Projects
Whether you’re a a beginner looking to try your hand at a certain technique, or a seasoned maker searching for fresh ideas, we hope you’ll find lots to inspire here in our Projects classroom.
About the Projects
There is nothing nicer than making something by hand, either to keep for yourself or to give as a special gift. We have a selection of project workshops for you to enjoy ranging from making decorative items for your home, to wearables. Some are quick makes, some will take more time, whichever you choose, what better than the satisfaction of being able to say, “I made that!”.
Video Workshops
How To Make a Box Bag
Work along with Laura and Frances as they show you how to make a box bag step-by-step. Frances will share her tips for a professional finish inside and out for this fully lined zipped bag. It's perfect for make-up, art supplies, a small knitting project or as a travel bag.
Machine Embroidered Brooches
Work along with Laura to make pretty machine embroidered heart brooches. Learn how to free machine embroider and practice your thread blending skills.
Painted Patchwork Gift Box
There's nothing nicer than a thoughtfully presented, handmade gift and with that in mind we hope you enjoy working along to paint your own patchwork inspired wooden gift box. The lucky recipient might be hard pressed to decide whether they like the gift, or the box best!
Paint Pounded Scarf
Create beautiful hand painted cloth with Linda's special fabric painting technique, then selecting from your palette of fabrics make a unique scarf with hand worked, kantha style stitch.
Free – NeedleFelting + Stitch: Landscape
Make a beautiful felted and stitched landscape with Linda. She'll guide you through the process step-by-step from needlefelting the background to freehand machine stitching motifs and adding final details with hand embroidery.
Quilted Vases and Wall Pockets
Up-cycle quilted fabric to make beautiful vase wraps and wall pockets. These easy to create items make perfect gifts.
Handmade Accessories
Join Linda to make three different handmade accessories. Needlefelt and hand embellish an iPad case (or bag or book cover if you prefer), personalise a ready-made scarf using soluble stabiliser and machine stitching, and finally make your own 'precious purse' with needle felting and machine stitching.
Paper Vessels and Jewellery
In this collection of 4 video workshops Linda will guide you through two projects. First, try your hand at making paper pulp and moulding vessels. Recycle paper and build some beautiful forms. In the following workshop she shows you how to decorate the vessels you've made. Next try making your own paper beads with a twist. These are made with special papers from your stash to add meaning and interesting surface design. In the final workshop Linda will show you how you can put your handmade beads to use in intriguing 'talisman' jewellery.
Motto Cushions
Choose a quote that's personal to you, find some scraps of felt, and make a dent in that stash of beads with these funky motto cushions.
Pictorial Applique: Birds
In this set of two videos Linda shows exactly how she chooses a suitable photograph as reference, drafts a pattern, selects the perfect fabrics and uses double-sided fusible webbing to create an appliqué panel. She’ll demonstrate free motion quilting and the final details that will make your panel stand out from the ordinary. You’ll see step by step how to recreate something similar whether you choose to work with a bird motif as Linda does or choose your own source of inspiration - the techniques will work beautifully for any appliqué subject.
Stitching Into The Woods
This collection includes two videos in which you can follow every step Linda takes to create an embroidered and painted panel inspired by photographs of bluebell woods. She demonstrates every technique she uses to interpret her chosen subject in great detail so that anyone can achieve a similar result.
Heartwarmers
In this collection of three video workshops Linda and Laura take hearts as a motif and explore crazy patchwork, quilting and hand painting, and free machine embroidery! Join them to make hanging pocket bags from crazy patchwork in felt with hand embroidery. Make a charm to decorate a bag or mixed media textile project using machine embroidery on dissolvable fabric. And finally, quilt and handpaint a pincushion to add a little love to your sewing room.
The Accordion Bag
A bag or a piece of sculpture? This bag cleverly expands with an accordion-like structure that gives the bag its name. See how Laura designed and made hers and how you can create your own version.
Archive Three
In Archive 3 you’ll find a lively mix of some of the very first shows we taped for DMTV. Ranging from discharge printing, through altered books and free motion quilting, there’s lots to inspire.
Infinity Scarf
Learn how to make a quick infinity scarf
More to enjoy
Sewing Patch Pockets
Laura's latest dressmaking project has patch pockets. See how she sews them for great results every time.
In the Sewing Room with Frances
Frances is our newest member of the team here at DesignMatters. Come and take a look at her sewing space.
Dress/Skirt Refashion
Refashion a dress into a simple skirt. This is a super quick project which gives a whole new lease of life to an unworn garment. You'll just need some elastic and a few minutes of time.