Cool Hunting

Betsy Ross, Aimee Dolby's line of chic user-friendly clothing patterns, is one of the most recent additions to the growing DIY institution. Thanks to O.G.s like ReadyMade magazine (I'm a regular contributor), new kid Make, and the Renegade Craft Fair, modern crafty products like Dolby's have an established market. Her stylish kits, which include two skirts, a blouse, a dress, pants, and a tote, all come with a detailed instruction booklet, a bookmark featuring a glossary and technique, and a sturdy well-designed pattern (so crisp-looking it could double as wrapping paper) that can be easily sized to fit. Betsy Ross' thorough guides take the intimidation-factor out of sewing and, thanks to Dolby's sweetly charming sense of humor, even make it fun. Look out for a circle skirt, another blouse, and a fall coat in the near future.