All about crafts, handmade products and traditional techniques
Learn how to create a simple decorative knot for use in macramé with Belén Senra An easy way to get started in the fun and therapeutic world of macramé is by learning one of its most basic decorative knots: the lucky knot. All you need is a rope and the desire to express your creativity. In the following video, the textile artist who founded the brand RanRan Design, Belén Senra (@belensenra), shows you step by step how to create this simple and beautiful Chinese knot.
Pottery maker Paula Casella Biase tells us which tools and basic materials to use to create ceramic pieces at home
Learn a quick way to create tassels to decorate clothes, jewelry, and accessories with Binge Knitting Binge Knitting (@bingeknitting) is a duo of designers and weavers made up of Bárbara Bremer and Carolina Herrera. They knit all kinds of fashion and home accessories with traditional crochet or crochet and needle techniques. Both infuse in their pieces with a contemporary vision of design and sustainable fashion.
Discover the characteristics, materials, and origins of this embroidery technique Crewel or crewelwork embroidery is characterized by the use of thick wool instead of delicate threads, as in other types of embroidery. This technique is at least a millennium old, and can be found on decorative objects such as tapestries and curtains, as well as luxury clothing. Recently it has been incorporated into contemporary embroidery in pieces such as cushions, clothing or decorative embroidery for walls. Origins The origin of the word is uncertain, but it comes from the name of a special type of wool that is used, which tends to twist. The Bayeaux Tapestry, or Queen Mathilde's Tapestry, is one of the oldest known pieces, and was embroidered in the 11th century. It recounts the events of the Battle of Hastings. This impressive piece has about 70 scenes from the battle, and is approximately 68 meters long.
Steel and Stitch teaches the fundamental stitches you'll use in nearly every crochet project
We explore the history and characteristics of this traditional English embroidery technique With embroidery being one of the most ancient arts in history, it’s not really surprising that every culture, country, and even region, has developed their own types and techniques. Blackwork is a traditional English embroidery technique which has been very popular. Originating around about the 15th century, here we explore its history and learn more about how it is used.
Learn about this thousand-year-old crochet technique that allows you to create state-of-the-art fabric patterns Tapestry is one of the oldest forms of textile weaving. It has been used to create almost everything from tunics to purses, table clothes to upholstery, and even some of the world’s greatest pieces of textile art. In general, tapestry refers to a weaving structure that uses discontinuous weft to create an image on the fabric and is always done by hand. It’s a crochet technique that allows you to weave drawings, geometric or not, based on a pattern that follows a grid of different colors, similar to what we would do if we were to draw an image pixel by pixel.
Learn easy ways to upcycle and remake your wardrobe with Steel and Stitch Repurposing and revitalizing items in our wardrobe can save money, help the environment, and produce one-of-a-kind pieces. Crochet designer and author Emma Friedlander-Collins, also known as Steel and Stitch (@steelandstitch), specializes in upcycling and remaking objects. Here, she shares a few simple ways we can extend the life of our wardrobe by using simple techniques to create pieces that are original and full of personality.
Make your reading time a little extra special with these bookmark designs from Catalina Estrada
Want to give a new lease of life to your frames? Treat them like unique pieces full of personality, not just a support for your pictures and objects. Give them a vintage style in this quick and easy way. In the following video, designer and framer Coy Aballay of @elpezenmarcado shares her wood-aging technique in three steps.
Transform a boring notebook into a floral explosion with these simple steps Maya Hanisch (@mayahanisch) is a Chilean artist who works in editorial illustration for books. Her figurative art is strongly influenced by Latin American and European folklore. Her compositions are generated using layers of paint, which act as a solid gradient to give volume, contrast and intensity to various elements of nature.
Learn about the art of origami and create paper objects with two tutorial videos
Adriana Torres is giving away an embroidery template with the inscription ‘Stay at home’ in her signature botanical typography
Learn to use the nuance stitch and different tricks and techniques to create hair for embroidery portraits with Bugambilo Hair is something so fine, with so many shades, colours, shapes, and movements that it can be difficult to embroider it realistically. In this tutorial, Bugambilo goes over a series of techniques and tips for drawing hair with thread. So prepare your mouliné thread and needle and let's go.
