Today’s blog post is all about getting stuck in to a new craft this year and the five reasons why you should try a hands-on project in 2018… 
Apparently, it’s supposed to be the time of the month that most people ditch their new year’s resolutions. Can you believe that? I’m sure that some of you will be nodding in agreement after the last couple of weeks of concentrated effort. So why not go easy on yourself and re-think those resolutions. Do you really need to do it all at once? How about just starting one project at a time?
And the lovely folk at Amazing Craft have kindly offered to give away TWO of their gorgeous sewing kits for two lucky readers to win in my ‘New Year, New Craft’ competition, so read on to enter below. Let me tell you why it’s the perfect time of year to take up a new craft…
LEARN A NEW SKILL
We all start out super-motivated in January, don’t we? The new year is all about self-improvement and that can sometimes include learning something new. While it might be languages for some people, or finally taking those driving lessons for others, I really like the idea of learning a new craft or sewing skill. It gets my brain whirring and the results are instant. When you’ve completed a line of stitching, or finished section of a bear, you can sit back and admire your handiwork. 
LONG WINTER NIGHTS
Having a craft project to work on in January helps you to entertain yourself during long winter nights. It’s such a lovely mellow feeling to cosy up on the sofa with something to hand-stitch or knit. Plus, it keeps your hands busy and stop you dipping into the biscuit tin in the evenings. So it helps you stick to your health goals too – bonus!
USING YOUR HANDS
Let’s face it, making something with you own hands is unbelievably satisfying. And you don’t even need to physically be stitching with your fingers – a sewing machine is a great help – to feel that sense of achievement when you finish part of a project. It also makes you slow down; there’s no second-gear on your fingers so you have to go at the speed your hands allow. Very relaxing.
MAKE A GIFT
Once you’ve got the hang of your new craft skill, you can use it to create gifts for other people. Perhaps your first project could be to make a handmade mouse for your other half for valentines day? Or minimise the pressure even more by setting a deadline of Easter to make this cute bunny. Once you know how to stitch, stuff, embroider, cut or craft something, you can make it time and again as personalised birthday gifts for all your loved ones throughout the year.
STEP-BY-STEP PROJECT
You’ll get complete satisfaction when you are able to finish a project. These adorable little sewing kits by Amazing Craft contain absolutely everything you need to make the entire project from start to finish – thread, needles, joints, stuffing, eyes, fabrics etc. This means you won’t come to a grinding halt when you run out of stuffing or embroidery thread. It’s all right there so you can finish the project in one go. The kits contain easy to follow instructions and a straight-forward cutting pattern, which you can use again to make more little rabbits or mice in the future.
There are countless sewing and craft project kits on the Amazing Craft website. I’ve used their pattern for Charlie Bear countless times when I’ve been making bears for my nieces and nephews. And the fantastic news is that I’ve got TWO kits to give away to two lucky winners! If you fancy having a go at learning new skill this year, why not start with this adorable mouse or rabbit sewing kit? I’ve got one of each so the winners will receive either a mouse or rabbit kit at random. There are plenty of ways to enter the competition below so best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway open to UK residents only. Competition runs from 14th January – 04th February 2018. Two winners will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter and contacted by email. 
Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
43 responses
I’d love to learn Embroidery xxx
I’d like to figure out scrapbooking.
I would love to learn how to knit properly. I have mastered the basics but I’m really slow and don’t know how to increase or decrease so can only knit squares or rectangles.
Would love to learn Lino printing x
I would love to learn pottery or painting in 2018.
Cross stitch x
Looks great
Card-making. I’d like to be able to put my own stamp on things, instead of buying the usual generic cards from the shops. x
hoping to improve my knitting
i like to learn crochet
I would love to knit with my daughter as I used to knit as a child but have forgotten over the years and would love to do it again.
I would love to learn to crochet
I would like to crochet following a pattern, I can currently crochet free hand with a couple of stitches.
I want to learn pottery
I’d love to learn to crochet
I’ve recently retired so would love to improve my sewing and knitting skills now I have more time on my hands.
I want to learn to crochet – have been saying this for 2 years now, I tried & couldn’t make a regular chain. I may have to stick with knitting!
I have been getting into whittling
Sewing! It’s a skill you can use forever and I’d love to be competent in it
I’d love to learn to crochet! I keep saying it and keep not doing it.
Just love these kits, they are so cute 🙂
I used to be a proficient smocker but have completely forgotten how. Would love to be inspired to learn again.
I would like to learn to crochet this year
I would to try my hand a crochet this year, had a go when I was a child so would really like to get back into it. I’ve seen some lovely things that I’d be happy to have in my home. They are both super cute but I think the bunny has the edge it .
i tried crochet last year and started making a blanket so id like to get better at that!
My wife loves sewing and I’m sure she would love to try making these!
Last week I tried my hand at needle felting because I happened to have some wool left over from something else, and I used some instructions from a craft magazine. I made a green cat with purple stripes. I’d love to learn some more advanced needle felting though!
knitting it reminds me of my Grandma.
I’d love to learn how to make rag rugs
They’re so adorable!
I’m excited about waiting on my first felting kit to come though! But there’s so many crafts to choose from and a whole year of making 😉
I’d like a try at decoupage
These really are so adorable. I’d like to learn to knit as I really love those chunky knit jumpers and cardigans and would love to be able to make my own.
I’d love to learn to do complex cross-stitch!
I would love to learn how to crochet
I would like to learn to knit
I would love to learn to crochet
Love this post! I’m not that handy when it comes to crafting but have promised myself that I’ll give it another go again this year. I’m trying my hand at knitting but I’d really love to give needle felting a go.
I recently enrolled on a days workshop to learn needle felting and loved it so this year i want to continue learning and to make some more advanced projects.
Tracy, your puppy sounds so cute! We have a few sweet crochet books on the Amazing Craft Website. Good luck and please do share a photo of your little pup! Kind regards, Becky
Tracy,
It really is easy, I taught my 8yr old Goddaughter over the phone as she lives in USA
and wanted her “English Mummy” to teach her 🙂
She’s left handed & I’m right handed but by using speaker phone and a mirror we did it.
Your little dogs will love you for it.
I would love to learn patchwork it’s about the only craft I don’t do 🙂
Embroidery.
I would love to learn how to crochet so I can make our tiny chihuahua puppy some little jumpers!