Was starting a new hobby part of your new year’s resolutions? Or maybe you vowed to spend more time with the kids this year (or without them). Whatever your reason, starting a crafting hobby can be a great way to stimulate your mind and have fun this year. Choosing your crafting niche can be tricky, so we’ve designed a handy little guide to talk you through some of the most popular to let you decide.
Cross Stitch
Cross stitch is the oldest form of embroidery and can be found worldwide since the middle ages. X-shaped stitches are used in a tiled, raster-like pattern to form a picture. The supplies needed are often sold as Cross Stitch Kits, but you can also buy the fabric, thread and other basics to start your projects.
The best way to start cross stitching is with a chart. A cross stitch chart tells you everything from where to stitch and what colour to use. The grid on the chart will correspond with the grid created by the weave of the fabric, and each coloured square represents a cross-stitch. If you’re just starting with cross-stitch, you may find it beneficial to use an embroidery hoop or frame. This holds your fabric tightly in place, making it easier to place the stitches in the right spot on the chart.
Once you get the hang of it, cross-stitching can be a great way to create personalised gifts and artwork. You can try adding smaller pieces to the front of birthday cards to let people know you’re thinking of them. When you become more confident and create larger pieces, you can add pieces of ribbon or rope to hang them up or even frame them to display them.
Jewellery Making
Making your jewellery is a great way to get your creative juices flowing this year, as there are no patterns or rules to follow. From earrings, bracelets and necklaces, to hair accessories and brooches, the world is your oyster when it comes to jewellery making once you’ve mastered the basic techniques.
With jewellery making, your ‘findings and tools’ are about to become your best friend. In basic terms, findings are the components that bring all elements together to create jewellery. They’re typically fastenings and clasps for necklaces and bracelets or pins and backs for earrings. Some materials come with the findings already attached, so if you’re just starting, this may be a better option. The Trimits Black Suede Cord with Clasps is the perfect choice for necklaces.
Once you’ve mastered attaching the clasps to your choice of material, it’s time to get creative. You can choose whichever material you like to create your piece. That’s the beauty of jewellery making; every piece is as individual as you are. If you lack confidence or even materials initially, a kit can be a great way to get started. The Anchor Friendship Bracelet Kit comes with step by step instructions on creating adorable bracelets for you and your friends. Once you see how easy it is, you can step up your game and make stunning jewellery for everyone.
Knitting
Knitting is a skill as old as time. It’s usually associated with older generations but has been taken up by people wanting to better their mental health more recently. Whether you prefer to knit alone or as part of a group, it’s a great way to keep your mind and fingers active. Once you master the basic stitch, that's when you can broaden your horizons and adopt a more advanced stitch.
The best part about knitting is you have creative freedom if you want it. You can follow knitting patterns that will guide you through creating any 2D or 3D shape possible, in any colourway, or you can go crazy with the needles and wool and create your design. It's entirely up to you.
There are three parts to learning to knit, cast on, knit stitch, cast off, and to do so, you only need two items, knitting needles and yarn. Wood or bamboo needles are best for beginners as they naturally cling onto the yarn, making them less slippery than steel or aluminium needles.
The Pony ‘Perfect’ Single-Ended knitting Pins is a great choice. Knitting needles come in several different sizes; the size you need is determined by the yarn you’re using. The label will indicate which needles they recommend and are shown in millimetres. For a great step by step guide on how to start each knit, check out Sheep and Stitch and their ultimate guide to knitting for beginners.
Crafting of any nature is a great hobby that Singer Outlet would recommend for anyone. It keeps your brain stimulated and is a great way to connect with like-minded people, but don’t just take our word for it - get involved and see for yourself! If you’re looking for any type of crafting hobby, then get in touch with our friendly team, and we will guide you through and get you crafting straight away!