Join the modern-day knitting revolution

Our recent obsession with all things hand-made and crafty can be traced back just a few years ago to New York based, Debbie Stoller who unpacked her knitting needles and started the global ‘Stitch and Bitch’ phenomenon.

Made up of sociable knitters from all works of life, ‘SnB’ groups meet in pubs, cafes and anywhere else a knitter can get some elbow room.

It wasn’t only knitting that got a modern-day makeover. Stitchers, potters, makers and craftspeople started to spring up everywhere and interest has swelled. Internet access, blogging and global online craft stores such as www.etsy.com gives everyone everywhere the chance to ‘just have a look’ at crafts all over the world from the comfort of their own laptop.

A few years on – crafting and making are alive and kicking. From cardmaking to dressmaking, the UK is getting crafty. Sales of sewing machines are up and new knitting and sewing magazines are flying off the shelves. There’s a surge of interest in learning new skills to The Make Lounge (www.themakelounge.com), based in London are offering workshops in everything from jewellery making to felting.

Last Christmas the media was awash with ‘make your own’ guides. 2008 was the year to give home-made chutney and handknit scarves to friends and family. From retro tea cosies to stylish cashmere bootees, we started to get hooked on the reaction we got from our nearest and dearest for our handmade, time-heavy, thoughtful treats we made them. The appeal of giftwrapped, mass-produced Christmas gifts was shaken.

Coupled with the credit crunch and the need for cutting costs, making and crafting has never looked so appealing. Not only does the process of making something give you feel-good feelings, the thought that you’ve probably saved a little bit of cash, had near-to-zero carbon impact and made something unique can all add up to something rather marvellous. Once you start, if you enjoy it, there really are no limits.

Like all hobbies, any craft can be expensive but whichever craft you choose to take up, there are steps to take to help you save money and make your creations as green as can be:

If you don’t know the basics already, find someone to teach you. Learning the techniques and skills you need will help you avoid wasting materials and save you time. Either seek out talented friends and family who are willing to pass on their expertise, try your local college or hop over to www.schoolofeverything.com for listings of individual teachers in your area

• Use www.ebay.co.uk to source equipment and materials. Many people take up crafts as a hobby and just find that it’s not for them, ebay is a great place to look for everything you might need
• Go online to look for inspiration, sites such as www.etsy.com and www.folksy.com will give you an idea of what people are making and selling. They are also great sites if you want to support independent makers who will often have ethical making aspirations of their own
• Re-use fabric, threads, old clothes, furnishing materials, anything you can get your hands on. I pre-cycle clothes by buying them in prints and fabrics I know I’ll want to save and use for projects in the future (slightly obsessive but these things can take hold of you!)
• Check the labels. Most of us are now looking where our beans come from, keeping an eye on the airmiles. It’s just as appropriate for fabrics, materials and equipment. Try to re-use where possible but if buying new supplies, have a quick look to see where they are made, and what they are made to help you make your own informed choice
• Start an ideas book – develop your own crafting style – cut out and keep images, junk mail, paper, snippets of fabric, plan the things you want to make
• Use your local library – craft books can be expensive, libraries can help you get your hands on all sorts of obscure books
• Go back in time: making by hand was a necessity not too long ago and there are examples of handiwork in local museums all over the UK as well as in the archives of the Craft Council (www.craftscouncil.org.uk) and the American Museum in Bath has the most amazing collection of quilts I’ve ever seen (www.americanmuseum.org). Compton Verney in Warwickshire is also worth a visit for its collection of folkart (www.comptonverney.org.uk).

You can read more from Janice Botterill on her blog at www.projectforty.blogspot.com