Top Craft Activities Post-lockdown

Craft activity in the UK and around the world has really taken off in the past year as many people sought new and different activities to while away the time spent in lockdown. Crafts such as candle making, soap making, diamond painting, tie dye, and ceramics are some of the most popular activities to have experienced an exciting boom since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Cosy Owl accessed 12 months of data via Google Trends to reveal the top 15 crafts by percentage increases from 2019 to 2020 and the results were staggering, with more unique/unusual areas of crafting such as jewellery making, pottery making, dried flowers, crochet and model making, also increasing in high volumes.

The sudden increase in craft making has been attributed to many things. People have had more time to try different activities and find new hobbies, while some have chosen the time in lockdown to re-evaluate their priorities and change career, or start a small business from home. With many shops closed, crafters have benefited from a real opportunity to sell their products online, and with so many people confined to their homes, the demand for luxury products has grown significantly. 

Below, we take a look at five of the most popular crafts currently trending. 

Candle making

We all love a candle, but in today’s current market some of the most popular candles are also the most expensive ones. But you can actually make candles yourself really easily with a few essential ingredients and the right know-how. The added bonus of making your own candle is that you can control what goes into it, so if you’re sensitive to certain fragrances, just leave them out. Using soy wax will keep the air in your home as clean as possible. With your imagination and the willingness to experiment, you can make just about any size and scent of candle you want and add that all-important personal touch.  

Check out this fantastic example of candle making below:

Soap Making

Natural soap making can be a creative and rewarding skill to learn, and the added bonus is you get a useful product at the end of your toil! To make soap, you’ll need to combine two elements, a fat and an alkaline material. Any type of fat will do but different fats will give the soap different properties. The alkaline material required is lye, which can be purchased online or at most supermarkets. Once you have hold of these two essential ingredients, you’re ready to begin. There are three main methods of soap making – the easy melt and pour process, the lengthier cold process, and the hot process. Whichever you choose, you will end up with beautiful soap at your fingertips.

Check out this fantastic example of homemade soap below:

Diamond Painting

Diamond painting is a new, fascinating craft hobby that has increased by a whopping 308% in the past 13 months. The craft originated in North America and Europe by the Paint With Diamonds™ company in 2017. It has grown in popularity due to its stress relieving benefits, and many crafters have found a new sense of calm and balance by adopting this popular craft. Diamond painting is a mix between painting by numbers and cross stitch. To do it, you apply thousands of ting resin ‘diamonds’ to an adhesive canvas that has been specially coded; you will soon create a shimmering work of diamond art. 

Tie Dye

Tie Dye is another fun craft which has enjoyed huge success during lockdown. Whether you’re a crafter who is adding the tie dye process to your small business offering, or someone who enjoys tie dying at home for fun, tie dye can be tremendously rewarding. Not only do you get to keep the item you are dying, you also have an entirely original design. The tie dye process involves tying and dyeing a piece of fabric or cloth which is usually made from cotton using bright colours. The entire process can be completed in just a few hours which means you can be wearing or using your garment almost immediately afterwards.  

Ceramics

Many people think that ceramic making is an expensive hobby, but Cosy Owl are here to remind you that it really doesn’t need to be! If you’re thinking about taking up ceramics as a new hobby, you don’t have to join a local class to learn successfully how to create your masterpiece. Most people learning the craft during lockdown have simply relied on social media groups or YouTube, some clay and a few simple tools to perfect their art. Spending the time to simply handle clay is so important. You don’t need a wheel or any fancy equipment – the best potters will agree there is nothing you can’t make by hand building. 

Resin

Resin moulds enjoyed a massive 516% increase during lockdown! This craft can be used within woodwork, jewellery making, coasters, ornaments and much more.  Choose a lower-viscosity casting design for your resin moulds as this resin has been designed specifically to pour into a cast. Depending on the project you can also add other materials such as liquid colours or pigments. You can also add glitter, stones, shells and flowers to create a unique finished piece. Creating with resin is one of the most fun crafts around and there are lots of beginner resin projects you can access on social media sites and YouTube to help kick-start a new career or hobby!

Despite the return to normal life, Cosy Owl still anticipates strong growth in crafting in the future. Crafters have become accustomed to enjoying the simpler things in life and many people have found a new sense of calm and rebalance in the hobby, while the re-opening of physical outlets and outdoor markets will continue to boost small businesses. In the wake of the pandemic, people with less disposable income will continue to cut back on large expenditures, and instead focus on more affordable luxuries for the home – all of which is good news for the crafters!