The make-it movement has been gathering speed, and lockdown just made more time for hands-on happenings. Gen-Z and millennials are giving grannies a run for their money, with 65% doing craft of some kind, according to a Crafts Council survey published last summer.
What’s more, doing something repetitive with your hands brings a massive hit of mindfulness – and that’s official, say the BBC. The BBC quizzed almost 50,000 people and around half said making things softened stress and anxiety.
Crochet is leading the craze, according to Hobbycraft who report a surge of on-line sales: “Our customers say crafting makes them feel better and takes their mind of things,” says Katherine Paterson, the brand’s customer director.
Crochet only needs some wool and a hook to get started, and you can soon create simple blankets, hats and so on to give those popular vintage vibes. There are unlimited colours to choose from – from brights to pastels and neutrals, so you can express yourself freely. Hobbycraft make it all very easy with instructions online, where patterns start from just a simple chain.
Hobbycraft can teach you how to make a crochet spring wreath, and it stocks everything you need to make it. There are also crochet kits on Etsy include everything for a vintage rainbow blanket and a sheep tea cosy.
As you progress, you can move to “amigurumi” but don’t let the scary name put you off. It’s simply the Japanese word for stuffed toys and the way to make cute little stuffed creatures, flowers, hearts and so on. There are how-tos all over the web, including on amigurumi today.
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Coming up on the inside – Embroidery. Coined ‘The Bridgerton effect’, the cult Netflix series, where pretty ladies have embroidery hoops, soft powered stitching into 82-million homes worldwide, and sent internet sew searches soaring. Currently trending is the bargello effect and it’s very easy to learn, using one stitch of the same size on a square canvas and makes a distinctive zig-zag pattern that looks a lot cleverer than it is.
A bargello pin cushion kit on Etsy can cost as little as £15, and is a good intro to the technique. Get confident and you can tackle a full-size cushion or if you’re really into it, you can even make a couple of necklaces, some kits with a video tutorial thrown in.
This spring, the Royal Academy is lending its support to craft. It’s chosen 12 artists who ‘make’ rather than paint, and flagged up their inspirational creative Instagrams in a full-on blog post.
Admittedly some skills look pretty tricky – these are the pros, after all. But a fair bit could be managed by most, with a bit of tuition. You could, embroider hands (think Michaelangelo/Sistine) over the bum of your jeans if you tune in to artist Sofia Salazar’s posts on basic stitches.
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East London’s queen of craft, Barley Massey, opened her little studio Fabrications in Broadway Market long before the area became fashionable. She teaches sewing and knitting with some great online tuition and kits, all part of her total commitment to sustainability and upcycling.
Barley hosted a Zoom workshop for us as part of our popular Makers Meet series. Barley taught “sashiko” stitching, usually used for patches, but adapted here for four personalised felt coasters. Keep an eye on the Events page for the latest Makers Meet workshops.
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Follow weaver, Tabara N’Diaye, inspired by the basket-weaving of Senegal, has kits and tutorials on her Instagram page, showing followers how to make beautiful baskets, vases and even lampshades of all shapes and sizes.
Tabara has a lovely back story, infused with the joy of craft. She explains that in Senegal, basket weaving is a tradition passed down for generations to women in rural villages. “Travelling there as a child, and many times since, I’ve always found these artisans so joyful, weaving with their children under a baobab tree. It inspired me to launch La Basketry.”
On her website, La Bakestry, you can make a twine basket, choosing two colours from a huge range. You‘ll get a how-to video included with everything you need, along with written instruction, and it will take about three hours.
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Most people can manage a string plant holder, a candle or a bar of soap, it seems. But if you can learn basic stitches, knots and so on, then you can gravitate towards your own projects which will be cheaper, personal one-offs and ultimately give you much more of a buzz, including macramé which has seemingly become more popular over the last year.
Once again Hobbycraft has the lowdown on macrame with mesmerising videos and as always, there are plenty of kits to help you get started on Etsy.
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America beats us hands down in the crafting boom so their influencers tend to dominate. Totally hypnotic is ‘5 min crafts‘, their short silent videos make craft beautiful and easy.
Amber Kemp-Gerstel brings tons of ideas for home stuff, bright and family-friendly, from DIY baskets to mini balcony gardens.
Blissfully soothing is Sarah Whiting posting from the Cotswolds. Click through to her blog for the (free!) lowdown on all kind of simple things to craft and cook. Sarah’s intimate style makes everything blissfully clear, such as mixing your own fabric paint, or making mini-plant holders from egg shells.
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And ultimately craft gets you off your screens “where social media can fritter away time, and suck out creativity,” says Sam Lehane, who founded M.Y.O (Make Your Own) with his partner Diana Muendo, three years ago. They were running a hugely successful craft studio in South London before the Covid crash. Now they have tutorials online – “give your creative muscles a workout and de-stress,” adds Sam “From lino printing to drawing to embroidery to brush lettering and more, we’ll get you making and expressing your creative side through around fourteen arts & crafts.”
You can start lino printing, make a macramé plant hanger, experiment with brush calligraphy or and learn watercolour painting. Remember that skills stay with you beyond the kit, so that you can express your own ideas.
Now the weather is warmer and the evenings deliciously longer, you could even take your needles, wool, cottons, hoops and/or crochet hooks outside. Have a basket or bag to keep everything clean and under control – and don’t forget the scissors.
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Header image credit: Karly Santiago on Unsplash
