From Zero to Crafty: Essential Tips for Starting a Crafting Hobby **warning, crafting is every so slightly addictive!

Are you curious (or maybe somewhat jealous!) that some people craft. That some people are happy to sit with their hand sewing or think adding stuff into journals is super exciting? Do you want to feel the joy of finishing & then wearing something that you made? Do you want to feel, like me, that the best way to party is to actually stay home & knit! But where do you start? There are so many hobbies or crafty things to do, how can you express yourself in a way that gives you joy & satisfaction?

#1 Discover your Crafting Passion

One of the first things to do is to find out which craft you are passionate about. Crafting includes many things as knitting, sewing, painting, scrapbooking, and lots of other activities. Visiting craft stores, check out the local crafting community, watch online tutorials, and even read a physical book on how to start crafting, the choices are endless. 

Do not limit yourself to just one thing. Try working on a few projects before you find one that resonates with you. This allows you to begin crafting and devote more time and money to enhancing your skills and procuring new tools and materials when you're ready. Just make a start, any start!

Via Pexels

#2 Get the Essentials

When your hobbies become your work, you should not compromise on quality (& yes, work as in fun work). You may initially need to start with purchasing minimal tools and materials based on the crafting you opt for, such as clothes sewing where you require a sewing machine, fabric, needles, thread, and scissors. 

For instance, if you do choose sewing, start by researching the best sewing machines for beginners, this will help you learn faster, work more efficiently and effectively, and be less frustrated due to simpler operations and nothing stops creativity faster than when you don't have the right tools for the job.

#3 Getting Basic Skills and Techniques Right

Before jumping into more complex crafts, it is vital to experiment yourself but also search for easy beginner tips and techniques as there are so many ways to do lots of simple things - you don't have to re-invent the wheel! There are a multitude of resources available to kickstart your crafting journey from online tutorials, crafting books, and local crafting workshops. 

Sites such as Craftsy or YouTube pages can be of invaluable assistance to newbies. You could work along with the tutorial at your own pace without any specific rush. Make mistakes and move on; we all make them; they are part of your learning phase. The more you strive hard; you build up your confidence in crafts together with mastering your skills, thereby, up for some more challenging DIY projects.

#4 Creating a Craft Zone

Setting up your crafting area can improve the overall crafting experience, as it helps in keeping everything well organized, and therefore, inspiring. Choose a place that is well-lit and where you can set up your crafting table to keep your crafting supplies in one place.

It becomes so much better when you have a specific place dedicated to your creative pursuits. Storage selections such as shelving, or pallets of bins and drawers will help keep your material looking neat and attainable. You may like to deck your craft room with decorations to uplift your mood and add flair to your artsy atmosphere, be original in your crafting oasis. Maybe you can choose a theme or colour that makes you feel good. Maybe you just need to clear off the dining table (like me) and force the family to eat in the lounge room in front of the tv for the next month!

#5 Community

Crafting communities helps in bonding you with others, who share common interests, assign tasks, etc in actuality or also provide a platform for guidance and suggestions. Seek out local craft-based clothing brands or clubs offering workshops, or else there are online communities to look out for such as Forums, Social media groups, etc., where you can discuss, understand, and Grow together. For example, I made my very first real life sewing friend last year and it;s awesome! We sit around a table & sip tea and discuss sewing patterns and cut out fabric, it's so good to find a connection like that. We found each other via a community group Facebook post and just sort of connected from there.

So just jump in & start crafting if that's your jam. Maybe you need more structure and need to research everything before starting, then in that case, do so! Maybe you need to attend a class before starting, then do that too. Maybe you need everything provided in a kit, so do that too. Just be you, be happy and don't afraid to start something new.

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie