Traditional handicrafts aren’t going anywhere. Classes and workshops for weaving, pottery and more are popping up left, right and centre, convincing us to relinquish our grip on smartphones and pick up some knitting needles instead.
Not only is it a great source of creativity and a way to escape the bustle of everyday life, your handmade masterpieces can fill your home with personal touches. Check out our favourite handicrafts to learn this summer and discover your next at home hobby.
Cross-stitching
Want to fashion your own throw for your sofa? Learn how to cross-stitch. It’s one of the easiest forms of sewing to learn, and once you begin you’ll want to cover every soft furnishing with your cross-stitched creations.
To get started, you’ll need a piece of fabric as your canvas, usually Aida cloth or linen. If it’s your first time, a cross-stitching kit will give you a head-start, giving you all the supplies you need and a step-by-step guide.
Once you master the methods, create your own patterns. You could cross-stitch your favourite quote onto a cushion to take centre stage on the family sofa, such as the Cedar.
Pottery
Nothing gives you a sense of accomplishment quite like drinking tea out of a mug you handcrafted yourself. One of the oldest crafts to date, it wasn’t until the Greeks that pottery became a form of expression, where pots and vases became a canvas to share their tales of myths and legends.
You don’t need to invest in a high-tech kiln and wheel, instead, look for a local pottery class. They’ll be able to guide you through the process and offer different methods to achieve your desired look, as well as provide inspiration from past projects.
As you get more confident with your newfound hobby, begin thinking outside the box to create something wholly unique. The only limit is your imagination – and your patience.
Weaving
Weaving has been around for centuries and involves crossing two threads to create a woven fabric – it’s likely to be how your clothes were made.
The good news is looms come in a variety of sizes, including lap-sized. Wall hangings are a great place to start – they’re small, relatively simple and can add texture and style to any surface, either in isolation or surrounded by frames as part of a gallery wall.
Weaving gives you an unmatched sense of pride you can display in your own home. Once you’ve built up your repertoire, add a burst of colour to a cream sofa, such as the Illusion, by weaving your own throw or simplify your chores with a woven laundry basket.
Découpage
Découpage is reinventing the way homeowners upcycle their furniture. So put down your paint brush and sandpaper, there’s an easier way.
Découpage involves decorating your furniture with cut-out pictures, patterns – anything. It’s a brilliant way to reuse old magazines and scraps of leftover wallpaper.
Once you get the hang of découpage, you can decorate anything. It works best on smaller objects, like old newspaper on a picture or mirror frame, or even adding a floral twist to an old lampshade.
Mosaic art
Once the reserve of Roman baths, mosaic art is a colourful way to decorate pretty much anything. Think of bright, colourful table tops, mirror surrounds, or even a winding garden pathway.
Different materials work for different pieces and places:
- Glass – reflects light for an eye-catching glisten. Great for creating standalone pieces of art, especially if it can let some light through.
- Tile – often found in kitchens, bathrooms and archaeological digs, the tile is the traditional choice. Great for decorating plant pots to bring some colour – and nature – into your living room.
- Bead – small and fiddly, beads are best suited to smaller, decorative pieces.
Ready to get crafty? Check out these inspirational blogs before you dive in:
Learn how to arm-knit your own cosy sofa furnishings 5 secrets to finding perfect relaxation How to create a striking gallery wall in your living room
