Craft Guides

Every In Stitches guide in one place, grouped by craft. Pick your craft, or start with the beginner guides if you are new.

Start here

• How to Start Crocheting: A Complete Beginner's Guide
• Best Yarn for Crochet and Knitting Beginners
• Best Sewing Machine for Beginners: How to Choose Your First One
• Quilting for Beginners: Tools, Fabric and Your First Quilt
• Embroidery for Beginners: What to Buy for Your First Hoop
• Cross Stitch Kits for Beginners
• Punch Needle for Beginners
• Tapestry Kits for Children and Beginners
• Where to Find Free Craft Patterns Online
• Crochet, Knitting and Embroidery Classes in Nairobi

Crochet & knitting

• Best Crochet Hooks: From KES 200 to Clover Amour
• Knitting Needles Explained: Straight, Circular and Interchangeable
• Stitch Markers: How to Use Them
• Yarn Weights Explained
• Free Amigurumi Patterns and How to Get Started
• Free Knitting and Crochet Tutorials from Ganga Acrowools
• How to Use Your Clover Tools
• How to Make an Alize Puffy Blanket with No Needles

Yarn guides

• Cotton Yarn: Pure Cotton, Blends and Milk Cotton
• Milk Cotton Yarn: What It Is and What to Make
• Cheap Yarn: Good Budget Yarns from KES 80
• Made in Kenya Yarn: Robin, Winterking, Seal and Kenana Knitters
• Chenille and Velvet Yarn Compared
• Blankie Yarn: The Soft Chunky Yarn Everyone Is Buying
• Mohair, Merino and Wool: The Luxury Fibres
• T-Shirt Yarn for Bags, Baskets and Rugs
• Best Yarn for Amigurumi
• Best Yarn for a Baby Blanket
• Premium Turkish Yarn in Nairobi

Sewing

• Hand Sewing Needles Explained
• Cotton vs Polyester Sewing Thread
• Rotary Cutter or Scissors? How to Cut Fabric Accurately
• How to Mark Fabric for Sewing
• Snap Fasteners, Hooks and Eyes: Which for Which Job
• Clover Wonder Clips: Why Sewists Are Swapping Their Pins
• How to Make Fabric Flowers with the Kanzashi Flower Maker
• How to Use Prym Tools: Snap Fasteners, Pom-Poms and More
• Free Sewing Projects from Bernina and bernette

Quilting & fabric

• What Can You Make with Quilting Cotton?
• How Much Fabric Do I Need? A Chart for Common Projects
• How to Make an Envelope Cushion Cover
• Christmas Sewing Projects: Bunting, Gift Bags, Table Runners and More
• Sewing for Children with Quilting Cotton
• Quilting for Beginners: Tools, Fabric and Your First Quilt
• Quilt Sizes for Kenyan Beds: 3 by 6 to 6 by 6
• Quilt Batting Explained: Cotton, 80/20 or Polyester?
• How to Choose Quilting Fabrics That Go Together
• Should You Prewash Quilting Cotton?
• How to Wash and Care for a Quilt
• Free Quilt and Sewing Patterns from Robert Kaufman

Sewing machines

• How to Look After Your Sewing Machine: Cleaning, Oiling and Servicing
• Sewing Machine Needles: The Right Needle for Every Fabric
• Why Does My Sewing Machine Thread Keep Breaking? 7 Fixes
• bernette vs Bernina: What Does the Extra Money Buy You?
• Overlocker vs Sewing Machine
• Embroidery Machines: bernette b70 DECO or b79?

Embroidery & cross stitch

• DMC Embroidery Floss: Find Your Shade Among 497 Colours
• How Many Strands of Embroidery Floss Should You Use?
• DMC Coton Perlé 8 for Crochet Lace, Sashiko and Embroidery
• Free DMC Patterns: Where to Find Them
• Learn Every Stitch for Free: DMC's Video Tutorials

Fabric dyeing

• How to Dye Clothes by Hand with Dylon
• How to Dye Clothes in the Washing Machine with Dylon
• 5 Creative Things to Do with Dylon Fabric Dye

Macramé

• Macramé for Beginners: Cord, Knots and Your First Wall Hanging
• Free Macramé Patterns and Where to Start