Your friends and family will be “bowled” over by this little yarn bowl from String Craft by Lucy Hopping. It is made from a simple handmade cord, created by joining yarn strands with a machine zigzag stitch, which is then coiled and sewn together by hand. You will need Cotton Aran yarn in mustard, teal, green, burnt orange, pinky-red Scissors Sewing machine Coordinating sewing thread Needle Method 1. Take three pieces of yarn, each a different color and each a slightly different length: 20 in. (50 cm), 30 in. (75 cm), 40 in. (100 cm). Align one end of each and start...
Painting furniture can seem daunting, as once you have painted a piece of wood, it feels like there is no way back. (There is, of course, but it involves a lot of sanding!) In addition, you might not know which colours you want to live with, so testing out a non-permanent colour scheme can only be good. In these cases, cue the washi tape! This tape is easy to remove, so it’s the perfect partner for the craft beginner or the fickle of mind. Simply stick the tape to a chest of drawers to create great geometric patterns that almost look painted on.
Using natural fabrics and materials in crafting, like string and twice, can add different textures. This tutorial uses a mix of jute and waxed linen twine, they are different weights—the linen twine is much thinner—but this gives contrast. The frame used is quite an unusual shape. It is more likely that you will find a cone shape, so there are instructions for both. This lamp is finished with a cloth-bound flex that came as a kit with all the light fittings. These are easy to buy now and the flex often comes in a huge variety of colours. Make sure you get an electrician to wire it for you. As you get used to wrapping the twine around the frame, you build up a rhythm that is repetitive and soothing.
This pretty vintage fabric letter from Letter Crafts by Clare Youngs is the perfect way to upcycle that old pair of curtains or stash of fabric you have lying around, just waiting to be made into something. You can use contrasting fabric on the reverse, making the letter double sided.
These DIY projects are a great way to pass the time and add a new piece to your home without buying anything. Upcycling is not only a fun way to get creative, but it is also great for the environment. Try one of the tutorials below to see how you can upcycle and turn something you already own into something new.
