Given all the uncertainty swirling about COVID-19, there's a lot of desire to help. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say staying home, washing your hands and practicing social distancing are some of the best things to do at this time, many local governments are also encouraging everyone wear face masks when outside their own home.

You know that horrifying feeling when you're halfway through a recipe that calls for milk and realize, uhh, there's no milk in the fridge? Yeah, we've all been there. But there are dairy and non-dairy alternatives that will do the trick without anyone knowing the difference. Be sure to keep some on hand at all times — you never know when you might need 'em.

If you're a quilter or sewist, you've probably come across bias tape before. And while it's commonly used for quilt binding, there are a ton of ways you can incorporate bias tape into any project. The best part, though, may be just how easy it is to make yourself.

If you're not sure what creative pursuit to try next, simply look to the stars. Believe it or not, astrology can help you find a new hobby that perfectly fits your personality. Find your sign below and get ready to try something new!

So you've found the perfect watercolor paper for your next project. Before you prep your palette and grab your brush, you may have to stretch it. Most watercolorists do so before painting, especially when using a thinner variety, as the process expands the fibers of the paper so it doesn't buckle or warp. After all, it's much more enjoyable to paint on a flat surface and be able to use as much water as you want.

Fact: no one wants a dull painting. But that doesn't mean you should overlook the power of mixing muted and dull colors. These seemingly drab tones will help your paintings reach a whole new level of depth and realism, and it's all done with an understanding of color intensity.

Not all watercolors look the same. In fact, each color is one of three qualities when put to paper: transparent, semi-transparent and opaque. Each cover the surface of your watercolor paper to a different degree, letting more or less of the light reflected from the paper show through the pigment.

Whether you avoid butter for dietary reasons or simply ran out of your stash, here's some good news: there are plenty of substitutes you can use in its place and still end up with delicious results.

With the delicate placement of yarn overs and decreases, there's nothing more beautiful than knit lace. And the number of lace stitches you can knit is only limited by your imagination — and maybe the amount of time you have. Experiment with the stitches below and soon you can start creating your own gorgeous lace project.

When it comes to value, watercolors are incredibly versatile. Color value simply refers to the levels of darkness and lightness of any particular color, and depending on the amount of water you use to pick up a hue, your brushstroke can be bright and saturated, incredibly sheer or somewhere in between.

From leavening and binding to adding shine to finished pastries, eggs play a lot of important roles in baking. But if you can't use 'em — whether it be due to allergies, dietary choices or your egg carton is empty — there are plenty of alternatives at the ready.

Many knitters know the value of connecting with the yarn-thusiast community. But when your knitwear soulmates are spread far and wide, it may not always be possible to form a knitting circle in person. Which is why there's a genius way to bridge the gap: virtual knitting clubs.

Stranded knitting is a style of colorwork that traditionally carries two or more yarns along the back of your knitting. There are a ton of ways to incorporate it into your work — Fair Isle is one most people know best — and it helps bring out a variety of detail and color in a single project. See for yourself in the patterns below, then download and start knitting!

Using the right (or wrong) type of paper can truly make or break your painting, and there's no better feeling than finding the perfect one for your project. If you're just getting started in the realm of watercolor — or you've just never tried different varieties — there are a few things to consider before picking up your paint brush.

No yeast? No problem! These no-yeast dinner rolls rely on baking powder for leavening, and have the tenderness of a biscuit without being crumbly. Spread some butter on 'em while they're warm and you've got a mouthwatering side dish.

You've been warned: Fair Isle knitting — a type of stranded knitting that traditionally uses no more than two colors per row — is straight-up addictive. After all, who could resist all that beautiful detail?! Dig into the technique (and bring on the color) with the below patterns — you can get 'em all totally free!

Yes, it is possible to make Pop Rocks, the famously fizzy candy, right in your own kitchen. No, you don't need any special equipment or a science degree. This at-home version of the classic candy attains its magical fizz through a combination of citric acid and baking soda. Time for a fun kitchen experiment!

Real talk: there's no bigger bummer than starting a baking project and realizing you're all out of flour. But don't toss out your in-progress recipe — there are simple DIY hacks you can use to create a worthy substitutes to many types of flour.

Say goodbye to the days of having your eggs scrambled or over-easy. From now on, you'll want to serve those eggs as light, fluffy clouds.

While there’s something delish about a good buttercream flower on cakes, these days fresh flowers, due to their unfussy and colorful qualities, are blooming on cakes for birthdays, holidays, weddings and beyond.

Ruching is when fabric is gathered along a seam to provide decoration or fullness. You may have seen it before on sheers (like in the skirt pictured above) or swimsuits, but there are so many opportunities for ruching in patternmaking. The technique looks particularly great on a fitted garment, where it accentuates your body's curves.

Fair Isle is a type of stranded knitting that hails from Scotland, and traditionally, it uses a total of five colors or less — and a maximum of two colors per row — to produce motifs such as stripes, stars and swirls. But if you're more savvy with a hook than needles, crocheters can replicate this gorgeous style with a bit of strategic stitching. Here are some must-know tips to get you started.

There's more than one way to bind a quilt, and this method just so happens to be one of the most quirky and fun. Prairie points are folded triangles made from fabric squares, and can be used to decorate table runners, pillows, tea towels and — you guessed it — quilt edges. Plus, finishing your quilt with a prairie point binding is just as easy as it is fun — here's what you need to know to make it happen.

Here's some great news: using real flowers as cake decor doesn't require professional-level skill. In fact, fresh blooms can be way easier than fiddling with the sugar-based variety. Before you start trimming stems or snacking on petal scraps though, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

While the thought of chomping on a flower petal can seem kind of unreal, it's totally not. Edible flower petals are a major game-changer for cake decorating, and when they're coated in sugar and candied, the flavor is next-level.

