Lark Crafts

Summer break is just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about fun and creative things to do with the kids! Making an adorable Sock Monkey is the perfect way to start off summer break. This is a project that your child will enjoy all summer long. Click here to download the PDF of the Sock Monkey project.

This project comes from the book Craft Hope, which celebrates crafting for a cause. If you and your kids are looking for ways to give back this summer, Craft Hope is filled with ideas about creating for a good cause.

School’s almost out for summer, folks! Are you ready? And are you looking to embark on creative adventures of the sewing variety with your little bundles? Since the day I found out miss Ruby was on her way, I’ve been excited to share my love of sewing with her. My mom taught me to sew, and I can’t wait to do the same. But 10 months is a bit too young to start teaching my little lady how to sew: she probably needs to master other important life skills – you know, fine motor skills, crawling, feeding herself, etc. – before we partake in creative togetherness. When the times comes, though, I’ll be ready with the help of these lovely sewing projects for kids.

Stitch a lovely rainbow, easy peezy on burlap: Sewing Rainbows (from Childhood 101)

Put on a show with a herd of bunny puppets: Bunny Finger Puppet (from Spoonful)

Make a drawstring bag for trinkets and treasures: Drawstring Bag (from Make and Takes)

Craft a flock of birdies: Bean Bag Birds (from Captain Crafty)

Stitch a zoo-full of critter cards: Sewing Cards (from Dandee Designs)

Sew some sweet heart bookmarks for Valentines and beyond: Valentine Bookmarks (from Holiday Crafts and Creations)

Fashion a headband perfect for summer: How to Sew a Headband (from Skip to my Lou)

Repurpose a tee-shirt into a bag: T-shirt Bag (from Make and Takes)

Take your sewing on the road: Alligator Sewing Kit (from Spoonful) 

Have you ever taken a craft class? Yes? Then you know there’s something magical about learning something new, hearing about someone else’s creative process, and putting energy into your own creative pursuits. And if not, here’s your chance!

Now through May 23rd, you can enter to win a free class with the fine folks at Craftsy! They have all kinds of online crafty classes – knitting, crochet, sewing, cake decorating – and they’re offering a fabulous new quilting class all about foundation piecing: Precision Piecing taught by award-winning quilter Norah McMeeking. In a series of 9 HD video lessons, you’ll learn the basic techniques, tips, troubleshooting, and more. You can take the class on your own time and revisit it again and again for tips and hints along the way. And best of all: you don’t have to lug your sewing machine and supplies anywhere! Set up in your own space and learn at your own pace.

Click here to follow the link and enter. You’ll need to create a Craftsy login to enter…and (bonus!) you’ll get access to a mini class when you do.

In Printing on Fabric, Jen Swearington covers everything fabric lovers need to know about printing fabric by hand. She starts by translating design ideas to into print ideas, moves on to simple transfers with various stenciling methods, and addresses all the options beyond ink when it comes to printing on fabric (including dye baths, bleach resists, and more).

Oh, and there are all sorts of projects to accompany the lessons, from trendy tote bags and baby rompers to classy cardigans and home decor.

But what about all those scraps you end up with after making a project? She’s got that covered as well, thanks to a couple scrap-friendly ideas. One is the quilt you can see on the cover, and the other is a fun, mailable mini mobile.

Here’s what Jen has to say about it: This anti e-mail surprise is a fun way to harvest bits of imagery from your scrap fabrics, drop cloths, and masking papers. I wanted to make sure it could be mailed, so I started with the envelope and designed the mobile to fit inside it. Be sure to write the words “Hand Cancel” on the envelope so it doesn’t get mangled in a mail-processing machine. Better yet, take it to the post office counter since it might take an extra stamp or two in postage.