Florula shows you her technique for transferring your embroidery designs to fabric with solvent, step by step One of the most important steps in embroidery is printing your design onto fabric. There are many ways to do it. Here, we show you one of Mexican designer and textile artist Elidé Rangel Soto’s (@florula) favorites. She specializes in embroidered lettering and always uses this technique: transfer with solvent.
Discover these two embroidery techniques that can create a multitude of decorative objects Latch hooking and locker hooking are two modern textile techniques that appeared at the beginning of the 20th century that allow the creation of a wide variety of things, from tapestries to pillows and mats. Colors and textures are brought together by weaving wool and other materials into a mesh. Mariana Baertl (@marianabaertl) is a Peruvian textile artist who specializes in the creation of woven and embroidered pieces for interior decoration who is an expert in these two techniques. Her main source of inspiration is the natural and organic world. All her pieces are made by hand with fibers from across the world.
Discover the amazing work of five textile artists who are experts with the magic embroidery pen
Ceramic designer Paula Casella shares the artisans who inspire her when creating her own pieces Pottery and ceramics have been experiencing a boom for some time now that has brought back traditional craftsmanship but, in many cases, with a modern and interesting twist. It’s a trend that has given ceramic objects new life and a place in our contemporary lifestyle. Argentinian artist Paula Casella Biase (@paulacasellabiase) is one of the leading examples in this renaissance of all things handmade.These are some of the potters who inspire her the most: Hand and Fire The hands that shape these pieces of white enameled black clay are those of Sage Cortez. Undoubtedly one of Casella's favorites, Cortez is an American ceramist who makes each object she creates unique by playing with textures and transparencies.
Ximena Corcuera sheds some light on the current global trend of design sustainability Ximena Corcuera (@ximenacorcuera) is a fashion designer who, from an early age, has been interested in experimenting as a way of life. She is an expert in fashion, and in design that is sustainable and experimental. She is passionate about responsible fashion, so we decided to talk to her to find out more about the concept of upcycling, and how to embrace a trend that is gaining more and more strength in the design world. What is upcycling and what do you do with it? Upcycling is a recent term and it is used to describe the techniques that encompass the idea of transforming residues or refuse to create new items of value. It can be applied to all sorts of designing or manufacturing: furniture, garments, textiles, decorative objects. etc.
Is it a toy? Is it art? What does it represent? Who determines its price? Luasio López answers your questions For many, the charm of an art toy derives from the difficulty of defining it. For Luaiso López (@luaiso_lopez), Spanish graphic designer and illustrator, it’s about understanding their essence: their figurative characters used in exhibitions, events, and collected by private collectors. To understand their nature, Luaiso shares part of the history of these iconic objects that–regardless of their shape, price or the value attributed to them personally–are becoming known to the minds and tastes of millions of people around the world.
This paper simulator allows you to follow, step by step, the procedure of creating any origami object When it originated in China in the first or second century, those who practiced it could never have imagined the heights this noble art would reach, much less how technology would help its development. We are not talking about types of folds, much less qualities of paper, something that, of course, will have changed a lot over time, but projects like OrigamiSimulator, a platform that, thanks to technology, is capable of becoming the most patient and meticulous teacher when teaching us to create all kinds of sculptures with paper, from the simplest to the most intricate.
Mixed media artist Hanoch Piven shows us how he creates, using trial and error When it comes to creating, going with the first idea that you have can prevent you from experimenting and exploring new possibilities. Whichever discipline you’re working in, trying out different options is the only way to find surprising solutions. Don’t be scared of making errors: the process is just as important as the end product. Hanoch Piven (@piven) is an award-winning artist whose work has been published in world-renowned publications such as Time, Rolling Stone and Der Spiegel. He has also published numerous children’s books, in which he crafts unique worlds, combining different materials and textures to create playful characters. In the following tutorial, he reveals the creative process behind his collages, using trial and error. Watch it below:
Hanoch Piven shares his top tips for reinventing the meaning of everyday objects through collage Mixed media artist Hanoch Piven (@piven) creates playful portraits that have appeared in Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic Monthly, The Times, Entertainment Weekly, and more. Known for his 3-dimensional collages, he reinvents the meaning and use of everyday objects–from clothes pegs and playing cards to fruit and bathroom products–to visually communicate personality and playfulness.
