Topics

Guide topics

The guide is organised by what you are working with. The first group covers fabric and thread, the second covers yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks. The third is about paper, cardboard and things you can find on a walk. The fourth deals with tools, lighting, ventilation and the rules without which any craft quickly turns into trouble.

Crafts may seem very different, but they share the same starting point: the right material, a tool in good condition, good light and a willingness to make a test piece before tackling the main work.

— Editor's thought

The guide covers questions people run into during their first months of crafting. Complex techniques, professional equipment and work with hazardous substances are only mentioned, not explained.

Fabric and thread

Hand stitches, seams, the grain line and the small repairs that come in handy in any home.

A button and a split seam
A detailed practical article: from choosing the thread to securing the end, with illustrative examples and a self-check.
Stitch, seam, seam allowance
Key sewing terms in plain language, and why fabric is cut along the grain line.
Small clothing repairs
A collection of pages for anyone who wants to learn to mend clothes rather than push them to the back of a drawer.

Yarn

Knitting needles and crochet hooks, tool sizes, the two basic stitches and the patterns they make.

Knitting glossary
Loop, row, pattern repeat, stockinette stitch, rib and garter stitch, with short explanations.
Answers about materials
How to match yarn to needles, why a tool's size number is its diameter and what to use for a first project.
Key craft concepts
An overview page that places knitting alongside sewing and paper crafts.

Paper, cardboard and nature

Boxes, cards, frames, leaf collections and mobiles made from things you have at home or find underfoot in the park.

Crafts from natural materials
What you can collect and what is best left in the woods, how to dry leaves and cones and what to make from them.
Handmade gifts
A collection for anyone who wants to make a small item for a holiday themselves, without complicated techniques.
A first weekend project
A beginner's guide: how to pick a manageable task and finish it in two days.

Safety and the workspace

Scissors, needles, craft knives, hot glue, paints and varnishes, ventilation and rules for children.

Safety questions
Short answers about hot glue, sharp tools, varnishes and what to let a child do.
Common beginner mistakes
Poor light, haste and the wrong tool are frequent causes of both spoiled work and cuts.
Handmade soap
Why we do not publish lye recipes, and what to keep in mind when working with hot melted soap base.

For beginners
How to choose a first weekend project, put together a minimal kit and finish the work.
Practical
How to sew on a button and mend a split seam, plus a catalogue of practical articles.
Overview
The main simple crafts and what stitch, seam, seam allowance, loop, row and pattern repeat mean.

What this text is based on

Beginner guides to sewing and knitting (general principles)
Instructions for craft tools and materials (general principles)

Threads, yarn, glue and paints vary noticeably from one manufacturer to another, so the label and instructions for the specific material or tool always have the final say. This guide describes general techniques and is no substitute for a hands-on lesson with an experienced maker.