Crafternoon Delights! 6 Easy-Peasy, Beginner-Friendly DIY Kits
- Words by Emma Mulholland
If you happen to have a little time on your hands, we have just the thing to fill it with: six soul-nurturing projects that will have you stitching, knitting and knotting in no time at all. So, whether you’re new to the crafting game or a seasoned stitcher looking for something to do while you rip through Bridgerton, we have just the thing to keep those idle hands busy…
ABOVE: CRAFT CLUB CO’S STRAWBERRY DREAMING RUG MAKING KIT
1. NOT YOUR NANNA’S NEEDLEWORK
Take it from the bloke who designed comfy chairs for a living: embracing the good life takes work. And you’ll have plenty of time to mull over Charles Eames’ wise words when you set about stitching this needlepoint project from Unwind Studio. The kit comes with everything you need to get started, but if you know what you’re doing opt for a PDF of the charted design – it’s yours for only 17 bucks.
2. JOIN THE GANG
Knitting newbie? Step this way. Cardigang’s Ollie Placemat + Coasters Knit Kit will have you dropping stitches (and picking them back up) in no time. They’ll send video tutorials to help you along, plus a super-sweet “Made by Me” tag (to ensure your guests leave the dinner table knowing you’re a creative genius).
3. LEVEL UP
So, you’re the kind of beginner who doesn’t have time to mess around with making scrunchies and pincushions. If you’re planning to bite off more than you can chew, let Common Stitch hold your hand as you do it. The Fawn Dress sewing kit comes with everything you need to make a lovely linen frock, including fabric, a printed pattern and instructions (plus, there’s a “Sew With Me” YouTube video that will walk you through the process).
4. CUTTING CORNERS
Starry-eyed sailors of yore whiled away their days carving intricate “lovespoons” for their sweethearts back home. Of course, unless you happen to spend your days on the high seas, you probably don’t have time for all that wood-chopping and knife-sharpening. Luckily for you, BeaverCraft makes it easy to express your love with this nifty (and nice-looking!) kit that will have you whittling away in no time.
5. KNOT SO HARD
If tying a knot is the extent of your crafting abilities, you may want to consider a life at sea (see above). Or you could fashion yourself a retro shag rug with a super-sweet, easy-as-pie latch-hook kit from Craft Club. Once you’ve mastered the process, you’ll be able to turn your hand to matching totes and cushions.
6. SOMETHING BORROWED
Wattle&Loop’s Slow-Stitching Kits might take a little longer to complete but once you put down that embroidery needle, you’ll have a truly unique piece. That’s because owner Kylie fills the kits with precious fabrics from all over the world, scouring French flea markets and hitting up American collectors.
“I make a point of trying to use fabrics that may not be of much use to other sewers or crafters because of holes, stains, tears and worn-out embroidery,” she says. “I believe it is these ‘imperfections’ that add the magic, personality and story to each artwork.” She even encourages you to incorporate beloved fabrics of your own, like Grandma’s old lace hankies. Awww.
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
