Learn how to become a better crafter with these top 10 tips & tricks to make your craft projects, nicer, faster and more successful!
Today we’re going to chat about becoming a better crafter. I want to start by reminding you that we all start at the bottom in everything we do. So if you are a craft project beginner, that’s ok. Everyone was a beginner once, even Martha Stewart! There is nothing to be ashamed about being new at. From sports to learning languages, to learning new types of crafts, you have to start somewhere.
And really, the key is just to start. Sounds obvious, but I know a lot of people think about doing thing but hold of on actually doing them for fear of being terrible. Learning to craft is not really any different than learning anything else.
Are you ready to learn how to become a better crafter with out top 10 tips and tricks? Let’s do it!
How to Become a Better Crafter
- Start. And when you start working on becoming a better crafter, accept that having some craft fails is normal. As I tell my children, mistakes are how we learn things. So don’t beat yourself up over inevitable mistakes, fails or craft projects that just don’t quite live up to your vision. That is OK!
- Take a craft class. Sounds basic, but there’s nothing better than hands-on instructions for learning new craft skills. Having a teacher can also give you a little bit of a safety net to try new things without worrying about majorly screwing it up. For complicated craft techniques like learning to knit or sew, a class will give you a huge head start.
- Watch video crafting tutorials. The internet these days is a wealth of arts and crafts knowledge. When I was a kid, this didn’t exist. Now you can watch craft tutorials on pretty much anything, just use a search engine to find it. And don’t only watch craft tutorials for a technique you NEED to know, watch a lot of craft tutorials of all kinds just for fun. Your brain will soak in all of that crafty knowledge and you’ll see pro-level techniques and strategies that will help you even if you aren’t making exactly what they’re making. Watching craft tutorials is also great for inspiration!
- Read craft books. I know reading a craft book doesn’t sound as good as a class or tutorial, but the nice thing about a craft book is that you can go at your own speed. And you can see photos of techniques and projects in detail and take your time looking at them. Craft books may seem old fashioned but they’re still really really helpful. And don’t forget, they’re enjoyable to read!
- Figure out your crafting style. If you can figure out your crafty style, that will help narrow down what kinds of craft projects you want to make, you’ll be more excited about them, and you’ll be more likely to display them in your home or use them. The more you use and love your finished craft projects, the more you will craft and the better crafter you will be! If your home is minimalist and you love it, but your first craft project, is a super colorful, bright mosaic, it might not feel successful because it doesn’t fit your style.
- Learn what kinds of crafts you LIKE to do. In the same vein as knowing your style, figure out what kinds of crafts you like to do the most. For example, I love to knit, I do not love to make jewelry as much. If I went whole hog into learning how to make jewelry, I probably would lose enthusiasm and be less likely to become a better crafter.
- Take breaks. When you get a new hobby, it can feel all consuming. You might feel like you must master it right away. But taking breaks make everyone better. It will allow your mind and body to reset. And when I say take breaks, I mean take breaks during a craft project, especially if you feel yourself getting frustrated, but I also mean, take breaks from crafting itself. The quickest way to lose enthusiasm ( and thus, not improve your crafting skills) is to get burnt out.
- Practice, practice, practice. The best way to learn things is to do them over and over and over. You have to keep trying to get better. Sounds like basic advice, but it’s really really true for crafting. The more you craft, the better your techniques will get and the more you will understand how to best use your supplies. You’ll learn how long it takes the glue to stick, how to get straighter, crisper edges, how to keep your tension even etc. through practice. There’s not really a shortcut to practice, but I’m adding it to the list because I want to remind you that it is NORMAL to need practice to get better at something.
- Try new things. As you’re trying to become a better crafter and you’re using tip #8 and getting in that practice, practice, practice, it might be tempting to just keep making the same kinds of craft projects over over in order to perfect them. But there is a lot to be said for trying new things. You might learn new techniques, you might get some new inspiration, and you will keep yourself interested, motivated and most importantly, having fun!
- Take progress photos of your craft projects and your finished results. Seriously, take the photos…even of your craft fails. They can be helpful in a practical sense, so you can look back and see what went wrong. But progress photos are also nice because they can help you see how you are becoming a better crafter over time! And hey, you might even end up with a craft blog out of the deal, ha!
Bonus tip: Remember that crafting is supposed to be fun. The process of being creative and making craft projects should be just as fun and enjoyable as looking at the finished project. Even as you’re working to become a better crafter, make sure you’re still having fun as you go!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
Craft and Knitwear Designer at Little Red Window Design
Welcome to Little Red Window! I’m Cassie, a professional craft and knitwear designer working in the field for more than 10 years. I have a degree in Art History from Northwestern University and a Master's Degree in Architecture and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I've designed more than 300 separate knitting patterns, hundreds of craft projects, and I love to bring joy to your crafts and knitting with well-designed, easy to understand tutorials and patterns.
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