We’ve scoured social media, we’ve spoken to our lovely workshop guests (and crafting buddies) and we’ve debated over copious cups of tea…. Here's what we think will be the big 5 crafty trends for 2020.
POTTERY
With The Great Pottery Throwdown back on our TVs this week after a 3 year absence, we predict that ceramics and pottery will be a hot crafty topic this year. Ceramics has come a long way since Ghost was our instant thought whenever someone mentioned throwing on a wheel! These days kids can paint pottery on nearly every UK high street and ceramics classes are busy with folk preferring to eat their porridge out of quirky hand-made bowls rather than their mass-produced disposable counterparts. Surely it’s time for us all to Play with Clay!
JAPANESE INSPIRED CRAFTS
Christmas 2019 saw a marked increase in crafting circle chat about Furoshiki – the Japanese art of gift wrapping using beautiful fabric which can then be reused. Furoshiki really embodies the zeitgeist with it’s eco-friendly approach but also allows for some fab creativity simply by folding and tying the fabric in different ways. Once you’ve mastered the art it’s a really beautiful way to enhance and add to your gifts.
Another traditional, yet bang on trend eco-craft is Sashiko – the art of patterned hand stitching to reinforce a piece of clothing or fabric. It’s usually running stitches, in geometrics – great for patching up holes in garments which can then go on to live another day rather than being thrown out.
Watch out also for Shibori – a resist dyeing technique that allows you to create really interesting patterns on indigo dyed fabric.
NATURAL DYEING
Sustainable crafts are everywhere and one that’s really taken hold is natural dyeing. Foragers and herbalists have long known the benefits of local plants and herbs but now these natural delights are being harnessed to dye fabrics and wools with stunning results. Who knew that juicy plump blackberries could produce such a array of different hues of blue, or that avocado stones could be put to good use creating subtle pink silk ribbons… a quick workshop on the science bits like mordants (fixers) and chemical compounds to watch out for and you’ll be set for some fantastic results.
For more info or to join our natural dyeing workshop click here.
WEAVING
From neck scarves to wall hangings, weaving is big news again this year with glossy interior mags featuring them as must-have stylish home accessories. We’re huge fans of two amazing local hand weavers Wendy Fowler and Emma May Stitching We think weaving is a perfect craft to combine texture, colour and form in a unique way… there are so many different styles out there. Once you’ve mastered the basics it’s yours to personalise with whatever takes your fancy.
SEASONAL CRAFTS
Long gone are the days where you were either a knitter or a patchworker, a sewing-bee or a tapestry lover…these days craft is much more fluid and most avid crafters have a whole range of different skills under their belts. One trend which we have seen evolving over the last year and which we think will be big this year is seasonality. Having crafts which totally consume you for a couple of months is bang on trend and fits very well with our new ways of trying to live within the seasons. From ‘Under Ice’ watercolour painting in January to Fabric Floral Heart Wreath Making for Mother’s Day and Arm Knitting a warm blanket on a chilly November morning, changing your crafts with the weather is here to stay. Look out for seasonal displays in the home too, seasonal shelves are springing up in eco-conscious homes with finished pieces of craft and gems from nature blending seamlessly for a rich and delightful sight for sore eyes… check out The Future Kept for some amazing inspiration.
At the end of the day craft is hot news and we think that’s brilliant. The healing, restorative and mindful benefits that we have all known about for so long are finally being widely recognised and that has to be a good thing for everyone.
Wishing you a creatively curious and crafty 2020!
Jules & Caroline xx