How to Teach Yourself a New Craft

Not sure if you’ve picked up on it by now, but I like to try new crafts. One of the most important aspects to trying new crafts is the ability to teach yourself something new. But how do you do that? Keep reading if you want to learn my system to teach yourself a new craft.

What Type of Learner Are You?

The first thing you need to figure out is what type of learner are you? There are four main types of learners: visual, auditory/aural, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Some of these are more self-explanatory, but we’ll go over the basics of them all. Read in more detail about these types here.

• Visual learners like to see the relationship between ideas/concepts. Charts, diagrams, and illustrations are visual learners’ best friends.
• Auditory/aural learners prefer to listen to instructions rather than read them. Thinking out-loud can also help auditory learners understand concepts better.
• Reading/writing learners do best with written instructions. Reading/writing learners comprehend things best when they read them and take notes.
• Kinesthetic learners are very hands-on or tactile learners. New concepts are best understood through touch, like taking things apart and putting them back together to figure out how they work.

Think about the subjects you enjoyed in school. Were math and science your forte because there were an abundance of charts and diagrams? Did history come naturally because listening to lectures helped you retain the info? Maybe English class was your bread and butter because you loved to read and write. Sports or shop class might have been where you shined because you learned best by doing. What if you did well in more than one? Great! Now you have multiple learning avenues that could work for you.

If you’d like more clarification about what type of learner you are, try taking this quiz. In sixteen short questions, this quiz will tell you how you learn best. The quiz is free to take for basic results, but they offer a detailed report for a fee. I’ve only done the free version myself, but the information was useful.

Manage Your Expectations

After figuring out what type of learner you are, the next step is to manage your expectations. Do you already have excellent hand-eye coordination? Then you might pick up your new craft quickly. Is your vision poor at night? You can only work in well lit conditions, limiting your crafting time/locations. Is this craft similar to something else you’re already good at? For example, I was able to pick up crocheting much faster because I already knew how to knit. They both use yarn, pull yarn through loops, and require tension control. But because I didn’t expect to learn crochet faster, I was pleasantly surprised when it happened.

Invest in Your New Craft (without emptying your wallet)

Once you’ve managed your expectations, it’s time to invest in your new craft…but minimally. Do you really need the big expensive kit with all of the things? You don’t even know if you like this new craft yet. If you buy the bare-bones to get you by for your first project or two, it won’t be a big deal if this craft isn’t for you. Hubby follows this simple rule: When you start a new project, you can purchase one new tool. You can always get more/better supplies when you need them later. This also applies if you’re limited on space to store your new crafting supplies. It’s a lot easier to store a few supplies than a bunch.

Part of gathering supplies also means picking out the right instructional material for you and your new craft. Perhaps watching videos on YouTube will be the best way for you to learn. You can watch someone’s exact hand movement or listen to what the next step is. Maybe your craft is too messy to have a screen nearby. Printing some instructions from a quality site could be the best option. It won’t be much of a monetary investment (printer ink aside), and it won’t be devastating if they get messed up. If you like physical instructions but don’t need to worry about messes, getting an instructional book might be the right choice for you. The steps are laid out clearly and they’re often paired with clear images for clarification.

Start Small

Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to pick a project. I’d recommend picking a small project. As you’re learning this new craft, progress will happen slowly. But working on small projects will help offset that slow progress. Picking a small project to start with helps build confidence because the faster completion will encourage continued crafting. It’s motivating to see progress. I made multiple small rectangles when I was learning to knit. I was able to test out a few different stitches making rectangles and then I rolled them up to make flowers. Those flowers got added to my first project, a headband for autumn. It was nice that those small projects ended up having multiple uses.

Read to Understand

Before starting on your small project, make sure to go over the steps/instructions fully first. This ensures that no unfamiliar terminology will halt your progress. You’ll be able to troubleshoot or look up explanations for anything unfamiliar ahead of time. For example, Hubby likes to build things. Before he gets started he reads all instructions, checking to make sure all parts and tools required are accounted for. Needing to run to the store multiple times for supplies or worse, waiting for something to be delivered, takes the steam out of a new project.

Motivation

After getting that first small project under your belt, it’s important to keep that energy up. Find ways to keep yourself motivated. Tell a coworker, friend, or family member about what you’re learning. Someone you know might already be farther along on this new craft journey, or they might want to learn with you.

Setting some goals or following a schedule also helps with accountability. Work on your next project for an hour a day or get to lesson #5 by the weekend. Set a goal to learn the building blocks for a more challenging or dream project. I made an intricate scarf for Hubby to practice some unfamiliar stitches. I messed up a few times, but rather than fretting over it I watched some videos and figured out how to fix it. I’m more proud of that scarf because I learned so much while making it. Having something to work towards can help you stay motivated.

Keep Learning/Practicing

The next step after gaining some motivation is to constantly keep learning/practicing. The more practicing and learning you do, the faster you’ll improve. Get creative with how you learn. Try pulling up a tutorial on your phone while you brush your teeth, or bring your instruction book with you to read on your lunch break. Practice whenever you’re able. Depending on your craft’s portability that could mean working on it in the waiting area at the dentist or to the laundromat (I’ve done both). Pick your next project because it requires you to use a technique you’re not confident in. Sometimes the best practice is to learn by doing. Fall asleep trying to remember the new technique you’ve learned. The possibilities are as limitless as your creativity.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the basics of how to teach yourself a new craft, how do you take that knowledge to the next level? That’s the great part about crafts, the sky’s the limit for how far you want to take it. Maybe you’re looking to turn this new craft into a profession. Perhaps you want to teach others how to do this craft. It all starts by continuing down this path. Keep practicing, keep challenging yourself, keep sharing your accomplishments. You might just inspire others to try their own new craft.

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