HotHive Textiles's guide to learning a new craft

Article Added: 04/01/2010 10:07:26

It is that time of year again where we all have a new found enthusiasm to try something new. With this in mind HotHive Textiles has a guide to where to start when learning a new skill.

The first issue to address is what technique you would like to learn. Knitting has had a huge surge in popularity recently with many famous faces giving it a try, so that is one to consider. For those of you who love your clothes and fashion then sewing and jewellery making would also be a good choice. There are many great crochet and feltmaking projects to try too - so there are a lot of options open to you!

Once you have decided what interests you your next step would be to decide where you can get relevant information from to start you on your journey. The first place we all think of going to for help with learning a new skill is the bookshelf. Here at HotHive Textiles we are on hand to help you with this as we have specially selected a number of beginners guides on our website, which will all be a great starting point for you. Whether you want to learn how to knit, sew, crochet, quilt, weave, spin or make jewellery then we have something for you. To look at the books available please click here. All of the books we have identified are full of great hints and tips to get you started, along with some simple projects for you to try.

Another great resource for learning a new skill is the internet. The internet provides a wealth of information and ideas for all kind of crafts, and many social networking sites contain groups specifically set up by other crafty people. One such site is Facebook, where you will find lots of people willing to help you out when your projects get tricky! The group Addicted to Knitting has thousands of members who share a passion for the craft and will be happy to welcome newcomers, while the Quilting and Sewing Enthusiasts group is another great place to visit to meet like minded people who will be able to help you with any questions. Our HotHive Textiles group is also very happy to have you join us - so if you have a Facebook account then please look us up!

For those of you who prefer to meet people face to face, rather than over the internet, there are several groups that meet to share their love of different crafts. One such group is Stitch n Bitch, who hold knitting groups all over the country. These meetings provide a fantastic opportunity to meet up with other knitters and share advice while working on your projects.

Another great group is Stitch and Chat, who meet at the Beetroot Tree in Derbyshire on a Tuesday morning. The group gathers from 10.30 until 12 to work on their projects over a cup of coffee and they would be very happy to welcome new members. Groups such as these are a great way to learn more about a craft and can prove to be a great benefit to your social life too!

There are also a wealth of courses and workshops out there for those of you wanting to try something new, but preferring to have someonethere to teach you. There are many ways in which to learn new techniques, ranging from distance learning, through to one-day courses or evening classes, making it possible to pick the course best suited to individual lifestyles. HotHive Textiles website lists lots of artists and establishments who offer workshops, which you can browse through here.

The great thing about taking up a craft as a new hobby is that you can start using your skills to make birthday presents and other gifts - or if you get really good at it you could even turn it into a second source of income. HotHive Textiles did some research into turning your textile hobby into extra money at the end of last year and you can read about our findings here. The article is full of great hints and tips of where to sell your products and the pitfalls to look out for.

We would love to hear from you if you are tempted to try something new so please login to the site to leave your comments at the bottom of this article. Good luck with your projects and dont forget to email us some photos to textiles@thehothive.com so we can see what you have all been up to!