Everyone knows that bonding over hobbies is one of the best ways to form new friendships, especially as an adult. Therefore, working to find a crafting community is likely the perfect way to make new friends. There are also the added benefits of learning new skills and staying inspired about the crafts you’re into. Sounds great, right?
The only problem is, where do you find all these people? This is definitely something I’ve been wondering about since I uprooted and moved to a new city for work. Joining a knitting club in college was really rewarding and I’ve been thinking a lot about how to find a new space to work on my craft. Here I’ve compiled resources — online and in-person — to find a crafting community no matter where you are.
1. Facebook
Facebook is one of the social platforms most conducive to planning and organizing events, which makes it ideal for crafters to form groups and collaborate despite geographic boundaries. I actually first started learning more about running my Etsy shop and trying new knitting techniques once I joined a bustling Facebook group for knitters and got to experience an active online crafting community for the first time.
To find a crafting community, all you have to do is search for the groups that most interest you and filter down the results depending on what you’re looking for. Do you want a ton of activity? Make sure there are a decent number of posts per day. Do you have a specific need? Look for teaching groups, niche crafts, or specific demographics (I’ve joined some groups aimed at younger women). Facebook has so much going on — I can practically guarantee that you can’t be too niche to find a group, unless you’re into some really weird stuff.
Word of warning: immediately update your notification settings once you join a Facebook group. I’ve been in some large, unruly groups that were exhausting me with endless, repetitive posts. You can pick and choose what you’re alerted to! You want to find a crafting community, not another mental chore.
2. Meetup
Meetup is highly dependent on your geographic area, but if you’re in a city then there is likely to be a crafter’s meetup for you to participate in. Can’t find anything? The beauty of this service is that you can get a group going on your own.
Download the app or look up events in your browser. Finding a knitting circle, needlework group, scrapbooking club or other crafting community might be the perfect way for you to connect with likeminded people in person. This is a great avenue for finding new friends in your area based on your beloved hobbies.
3. Local Library
Many libraries will host a few crafting groups or events, so check out yours to see what kind of events they run. Libraries are underutilized community resources as it is. Support your local institution and find a crafting community that’s sure to be relatively quiet.
If your library doesn’t currently have a group like this and you’re feeling bold, why not ask the librarian for some space and word of mouth to get one going? Trust me, most librarians would be happy to find new ways to reach people and provide programs of interest to the public.
4. Local Specialty Shop
Shops that sell yarn, scrapbooking supplies and other essential craft items are bound to attract some form of community. At the very least, you can get to know the retailer and see if they have any tabs on the local crafting scene.
Many yarn stores, for instance, might run some workshops or meetings. This is a win-win — you get to chat with crafters and they get some more warm bodies in what are usually quite tiny businesses. If you want another way to find a crafting community in person, this is a go-to.
One quick Google search found me not only a great local yarnseller in my new city, but also a regular knitting circle with fun special events. I’ll take my own advice and check this group out — and all that took about 2 minutes of searching.
5. Pinterest
Okay, there’s no way you’re not already using Pinterest. You’re a crafter, after all. But this is yet another powerful tool to find a crafting community in. The advent of group boards has allowed us to pin inspirations for each other like crazy, and the platform is full of ways to learn from others who love the same hobbies.
Make sure that you have some open boards, or search for those run by your favorite bloggers or crafters online. This is a great way to feel that sense of community from the comfort of your couch. Let’s face it, that’s sometimes all you could ever want.
6. Teach Your Friends
If your friends and family members are open to the idea, you can find a crafting community right in your existing circle — by building one. Maybe you can trick them into loving your hobby by hosting a wine and scrapbooking night. Offer to teach them some needlework at movie night.
Or simply ask if they’d be open to learning something new and see how it goes. Meet them halfway. If your best friend loves bowling, trade off and try each other’s interests out. You never know what you’ll fall in love with. There’s nothing better than when someone you care about wants to share in an activity that means the world to you.
Find a Crafting Community Anywhere
In today’s world, you can find even the most hyper-specific community as long as you know where to look. Whether you’d like to stay online to hunt for inspiration or make some more friends in real life, the groups probably exist. You just need to find a crafting community that fits your needs and interests.
Where do you find a crafting community? Let me know below!
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