diy
No contractor needed
Diy is a nonstandard or casual spelling of DIY, the acronym for "do it yourself." It appears in informal contexts like social media hashtags or text messages: just finished my diy bookshelf.
The lowercase form lacks the visual punch of the standard acronym but carries the same meaning of making, building, or repairing things yourself rather than hiring professionals. (Standard form is uppercase DIY.)
Loop-based textile making
- crochetingCrafting with hooked needle
- quiltingLayered fabric stitching
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- sewingCraft with needle and thread
macrame · weaving · scrapbooking · decoupage · papercraft · origami · beading · pottery
Tool for turning fasteners
- hammerTool for striking nails
- wrenchTool for turning fasteners
- pliersHinged metal gripping tool
- drillHole-boring device
saw · sandpaper · level · glue-gun · workbench · clamps · chisel · multimeter
Depending on oneself alone
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
trial-and-error · tutorials · how-to · hackable · budget-friendly · beginner-friendly · step-by-step · maker
Created manually, not mechanically
- homespunPlain and unpretentious
- rusticRural and unrefined
- upcycledCreatively remade from waste
- repurposedConverted to new use
one-of-a-kind · customized · personalized · artisanal · handcrafted · farmhouse · vintage · eclectic
Water and waste infrastructure
- electricalInvolving conducted current
- drywallGypsum-core building panels
- patchingRepairing by covering
- caulkingMaterial for sealing gaps
grouting · weatherstripping · painting · tiling · flooring · carpentry · roofing · insulation
knitting
Loop-based textile making
- crochetingCrafting with hooked needle
- quiltingLayered fabric stitching
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
sewing · macrame · weaving · scrapbooking · decoupage · papercraft · origami · beading · pottery · mosaics
screwdriver
Tool for turning fasteners
drill · saw · sandpaper · level · glue-gun · workbench · clamps · chisel · multimeter · toolbox
self-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- creativityCapacity for original thought
improvisation · trial-and-error · tutorials · how-to · hackable · budget-friendly · beginner-friendly · step-by-step · maker · tinkering
handmade
Created manually, not mechanically
repurposed · one-of-a-kind · customized · personalized · artisanal · handcrafted · farmhouse · vintage · eclectic · bespoke
plumbing
Water and waste infrastructure
- electricalInvolving conducted current
- drywallGypsum-core building panels
- patchingRepairing by covering
caulking · grouting · weatherstripping · painting · tiling · flooring · carpentry · roofing · insulation · fence-mending
- renovationrenovation, remodeling, remodel, renovate, refurbishment
diyprofessional
Credentialed in one's field
outsourced · hired out · turnkey · full-service · white-glove service
diyready-made
Prepared in advance, standardized
store-bought · off-the-shelf · plug-and-play · mass-produced · turnkey
- DIY kitSelf-assembly project package
- DIY craftsSelf-made artistic projects
- DIY projectsSelf-undertaken building tasks
- DIY guidesInstructions for homemade projects
- DIY videosInstructional clips for projects
- DIY cultureSelf-sufficiency as lifestyle