the no-knit no-sew series: cloth

before i wrap up my little craft project series, i have to thank julia from rennes for her post on my humanoid sweater! i saw her post a few weeks back about making her own version, so when i completed mine, i emailed her, and i had no idea she would post my sweater! that's so nice! i can't wait to see hers.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of design*sponge)

and for the last of the no-knit no-sew, we have fabric. these argyle sock vases might be the most simple, and probably the coolest thing you've never thought of for your mismatched socks that you can't part with. i saw a similar post way back on the haystack needle too. unfortunately, i don't have socks that cute. it crossed my mind to look at salvation army, but i am not so fond of feet and that thought went fleeting.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of design*sponge)

i love the idea of rubber stamping fabric, and again, it doesn't have to just be on a dishtowel. i was drawn to this particular stamped picture, in fact - i would probably frame it and hang it on the wall!

(photo and tutorial courtesy of poppytalk)

i LOVE this project, another from Arounna Khourannaj from Boukhou for poppytalk. i would probably turn this into a placemat (i know, how many trivets should i really post because how many trivets do you need? i don't even have one). i'm a sucker for things that looked old, weathered, worn, and ripped and this another good repurpose. i like the DIY loom too.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of design*sponge)

this is probably the most ambitious but i think this canvas calendar from design*sponge is so cool. the computer/printing part stumps me a little, but i'm sure if i focused i could get it. you could get super-creative with this one, and if you are more computer-savvy than me, this would be a fun one and you could add embroidery to your repertoire.

that's it for the no-knit no-sew, maybe it will lead to more of these types of projects of my own...

the no-knit no-sew series: wool & thread

this next group of tutorials offers a chance to work with wool, yarn, and thread without knitting or crocheting a stitch.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of purl bee)

this felt ball trivet from purl bee is a simple enough project that also teaches a technique for knotting that can be used for beaded jewelry. aside from this cute trivet (a good gift), you can apply this tutorial to a lot of other projects.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of purl bee)

i love the stitches on these sampler pillows, again from purl bee. pillowcases are a nice medium for experimenting and this tutorial offers a nice guide for learning stitches that are not as complicated as they might look. you could use these stitches on tote bags, shirts, tablecloths, hand towels...

(photo and tutorial courtesy of purl bee)

in addition to the pillows above, this is an awesome guide to all kinds of needlework, a tutorial i'll be consulting when i start to embroider an antique embroidery pattern i bought at brimfield antique markets this summer.


another simple craft is this "diy necklace" from jenny gordy of wikstenmade for lucky magazine. (wikstenmade is one of my favorite blogs and designers, and i love the patterns i have bought from her). i have started braiding some embroidery floss, but haven't found the right beads - i like pairing of the metal beads with the yarn and string.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of purl bee)

finally, yet another half-finished project i've done! i've gotta get my act together. i started felting some roving for this felted garland a couple days after christmas, so maybe by next christmas i'll have a garland. you could make this any time and use any combination of colors.

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last of the series will be cloth.

the no-knit no-sew series: paper

(photo courtesy of design*sponge)

i have been lucky enough to be part of a new weekly craft night full of lovely ladies - three of whom i taught how to knit! (making my total of knitters added to the world FIVE). this group made me think it would be nice to have a compilation of interesting, doable crafts for the no-knit/no-sew crew. hence the no-knit no-sew series.

the first installment, paper.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of design*sponge)

i own a similar scrap-paper journal i bought at a craft show in cambridge a few years ago - i would love to make my own with this recycled paper journal tutorial from design*sponge, from the bbcraft sisters (it looks like there are a lot of good crafts on their blog too). making a nicely-bound journal might not as difficult as one might imagine. mine is made up of old math worksheets, graph paper, and typed lists.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of poppytalk)

i love this paper garland from Arounna Khounnoraj of bookhou for poppytalk - the paper scraps are cut out paper doll-style, and i love the look of magazine scraps. there is certainly room for creativity in this one.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of design*sponge)

i am halfway (or more) through this line-a-day vintage postcard calendar from ashleyannphotography for design*sponge. i stamped every day of the year, but got stuck trying to find the right container! that, and my backordered one line a day journal arrived, although i thought there was a chance that this calendar would be a nice gift for a soon-to-be mom i know. a line a day could be a realistic goal to track memories while you chase around a little one over the years.

(photo and tutorial courtesy of design*sponge)

this is yet another cool paper tutorial from design*sponge (can you tell they have a ton of wonderful diy tutorials?) i wish there was more letter writing going on in the world, but maybe this could be encouragement. although this requires more "equipment," i love the stamp-making.

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next up: wool and yarn