The are hundreds of do-it-yourself (DIY) crafts, but some of the most popular include sewing, needlework, and knitting. Other popular DIY crafts are wood working, up-cycling, and pottery. It is estimated that in the United States alone more than 75 percent of all households have at least one family member actively involved in crafting.
Home sewing is widely considered one of the most popular DIY crafts. Sewing crafts generally include making clothing, accessories, and home décor. Many people who enjoy sewing as a crafting hobby use commercially printed patterns, while others choose to design their own. Materials needed for sewing typically include a sewing machine, commercial grade scissors, and a cutting table.
Other needlecrafts include embroidery and needlepoint. Both involve using stitches to create an entire picture. Some artists refer to these types of needlework as oil painting with thread, using cloth as the canvas and stitches as the paint. DIY crafts involving embroidery or needlepoint are generally inexpensive, as they typically require little more than needle and thread, an embroidery hoop, and fabric.
Knitting is another popular crafting hobby. Commercial knitting usually refers to knitting done by machine, but knitting related to DIY crafts typically involves the use of actual knitting needles. Knitting is accomplished by using long pointed needles to create loops in yarn. These loops are joined to form knitted pieces such as caps, blankets, or sweaters. Knitting is also an inexpensive DIY craft, as it only requires yarn and knitting needles.
Up-cycling is a modern form of crafting that involves taking something old and turning it into a brand new item. It is similar to recycling, but almost exclusively applies to fashion. For instance, an old pair of worn out blue jeans can be transformed into a tote, and cast-off draperies or table coverings might be transformed into a dress or blouse.
Woodworking can apply to a wide variety of DIY crafts, but most often applies to carpentry and wood burning. Some popular carpentry projects include birdhouses, mailboxes, and doll houses. Wood burning involves using a hot iron tip to burn decorative designs or wording into wood. Both of these crafts can be expensive, not only because of the price of the tools required, but because the cost of the wood can be prohibitive.
Pottery is considered one of the most ancient types of DIY crafts. Pottery can be done by hand molding or by using a pottery wheel to spin the clay into the shape of a pot. Once the desired shape is achieved, the clay is typically heated in a kiln until it has hardened, after which it can be painted or glazed. Hand molded pottery is generally inexpensive, however, pottery wheels and kilns can run into a great deal of money.
