Embroidered Side-Knot Top

Forgot to bring handcrafted throw pillows back from Tangiers? No need to spend the price of a plane ticket on a designer version. Instead, buy a few affordable wide-weave cushions and commission your favorite artisan — here's looking at you, kid — to trick them out, simply by working yarn right into the weave with a tapestry needle. 

Personalize an ordinary cotton bag with your hand-stitched initial.

Write an older student's name in fabric marker, then let her embroider it with a simple backstitch and jazz it up with pom-poms.

A sailor's knot wreath is just about as authentic as you can get when decorating in the nautical theme, and looks great outdoors as well as indoors. For the Fourth of July, a simple ribbon brings together the theme for the holiday and can be removed for the rest of the summer.

Embroidery allows you to embellish almost any accessory, including a pair of your favorite flats! See how a few hand-embroidered rose patches can put a little spring in your step.

This crisp cotton top in a billowy silhouette is a lot more eye-catching with a colorful embellishment. The trick? We dyed a simple doily and trimmed it into smaller shapes for a crochet-inspired trim along the neckline.

If you have the itch to stitch, but not from scratch, take this artisanal shortcut. Start with basic tufted cushions, and give them a bohemian upgrade with fluffy accents that mimic the look of quilt knots (the hand-tied bows that make our baby blanket so precious).

Whether you're taking baby steps into quilting or looking for an impactful project, give in to our mini blanket's charms. (This little peanut, named Harlow, certainly helps!)

Keep curious paws out of your pantry, your medicine cabinet, and your garden shed.

Suspend this easy-to-make garland over the table at your next party. With endless color options, ribbon garlands are a fantastic way to add color and texture to the space.