This past year we launched Skill Builder here on the site, a monthly series of articles, tutorials, and projects centered on a basic technical skill. For the year, we covered:

• Electronics Skill
• Woodworking Skills
• Mechanic Skills
• Bike Skills
• Cooking Skills
• Photography and Video Skills
• Robot Skills
• Metalworking Skills
• Understanding Plastics
• Hobby How-Tos
• Machining Skills

This was only a start. In 2012, we’ll be continuing to flesh out this series and will be approaching it from the viewpoint of the materials used in these various skills (wood, glass, new conductives).

Here are some of the best pieces from 2011:

#10

Understanding Motors and Motion from Mechanics month (March)

#09

How to Make Your Own Gin without a Still from Cooking month (June)

#08

Caffenol Homebrew Film Developer from Photo and Video month

#07

The Robot Section on Make: Projects from Robot month (August)

#06

Office Cooking Hacks from Cooking month (June)

#05

Working with ABS Plastic and Working with ABS and Polycarbonate Film from Plastics month (September)

#04

Tabletop Gaming — Modeling Tips and Tricks from Hobby Skills month (October)

#03

Making A Butterfly Spline (Or “Arikata”) from Woodworking month (February)

#02

Understanding Components from Electronics month (January)

#01

Building Woodworking Low Horses from Woodworking month (February)