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]

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 getting married later this year and I’ve decided to crochet my bouquet. Of course, I want it to be absolutely fabulous and I need a lot of inspiration. So I was wondering if any of the whip up readers might have some knowledge of pretty flowers to crochet? Thanks in advance! :-) Carina

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.

Christine wrote: I make rag rugs, but now have far more rags than I have time to use. Is there a way to find others who need fabric or old, unusable (stained or torn) clothes to make rugs from?

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.

H Moylan wrote: Hi, I’m wondering if you have any great blogs or links about natural dyeing? Or has anyone here done any tutorials? If not I’d love to see some ideas on here.

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.

Nancy asked this question over at the forum - if you can help out then please head on over to the forum and add your answer to this thread.

I’m looking for a US source for those metal springy things that close the kind of change purses that open when you squeeze the sides of the top–hey, at this point I’d be happy just to know what they’re called!

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

June wrote in with this letter:

I had the nasty experience [recently] of finding that some of my copyrighted crochet patterns have been stolen and posted online without my permission. I have already had a few comments on how to try to combat this or prevent it happening in future, but I was hoping whipup readers might have more suggestions as to how we, as small craft businesses, can protect ourselves from this kind of copyright infringement.

Thanks,
June

The new forum would be a great place to broaden this discussion. After leaving your thought for June here - go on over to the forum and discuss alternative options.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Hello, I’m hoping someone out there can help me find a source for aniline leather- i make cuffs and headbands out of it, embellished with various elements that I sew on, given that this type of leather is so soft. I cannot find a source that is willing to work with me - I have found that if you aren’t an upholsterer, they’re not interested in working with you. Please help! I’m in the US, but I’m not opposed to paying international shipping if I can get the product quality I’m looking for.

Thanks so much!

Heather

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Brenda is looking for advice and direction on how to patent or create a pattern and perhaps self publish her idea…

Hi my name is Brenda and I love your blog, I was asking a fellow blogger if she knew of anyone who may know how to make patterns and she said you may be able to guide me in the right direction. I created car window pillows for my children last year and everyone thinks they are a great idea. I have tried to see if I could patent the idea but there is so much involved and too much money to get it going. So I wanted to see if I could create a pattern and kind of save my idea this way. It is a very simple pattern. I hope you can help.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Hi. I’m just starting out in the sewing world and have found so many interesting projects to start with. I’m just starting to collect fabric and there are so many wonderful fabrics to choose from. My question is…how did you start your fabric stash? If you see something you love but don’t have any ideas about how to use it yet, how much do you buy?
Thank you for your help.

Violet

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

I’m just getting back to quilting and my sewing machine is outdated and, well, I’m having to thread the bobbin by hand. I’d like to buy a new machine that would be dependable, good at basic functions, easy to use, and decent for doing some machine quilting. Would anyone have some suggestions for good machines or machines to avoid?

Stephanie

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

My mum has recently discovered Whip Up, but has not quite figured out the search button - she wrote me an email looking for a pattern, tutorial or information on knitting toe-up socks.

Dear Kath, Just been browsing whipup looking for the pattern for knitting socks from the toe up. Is there a direct index? I went into knitting and crochet and I have been going back and forth and found plenty of sock patterns but its the one pattern where I knit from the toe up that I am looking for.

Does anyone have any advice for my mum - links to free online patterns or tutorials. Thank you all.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has some advice on purchasing felt that is thicker than ordinary craft felt. I’ve seen some wonderful projects in Japanese craft books but as I can’t read Japanese I’m not sure what kind of felt they are recommending for the more sturdy bags, and I’m not sure where to purchase thick felt in the US. Can anyone help me? Thanks! Kris

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Hi, Can you help me find a tutorial to make pendants using old wallpaper and found objects in a small frame. Where can I buy miniature metal frames to use?

Thanks for a GREAT site!
Beth

edited to add: Thanks everyone - Beth, it turns out, is looking for a tutorial in making those little frames from scratch, soldering techniques etc - any ideas anyone

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Katie wrote in asking for advice on fabric purchase.

I’m interested in finding out where people who are making clothing are purchasing their fabrics. I have very few actual stores near me, and those there are stock largely quilting fabrics (if that’s what I wanted, I would have a bajillion places to buy it) and things like wacky novelty print flannels.

I’m specifically interested in making baby clothes (pregnant with our first child), and some adult basics (priority heavily on the baby side - I don’t care too much about making clothes for me), so essentially knits, jerseys, and really soft fabrics for the baby are what I’m after. Organic cottons that are soft enough for a baby would also be great. I’ve looked online and the prices are not so hot from what I’ve found, and the selections aren’t fantastic either.

Any tips would be great!

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

I need help with making the covered button hair bands. I made my covered buttons-no problem-but have tried to figure out how to attach the covered elastic band to the button shank to no avail. I’ve tried to jam it through the shank-I’m trying to use the thick goody bands-and that only worked once. I’ve tried to pry the shank to make it less narrow and that didn’t work. And I tried to pry the shank out of the button back but it won’t securely go back in to the original hole and be bent back to secure it-help please! Thanks in advance, Toni

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.co

I need your help. I would like to make my own “typewriter key necklace”. I have an old typewriter and I need to know where I can get the piece that the key is held in for the necklace? Thank you for your assistance,
Kelly

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Martha wrote:
I love looking through the website. Stumbled on it by chance. I’m looking for some inspiration–remember those yardstick holders from the 70s. I think they were usually made of burlap, decorated with yarn embroidery. Anyone remember them? Or have some guidelines for recreating?