Project Materials:

• 3 skeins of embroidery floss, on hand or about $1
• Size 12 (US) crochet hook, on hand or about $1
• Chain or thread to string, on hand
• (optional) Jump rings and hardware, if you are using a chain, on hand

Total: FREE and upIf you are a beginning crocheter, I recommend making a couple granny squares with regular yarn and hooks just to get the hang of it. After you make a few, you will memorize the pattern, and it will be the perfect thing to crochet on auto-pilot (and a great way to use up your small leftover balls of yarn.

Crocheting with embroidery floss is a little bit challenging. One, it’s small, so it’s a bit harder to work with, and to get a comfortable hand position and work flow. The good news is that it doesn’t take too long to adjust to the reduced scale. Two, the six strands of floss aren’t twisted together like yarn, so the individual strands can get caught in your work a lot more. You can combat this by slightly twisting the floss with your index finger and thumb as you go. You can also pull out the offending stitches as you go and redo them, or pull the loops through your work to hide them.

Hook: My crochet hook was a steel hook, size 12 US (.70mm/size 5 UK). A hook a couple sizes larger would probably be fine!

Pattern:I just used a classic granny square pattern. I don’t need to re-write it for you! If you want to learn how to crochet a granny square, here is an excellent visual tutorial at The Purl Bee: [how to crochet a granny square]

Homemade Simple Gifts

I have always been a huge fan of handmade gifts. As a crafter, it’s only natural, right? I am lucky to be part of a family that also appreciates handmade gifts and makes it a practice to exchange gifts that aren’t store-bought. I know, I’m so spoiled!

While not all handmade gifts exchanged in our family are smash hits, they are all appreciated and they somehow seem more meaningful than something purchased in the $10 or less aisle of a big box store.

The best handmade gifts I’ve given or received have been: duct tape wallets (for the guys), hand-roasted coffee (yum!), quilts, and special items decorated by my three boys (always a win for the mommies, right?).

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As quick and easy as it is adorable, this easy Easter embroidery pattern by Wendi at Shiny Happy World will have you stitching up a storm! If you have a collection of scraps and remnants, whipping up a collection of this cute embroidery hoop art is a great way to use of some of those treasured bits you’ve been saving. And if you don’t have any appropriate scraps on hand, this is a great excuse to go fabric shopping! [how to make easy Easter embroidery]

Project estimate:

• Embroidery hoop, on hand or $1 and up
• Fabric scraps, on hand
• Fusible webbing, on hand or $1 and up
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1

Total: Free and up!

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So, you are wandering around a yard sale or thrift store, or past a clearance shelf at a box store, and you see a beautiful throw pillow.  And it’s CHEAP.  Cheaper than what you’d pay for that beautiful fabric it’s made of if you were to head to the craft store to buy it.  But it doesn’t really match your decor.  Or maybe you just don’t need yet another throw pillow (goodness knows that is my husband’s answer).  Next time this happens, don’t walk away – instead, buy it and turn it into a cute tote bag like this one from Amber at Damask Love.  Brilliant!  [how to make a throw pillow tote bag]

Project estimate:

• Throw pillow, $1 and up
• Rope, on hand or $1 and up
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1 and up
• Large eyelets or grommets, about $3 and up
• Fabric glue, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: about $4 and up

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Oh shoot – you just discovered a hole in your favorite garment!  Sounds like you need a patch.  Check out this cute DIY patch idea from Gina Michele, who used a basic weaving loom made out of recycled cardboard and some embroidery floss to make this pretty iron-on repair that also makes a funky fashion statement.  Not only is this a great idea for repairs, it’s also a fun way to embellish a plain shirt or other article of clothing!  [how to make DIY woven patches]

Project estimate:

• Cardboard, on hand
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1
• Iron-on interfacing, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

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If you’ve got a pocket full of keys, you probably know the frustration of grabbing the wrong one.  House key, office key, your friend’s key that they gave you in case they lose their copy, they key for your shed…  Keep all those keys straight with these color-coded covers by Mollie at Wild Olive!  If you felt really ambitious, you could event make this project a step farther and embroider cute designs on the felt.  [how to make felt key covers]

Project estimate:

• Felt, on hand or $1
• Cord, on hand or $1 and up
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

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We love a good tea towel project, and this one is particularly cute for summer!  Sarah from Sarah Hearts used a clever combination of simple stamping and embroidery to make these fruity kitchen accessories.  If tea towels aren’t your thing, this motif would also be cute on a tote bag, a t-shirt, or any other fabric item that could use a bit of sprucing up!  [how to make citrus tea towels]

Project estimate:

• Tea towels, $1 and up
• Fabric paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Sponge, on hand or $1
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Citrus Tea Towels appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching – steer clear of those pinching fingers by wearing this cute shamrock pin!  Dig into your button jar and try this great stashbusting project; once you master the technique, you can also use it to make all kinds of other shapes as well!

