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App Finder: Top apps for crafters

Posted February 20, 2015 12:01 am

Into knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, card-making or just general all-around crafting? Find some inspiration for your next DIY project with help from some of our favorite smartphone apps. From Pinterest boards with step-by-step instructions to tools that help you keep track of your stitches, these handy apps will help turn your imaginative ideas into reality.

Craftsy: Want to learn the basics of a new crafting discipline? Craftsy is a free app that offers more than 500 classes in knitting, sewing, bead-making, cake decorating, cooking, quilting and more. Originally only available for iOS, the app recently began offering a beta version for Android phones. Be warned: This app is seriously addicting. Free for iOS and Android; purchase classes a la carte within the app.

http://www.craftsy.com

HandiCraft: Knitters, crocheters, quilters and embroiderers will find a lot to like about HandiCraft, a neat little beginner-friendly app that offers step-by-step instructions, video lessons, more than 150 patterns, and illustrations suitable for crafters of all skill levels.

(This is not to be confused with My Handicraft Store, another app that allows crafters to manage their own online businesses.) $4.99 for iOS.

http://www.technicalmadeeasy.com

Martha Stewart CraftStudio: Want to create your own custom invitations, scrapbook pages and stationery? Of course DIY diva Martha Stewart has an app for that. Decorate your cards using e-tools like a hole punch, stamps, stickers or glitter and then send them via email to family or friends. Use Martha's pre-made templates, or go wild and create your own designs from scratch. You can also use the app to print the cards via Snapfish.com. Free for iOS and Android.

http://www.marthastewart.com

Pinterest: And, of course, there's Pinterest. The popular social media app is populated by crafters with project ideas you'll love. From seasonal crafts to room decor ideas, you can search through the app using keywords to find inspiration from all over the world. And if you run across a craft idea on the web that you want to try, you can pin it to one of your own boards, so you don't forget to come back to it later. Free for iOS and Android.

http://www.pinterest.com

Hot app of the week

Shyp: Tired of gathering up shipping supplies and heading off to the post office every time you need to mail a package? Shyp simplifies the process: For a low rate, Shyp will pick up your items, pack them and send them anywhere in the world. So far, the app is only live in San Francisco, New York and Miami, but it is working on expanding to other markets in the not-so-distant future. Free for iOS.

http://www.shyp.com