Knitting isn't just a hobby, it's a lifestyle! Here's how to know if your life has become hopelessly entangled with yarn.

Sweet or savory, plain or filled — when it comes to croissants, they're all delicious, all the time. That said, there's something special about a filled croissant. You can add that extra burst of flavor before proofing (so you put the filling in the dough before rolling, shaping, etc) or after baking (just slice and fill). Regardless of which you choose, it's likely you'll get a highly delicious result. Pick from any of the filling ideas below and get ready to tickle your taste buds.

Just when you thought reading couldn't get any more fun, these oceanic felt animals are here to swim right into your heart. The tutorial below dives into how to make a squid, but the same method can be used to make any animal you love.

Apparently, sometimes we creative types think rather differently than the rest of the world. But we're all in the making game together — so whether you're a newbie sewist or a master of the craft, we bet you can't help nodding along to these truths only sewers understand.

If you're looking for an easy way to add color and flavor to your salads, cookies and cakes, look no further than your garden. There are more edible flowers out there than you might think, and you may already have a few growing in your own backyard. Pick 'em, clean 'em and get ready for some colorful munching.

When you're making a statement in a vintage-style dress, you need to have a petticoat. It's just a fact. Petticoats can turn a simple A-line dress into a real stunner — just check out the image below.

Once you learn to bake croissants, you'll never use store-bought again. Sure, these flaky French pastries are a bit of a time commitment, but as professional baker Colette Christian demonstrates in her class Classic Croissants: Modern Techniques, the payoff is so, so worth it.

While a phone and a hashtag is enough when posting about #TacoTuesday on Instagram, if you want to get serious about actual food photography, you also have to think about the camera, the lighting, the food itself and — oh yeah — having the right props to set everything up. These tips will help you choose just the right accessories, so your next batch of pictures serves up nothing but style.

When you first begin knitting, reading patterns and charts may be the most challenging aspect. After all, to a novice "K5 yo, k2tog, ssk, knit to end" looks like utter gibberish. But don't stress — keep this guide close and you'll be able to decode even the trickiest line.

When you hear the term "Viking knitting," your mind likely jumps to a knit Viking hat. And while that's totally a thing, Viking knitting is actually a jewelry wirework technique that involves knitting wires together to make cords.

When it comes to popular, enduring woodworking styles in the United States, one immediately comes to mind: the Shaker. Woodworking luminaries such as George Nakashima and Wharton Esherick were influenced by the Shakers, and so are many contemporary makers like Garrett Hack, C.H. Becksvoort and Thomas Moser.

Halloween is all about things that go bump in the night and things that glow in the dark. This handmade card definitely fits the bill — it's cute in the daylight, but spooky once the lights go down.

Every witch needs a familiar, so why not make one out of fondant? Kick off the spooky season with these scarily superstitious Halloween cake toppers.

Gift tags are a great way to let kids put a handmade touch on their Mother's Day present. (Not to mention they save you a trip to the store.) But don't reserve this project for once a year — the whole fam can make a bunch to keep on hand for graduations, birthdays and holidays, so they're always ready for a special occasion!

Vintage birdcages are oh-so-pretty for flower arrangements and party decor, but they’re extra sweet when turned into cupcakes. Here’s how to make ‘em for your Mama Bird, or anybody else who makes your heart take wing.

It's always a good time to bake a batch of donuts, but come spring you want them to have pretty pastel vibes. Enter this gluten-free version, which gets that pink color from beets (without any beet flavor). Serve 'em for Mother's Day, Easter or even Valentine's Day and your dessert will be totally on hue.

At peak season, why mess around with strawberry-esque or strawberry-flavored recipes when you can treat your taste buds to the real deal? It may take an extra step to make these authentic beauties, but they hit all the marks: moist, delicious, fresh, flavorful. Whip 'em up for Mother's Day, Easter or any random day of the week — when a recipe's this tasty, you don't need an excuse to bake it.

Sometimes there isn't enough time to make an entire quilt for your husband, father or brother, especially if Father's Day or V-Day is right around the corner. But there's no need to stress — you can still flex your quilting muscles to create something perfect for them, fast. These gifts all come together quickly, and your guy is sure to love each one.

Reach way back to your middle school memories and you might remember learning about pi in math class. Though you may not have become a mathematician, you still use a lot of math when you knit — especially if you're stitching a pi shawl.

If you've got something to say, say it in neon! Making this DIY speech bubble sign is a fun way to spend an afternoon, and the good times keep going once it's hung on your wall.

With a few basic tools — and a hefty amount of wool — the cutest embroidery hoops and 3D creations are just waiting to be created. Needle felting is an easy craft for fiber fanatics to love, so choose from any of the cute projects below and start stabbing!

Bright, floral quilts are definitely lovable, but sometimes you want a pattern that's a little more masculine. And while the word "masculine" is totally subjective, in general we're talking quilts in more neutral colors, or those that steer clear of circles and other curvy shapes.

Fitting can be a challenge for even the most seasoned garment sewers. But that's where a moulage, or "mold," fitting system comes in. It was developed and used in couture houses to reduce client fitting times, yet home sewers can use the technique to draft personal slopers for a blouse, dress, jacket or an overcoat.

You know how, no matter how many amazing TV shows or movies air, you still have your go-to favorites; the ones you watch over and over again? Yeah, same thing happens here. These are the best quilting classes to fire up whenever you're in need of an extra dose of inspo or want to brush up on skills.

If you're under 5'4", you're considered a size petite by the fashion industry — as well as the pattern companies industry. And when you're searching for a pattern, you want one that helps you look taller and gives great proportions to flatter your shape. Keep these tips in mind while you're browsing to help you find the perfect pattern for your next garment.