Project estimate:

• Green buttons (4 small, 4 medium), on hand or $1
• Wax thread or embroidery floss, on hand
• Pin back, on hand or $1
• Hot glue or E6000, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

Making the stem:

• Sew through the first tiny button and tie the two pieces into a square knot on the back side. Cut the shorter thread.
• Take the next tiny button and using the thread, sew the next button beside the first button. They should touch each other.
• Repeat this step on the third tiny button. This completes the stem.

Making the clover:

• Sew through one of the medium sized buttons. Tie it in a square knot and then cut one of the threads.
• With one thread from the medium button and the one from the stem, tie the two together with a square knot.
• Using your glue of choice, attach them on top of the first medium button.
• Glue the bar pin on the back of the first medium button and at lease two of the tiny buttons.
• Sew through the three other medium buttons and tie them in the back using a square knot.

Note: You can use hot glue if you glue the buttons to where the thread from one is glued to the thread of the other.

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Are you a button saver?  Do you see an old mayonnaise jar full of buttons at a yard sale and find it impossible to walk away?  Do you have more buttons than you even know what to do with?  Then this project is for you!  Turn that button collection into a cute wreath.  It’s easy, and will give you an excuse to keep bringing home more buttons for your stash!

Project estimate:

• Foam wreath form, $1 and up
• Old t-shirt or scrap fabric, on hand
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1
• Buttons, on hand or $1 and up
• Foam core board, on hand or $1
• Wire-edged ribbon, on hand or $1
• Pipe cleaner, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

Button Preparation

Thread needle and sew the button, tying the two threads on the back side of the button. Cut the thread short enough that they don’t extend past the button. For interest, sew smaller buttons on top of larger buttons (1a)

If you have any shaft buttons (1b), save them to help fill in later.  You don’t have to thread them.  Sort buttons by colour (1c).

Wreath Preparation

Cut wreath in half (2a).  Using another piece of the same kind of foam, rub it against the sharp edges of the top of the wreath, inside and out (2b). This will make your wreath easier to work with and look nicer.

Trace the wreath on a piece of foam board and cut it out (2c).  Hot glue the foam board onto the wreath (2d).

Using scissors or a cutter, trim the foam board so that it doesn’t extend past the wreath (2e).

Fold t-shirt into thirds lengthwise, cut off the hem off and discard. Cut three strips that are 3″ wide and cut them so they aren’t round (2f).

Take the edge of one of the strips, fold it over and glue it to itself (2g).  Glue it to the back of the wreath fold side down and at a slight angle (2h).

Wrap it through the center of the wreath and around until you get to the end of the strip. The folded over part covers the raw edge of the strip of t-shirt. Glue it down to the back of the wreath (2i).

Once again, take the edge of another strip, fold it over and glue it to itself. Glue it to the back of the wreath fold side down and at a slight angle on top of the other piece (2j).

Continue doing this until the entire wreath is covered (2k).

Gluing the Buttons

Start gluing the buttons on in a triangular shape based on colour (3a).  Continue gluing the buttons in the original three clusters. When you get as far along as the picture shows, start gluing a row of larger buttons around the outer then inner edge (3b). This helps to cover the wreath better.

Glue the buttons as close as possible to one another. You will have some of the fabric showing through (3c). Once you’ve covered as much of the fabric as possible but you still have gaps between the buttons, start gluing some smaller buttons on top of the gaps (3d).

Finishing your Wreath

Tie a simple “shoestring bow” and hot glue it under the knot so it would stand up. Glue a button on top of the knot and put a dab of glue under the button so it would also stand up (4a).  Take each tail of the bow, fold and glue it on the wreath so that it stands out from the wreath. Glue a button on top of the fold (4b).

On the back of the wreath, directly behind the bow, I made two deep cuts into the wreath, about 1″ into the foam (4c).  Put a generous dab of hot glue on top of the first cut and push in one end of the pipe cleaner (4d). Repeat on the other side to create a hanger.

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It’s apple season!  The harvest has begun, and school is also back in session, so if there is any time of the year when you have a ton of good reasons to do apple crafts, it’s now!  These embroidery hoop apples from Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe are super cute and also super easy – you could quickly make a bunch of them to decorate a tree or to hand out to all of your favorite teachers.  If you have a knack for stitching, you can also add an embroidered name or monogram to personalize each apple!  [how to make simple apple hoop art]

Project estimate:

• Small embroidery hoops, about 2/$1
• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Felt, on hand or $1
• Embroidery floss, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• String or twine, on hand

Total:  about $0.50 each and up

The post Make Simple Apple Hoop Art appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

With school back in session, it’s a good time to start thinking about teacher appreciation gifts!  It’s no secret that we love tea towels, and these notebook tea towels by Liz at Say Yes are particularly cute!  If you can sew in a straight line, you can make these – no fancy sewing skills required.  Which also makes it a great beginner sewing project, so if you are new  go ahead and give it a try!  [how to make notebook tea towels]

Project estimate:

• Tea towel, $1
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Needle and embroidery floss, on hand
• Fusible web, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

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