The seasons have shifted. As we enter Autumn and reacquaint ourselves with cosy jumpers, thick coats and hot chocolates on the sofa, the pull to sit comfortably on an evening, after a long day, and create something increases.

How can you start a new crafting hobby this autumn?

You want to do it, but you’re not sure how to begin.

As a lifelong crafter, my advice would be first to think about

1. When have you got time to craft?

Is it mainly in the evenings?
Or do you have spare time during the day/at weekends?


2. What are your energy levels like at those times?

Are you full of energy and raring to go?
Or are you feeling tired after a long day?

Why is it important to match your crafting project to your energy levels?

It’s important to consider this so you’re not setting yourself up for disappointment.

If you set your heart on doing a really complicated craft project but find you only have time to work on it when you’re tired on an evening, that could leave you feeling disheartened. Compared to if you pick a simpler project, that is easier for you to tackle with the energy levels you have at the time. Leaving you feeling proud of what you’ve achieved

What are the best crafts for Autumn?

Personally, I love yarn-based crafts for autumn crafting, and I think they fit beautifully with the season. Really helping that cosy, curled up on the sofa vibe we’re often aiming for.

Two of my favourites are crochet and knitting. They are both good for beginners in that you can get started with minimal equipment and materials. I have a blog post on my website for how beginners can get started with these two hobbies. I’ll include the links at the bottom of this article.

Essential crochet supplies for a beginner would be:
Yarn
Crochet hook
Scissors
Wool embroidery needle

Essential knitting supplies for a beginner would be:
Yarn
Knitting needles
Scissors
Wool embroidery needle

Another craft that is great for beginners is embroidery. Not yarn-based like knitting and crochet, but again, you need minimal supplies to get started.

Essential embroidery supplies for a beginner would be:
Embroidery hoop
100% cotton fabric
Embroidery thread and needle
Scissors

What are the best crafting projects to start this Autumn?

Regardless of how much time and energy you have, if you’re a beginner, I would recommend starting small and picking a project that uses the same technique again and again.

For example, a crochet hat pattern where 90% of the stitches are double crochet. Or an embroidery pattern that is predominantly satin stitch. It is the repetition of the techniques that will help you become more familiar with them, and your confidence will grow.

My other top tip for the best crafting projects to start this autumn is to choose projects that naturally lend themselves to that dopamine high. Look for projects where even if you can only do 20 minutes at the end of a busy day, you can still feel like you’ve achieved something. This is one of the reasons why I love this embroidery project. Even if I can only do 1 section, I’ve still achieved something. If I can do 3, I’ve done a whole cube! I’m still nowhere near finishing it, but every time I sit down to work on it, I get that sense of achievement.

For crochet and knitting projects, it could be picking a project that doesn’t have too many stitches to start with. That way, even if you only have a short time to craft you can still get a few rows completed.

How to start crafting this autumn?

So you’ve had a think about the time you’ve got free to craft, picked a crafting hobby you’d like to do. Now what? How do you start crafting this autumn?

Depending on the time and budget you have available, there are a few options you could explore to start your new crafting hobby, which I explain in this blog post: click here.

Useful links
Beginner’s guide to knitting

https://www.westplumstudio.co.uk/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-knitting

Beginner’s guide to crochet

https://www.westplumstudio.co.uk/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-crochet

Sophie is passionate about helping people prioritise their wellbeing. Realising they deserve time and space to explore their creativity.

She offers face-to-face and online workshops, events and courses. Looking beyond the individual workshop to the whole person.

Her aim is to help people spend more time crafting.

Sophie runs West Plum Studio, based in York. Her services are available online and face-to-face across Great Britain.

Find out more about West Plum Studio on the website www.westplumstudio.co.uk and on Instagram @westplumstudio