Download the project, complete with templates, right here: Mail a Mini Mobile

My five-year-old daughter is really into growing things. She loves digging in the dirt and watching as the seeds she planted sprout and mature into vegetables and flowers. This spring, she got her very own raised bed and was told she could plant anything she wanted:

Yep. She promptly planted herself. I can’t say I blame her — there’s something about a sunny spring day that just makes you want to get as close as possible to the warm, fresh earth.

To celebrate the joys of gardening, we’re giving away a bounty of garden-related motifs from Aimee Ray’s Doodle Stitching: The Motif Collection! Use them to embellish your gardening totes or gloves, a kitchen towel, or a set of napkins. Click here to get a free PDF full of motifs of peas, asparagus, strawberries, a flower, and more!

And, by the way, my daughter didn’t stay planted in her bed for long — she’s now growing tarragon, tomatoes, and oregano in her little plot of earth!

Bring a bit of the homemade goodness outdoors! We’ve pulled together a pretty batch of garden-themed projects guaranteed to freshen up your outdoor entertaining space. Happy sewing!

From top left across:

Cozy up your deck chairs with this Siting Pretty Cushion (from 100 Pretty Little Projects).

Got a not-so-green thumb? Make a bouquet of repurposed Blooms (from Craft Challenge: Scarves).

Set the mood with a set of Flicker candle cozies (from Craft Challenge: Scarves).

Pull up a (quite fabulous) Obi Sling Chair (from Fabric Remix).

Create some colorful cottage charm with a set of Fresh & Shabby Pillow Houses (from Stash Happy: Applique).

Snuggle on the porch with this Wonky Cottage Lap Quilt (from Stash Happy: Patchwork).

Today is the day for celebrating Star Wars! Well, every day is, but today is especially special, as it is May 4^th. Today is “May the fourth be with you!” day! (For those not in the know, it is a play off “May the force be with you.” Come on, get with the geek times!)

Since we’re crafters here, we decided to share our love of Star Wars be scouring Etsy for some fabulous finds on our favorite subject. Who wouldn’t love an R2D2 quilt for cuddle times? Show which side you are on with some rebel or empire jewelry. We even found a fantastic Yoda stained glass panel!

Enjoy, and…

From left to right:

Han & Leia Rings by SpiffingJewelry

Master Yoda Amigurumi by SoulSundries

Imperial Insignia Necklace by sudlow

R2D2 Pixel Art Quilt by GoodwinsCustomCrafts

Ewok Miniature Plush by wishwithme

Storm Trooper Vans by ShoesBySmiley

Boba Fett Amigurumi by MCraftCreations

Darth Vader Embroidery by OccasionallySubtle

Felted Mini AT-AT by famished

R2D2 Earrings by petiteVanilla

Chewbacca Plush by peludossa

Rebel Alliance Ring Sterling925Silver

LEGO Light Saber Earrings by emmadreamstar

Yoda Stained Glass Window by TerrazaStainedGlass

Star Wars Converse by ThoseInFavor

R2D2 and C-3PO Art 3D Pop Artwork by PopsicArt

In Printing on Fabric, experienced instructor Jen Swearington covers everything fabric lovers need to know about printing fabric by hand. She starts by translating design ideas to into print ideas and mapping prints (whether you want a simple loose repeat or precisely measured patterns for yardage). She moves on to simple transfers with various stenciling methods as well as photo emulsion (which is what most people know as classic screen printing). But she doesn’t stop there. Another chapter addresses all the options beyond ink when it comes to printing on fabric; dye baths, bleach resists, and more are all thoroughly discussed and accompanied by plenty of tried and true recipes. A dozen teaching projects complete the package: just take a look at the colors and textures below!

If Jen’s name sounds familiar, that may be because she has exhibited in Quilt National three times (winning the Award of Excellence in 2009) and taught at many fine craft schools, including the Savannah College of Art and Design, Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and the University of North Carolina Asheville. She also travels to many craft shows and fairs, selling her work under the Jennythreads Studio label. You can see what she’s up to at www.jennythreads.net.