About
What is WhatTheCraft.com?
WhatTheCraft.com is a source for free sewing and craft information. In my craftventures (sorry, that was cheesy… I’ll never use the word again) I’ve used countless tutorials that awesome people have posted on the internet… now it’s my turn to share!
Whether you want to cut up an old t-shirt and turn it into something more flattering, or you’re looking for some new places to buy craft supplies, or you just want to chat with some other crafty folks, WhatTheCraft has what you’re looking for! Now let’s have some Craftventures (I lied! haha!).
Who runs WhatTheCraft.com?
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Fly, Unicorn, Fly!
That’s me! My name is Alexis, and I’m a craft junkie currently residing in Kalamazoo, MI. My favorite crafts are sewing, screenprinting, polymer clay, mosaics, cooking…and probably lots more that I’m forgetting. I’d love to learn to knit and/or crochet, and I’m currently working on my embroidery skillz. You might know me as SmarmyClothes. I’m completely self-taught… pretty much everything I learned was by reading tutorials and how-tos, and then a lot of good, old fashioned trial-and-error. I’m just a passionate craftsperson passing on my knowledge.
Currently, WhatTheCraft.com is a one-person endeavor, which is why I’m painfully slow at answering emails and updating with new tutorials. 
So I apologize for constantly keeping all of you waiting.
I do want to thank all the people that help keep WhatTheCraft.com afloat, both money-wise (all of our awesome sponsors and donators) and content-wise (commenters, people that submit links for the directory, or request tutorials, or ask for clarification). I’m constantly trying to improve and add content, so all of your questions and support help me do so!!
What is DIY? What is the point of WhatTheCraft.com?
DIY means Do It Yourself. If you made it with your own hands, it’s DIY, and it’s fun, rewarding, and rad. And that’s the point, my friends. I didn’t start this site to make money (I’d be one sad girl if I had!), I started this site because I wanted to show people how easy and fun it is to make something sweet!
Are the tutorials here free for anyone to use? If I make an item using one of the WhatTheCraft tutorials, can I sell it?
Yes, this site is FREE! I’m a thrifty mofo, so I LOVE free stuff. You don’t need to be a member or donate or pay anything to use the tutorials, but any support you can give is much appreciated.
The tutorials are free to use, provided you follow the ground rules:
- Please don’t post full WhatTheCraft tutorials or my example photos elsewhere without my permission. You can post a snippet of the tutorial and a link to the content on this site if you’d like to share.
- If you make something using one of my tutorials and post pictures elsewere on the internet, I’d be much obliged if you could mention WhatTheCraft.com and post a link back here! Part of the DiY spirit is making sure sharing goes both ways. Pay it forward!
- I would strongly recommend you not sell something you made using one of my tutorials. Why? Chances are if you need to use one of my tutorials to make something, then you’re probably not ready to be selling whatever it is you’re making. This site is intended to help you learn, so learn first, sell later. By the time you perfect your design, it probably won’t be much like what you started with when you first used the tutorial, anyway.
Will you make a tutorial for _________?
You are more than welcome to request tutorials, but keep in mind that no matter how much I’d like to think so, I’m not the God of All that is Crafty. I don’t know how to do everything, and even if I know how to do it, I might not know how to show you how to do it.
So request away, just be nice… keep in mind that you are asking me for a favor. You might not think so, but these little tutorials take me hours to put together, and I’m not getting paid for it. A little Please and Thank You would be spectacular.
Also, if I still haven’t gotten around to posting a tutorial for something you requested ages ago, I apologize. I get way behind on this stuff. And like I said, I’m not making money doing this, so sometimes you’ll just have to be patient.
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Can I buy one of your patterns?
Nope. This site is for tutorials, patterns are a whole different ballgame. Besides, the tutorials are free… FREE!! Who wants to pay for something they can get for free?
Where do you get t-shirts, fabric, etc?
There is a ridonkulous list of such things here. Unfortunately, if you ask me about something really specific (i.e. “Where did you get the lime green leopard print velour?”), I probably won’t remember. I swear I’m not being a jerk and not sharing my sources because I’m greedy or paranoid. (I made the aforementioned ridonkulous list, remember?) I’ve got fabric and t-shirts coming out of my… uh, rumpus. I have fabric that I’ve never used that I bought years ago. So you’re going to have to do a little searching on your own, but hunting for those rare gems is part of the fun!
Fabric supply in particular seems to be an extremely inconsistent market. I’ve bought 5 yards of zebra print knit one day, and then the next time I look for it, it is nowhere to be found. If you’re looking for something super specific, sometimes you have to be patient.
How did you learn to sew?
In a middle school “Life Skills” class. Seriously. After that, my mom taught me how to use a sewing pattern, and then I promptly stuffed it all into the back of my head until years later when I decided it’d be fun to sew again.
How did I get good at it? Practice. A lot of practice. I know it sounds like a B.S., Cheater McPeter answer, but it’s the double truth, Ruth. You aren’t going to be good at anything without a ton of practice. Don’t get discouraged. If you keep at it, you’ll be awesome at sewing, plus it’s fun! And if it’s not fun for you, well… then you should probably find another hobby.
You might consider checking the Selling Handmade section. Even if you don’t want to sell your stuff, it might give you some insight, anyway!
I want to be a fashion designer, can you give me some tips?
Done and done! Check out the Selling Handmade section and the Indie Designer Spotlights for some nugs of wisdom regarding selling crafts!
How can I help/support WhatTheCraft.com?
You. Are. An. AWESOME PERSON! Seriously, though, any help is welcome and much appreciated! You can post a link to WhatTheCraft.com on your website, in your blog, or on myspace. If you post pictures of projects you’ve made using WhatTheCraft tutorials elsewhere on the ‘net, please mention this site! There are banners you can use when linking back here.
You can also buy advertising, make a donation, or just click the Sponsor ads from time to time, and help keep the site alive!
Do I have to use t-shirts to use your tutorials?
Certainly not! Most, if not all, of the tutorials could be made with any sort of stretchy material (knit, interlock, jersey, lycra, etc.), and lots of them could be made with woven, non-stretch materials with some slight modification (you’ll probably want to add a few inches to make room for darts if they’re needed and consider adding a zipper or buttons to help getting whatever it is on and off).
I know that knits and stretch materials can be a pain to work with if you’re not used to them, but it’s my fabric and material of choice, so that’s why all of the tutorials are kind of geared in that direction.
Worried about the expense? Check out the Craft Supplies section for some places that carry knit fabrics (almost always cheaper than the local fabric store), or buy some jumbo sized t-shirts at the thrift store!