Hanoch Piven, mixed media visual artist and expert in collage, takes on the Domestika Challenge Hanoch Piven’s (@piven) work has featured in iconic magazines like Time, Rolling Stone and Der Speigel and won him the Society of Illustrators of New York's Gold Medal. He also publishes children’s books in which various textures and materials are woven together to build unexpected characters and universes. The mixed media artist is an expert in making faces through the collage of objects. But how will he fare when confronted with our mysterious box? Find out in the video below:
Be inspired by these textile artists who knit using their hands instead of needles Arm knitting is a technique that takes the basic rules of knitting with needles and replaces the needles with your hands and arms. The results are soft, oversized pieces that accessorize your living space. The majority of artists use a special type of wool, known as Merino wool, that comes from Merino sheep. Get to know these artists and feel inspired to create your own designs! Javiera Ortiz (@inspiratemirando) Chilean textile artist Javiera Ortiz, who created the studio Inspírate Mirando (@inspiratemirando), specializes in knitting and fabric dyeing with a contemporary edge. She is also a photographer and costume designer. She works with XXL knitting, giving it a modern twist, and divides her time between Chile and Australia. She recently launched her Domestika course, Introduction to Arm Knitting and Wool Dyeing.
Learn needle painting techniques to use in pet portraiture
Discover the pop-up books that inspired Silvia Hijano Coullaut to dedicate herself to them professionally Although modern pop-up book design might make us think that they’re a modern trend, the fact is that these fold-out publications have been around for centuries. Designer Silvia Hijano Coullaut, founder of the studio Libracos (@silvia_libracos), tells us about the books that have influenced her most, from stories that have come out in recent years to more surprising inclusions that are hundreds of years old. Ars Magna Generalis, by Ramón Llull The first pop-up books weren’t made for children, they were science books. This book, which dates back to 1306 and can be found in the El Escorial library in Madrid, is one of the greatest exponents of the earliest fold-out books. All kinds of calculations can be found inside and it even incorporates wheels that come out from the book itself in a slanted way, something that caught Silvia’s eye.
Get to know these fascinating contemporary embroiderers and be inspired by their textile art Crazy for embroidery? These seven women are at the top of their game. Check out their innovative interpretations of this ancient craft - they may even inspire you to pick up a needle and try something different yourself. Lisa Smirnova Lisa Smirnova is a master of color and detail. Her threads complement one another and blend together to create her elaborate painterly designs and portraits.
Designer and maker Agustín "Flowalistik" Arroyo shares his models for 3D printing inspired by the Star Wars saga Designer Agustín Arroyo (@flowalistik),one of the millions of fans of the Star Wars saga, whose numbers seem to grow with every premiere, wants to share his 3D printing models inspired by Episode VII - The Force Awakens. Although he designed and shaped them some years ago as a treat for his friends–faithful followers of the saga like him–these models are timeless, just like the movies. This is a series of space toys for 3D printing, a fan art interpretation based on the characters of one of his favorite films in the series, that anyone can download and print to use as a decorative element. The files of these 3D figures inspired by the Star Wars saga can be downloaded for free and are ready to be printed, that is, they do not require any kind of support or postprocessing material. In Arroyo's own words: "These designs make the dream of pushing a button and let a machine manufacture your design come true, a vision so magical and at the same time one that seems so detached from reality."
Discover what tools and materials you need to make your own screen and start printing your designs at home. The word “serigraphy” (also known as screen-printing) comes from the Latin word for “silk”, sericum, and the Greek word for “to write” or “to draw,” graphé. It’s a technique that enables you to print a design onto fabric using ink and a mesh screen. You can reproduce this design onto different surfaces without losing any quality. While this artisanal process is usually carried out in specialist workshops, the truth is that anyone can make their own screen; screen-printing is a technique that is simple enough for you to try at home. All you need are a few basic materials. Here, we explain how:
