When it comes to knit projects, headbands are relatively quick to knit and are, as Faith's mom calls her when she's being helpful, "useful as well as decorative." In this in-depth class, Creativebug staff artist Faith Hale knits three headbands, one in a rib stitch finished with a twist, one featuring honeycomb cables, and a delicate lace pattern that ties in the back. Along the way you'll learn special techniques like seaming, working an i-cord, a provisional cast-on, and reading a lace chart. Whether to rescue a bad hair day or provide a touch of extra warmth, knitting these headbands are a quick way to learn new skills and the results are sweet and stylish.

Part collage, part book art, part mixed media exploration, the Altered Books Daily Challenge uses simple skills like cutting, gluing, inking and painting to transform old texts into new and extraordinary works of art. Creativebug staff instructors Courtney Cerruti and Faith Hale are book lovers and paper fanatics. In this 28-part series, they share their favorite techniques for altering found books to create unique pieces of art. Once you learn how to choose a book for altering, where to source your ideal ephemera, and how to prepare pages, you’ll follow a daily prompt or technique to spark your imagination. After the month is over, you’ll never look at an old book the same way again.

This class is available to view April 5, 2023.
Pattern weights are handy little tools that keep pattern pieces in place to make sure you're cutting your fabric as accurately as possible. Artist Rebecca Ringquist created her own Dropcloth sampler after sewing more and wanting a lovely version of this essential tool. This embroidery sampler includes four botanical patterned panels to be embroidered by hand and then when they've been completed, Rebecca demonstrates how to sew them and fill them up. Faster to adjust than pins, weights won't bunch the fabric or leave pin holes in your textiles and are just so pretty to boot.

This class is available to view April 19, 2023.
Chunky, cotton, upcycled yarn is simple to make when you have access to just two things: an old T-shirt and a pair of scissors. This yarn can be used for macrame, crafting string bags à la Cobrina's knotted pantry bag class, making rag rugs, and a multitude of other craft projects. If you're looking to speed up the process even further, using a rotary cutter, a cutting mat and a ruler will give you yards of yarn in just minutes. The leftover fabric can be used in small sewing projects or cut into squares to make handy shop rags - all eco-friendly options.

This class is available to view April 26, 2023.
Making art is one of the most powerful ways to use your voice and inspire others. If you've always felt passionate about certain causes but have been unsure about how that could translate into a visual piece, this class gives you a path to follow and an impressive tool kit of techniques. Artist, author, illustrator, and teacher Maria Carluccio guides you through the creation of two kinds of inspirational art posters, one in watercolor and one in collage, from ideation to finished artwork. Begin by making a mind map to refine your themes and ideas. If you choose to work in watercolor, Maria will take you through your initial sketch, then how to use a light table while painting, plan your color palette, and add graphite, colored pencils, and gel pens for detail. If you choose to work in collage, you'll make your own collage paper, learn Maria's process of making a paper frame as a guide, and use magazine cut outs, washi tape, stickers, and ephemera in imaginative ways. No matter what themes you choose or materials you work with, you'll be sure to create an inspirational poster you can proudly to share.

Bring the party with you when you wear these vibrant, playfull earrings made by you. Jewelry designer Faheema Chaudhury of Unicorn Crafts walks you through every step of this satisfying process by first creating a slab with multiple colors, then vutting, baking, and assembling your earrings. Her love of color and fun is infections, and this project is fabulous fun whether you're a beginner or have worked with polymer clay for years.

Learn to stitch a shirt, sew seams, finish necklines and hem edges with just your hands, a needle, and thread. Hand-sewing clothing might seem like a wild idea, but you might actually save time since you can take your project on-the-go without being tethered to your sewing machine. Clothing designer and author Cal Patch teaches you four basic stitches, four kinds of seaming techniques, and four ways to finish edges including applying bias tape. You'll sew one sampler shirt that includes every technique or pick and choose your favorites. This class is perfect for people who may feel intimidated by the sewing machine but are curious about stitching their own garments. Take your slow-fashion wardrobe to the next level.

Award-winning quilter Sarah Bond comes from a long line of quilters. She loves traditional quilt patterns with wonderful curves and twists that provide the eye with motion and interest. One of her favorites is the Pickle Dish. Sarah shows you four variations of a traditional Pickle Dish block: Sliced Pickles, Pickle Wedges, Pickled Geese, and Diced Pickles. Learn the basics of foundation paper piecing and how to sew large and small curved seams so that you can put together perfect Pickle Dish quilts. By playing with different arrangements of the blocks, you can create a more contemporary or more traditional look, and no matter which design you choose, you'll have so much fun seeing the connected arcs of your quilt grow and flow together.

Join designer, author, and modern quilter Blair Stocker of Wise Craft Handmade for a month of exploring the art of chicken scratch embroidery. Chicken scratch is a charming form of cross stitch that is worked on gingham fabric and creates an optical illusion of a beautiful lace overlay. Blair teaches you the foundations of chicken scratch, such as selecting your gingham fabric and using a paper template to mark your fabric, plus essential stitches like the smyrna cross and the snowflake stitch. Throughout the month, play with different designs, various combinations of stitches, and multiple colors. As you stitch inside your gingham squares, discover how much freedom you have to get creative. At the end of month, Blair shows you how to sew together your chicken scratch fabric pages and assemble a sample book that you can use as a record of all the new techniques you learned as well as a reference for future projects like aprons, tea towels, quilts, pillows, and whatever else you can imagine.

Quilter Sarah Bond has a special, deep relationship to quilting. After learning how to quilt nearly 40 years ago, she discovered an extensive family heritage of quilting, specifically from her foremothers Jane Arthur Bond, Ruth Clement Bond, and Louvinia Clarkson. Learn how she was inspired by the work of her foremothers and how it contributed to the evolution of her intricate, colorful style. 

Stay tuned for quilting classes from Sarah Bond releasing later this year. You can also find Sarah on instagram here. 

Take the time to tell yourself something sweet and craft youself a love note. Artist and Children's book illustrator Dawn M. Cardona has chosen "Stretch and Grow" as her message, a phrase that her father used to say to her and her brother almost every single morning growing up. Dawn encourages you to choose your own inspirational words and leads you through some paper piecing, a great stash buster for all your lovely paper scraps. The result is a special artwork that will remind you of your uplifting message every day.

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a teacher, artist, office worker, or student, you'll surely earn an A+ with this cute and cuddly crocheted pencil. Crochet designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad teaches you the foundations of making a three dimensional doll, which is a Japanese artform called amigurumi. Learn the the magic ring, how to work in the round, how to increase and decrease stitches to form shapes, how to change yarn colors, and how to properly stuff a crocheted toy. With just a basic single crochet stitch and all the skills you'll practice in this class, you'll have the freedom create a whole world of happy amigurumi characters.

Crochet an adorable turtle with Amigurumi designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad. Amigurumi is the Japanese artform of making crocheted or knitted dolls, and Vincent teaches you how simple stitches and shapes can come together to create a more complex-looking project. You'll learn how to make a magic ring, work the single crochet stitch, increase, and invisible decrease. Plus, you'll get all of Vincent's tips for sewing a toy together and stuffing it smoothly. After embroidering the finishing touches like eyelashes, blush, and a big smile, you'll be able to shellebrate with your new turtle friend.

Your crochet skills will be nothing short of stellar after this class with Amigurumi designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad. Amigurumi is the Japanese art form of crocheting or knitting dolls, and Vincent teaches you how to crochet an astronomically adorable shooting star. He goes over the foundations of Amigurumi like making a magic ring, working the single crochet stitch, increasing, and decreasing, and you'll see how combining basic shapes - balls, cones, and tubes - can result in super fun characters. You'll also get all of Vincent's tips for sewing, stuffing, and embroidering facial features, and your finished shooting star doll will be a cuddly reminder that your ability to crochet is out of this world.

Your dreams of traveling to space will finally come true. Crochet designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad teaches you how to make your own rocketship. While small in size, this plushie has big personality. Vincent specializes in Amigurumi, the Japanese artform of crocheted or knitted dolls. He guides you through Amigurumi basics like making a magic ring, working the single crochet stitch, crocheting in the round, increasing, invisbly decreasing, and seaming all of your rocketship parts together. Not only will you learn the skills to make endless kinds of stuffed toys, your happy rocketship will also inspire imaginative adventures to all who see it.

You don't need a green thumb to keep this cactus happy. Crochet a smiling cactus and its pot with amigurumi designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad. Vincent specializes in Amigurumi, which is the Japanes artform of crocheting or knitting dolls. In this class, learn Amigurumi basics such as making a magic circle, working in the round to create 3D shapes, increasing, decreasing, seaming, and stuffing. You'll also work in front loops, back loops, crochet tiny flowers, and use a latch technique for adding soft, yarny cactus needles that are friendly for all fingers. This project is a great way to practice lots of different crochet techniques, plus a potted cactus is the perfect gift for your favorite plant lovers.

Finishing a three dimensional crocheted project like a stuffed toy requires different techniques than finishing a flat project. Amigurumi designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad will share his method for ensuring that your crocheted toys stay together and that all your yarn ends remain neatly tucked away.

If you've tried to change colors while crocheting in the round, only to encounter a color transition that looks like a jagged staircase rather than a smooth stripe, amigurumi designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad show you his technique for the smoothest color change possible. You'll be able to apply this technique not just to amigurumi objects, but any crochet project that uses multiple colors of yarn.

A common question that amigurumi designer Vincent Green-Hite of Knot Bad gets is: how do you avoid lumpy stuffing in a crocheted toy? Patience is key, and in this class Vincent shares his tip for a making a smooth, stuffed project.

Rebecca Ringquist, the artist behind Dropcloth Samplers, has whipped up a sweet embroidery project composed of four heart panels for you to embroider by hand. Once completed, they can be sewn up into four festive holiday ornaments and embellished with a bell. Rebecca leads you though the back stitch, running stitch, and satin stitch, but you can choose your own stitches to suit your own taste. Finish your ornament off by adding a customized message of love on the backside and then stuff them into a huggable heart or leave it flat to send to all the Valentine's in your life.