Crafting is all the rage these days. Many yuppies are turning to sewing, knitting, soap making, crocheting, and other DIY projects for going green, creating personal gifts or for sprucing up their homes. Crafting is also an excellent means of stress relief! In this article I am going to outline two of my favorite crafts: sewing and crocheting. I’ll also tell you where I get inspiration and help.
Sewing
Sewing requires a substantial financial investment in the beginning – unless, of course, you already have access to a sewing machine and all of the supplies. For the absolute beginner, check your local craft store for a Sewing Basics class. In these classes you will learn all about preparing the machine and some beginning stitches, too. Alternately, if your mother or grandmother sews, this is a great opportunity to gain some of their valuable wisdom while spending quality time with your family. I suggest that when having family teach you, you come equipped with a specific project or project idea.
As a beginning sewer I like books that not only teach me, but provide fun home or gift ideas. In addition, many print resources also have corresponding online communities to feature their patterns and projects. These communities, through picture posts and discussion threads, often give me inspiration and guidance. The following three books and their matching Flickr communities have been heavily used for gifts and items around the house:
Bend the Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew by Amy Karol
In Stitches: More than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects by Amy Butler
Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-to do for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects by Lotta Jansdotter
Each of these books has provided me with countless crafting gift ideas that have delighted my friends. Everything from simple draft snakes that help keep the house warm (and stylish!) in the winter, to a gardening bag that was made from various yard sale finds given to a flower aficionado. Remember that gifts that you make, with your own two hands, are special and dear to the those who receive them.
Crocheting
One of my longtime loves is crocheting. It’s a simple yarn craft that uses one hook (knitters use two needles) and any color or style of yarn. Crocheting projects can take as little as 30 minutes (small ribbons) to months (large blankets). Recently crocheting and knitting have become popular with the young crowd due to their fun nature and easily transportable tools. I take my projects with me everywhere. I have been spotted with yarn in hand at conferences, on the train, in airplanes, as a passenger in the car, at the doctor’s office, and my favorite – couchside while watching my favorite TV shows (is anyone watching Project Runway this season?). It’s easy, portable, and relaxing.
While there are countless books on crocheting, this one keeps me both entertained and project-ready: Stitch-n-Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller.
Another reason I enjoy crocheting is the social possibilities. I’m seeing lots of online crocheting communities pop up, as well as face-to-face communities. For a good online community try Ravelry. This is a great place to share crafting ideas, get advice and even buy patterns. For a face-to-face experience, try seeking out your nearest Stitch-n-Bitch. These groups are usually comprised of women who get together regularly to work on their crafting projects. They almost always have an online component, but the real value is in attending the meetings.
In addition to joining an already formed group, don’t be afraid to start a group with your own friends and family. I host a monthly Stitch-n-Bitch in my home. These gatherings can be as simple as coffee, donuts and basic crafting or as elaborate as dinner and cocktails before new complex projects. Whatever the faire, the most important thing is having plenty of seating, good lighting, and extra supplies for the ladies who are just starting out or who forgotten their tools. I have used these meetings for learning new stitches, getting help on a big project, and for teaching new crocheters. Also, these events are not exclusive to a particular type of craft. My events welcome crocheters, knitters, and needle point workers.
Other Projects
In addition to the more traditional sewing and yarn crafts, don’t be afraid to try other craft projects. I regularly browse the Martha Stewart site for ideas. From this site I have learned how to make candles and even a sea salt scrub that I gave out as gifts. Her ideas are practical, easy and fun. Another valuable website is eHow. This site provided me with the techniques needed to make outdoor candle holders using wire and old spaghetti sauce jars.
Fortunately, with the popularity of the Web, you can usually learn how to make or do almost any project. I keep a crafting notebook by the computer to jot down all the great ideas I come across.
Getting Help
Getting help is just as easy as collecting ideas. I rely on sites like YouTube for visual crafting explanations. A few weeks ago I was borrowing a sewing machine and couldn’t figure out how to thread the bobbin. After a quick YouTube search I found a video that walked me through the process. Thank goodness!
In addition to YouTube, many of the sites listed throughout this article are full of happy crafters who want to help. For example, if you are on the Bend the Rules Flickr page, you will find other crafters and also Amy Karol herself, happy to help answer pattern questions.
For those who like old-fashioned face-to-face help, there are Stitch-n-Bitch communities sprouting all over the world (I even know an active member of the Geneva chapter!), and local craft stores are usually crawling with eager helpers. Even chain stores, like Michael’s and Joann’s Fabrics, offer regular classes for different crafts.
I hope I’ve inspired you to dust off the sewing machine or start the yarn project you have always wanted to try. Your crafting projects will accent your house and provide your friends with wonderful gifts that they’ll cherish for years to come.
Happy Crafting!
