Crafts & Hobbies Lessons near Austin

Interested in trying your hand at jewelry design? Before you begin, consider the following 5 questions, as outlined by Nashville jewelry designer and teacher Warren F... No matter what stage you're at in your jewelry design career, it's always helpful to have a good understanding of the basics. There are certain questions that every jewelry designer should be able to answer, and today we're going to go over five of them. Whether you're just starting out or you've been designing for years, mak

Just as with learning any new skill or hobby, when it comes to sewing, you’re going to be faced with a ton of sewing terms. Before threading your needle and diving right into your sewing projects, it’s a good idea to learn some of the most popular sewing words and phrases. Whether you’re focusing on certain sewing tools or discovering different techniques, understanding sewing terminology can give you a strong foundation, making it easier for you to progress. Maybe you’ve heard th

The energy that my first time sewing students bring to the very first class is wonderful. They are so excited about the creative possibilities that learning to sew will bring them. Often this excitement is tempered by the fear of using a sewing machine. I start by encouraging them to do some easy sewing projects for children, so they can get comfortable with using a sewing machine. It is also a great way to learn some very basic sewing skills. The following projects are quite simple, quick and u

I will admit to you, the reader, that most of the articles I have written thus far assume that the reader is already a fairly avid chess player, who is aware of the basic chess game rules and thus is interested in learning more advanced strategies, traps, and tricks with the goal of decisively defeating the opponent. But, of course, not everybody is born knowing all the rules of chess---there are, in fact, many out there who are unfamiliar with the game, and need an introduction to learn

You may have rolled your eyes as soon as you saw this title of this post because it is 2021 and sewing a patchwork quilt is not even on your radar. You may also have immediately relegated this project to your retirement years, when you imagine that you will have endless amounts of time to learn to make a quilt. I bet if there was a fun video on a certain app about a patchwork quilt making challenge, you would have watched it and maybe even attempted it. I will do my best to make this project as

  As the holiday season approaches, these holiday sewing projects will help you get into the spirit! So whether you're looking for some festive holiday decor or some DIY gift ideas, make sure to bookmark these fun, festive holiday sewing projects... Craft Sewing Projects   Lovely Scissor Holder   There’s no point in starting your holiday sewing projects without an organized sewing kit. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to find what you need. This DIY scissor holder wi

Want to improve your sewing skills? In this guest post, Yesterday's Thimble blogger Lisha Vidler shares 15 sewing tips to help you take your seamstress skills to the next level... Are you looking to improve your sewing skills? If so, you're in luck! Today, we'll be learning about some sewing tips from a sewing expert. These tips can help beginners and experienced sewers alike.  So, whether you're just starting out or you've been sewing for years, read on for some helpful advice. What

As a game, chess is traditionally divided into three phases: the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. While all three are important, today I’m going to help you start out strong in the opening. When I first learned how to play chess, I played openings that really did not help me improve and left me with an awkward start to the game more often than not. Eventually, I adopted some of the openings that I will show you in this post and my rating skyrocketed. Opening Principles The first

Patternmaking for most beginners seems mysterious and intimidating. It is a subject a lot of sewists try to avoid. As a professional working in the fashion industry for more than a decade, I had the same fear as many of you. It took lots of trial and perseverance to overcome challenges, and carve out a successful career. The First Step is to Make Mistakes! Many of my students are worried about making mistakes. They want to be sure every step they take is correct. Multiple attempts and fai

We all know the virtual happy hour.   An increasingly universal remote work life has exposed all of us at some point to an online gathering or two – even families succumb to virtual quality time together. So many faces in one screen – isn’t it sweet?  But are there ugly Christmas sweaters involved? Mixology lessons? A singalong? TakeLessons is here to bring your virtual holiday gatherings up a notch or two.  Maybe there’ll be costumes?   If you’re planning a work pa