As the fashion and textile industries grapple with environmental impact, a fascinating innovation is emerging from the forest floor: mycelium textiles. Derived from the root-like structure of fungi, mycelium is being cultivated into durable, biodegradable materials that mimic leather and other fabrics—without the environmental cost.
Make a Christmas Rag Wreath to add a personal touch to your festive decorations. It can be made from fabric leftovers – just whatever you’ve got lying around. Also, it’s really easy so it’s a great craft project for children.
Yikes it’s almost December. November has flown past! It’s been a busy month at Artisan Stitch, what with the Christmas-themed sewing classes running and the end of another term for the Dressmakers. Read on to find out what’s been happening at Artisan Stitch.
My schedule of Autumn-Winter sewing classes is here, covering October and November. These include some more of my popular ‘Essential Skills’ classes, now re-named ‘Beginners’ Sewing Skills’. This covers basic sewing tasks like sewing straight seams and how to finish off the raw edges, taking up hems, making neat machined buttonholes, and inserting zips.
This jam‑jar pincushion project is a lovely way to use up a pretty little jar that feels too nice to throw away. It transforms an ordinary jam jar into a charming, practical pincushion with built‑in storage. This is perfect for your sewing table and is a thoughtful handmade gift for anyone who enjoys stitching.
It’s an easy, no‑sew upcycle that children can help with too, making it a great rainy‑day craft or a fun introduction to sewing tools and materials.
This is the kind of project that reminds us that creativity doesn’t need to be complicated — sometimes the simplest ideas are the most delightful.
I originally created a printable PDF for this tutorial, and although the link has gone walkabout, the file is still in my archives. I’ll re‑upload it shortly so you can download the full instructions and template.
Click here for the downloadable PDF! 👉Jam Jar Pin Cushion
If you enjoy turning scraps and leftovers into something beautiful, you might also like my rag wreath project. It’s another brilliant way to use up fabric offcuts and brighten your home.
