraps and a handful of dried beans or rice. The Japanese word otedama refers to a variety of juggling games, played with small handmade […]

Modular Colorwork Yarn Holders

Modular Colorwork Yarn Holders

When working on a knitting or crochet project that uses multiple colors, trying to keep the balls of yarn from tangling can be an absolute nightmare – especially if you’re crafting on the go or using a persnickety fiber. Modular yarn holders can help save your sanity (and your yarn) by keeping each color neatly […]

Recycled Wool Rug

Recycled Wool Rug

Introduction by Wendy Tremayne I once heard someone refer to a rug as a guest rather than a possession. A home without a carpet does feel lonely. We suspect that even our “guests” have a story to tell. We search them for traces of places, times, and people, for records of beliefs and events. In […]

Fringy Loom-Woven Pillow

Fringy Loom-Woven Pillow

For the budding weaver, a rigid heddle loom is affordable and easy to use. To make this woven pillow, you’ll use one color of yarn for the threads on the loom (the warp), and another color to weave with (the weft). To accent your pillow you’ll use a bundle of 4 colors and a pick-up […]

Tie One On

Tie One On

So many cool ties, but who wants to wear them around their neck? Why not sew them together to make a funky skirt? A couple of months ago a friend gave me a fabulous collection of vintage and not-so-vintage neckties. Thrilled, I sorted out the ties that were too fragile and those with spots or […]

Swing Shift Ruffles

Swing Shift Ruffles

This project is like learning to make a whole closet full of skirts and dresses. Follow the steps and you’ll have a simple dress or skirt that is endlessly alterable. For the dress, you can make it as a halter, with shoulder ties, with straps, or strapless. The skirt is made with a simple elastic […]