Craft 2.0 (Handicrafts)
Traditional handicrafts are seeing a revival of interest. A new generation is using the internet to share craft ideas and information, to meet fellow enthusiasts and to sell their work. Markets and craft market events are also popular places to explore the beauty of craft. Although many of the craft projects reflect the 21st century the one thing that never changes is the considerable social aspect to craft.
Our libraries have a great range of resources for learning craft skills and ideas. To find out about the many craft groups and classes in the Christchurch community you can browse handicraft courses on CINCH (Community Information Christchurch).
Steampunk
This is a genre where a wide range of craft skills are employed, with a pseudo-Victorian mechanical and costume style. The online sources are many and various if you Google or go to Wikipedia. The Steampunk Workshop is a fun place to start your exploration.
Browse the resources in our libraries
- Handicraft
- Browse the selection of craft books & other resources in our libraries.
- Handicraft Magazines
- Our libraries have a wide range of craft magazines e.g. Handmade
- Handicraft
- Contact information for craft groups and classes from CINCH (Community Information Christchurch)
- Knitting
- Browse the selection of knitting books in our libraries.
Online resources we recommend
Home Improvement Collection- Home improvement articles for the hobbyists and the professional alike. Coverage includes architectural techniques, tool and material selection, and much more.
Access this with your library card number and PIN, or at our libraries. - Artisan Crafts
- Deviant Art is one of the biggest art communitis on the web. The Artisan Crafts section includes basketry, ceramics, costume, papercraft, glass, leather, metal and wood work, needlework, textiles and more.
- Craftster
- Craftster is an online community where people share hip, off-beat, crafty DIY (do it yourself) projects.
- CraftZine
- This site has how-tos, often as video and/or pdf of how to make all kinds of crafty things from hypertufa to knitting.
- Creative fibre : New Zealand Spinning, Weaving and Woolcrafts Society
- domiKNITrix
- Domiknitrix is a knitting website by author Jennifer Stafford
- Etsy
- American craft marketplace website. Also has active communities for crafters.
- Felt
- New Zealand based online outlet dedicated to all things handmade.
- Fingers Auckland
- Contemporary jewellery gallery.
- Form Gallery
- Handknitting Association of Iceland
- Official site with details of Icelandic yarns, including the famous lopi sweater, patterns and more
- Instructables
- A site where people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others. Instructional videos and slideshows are included for individual projects. The range of craft projects is amazing.
- Knitting Help
- Good example of a knitting website with online videos demonstrating various techniques, also a range of free patterns and a knitters forum.
- Linda Hendrickson Tablet Weaving and Ply-Split Braiding
- Tablet weaving and ply-split braiding.
- MakeZine
- Technology projects from trebuchets to bicycles – how to make all kinds of stuff presented as videos and/or pdf.
- National Association of Wood Workers
- The National Association of Woodworkers NZ Incorporated brings together both amateur and professional people from all over New Zealand who are skilled in working with wood.
- New Zealand Floral Art Society
- Encourages floral design
- New Zealand Society of Potters
- Aim is to encourage, foster and promote the creativity, excellence and appreciation of ceramics within New Zealand and overseas.
- Ravelry
- Ravelry is a free knit and crochet community.
- Sarah Goslee's fibre arts site
- Huge range of fibre arts - spinning, weaving and felting plus information about Viking fibre techniques
- Vogue knitting
- Vogue knitting - previews the contents of the Vogue Knitting magazine. Also includes free patterns and how to information plus lots of inspiration.
- Weavershand
- An information page for weavers! Specifically for those interested in Tablet Weaving, Kumihimo, and Ply-splitting, but peruse the links if your interests lie elsewhere.
