Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. email whipup[@]gmail.com

Liz wrote in with this question:
My local creche is holding a trivia night, and they want parents to contribute items suitable for packs for a 1 year old boy and a 1 year old girl. Do whipup readers have any suggestions as to something handmade?

Readers let us know your suggestions for quick and simple gift ideas to make for 1 year old children – co-ordinated packs or perhaps a few sweet little things that just go nicely together – thinking caps on…

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. email whipup[@]gmail.com

Are there any tutes on the internet for these anywhere?

EDIT: Sorry we had a technical issue and had to delete this post. We’re reposting, so those that left a comment, sorry :)

Ok, I have to admit I’m not the one finding these awesome link posts, I have a friend who’s my pimp when it comes to this sorta stuff. So thanks friend – and whipup readers – enjoy. This list comes to you from everyday beautiful. An awesome list. I’ve published it here, but I’d be checking back at everyday beautiful for updates and more. Link.

Stuff to wear

•  Elizabeth

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

Hi,
I’m about to have my second child in a couple of months. My first child, a girl, will be almost two and half when the baby is born and is quite obsessed with babies and baby dolls. I’m hoping to use this to our advantage and have bought her a baby doll for the new baby to give her as a gift. What I’m looking for is online patterns/tutorials for things that I can make to go with the doll – clothing, nappies/diapers, sleeping bags, slings/baby carriers etc. Does anyone have any useful links? I’d also really like to find a pattern for a small wooden cradle but have not been able to find one so far…. any ideas?

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

My roommate and I just went shopping for a sofa, and we found a great, comfy, clean one for 70 dollars! The only problem is…it’s lavender. With swirls and everything. Turns out the lavender is just a slipcover, and the sofa itself is white. Great news! But then we find out that the sofa cushions, as lovely made as they are, aren’t white on the inside. Just lavender. So, I was wondering if there were any tutorials out there on to how to make a couch cushion cover. We don’t need a whole slipcover, just a way to make cushions. I am an advanced beginner sewer, meaning I can make a lot of things but can’t put in zippers, so velcro will end up being the way to go. Is it just a matter of measuring the sides and making a box? Or is there some secret that I don’t know about?
Any help would be great!
-Sarah

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

Hi there! I’m an illustration student from Scotland and was hoping to ask about printed textiles? I’m a frequenter of the ‘drawn’ blog so often come across posts about the good folks at whipup! Recently I’ve been designing some bed linen – the problem I have is that I have no experience in getting printed textile designs to the right people i.e. design companies, printing houses etc, i was wondering if anyone out there could advise on how artists tend to get their work printed or simply a few relevant names to look up! It would be most appreciated as I feel a bit out of my depth here…
thank you for your time, hope to hear from you soon
robbie

p.s keep up the good work*

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

jrobichaux asks this question at the forum

Hiya. I’m interested in making myself some maternity clothes, but there are so few patterns available from the big companies. I’m wondering if anyone can point me to a source for something a little bit funkier, or tutorials on how to convert a standard-sized pattern to be maternity-friendly. Thanks for your help.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

Pamdover asks this question at the forum

I am putting together a proposal for an art workshop fundraiser. The money will go towards a playground for my church. My plan is to have a workshop every few months. In my planning process I have decided Art journals or art prayer journals would be a great idea for the first workshop. Being a mixed media collage artist I have some ideas to offer to the workshop but looking for any suggestions on techniques to teach to make the workshop unique. Also how much I should charge to participant?

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

dulcet asked this question at the forum

My son made me the funnest little pincushion for Christmas in his scout group. (Yes, it’s the kind only a mother could love.) He made it by covering a half-sphere of styrofoam with felt, then gluing it into a washed out tuna can. There were even new pins in it when he gave it to me, which I really needed. But I cringe every time I stick a pin back into it and hear that crunch. (Some of you may have cringed as soon as you read what it was made out of.) I’m sure the styrofoam isn’t conducive for the pins to maintain their sharpness. So, the question is–what are appropriate materials for pincusion filler? I’m sure it will be super easy to dissassemble and maintain the original oddity that I adore. Any suggestions?

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

I have a question about sewing clothing. My sewing skills are ok, I can follow a pattern pretty well, but I would really like some resources to help me alter patterns or even draft my own! I would be great if you could ask the readers if they have any recommendations. Thanks for all the great work! [you might like to check out BurdaStyle - ed]