9 Ways to Celebrate National Thread the Needle Day

Have dress? Add pockets! It's actually not hard. (Brit + Co)

Dress up your pup in this DIY dog collar bow from See Kate Sew.

Notebook Tea Cloths

Wouldn't these just be the most adorable teacher's gift? (via Say Yes)

Add a personal touch to gifts and table settings with the darling monogrammed tag. (via Joann)

Pick out the colors you love and make this super easy blanket for beginners! (via PurlSoho)

Show your love with these huggable projects. (Brit + Co)

Whip up this corduroy overall dress for winter with tights and long sleeves. (via Brit + Co)

This tote is the ideal size for a grab-and-go bag. It is big enough to hold all your essentials, yet small enough for a quick trip to the store. Try this Rainbow Stripe to get the look in our main photo! (via Haberdashery Fun)

Or try this tote that folds out to a picnic blanket! (via Brit + Co)

Leather iPad Case

Dress up your iPad in a super svelte, super DIY-able leather case. (via Almost Makes Perfect)

Bring a bottle of wine or bubbles gift-wrapped in a reusable bag made by YOU! (via Singer)

The best DIY gift is something that everyone will actually use. These keychains are easy enough you can whip up a whole batch in just an hour. (via My So Called Crafty Life)

Make a basic tee or three! (via Brit + Co)

These cute lunch bags make great gift bags too! Maybe toss in some holiday cookies? (via Purl Soho)

A book lover on your list? Head to the thrift store for some old hardbacks and make these adorable zipper clutches. (via See Kate Sew)

Make your little ones holiday travel a wee more comfortable with this easy travel pillow pattern. (via Joanns)

Dinner Napkins

These cloth napkins are eco-friendly *and* make great gifts in the fabric of your choice. (via Sunday Sews)

DIY your own pillowcases for a playful mix of prints. (via PurlSoho)

This black faux leather clutch costs less than $5 to make and can be sewn in under an hour. Talk about the perfect afternoon sewing project! (via The Felted Fox)

Make this easy crop top just in time for summer - popsicle print optional! (Brit + Co)

Make these cases for your laptop or tablet. (via Brit + Co)

Lampshade Cover

Refresh an old lampshade with these easy wrap. (via Sunday Sews)

Sew your own pencil skirt in a shade of your choice. (via Brit + Co)

Break out the holiday dog bed with this beginner sewing project. (via Joanns)

Sew this two-piece eyelet set for warm weather travel. (via Brit + Co)

Turn those old jeans you don't love anymore into a cute skirt with this easy DIY. (via Singer)

Make this no-sew wrap crop top in 15 minutes for your BFF this holiday. (via Brit + Co)

Cozy up with this easy-to-sew, modern take on a kimono. (via Francois et Moi)

Here are three options to decorate your outdoor space with big, colorful pillows. You actually probably have most of the items you need sitting around your house right now. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Canvas Totes

Play around with the measurements to get the exact size you need. These bags would work great as a library tote, pool/beach bag, shopping bag or anything else you could possible use a giant tote for. (via The Sweeter Side of Mommyhood)

This project comes together really quickly and would be an awesome bon voyage gift for someone who's finally embarking on summer travels. (via Lovely Indeed)

You'll be the most stylish girl at the gym with this colorful yoga mat bag. (via Brit + Co)

Turn a thrift store skirt into a holiday party dress. (via Brit + Co)

Make this no sew clutch for the holidays too! (via Brit + Co)

Make these DIY squeaky dog toys for just under $5. (via Spoonflower)

A great hostess gift any time of the year, these coasters will show your coffee table some love. (via Thirty Handmade Days)

There is nothing more annoying than having to untangle your earbuds from a huge knot. Keep them tidy and knot free with this cute little pouch. (via Dog Under My Desk)

DIY a backpack for kids! (via Brit + Co)

Lace Shorts

Stitch this coverup up in just 10 minutes! (Brit + Co)

Leather Fringe Bag

Bow Back Sweatshirt

Polar Bear Tablet Case

Channel Carrie Bradshaw and wear this flirty skirt to all your holiday events. (via Cotton and Curls)

Turn a shower curtain into a produce tote with the clever craft. (via Brit + Co)

1. Cultural Stereotypes Are Everywhere

It's no secret that Gilmore Girls relied on stereotypes, particularly when portraying non-white characters. The most notable example of this is Lane's mother, Mrs. Kim.

She's supposed to be an overbearing, traditional Asian mother who has a rigid sense of discipline and is obsessed with her daughter's academic success. This portrayal might've been intended to reflect cultural differences, but Mrs. Kim's character often just comes across as a caricature.

