Dummies.com: Crafts & Hobbies

Four Popular Trends in Jewelry Making and Beading

You want to make some trendy jewelry, but you don't know what trends are popular. Don't worry: Heather Dismore, author of Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies, shows you four hot trends in jewelry that [more…]

Five Tools for the Beginning Jewelry-Maker and Where to Get Them

Getting started in jewelry making and beading doesn't require a lot of money or a large number of supplies. In this video, Heather Dismore, author of Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies, reveals the five [more…]

Weekend Do-It-Yourself Projects: Repurposing 10 Ordinary Items

Springtime brings bugs. D.I.Y. bugs, to be exact. And if done right, D.I.Y. can be an affordable way to refresh your home. There's just one caveat: Doing things yourself takes time—and patience. [more…]

Ten Quick and Easy Homemade Jewelry Gifts

How often do you find that you need a last-minute birthday gift? What about a quick thank-you present? Use very basic jewelry-making skills to create lovely and quick gifts for any occasion. While these [more…]

How to Make a Beaded Stretchy Ring

Stretchy rings are a quick and easy accessory to make. All you need is a bold slider bead (a bead with more than one stringing hole) and stretchy cord, and you're on your way to awesome. [more…]

How to Make a Rhinestone and Leather Wrap Bracelet

Rhinestone chain is a great choice for making quick and glitzy wrap bracelets. Because the stones are already set in tiny cups and connected, you just need to cut them to the length you want them and then [more…]

Must-Visit Websites for Jewelry Makers

The Internet provides a way for you to get inspiration, research techniques, and source supplies that may not be readily available in your area. Here are some great websites for getting instantly inspired [more…]

Basic Supplies for Making Jewelry and Beading Projects

With just a few basic tools for making jewelry and beading projects, you can create items that are wildly artistic, classically elegant, or something in-between. Whatever your style, these are your must-have [more…]

Making Jewelry: Standard Lengths for Necklaces, Bracelets, and Anklets

When you put a lot of time into making a standout piece of jewelry, you don't want to end up with a necklace that's too long or a bracelet that will fall off. Use these recommended lengths when making [more…]

Choosing the Right Birthstones for Making Jewelry

Want to make a jewelry gift more personal? Add the birthstone (or crystal alternative) for the person to whom you're giving the gift. Here are the months and corresponding birthstones: [more…]

Jewelry Making and Beading For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Before you begin making jewelry or beading projects, gather some basic tools and supplies and become familiar with recommended lengths for necklaces, bracelets, and more. Consider how to personalize your [more…]

How to Knit Fingerless Mitts

A great way to practice knitting in the round is to make a pair of fingerless mitts. Knit in a comfortable gauge of 4 stitches per inch, these will work up in no time at all. Make a pair to match the simple [more…]

Part of the Series: Circular Knitting: Easy Projects for Knitting in the Round

How to Knit a Cowl

This simple project, presented here as a master pattern, is the perfect starting point for knitting in the round. Choose the desired circumference of your cowl, make a gauge swatch to determine your cast-on [more…]

Part of the Series: Circular Knitting: Easy Projects for Knitting in the Round

How to Knit an Ear Warmer

Simple, useful, and attractive, this headband is a great accessory for cold or cool weather. This project knits up quickly and easily. Make one for yourself; make a few for gifts. Match them with the fingerless [more…]

Part of the Series: Circular Knitting: Easy Projects for Knitting in the Round

How to Knit a Child’s Hat

Using the master pattern here, this hat knits up very quickly and makes a great small gift. It has a paper-bag top that requires no decreasing. Simply knit the tube as long as you want, bind off, and close [more…]

Part of the Series: Circular Knitting: Easy Projects for Knitting in the Round

How to Make Circular-Knit Hats for Adults

Hats are a natural for circular knitting (or knitting in the round). This project for circular-knit adult hats offers three brim styles: hemmed, ribbed, and rolled stockinette. Whichever brim you choose [more…]

Part of the Series: Circular Knitting: Easy Projects for Knitting in the Round

How to Knit in the Round on a Circular Needle

A circular needle consists of two tapered needles (referred to here as needle tips) connected by a flexible cable. These needles were created to provide an alternative to double-pointed needles when knitting [more…]

Part of the Series: Knitting in the Round: Circular Knitting Basics

How to Knit in the Round with the Magic Loop

Made popular in 2002 by Bev Galeskas and Sarah Hauschka, the magic loop method enables you to work projects of small circumference on one long circular. With this method, you pull out a loop of cable to [more…]

Part of the Series: Knitting in the Round: Circular Knitting Basics

Knitting in the Round with Two Circular Needles

With this knitting method, you divide your stitches evenly between two circular needles and arrange them to form a circle. You knit the first half of the stitches using both needle tips of the front circular [more…]

Part of the Series: Knitting in the Round: Circular Knitting Basics

How to Bind Off in the Round

When you are done knitting in the round, you must bind off your project (also called casting off). One of the easiest and most versatile bind offs is the basic bind off. The steps below demonstrate this [more…]

Part of the Series: Knitting in the Round: Circular Knitting Basics