What better way to celebrate fall than to cozy up and learn a new craft or take up a new hobby? Craft & Hobby is a database that is completely free for Commerce Township Community Library cardholders. Designed specifically for public libraries, Craft & Hobby is an extensive online platform that aims to provide library patrons with access to creative educational resources. Craft & Hobby features thousands of classes taught by world renowned experts, who walk users through each technique clearly with step-by-step demonstrations, providing expert tips and tricks along the way.
Check out the offerings listed below, and head to their website using your Library Card to find even more!
- How to Sew a Book Cover: Book covers are a quick and easy way to dress up any notebook. Ashley Hough shows you how to sew a book cover that can be easily adapted to fit any size of notebook or book.
- Fall-Ready Decor + Projects: Celebrate all things autumn with our favorite fall craft ideas! From custom wine tags to hydro-painted pumpkins, our top DIY experts have got you covered.
- Decorating Autumn Themed Cupcakes: As the seasons start to change, warm up in the kitchen with cake designer Rachael Teufel as she shares three easy autumn cupcake designs.
- Homemade Salty Snacks: Discover how fun it is to create delicious, creative snacks in your own kitchen! Cookbook author Cynthia Nims guides you through more than a dozen salty snacks, starting with tasty techniques for transforming popcorn and nuts with exotic seasonings. Dive into three irresistible versions of chips with a traditional potato chip recipe and other healthy varieties using kale, parsnips and carrots. Find out how to make crunchy, flavorful crackers from homemade dough, and create fresh pretzels in less than an hour. Finally, use puff pastry for elegant parmesan breadsticks and festive pesto pinwheels or make crunchy grissini, all sure to please at your next cocktail party. Plus, discover how to stock your pantry so you can whip up customizable DIY snacks whenever the craving strikes!
- Robin Miller’s Any Day Dishes: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a stockpile of quick and easy dishes that, from start to finish, are ready in 30 minutes or less? We certainly thought so! Each lesson in this class features a mouthwatering dish made with everyday ingredients that can be ready in under 30 minutes. We’re creating six incredible, weeknight-friendly dishes that your friends and family will adore. Flavors span the globe, yet every ingredient can be found in your neighborhood grocery store.
- 10-Minute Upper Body Workout for Beginners: If you are finally ready to get a strong, sculpted upper body then look no further than this 10-Minute Upper Body Workout for Beginners! Upper body strength is important for healthy aging and everyday movement. In addition, a beautiful, sculpted upper body is always an awesome way to avoid having to find long sleeves in everything you wear! Instead, work those muscles and be proud to show your guns!
- Startup Library: Colored Pencil: Completely new to colored pencils? Join illustrator Susan Rubin as she helps you navigate the basics from choosing the best beginner-friendly supplies to completing four drawing projects: a pear, leaf, persimmon and tulip. With Susan’s techniques and step-by-step guidance, you’ll soon be creating your own colored pencil drawings with confidence!
- 40 Techniques Every Sewer Should Know: The secret is in the details! Join instructor Gail Yellen as she shares her best sewing tips and tricks to establish and refine your skills. With Gail’s key finishing techniques, you’ll make garments that drape and hang beautifully. Learn to sew more efficiently, successfully, and creatively as you create professional stitches, bindings, buttonholes, and zippers that will transform your garments from homemade to stylish. You’ll learn insider’s tips for making set-in and flat-constructed sleeves that fit beautifully and add an elegant line to the shoulder.
- Startup Library: Crochet: Want to learn how to crochet but you’re not sure where to start? This is the class for you! Join designer Salena Baca as she walks you through the basics, including the five essential crochet stitches, pattern reading and more. Together, you’ll complete four cozy accessories — a headband, cowl, hat and scarf. With Salena’s expert guidance, you’ll be able to crochet your own projects with confidence!
- My First Socks: Learn how to knit socks with designer and author Lucy Neatby. Find out how to cast on with perfect tension. Knit in the round using your favorite method and choose one of four style variations for your ribbed cuff.
- 25 Essential Grilling Techniques: Get ready to learn 25 essential grilling techniques for your best meals yet! Join professional chef, cooking instructor and Craftsy favorite Brendan McDermott in this exciting mini-class as he shares his tried-and-true grilling tips and tricks and recipes that are sure to please.
- Ballroom Basics: Cha-Cha Dancing 1: Get up off your feet and get ready to try some ballroom cha-cha dancing with Allison Holker. Known for her appearance on So You Think You Can Dance, Allison is an amazing dancer and teacher. This Cha-Cha Dancing 1 is full of spicy feet, spicy arms, and all-around spicy choreography that is fun and energized!
- Sunburst Granny Square: The Sunburst Granny Square is a fun crocheted granny square motif that uses lots of interesting stitches to create an explosion of color. It’s also sometimes called the Sunflower Granny Square, because when the right color combination is used the center of the motif looks like a sunflower. In this video, Mister Domestic demonstrates how to create this granny square motif, which is perfect for crocheted afghans and accessories.
- Learn the Magic Cast-On: Lorilee Beltman explains what the magic cast-on is, tells you why it’s useful, and shares some of its most popular applications, such as toe-up socks. With Lorilee’s guidance, you’ll soon understand the mechanics of the cast-on, no matter which style of knitting you prefer.
- Kid-Built Workbench: We’re commonly asked about techniques and approaches for getting kids excited and involved in woodworking. To answer this, we brought Char Miller-King to George’s shop. Char works with kids A LOT, and developed this workbench project specifically for kids.
- How to Take Pictures of the Night Sky: Beginning Set-up: Learn to how to take pictures of the night sky, creating photographs of star trails that will wow everyone who sees them. Professional photographers Doug Gardner and Kevin Adams take you to the southern Appalachian Mountains to show you just how it’s done.