2. Where's The LGBTQ+ Representation?

The show also largely overlooked the inclusion of any LGBTQ+ characters, despite it featuring plenty of recurring roles over its seven seasons. While the 2016 revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life briefly revealed that Michel was married to a man, the OG show never mentioned his orientation or love life.

It's particularly glaring since, aside from centering on mother-daughter relationships, the series frequently navigates the main characters' romantic issues. For modern audiences, the inclusion of only straight relationships just isn't relatable or representative.

3. Rory Needs To Check Her Privilege

There's no doubt that Rory feels tension between her working-class upbringing and the privilege she ultimately gets from her grandparents, Richard and Emily Gilmore.

As a young kid, she was raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her. So, at the beginning of the series, Rory is a lovable character who values hard work.

However, she becomes increasingly entitled as Gilmore Girls goes on. For instance, remember when she dropped out of Yale (which was paid for by her grandparents), got to live in their luxe pool house for free, and acted like the whole experience was such a hardship? Many fans have to skip over this cringey time in Rory's storyline altogether.

4. Fatphobia Isn't Witty

During the 2000s, fatphobia was a go-to comedic device, and Gilmore Girls fell into that trap. It's a shame, too, since the show was so revered for its quick, eclectic wit.

Nonetheless, characters like Lorelai, Rory, and even Emily made fatphobic comments that came across as cruel as opposed to funny. Perhaps the worst instance of this came in Season 4, when Rory reported on a Yale production for the newspaper and called a ballerina a "hippo."

The ballerina later confronted Rory out in the cafeteria, calling her review "mean, petty, and despicable," but Rory didn't apologize and responded, "This was all in the line of duty. It was an assignment from my editor, so it was nothing personal."

5. Rory's Affair: Need We Say More?

Rory's affair with her married ex-boyfriend, Dean, marked one of the most controversial moments in the show. They previously dated at the very beginning of Gilmore Girls, but after they broke up, Dean finally moved on and married someone else.

Well, when Rory felt lonely, she started an affair with him while knowing he was married. It was a particularly low point for her as a character, showing her selfishness and disregard for the consequences of her actions.

6. Christopher Got Too Much Positive Screen Time

Christopher is arguably one of the most frustrating characters, considering the show's tendency to paint him in a surprisingly positive light. He's largely absent during Rory's childhood, and even when he does re-enter his daughter's life, he isn't a stable parent.

Even so, Gilmore Girls continues to present him as funny, charming, and deserving of multiple chances at romance with Lorelai. Nowadays, modern audiences would probably find it hard to overlook his repeated shortcomings.

7. Emily Gilmore Serves Up Classism On The Regular

We get it: Lorelai's parents, Richard and Emily, needed to be kind of horrible in order to make the storyline work. Why else would Lorelai flee her home as a pregnant teen and cut them off?

Regardless, Emily maintains an elitist attitude throughout the entire series and never stops looking down on people she deems beneath her, especially those with less privileged backgrounds.

For instance, she's infamous for treating her household staff terribly and firing them frequently. Her disapproval of Rory's relationship with Dean, who's a working-class boy from Stars Hollow, also couldn't have been more different than her warm welcome of Logan, a wealthy Yale student. The discrepancies are glaring.

8. Rory And Lorelai Lack Healthy Boundaries

Rory and Lorelai's mother-daughter relationship is critical for Gilmore Girls, but their bond often crosses into territory that feels uncomfortably codependent. It might've been more understandable when Rory was still a teenager living at home. Yet, even when she goes off to college, the strange dynamic continues.

In fact, Rory actually begged Lorelai to visit New Haven on her first night at Yale and stay over in her dorm room. Not only did Lorelai agree, but she also threw a party for Rory and her new roommates!

9. Zack Shouldn't Have Been Lane's Consolation Prize

After watching Lane fight back against her mother's controlling tendencies throughout high school, Gilmore Girls fans had high hopes for her future. Unfortunately, those were squashed when she got married to Zack and wound up pregnant with twins.

She was always supposed to end up with the character Dave Rygalski, played by Adam Brody, but Dave was written off the show due to Adam's commitment to The O.C. So, Lane was stuck with Zack, and the relationship felt forced. More importantly, her character arguably never reached her full potential.

10. Michel Deserved More

Finally, we believe that Michel, the sole Black character on the show, deserved more. Instead, his uptight and snobby role was just used for comic relief.

Gilmore Girls never delved far into his personal life or explored his character in any meaningful way. The lack of depth is especially noticeable today. Plus, Michel's surface-level storyline feels like a missed opportunity considering actor Yanic Truesdale's talent.