Crafts to Make

From LoveToKnow Crafts

With so many different crafts to make, it can sometimes be hard to decide what type of project is best suited to your needs.

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

Deciding What Crafts to Make

If you're interested in crafting, there are several factors to consider before picking up a new hobby.

Personal Interests

When you walk into a craft store, what items do you notice first? If you're drawn to the selection of rubber stamps or the rows of decorative stickers, perhaps you should consider card making. On the other hand, if you're always looking at the different patterned fabrics, quilting might be a great craft for you to try.

Another good resource for exploring your personal interests is Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. This amazing reference book features a brief overview of crafts to make from A-Z – including activities such as botanical pressing, decoupage, rubber stamping, and making wreaths.

Time

In a typical week, how much free time do you have? How much of this time do you think you would spend on a craft project? Do you have the patience for long, detailed crafts or would you prefer to work on a shorter project that offers a sense of immediate gratification?

Learning how to make handmade Christmas cards is fairly easy. Learning how to paint expert landscapes is going to be time consuming. Of course, there is also a spectrum of time requirements within each major crafting area. Knitting a baby hat is a lot quicker of a project than knitting an afghan for a queen size bed, for example. Making a three strand necklace from seed beads will take quite a bit longer than making a bracelet from chunky lampwork beads strung on stretch cord.

Cost

If cost is a factor, you may want to consider crafts that require very few supplies. For example, knitting and crocheting are relatively cheap hobbies to begin. All you need is yarn, a hook or needle, and a set of basic instructions. In comparison, jewelry making requires often requires beads, stringing materials, clasps, pliers, and a variety of other tools that can be rather costly. Using coupons and careful comparison shopping can help keep your costs down, but this is something to consider as you're planning future crafts to make.

Thrifty crafters often gravitate towards crafts that use recycled materials, such as turning old t-shirts into quilts. Many people who are on a tight budget also enjoy making crafts from natural materials, such as leaves or shells. When you make crafts with recycled or natural materials, you can feel good about saving money, protecting the environment, and reducing the amount of waste that ends up in our country's landfills.

Involvement of Others

Do you have a friend who is willing to share her sewing knowledge with you? Is your grandmother able to help you learn embroidery? Is there a candle making class you could take at your local craft store? While the Internet is a great resource for getting new project ideas, sometimes it's helpful to have an actual person available to teach you the basics of a particular craft.

If you're a very social and outgoing person, you may want to consider choosing craft projects that you can work on with others. For example, having a family craft day is a great way to spend time with your young children. You can work together to make decorations for the holidays or to create small gifts for grandparents, daycare providers, and other important people in your child's life.