Oh this one is FUN.
This week’s Freebie Friday – Junk Journal Images is for anyone who loves a little grit, a little nostalgia, and a whole lot of personality layered into their pages.
We’ve stepped away from florals and … Read More...
I started writing this one as a designer spotlight kind of post, and then I realized when I was almost done with it that I had actually featured this designer before. It was in late 2024, so I’ll forgive myself … Read More...
If you’re thinking about selling your handmade sewing items, this is usually the first big question that pops up:
Should I start with a craft fair… or open an Etsy shop?
It sounds like a simple choice, but it’s … Read More...
Whether you’re stitching for back to school or making gifts for a book lover, these book themed bookmark cross stitch patterns are a lot of fun to stitch and to use if your next read.
Display your bookworm tendencies with … Read More...
I’ll admit it — I have a soft spot for anything with mushrooms and moss, and this sweet little needle felting kit from PandaHall completely captured me. The soft blue tones give it such a dreamy, fairy-tale feel — … Read More...
If you’re not familiar a Gel Press is a large clear flexible printing plate, it reminds me of a clear stamp without a design, that you can use to create all different types of fun backgrounds for your paper crafts … Read More...
I’ll be honest — I’m a bit in love with this one. The Polly Tea Dress is exactly the kind of pattern that makes you look at your fabric stash differently. You know those larger scrap pieces you’ve been hanging … Read More...
Siren Stitchworks has cross stitch patterns that feel like old samplers (and some of them are in fact historical reproductions) even when they are modern designs. They have patriotic patterns, biscornus, pop culture patterns and more so let’s take a … Read More...
Sea turtles are a fun ocean creature that’s fun to learn about in summer, so let’s take a look at some learning activities related to sea turtles.
We love to start with the parts of an animal, and Homeschool Preschool… Read More...
I don’t know when or why I cam across this cross stitch pattern, but it’s been on my list to share for a while and today’s the day.
This design from AllaboutxStitch features a giant, colorful wreath with all sorts … Read More...
If your fabric stash looks anything like mine, there is probably a pile of fat quarters somewhere that started out as “just one cute bundle” and somehow turned into a whole little fabric library. No judgement here. I have absolutely … Read More...
Last year I shared my cute pencil cross stitch bookmark pattern, so I thought this year maybe I would look for more pencil cross stitch patterns to celebrate back to school or the writer in your life.
If you’re … Read More...
When summer reaches that point where simply walking to the letterbox feels like an endurance event, a DIY cooling neck scarf can make outdoor jobs far more comfortable.
These clever little fabric wraps are filled with a very small amount … Read More...
Lifted Spirit Patterns is a cross stitch Etsy shop based in Australia that specializes in vintage travel poster style cross stitch patterns, but has a lot of other fun stuff, too. Let’s check it out!
By far the biggest category … Read More...
This free flower embroidery pattern sounds like such a pretty option for updating plain clothing. The petal design is intended for necklines, which gives it a slightly more fashion-inspired feel than a standard hoop project.
I really like patterns like … Read More...
Most of the cross stitch projects I make are pretty small and not something I would consider heirloom quality (though I am working on a big project for my daughter that I hope to have done for her high school … Read More...
If you’ve ever dreamed of making your own felted handbag from scratch, Gillian Gladrag’s Wet Felted Handbag Tutorial is a must-watch. True to her signature style, this video is a joyful, wool-filled adventure that blends skill, artistry, and a splash … Read More...
Choosing the right necklace length can make a huge difference to how a handmade necklace looks and feels. You can use beautiful beads, the perfect clasp, and the prettiest pendant in the drawer, but if the necklace length is wrong, … Read More...
While no one would likely use a knit backpack for school, knitting a backpack is a fun way to show off your knitting skills and carry around your project or everyday essentials instead of using a purse. Check out these … Read More...
This one has such a peaceful, dreamy feel to it. The Printable Young Lady Sit in a Hammock Reading Her Book pattern from EmbroideryAndMind is a digital download for hand embroidery, and Etsy lists it as including 4 PDF files… Read More...
Sewing Pattern Saturday is where I get to dig into independent Etsy sewing patterns that feel thoughtful, wearable, and genuinely useful. Each review is written from a real sewist’s point of view, looking at how the pattern works in everyday … Read More...
Thousands of native animals get caught in back yard fruit nets, fences and fishing line every year. Here’s what you can do to help
Change by degrees offers life hacks and sustainable living tips each Saturday to help reduce your household’s carbon footprint
Got a question or tip for reducing household emissions? Email us at changebydegrees@theguardian.com
Thousands of native animals get snared in fruit tree netting, fencing and fishing gear every year in Australia – events that frequently result in injury or death.
Wildlife entanglements are rising, with at least 3,500 cases annually in New South Wales, and more than 2,000 last year in Victoria.
Continue reading...
Curved hems are one of those sewing jobs that look innocent until you actually sit down to sew one. A straight hem? Lovely. Fold, press, stitch, done. But a curved hem? Suddenly the fabric has opinions.
If you’ve ever tried … Read More...
I feel like I’ve written a lot about French knots, probably because they are one of those things that’s pretty common in cross stitch but also that give some stitchers problems. So let’s take another look at how to … Read More...
Sewing a shirt collar is one of those jobs that can make even confident sewists suddenly find urgent reasons to reorganise the button tin. It looks simple enough sitting there on the pattern sheet, but once you add curves, collar … Read More...
What makes a good beach bag? It is a bag that’s big enough to hold everything you need? A replacement for your purse that can get sandy? Something with holes for carrying your shell collection? This roundup of beach bag … Read More...
Summer is the ideal time to include Citrus on your scrapbook layouts and other paper crafting projects. This sweet layered wreath is filled with lemons, limes and oranges, whole and sliced, with leaves. Use an electronic die cutting machine to … Read More...
Baby bibs are one of those sewing projects that never go out of style — not because they’re trendy, but because they’re endlessly useful. This Baby Bib Sewing Pattern (Mix & Match) stood out because it understands real-life baby mess … Read More...
I love scrapbooking “off the page”, meaning something that’s not on a flat common sheet of cardstock to go inside of an album and doing something really non-traditional! Well, this project from Aline really fits the bill with a scrapbook … Read More...
If you love old needlework books with that charming “found in a dusty drawer” sort of feel, Early American Embroidery Designs has a lot going for it. This is not a trendy modern pattern book, and honestly, that is exactly … Read More...
I feel like I haven’t shared many knitting machine patterns lately, probably because I haven’t been using my knitting machines much lately. (I finally made space for them to live on the bookshelf in my office, and now that they … Read More...
I have always had a soft spot for linen, but washed linen is having a serious moment in 2026 — and this is one fabric trend that actually ...
