A lot of folks walk into the shop asking our advice on how to make two very basic home decor items: curtains and duvet covers. Both are wonderful beginner projects since they are simple shapes, and fairly quick to execute. Since we’d need to know the measurements of their windows and duvets to give them specific guidance, I usually end up referring them to Design Sponge, the great design/home blog that has been running a series of “Sewing 101″ posts by Brett Bara. These particular posts on sewing curtains and duvet covers are great jumping-off point for anyone wanting to expand their sewing repertoire and gussy up the joint at the same time. Check them out!

Hand-Carved Stamps is a fairly new class in our roster. We’ve done two sessions so far and it has proven so popular we’ve had to add a third one in March. With results like the ones pictured in this post, it’s pretty easy to understand why! The instructor, Elinor Nissley of Krank Press, shows students how to create their own rubber stamps using X-Acto knives and linoleum cutters, and shares advice and examples regarding different stamping techniques and how to utilize them. Students practice stamping fabric and paper, manila gift tags, whatever they like.

I’ve fallen hard for these two examples from the latest session– which happened to be packed with three fellow Home Ec. instructors who wanted to experiment with ways to incorporate stamping into their own work(s). The top photo from our garment sewing teacher Christine Haynes is a gorgeous example of how to create use simple shapes to create impressive all-over patterns. I can’t wait to see how she incorporates stamped fabric into her clothing designs! The bottom pic, from our amigurumi teacher Cheryl Cambras, perfectly illustrates the beauty of stamping– I love the varied opacity of the flower petals, which gives the fabric real dimension.

Awesome work, everyone! To see more photos from this class and others, check out the Home Ec. Flickr pool.

I recently visited a neighbor, who pulled out an old binder full of vintage knitting patterns he thought I might like.

Needless to say, he was right!

The binder mainly consisted of sock knitting patterns from times gone by. Motifs featured included skunks, hot dogs, smoking guns, foamy pints of beer, playing cards, cigarettes, and many more. Just the thing to knit up for Father’s Day, no?

Our friend (and Open House craft night frequenter!) Wendy Chin did a swell little before-and-after job on this damaged old chair. She used our Bikes & Clouds fabric to create a whole new seat cushion and it looks sooo much better! Comfier too.

The same talented gal hand-stitched this cuddly plush monkey using one of our Ayumi Uyama craft kits from Japan (currently sold out but we’ll keep you posted). He reminds me of the Russian animation star Cheburashka!

I’m not sure what’s up with the gal from Staindrop these days– her last blog entry was in May 2008– and it bums me out because she makes truly beautiful plush artwork. Just look at this gorgeous piece I bought from her back in 2007! Anyway, I was nosing around her blog and came across this great little PDF pattern download. Visit her Freebies page to get the instructions for making these fuzzy hedgehog friends, complete with a stuffed rainbow. So inspiring!

The fabulous folks from Meet Me at Mike’s recently posted about the blog Flutterby Patch, which is full of fun knitting patterns like these beautiful colored pencils. The knitted owl, toadstool, and acorn projects are lots of fun as well.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen work as charming as the dolls of Barcelona-based Mosako Mimoko (aka illustrator Eva Monleón). She has even offered a super-sweet free embroidery pattern on her blog, which she shows stitched up on a vintage-style potholder. Download the pattern here.

How crazy-beautiful is this hand-stitched love letter from Twig and Thistle? We should all be as lucky as this gal’s husband! [via Swissmiss]

Embroidery is one of our favorite crafts here at Home Ec., it’s just so versatile. I love the simple beauty of this embroidered alphabet mini-quilt from Orange Flower: Sketchbook. Visit their blog for a step-by-step tutorial showing how you can make your own. Wouldn’t this be a great decoration for a nursery or kid’s room?