5 Essentials for Your Crafting Workspace 

When it comes to arts and crafts, you can never be too prepared for your next project. The best thing about being creative is that you never know what you will be working on next. Here are 5 Essentials for Your Crafting Workspace.

For one week, you might become obsessed with a new sewing technique and the next you will be experimenting with wire bending and polished stones to create jewellery, the possibilities are endless which is what makes it so enjoyable. 

Because of the huge variation in what you can get up to, having a well-stocked, adaptable work space is key to ensure you can practise your creativity as easily as possible. 

This quick guide is meant to cover some of the absolute essentials that every crafter will end up using one time or another.

Hopefully, by the end, you will be both prepared and inspired to create something new. Let’s get into it.   

Needle and Thread  

This one may seem a little biased considering all of the sewing related posts on this blog but that doesn’t change the fact that needle and thread are great crafting tools. Sewing is an incredibly versatile method of creating art and securing fabrics or materials together, often at the same time.

Depending on your tastes and knowledge, you might prefer a sewing machine to a manual needle and thread, in which case the only point to keep in mind is selecting the right needle for your work.  

There are actually a vast range of different sewing machine needles available, each effective in different situations and with different fabrics. Whilst a general-purpose universal needle will do the job for most projects, there’s no harm in being over prepared and stocking a variety of different needle options so that when creativity strikes, you’re ready. 

Self-Healing Cutting Mat 

Almost every craft project involves some form of cutting. Sometimes it can be handled by scissors alone but other times you might need a cutting surface that can take a little punishment.

Whilst chopping boards can do the job, they often damage the blades of the knife you are using and can also carry stains from food preparation. 

Self-healing cutting mats are a little like chopping boards but they’re built with crafting in mind. They are gentler on knife blades, helping them stay sharper for longer, and with each cut they expand slightly so that the damage is filled and becomes less visible (that’s the self-healing aspect). 

Definitely worth a pick up for those that like cutting intensive craft jobs or work with particularly tough materials.  

Metal Ruler, Scissors and Craft Knives 

Speaking of cutting, you can’t be doing any without the right tools at your disposal. Metal rulers are an absolute necessity for all crafters, whether you cut a lot or not. They’re durable, rigid and easy to use as a scoring or cutting guide to create straight lines.

Similarly, you need scissors and a scalpel or retractable utility knife to cut easily and effectively. Safety and sharpness are key though, so make sure that you are experienced with using your equipment before crafting something extremely cutting intensive. 

String and Wire 

String and wire are both absolute necessities in your crafting work space. Not only are the two materials tactile and interesting to look at, but they are also incredibly adaptable and can add a whole new layer to your artwork.

String is especially good for allowing your crafts to be hung up once completed, whilst wire is brilliant for creating static pieces of art and securing parts together.

In fact, wire art is some of the most impressive that you’ll see and is fairly easy to do with a little practice and the right tools. Give it a try when you get the chance.  

Pens and Felt Tips 

It wouldn’t be a crafting space without some good old fashioned felt tips. The key to picking out the right pens is quality. It might be surprising but felt tips come in a huge different range of qualities affecting both lifespan and colour.

Don’t skimp on your pens because you will inevitably find yourself having to get more in the near future; you really do get what you pay for. Other than quality, simply pick out the colours of your choice and you’re away! 

With these additions to your work space, you should always be ready for the next crafting project whatever it may be. Make sure to share your crafts with those around you, there’s nothing better than displaying what you’ve made to loved ones.