Stress is one of those things that everyone has to deal with, and I’m convinced that the prevalence of technology greatly adds to that. I mean, your average person spends an exorbitant amount of time looking at a screen, and it doesn’t really give you mind any time to wander or relax. And that’s where old-fashioned crafts come in!
Now, I am a very crafty sort of person and I absolutely love learning and trying new things–especially in the winter when it’s too cold outside to go and do something in the sun. I have done a lot of different things that most people would consider old-fashioned, but there are always new things to try, and getting away from screens helps me relax at the end of the day. This winter, for example, I’m going to learn crochet!
But anyway, it got me to thinking: surely I’m not the only one who gets that crafting itch as the snow draws near, right? So for all of you who are looking to try some old-fashioned, technology-free fun in the evenings, I have put together some of my favorite tutorials for various crafts and such.
After all, I believe you can learn anything if you’re willing and you know where to start! So without further ado, here are some old-fashioned crafts to try:
Crochet – You can make any number of things with crochet and personally I find it less intimidating as it only uses one crochet hook instead of two knitting needles. This site has some great tutorials with videos and pictures along with instructions for just about every level.
Knitting – Knitting is a little more complicated, but the things you can make with knitting are fantastic! Everything from clothes to blankets or stuffed animals–the sky is the limit! You can find video tutorials here.
Quilting – Quilting takes fabric, sewing supplies and lots of precision and patience, but the results can be absolutely beautiful. Diary of a Quilter is a great resource for beginners.
Embroidery – I have fond memories of learning how to embroider when I was little as it’s easy to learn but so creative that you can do just about anything with it. This website has all the info you’ll need to get started.
Cross stitch – I absolutely love cross stitch as you can make such beautiful designs–especially when you combine it with embroidery. Get started with my Cross Stitch basics post!
Quilling – The results of quilling are absolutely beautiful and it’s not super hard to learn and doesn’t really require expensive materials either. This is great post showing all of basic techniques and this article has some great references and an explanation for what tools you’ll need.
Calligraphy – In this digital age, penmanship is often overlooked, but calligraphy is incredibly beautiful and fun to learn–not to mention versatile! It will also likely improve your penmanship. This post has some wonderful tips for old-fashioned dip calligraphy. But, if you want to try it without buying all the extra stuff, then faux calligraphy might be your thing. Learn more here.
Sewing – Sort of the ultimate “old fashioned” skill, sewing can be done either with a machine or by hand, depending on what you are making. There are a lot of things that go into sewing and it will vary wildly by your machine. However, you can get some basic instructions for getting started with your machine here. If you’re more interested in sewing by hand, learn some techniques here.
Wood carving – If there’s one thing that is easy to find in the country; it’s trees. The Sculpture Studio has a great article on wood carving basics if you want to learn how to try your hand at this old craft!
Candle making – It might not be practical, but candle making is definitely old-fashioned. It is a little more expensive to get started and does require some knowledge and supplies beforehand, unfortunately. If you want to learn more about it, check out these articles.
Soap making – Both practical and rewarding, soap making can be a little daunting for a beginner. This website does a great job in breaking it all down for enthusiasts so you can see how it works and know what to expect.
Of course, those are just the things that come to mind when I, personally, think about “old-fashioned” activities to do in the evenings. What other things do you do that are old-fashioned? Is there something you want to learn that isn’t on my list? Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below!! And happy crafting, everyone!
Wanting to really get into quilting, knitting
I’ve done a tiny bit of quilting and it’s a lot of fun, but you have to be SUPER precise. Knitting is way too intimidating to me. Be sure to let us know how it goes, Carol!! And thanks for commenting!
I’m going to pull out my crochet afghan again this winter to work on during the long dark nights, that is if we have enough electricity for lights. That’s a problem we get when there isn’t enough sun or wind to keep our batteries charged up full. I’ve been working on that afghan for years now. Maybe this will be the year I can get it finished. – Margy
My aunt used to make afghans a lot when I was a kid, but I’ve never done one myself. Maybe you should take up candle making and go super old-school and do your afghan by candlelight! 😉 Either way, good luck, and thanks for stopping by!
Awesome post on crafts. I enjoyed looking through the basics of crafts I’ve never tried, but just may over the winter. Thank you.
Thanks Gail! I love learning new things. Quilling in particular looks kind of neat, but I’m not sure I’d have the steady hands and patience for it. Hope you make something awesome this winter!! Thanks for commenting!
What a fun collection of crafts! I love crocheting (and quilling, seeing as I blog about it!) but I haven’t tried many of the others. I have friends who are into soap making, though, and I buy all of my soap from them! Thanks for linking to the post on my blog about starting quilling!