How to find the perfect craft to take up

It seems as though crafting has never been as popular as it has been post-pandemic, and there are lots of paths to creativity.

For many, there are various barriers to exploring the option of taking up a creative pursuit, be it art, craft, or otherwise. Two of the main barriers are cost and space.

Crafting and art making can be really expensive and not everyone can justify spending a hefty chunk of their wages on materials. It can also take up a lot of space, both the making, and the materials that need to be stored somewhere.

The good news is that most library services are providing low or no-cost creative sessions where all materials are supplied. With just a few clicks, I found workshops and classes on collage, an introduction to art, creative fashion upcycling, vinyl cutting, how to use 3D printers, decoupage, Sashiko (Japanese mending), samba drumming, card making, hand sewing, creative writing, crocheting and something intriguing called wishprinting.

Libraries all over the country are playing a blinder at supporting people to nurture their creative spark. The other great thing about libraries is they’re very open to the public asking for a particular class or workshop.

Of course, not every county in Ireland has the resources that Dublin, Cork or other big cities have. If you’re interested in doing some taster workshops and the local library doesn’t have what you want, try contacting your community centre, parish hall, LGBTQI+ centre, or gender-specific groups like Men’s Groups and Women’s Centres, which are all places that also offer a range of options for local communities to create together.

For those who’d like to make more of a commitment to craft, or who’ve tried a taster workshop at a library and want more, check out the local ETB/Adult Education Service.

There are night courses and part time courses on all kinds of creative pursuits, from photography to basket weaving. Some of them are even accredited. Depending on your circumstances, some of the courses are free, while some come with a small cost.

If space and cost aren’t as much of an issue for you, or if you prefer to learn and experiment alone, there’s (probably millions) of craft tutorials online.

If you’re not sure where to start, Pinterest is my go-to for beautiful crafting inspiration. I recommend creating a board on Pinterest with all the different ideas you’d like to try, it’s a great way to keep track of future crafting plans.

Once I’ve found something I want to try, I search for tutorials online. I prefer to read a tutorial, but there’s hundreds of thousands of craft tutorials on YouTube and TikTok if you like to watch a video demonstration.

As crafters say: "Everyone has at least one craft in them". In my case I’d say I’ve about 60 crafts in me, all bursting to emerge at the same time.

Your mission - should you choose it - is to find the one that brings you the most joy.