Fabric & Needle Crafts

How to Knit Names

Knitting names is best worked on a background with charts. Some letters are very difficult to knit properly, so using the intarsia method of knitting works best. Pick a background color and a color for the letters. Decide on the size of the piece first, and check your gauge to determine the number of stitches per inch before beginning to graph the letters. Knit names flat, and put the piece in a frame as a great gift for a child's room.

How to Attach a Knit Pocket

A pocket can be added to pretty much any knitted item, such as a cardigan, sweater, vest or scarf. Generally made from a knitted rectangle or square, a pocket is attached in the final stages of a project and can be easily added to any part of the item using a needle and yarn.

How to Braid Paracord Weave

The braid used to tie up lengths of paracord is known as the daisy chain braid. This style of chain braiding is uncomplicated and does not require any special knowledge of knot tying. The advantage of the daisy chain braid is that you can quickly untie the cord into the full length within seconds, but still keep it braided when not in use. The braid will not untie on its own.

How to Sew Blankets With Names

Blankets keep us warm and cozy whether drifting off to sleep, enjoying a good book or recovering from a cold. Many children become attached to them, carrying them around wherever they go. Create a special gift for a child or adult you love by sewing a personalized name blanket for her. The soft blanket will keep will remind her of how much you love her each time she snuggles up with it. And because her name is spelled out across the front, no one will mistake it for their own.

How to Make Tiny Fabric Roses

Use up some of your stash of fabric scraps from previous sewing projects to construct fabric roses the perfect size to create earrings, a small pin or a little girl's hair clip for yourself or to give as gifts to loved ones. The uses for these tiny fabric floral creations is only limited by your imagination.

How to Make a Pillow From a Knitted Afghan Pattern

Take your afghan pattern and transform it into a matching pillow for your couch. Decide on the desired dimensions for the pillow before resizing the knitted afghan pattern. Use the same yarn that you used for the afghan or, if you are only making a pillow and not an afghan, choose a soft, plied yarn for the pillow. Stuff and seal the pillow completely or use a pillow form and zipper so that the cover can be removed and washed.

How to Make Fabric Out of Kudzu

Most people think of kudzu as a noxious weed. In the Southeastern United States, it is very invasive and hard to get rid of, growing sometimes at the rate of a foot a day. But in Japan, where kudzu is native, people think of it as a useful plant. They use the roots for food and medicine, the tops for cattle food and the long, winding vines for baskets and cloth. The process of turning the long vines into cloth is laborious, but you can do it if you have access to a running stream, some kudzu vines and a loom.

How to Start a Whip Stitch in Crocheting

A whip stitch is used to sew or join crocheted rows or the loops of the crochet stitches of two pieces of crocheting together and make a seam. Whip-stitching yarn can make a decorative seam when a different colored yarn is used to sew them together. The whip stitch makes a raised ridge on the right side of the sewn together crocheted pieces. Start a whip-stitch in your crocheting to sew a garment or blanket together.

Edging Technique for Sewing

Edgings add both finishing and detail to sewing projects. Finishing serves to keep fabric from fraying and gives your sewing projects neatness, polish and style. Edging techniques for sewing vary widely and should suit the application. Soft edgings are good for infants' clothing, which contacts delicate skin. Sturdy edgings on children's clothing hold up through frequent washings. Some edgings require dry cleaning, and others are expected to last through hard use on home accessories and furniture. Handmade edgings add interest and elegance to sewing projects. Consider the edging technique you will use when planning your next project.

How to Use a Knit Counter

Knit counters, also called row counters, feature movable numbers that you advance to keep track of completed rows in a knitting project. While you might not need a row counter for simple projects, it can be helpful when you need to change stitches or yarn colors after knitting a certain number of rows. The devices come in manual and electronic versions, all of which require the user to count rows by tapping the device or using a dial to advance the counter.

How to Crochet a Flower With Leaves

Crocheted flowers are a soft, colorful embellishment for clothing, purses and home decor. Make fiber flowers if you are able to crochet a single, double, half double, slip and chain stitch. The small leaf highlights the flower, giving it more dimension for your projects. Make the flowers using crochet cotton, baby yarn or 3-ply yarn. The cotton thread will form a delicate, lacy flower while the yarn will add texture and stability to everyday items.

How to Make a Crocheted Bath Puff

Crocheting a bath puff for personal use will provide a luxurious experience while you shower. Using soft, thick yarn, your crocheted bath puff will be full and thick. Add in your favorite bath soap for a full, smooth lather. Make a bath puff for every member of your family using their favorite colors or include them in a gift basket for a friend.

How to Make a Fabric Home Organization Board

Running a home can be hectic, what with trying to keep track of everything that each family member is responsible for. Lists and daily planners can help, but oftentimes they are not read by each family member. A simple solution to this dilemma is to make a home organization board that is displayed in a location where every family member is sure to see and know his responsibilities for the day and week. A fabric home organization board is an easy craft to get your home in order.

How to Knit Tubes on a Straight Loom

Blankets, hats, scarves and socks are just a few of the items that are easy to make on a knitting loom. Knitting looms are available in round, oblong, rectangular and organic shapes. A straight loom is rectangular. Two sides of the looms have vertical pegs, and a horizontal peg portrudes from one end. The long loom is versatile and can make either knitted tubes or solid panels of knitted yarn. Follow simple steps to create a knitted tube on a straight loom.

How to Speed Knit

It's a holiday season or your friend's birthday is coming up, and you just can't knit that scarf or sweater fast enough. Your time is precious, so whether you're knitting gifts or just for fun, sometimes you want to go a bit faster. Although you might never get to the speed of Miriam Tegels, the world's fastest knitter, learn some new skills to put extra oomph in your work.

How to Make a Pillow From Sweater Interfacing

Sweater interfacing is a type of material that may not seem useful for a project other than heavy knits. However, you can craft a pillow from the interfacing that can be used for a couch, chair or bed. Because sweater interfacing is lightweight, you will need to compensate for that fact so that you can make a more durable pillow.

How to Crochet a Bobble Edging

Adding a crocheted edging to an afghan or sweater hem creates a finished project that stands out, is one-of-a-kind and has a boutique flair. Crocheted edging can also be added to store-bought clothing, fleece blankets or linen tablecloths to quickly create an heirloom that will be cherished for generations. The bobble, or popcorn, stitch is a popular and traditional type of edging that is usually seen on afghans for home decor or on children's clothing. The playful look of the bobble is adaptable to many applications, and adds a whimsical flair to any project.

Easy to Make Fabric Wall Hangings

Making a fabric wall hanging uses the same principles and procedure as stretching canvas on a frame for painting. The difference is, the fabric on a wall hanging is already painted and typically contains a bold pattern that coordinates with the home décor. You can create fabric wall hangings inexpensively using craft supplies from a hobby store and fabric from a fabric store. Make the hangings any size to match any space in a room.

How to Cover a Bottle With Needle Hitching

Needle hitching is a type of stitch that looks similar to a fishing net. Bottles, needle cases, knife holders, oar locks and tool handles are just a few of the items seen with needle hitching. The process consists of loops interlocked with one another to hold them in place. Thin cord, yarn or thick fishing line are used in the needle hitching process. Cover a bottle with needle hitching in less than 30 minutes.