There are two basic kinds of fabric: knits and wovens. They can be made from the same types of fibers, but they are made differently and so have very different material properties.

Imitate the flight of a real bird by building a homemade ornithopter -- a flying machine with flapping wings, rather than straight, static wings like those of an airplane. Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci drew up plans for an ornithopter in the late 15th century but never developed a real one. C

Cable television is expensive. Sometimes if you only want to watch a few local programs, getting a whole cable package would be a waste of money. Thankfully, there is a way that you can watch your favorite TV shows without having to tack on another monthly bill. Making your own TV antenna is a simpl

Relational charts take many forms, each expressing a different type of bond. Genealogical trees show the familial relations between a group of people. Venn diagrams express the similarities and differences between two or more items in words. Scatter plots model the correlation between an item and tw

Creating a bracelet from cotton rope is a beginner jewelry-making craft. Cotton braiding cord of various thicknesses and colors are used as the material is durable and highly versatile. Homemade cotton rope bracelets are braided using a basic three-strand braiding technique and embellished with asso

Open shirt binding is a theatrical method in which a woman binds her chest tightly with tape to give the illusion of a manly chest. This method dates back to the Shakespearean era when women dressed up as men to play characters in the theater, because women were forbidden to become actors. For women

Amigurumi is the Japanese style of crocheting small stuffed animals, such as this baby penguin. This is a good pattern for the crocheter with basic experience. It does not require knowledge of complex crochet skills, but before beginning the amigurumi baby penguin pattern, practice some basic croch

Using old jeans to create something useful is a great way to recycle. Beginning sewers can complete these simple sewing projects using recycled jeans. Salvage whatever material you can from old jeans with holes, or repurpose jeans that are faded or no longer fit. Use different colors of jeans to add

Making your own quilt for the first time could be fun as well as confusing. Even though it is quite easy to learn how to quilt, it might take some time and effort from your side to get skilled in this

Learning to hold scissors correctly can be difficult for small hands. Fiskars makes children's scissors in several styles designed to make cutting easier for new users. Help a child learn to hold a pair of Fiskars scissors by selecting a size and style that is appropriate for their age and that fits

Tissue paper flowers are an excellent way to create a bright, cheery craft. Paper flowers can be used as centerpieces, bouquets or as a handmade gift. This is an easy craft that may be completed by children of all ages. Make tissue paper flowers as part of a class lesson on spring or flower produc

One of the nicest cars that can be built by anyone is the mouse trap car. This kind of car uses a spring to harness the power and move the wheels. In order to construct the mouse trap car, you need 2

Cloth patches or sewing patches have a number of uses. They can be used to patch a hole in the basic material of a garment, used to reinforce an area of heavy wear on a piece of clothing, like the knees, or used as an embellishment to add visual interest to a textile product. The way to make and sew

A shirt patch can be useful for several reasons, such as mending a hole or adding a creative flair to a garment. A similar technique is used whether you are adding a functional patch or a decorative one, such as those used on club or sports uniforms. You can hand sew or use a sewing machine to mend

Forensic science projects provide hands-on learning in the field.science image by martin schmid from Fotolia.comForensic science careers are on the rise in popularity, thanks in part to popular TV shows. Kids as young as elementary and middle school have expressed interest in learning...

Pink tourmaline is one of the colors of the tourmaline family. Tourmaline or synthetic pink tourmaline is an alternate birthstone for October and an eighth wedding anniversary. The meaning attached to pink tourmaline comes from a mix of legend, folklore and New-Age beliefs and metaphysics.

Filled with candy and trinkets, these brightly colored creations come in all shapes and sizes. Although we think of pi?atas as a Mexican tradition, the earliest ones were of Chinese origin, filled with seeds instead of candy. Making your own Pi?ata is fun and easy. Choose between several recipes for

Taxidermy is the art of preserving, mounting and reproducing an animal for display. Although professional taxidermists can mount fish and create replicas for you, do-it-yourself taxidermy is popular among fishermen. The process can be completed at home and used as a way to display hunting trophies.

A tutu-inspired plate can be a charming addition to a little girl's room. It can be used to hold bows, ribbons or jewelry. With craft paper and with a ballet motif you can apply a decoupage technique to a plain glass plate. The addition of a pink tulle rim gives a tutu look, and is easy to create w

Most crochet projects require a group of foundation stitches from which the bigger project is built upon. When crocheting in the round, joining these foundation stitches often leaves a hole in the finished project. While the hole is just an aesthetic concern, it can be avoided through a crochet tech