How Learning Another Craft Can Benefit Your Art

How learning another craft, Can assist you in your main craft

Just because you specialize in one craft, doesn't have to mean you shouldn't explore another. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. Familiarizing yourself with other crafts makes you stronger in your main one & you'll truly have the added benefit of becoming a more well-rounded Creator. There's always something new to discover & by expanding your interests, your projects can only improve.

The best artists don't remain stagnant. They experiment with other genres and other forms of art. You'll see rock stars who incorporate the blues, or hip hop artists using samples from classical music. Only sticking to what you know will make your art more rigid, & that's the antithesis of what art should truly be.

I love crochet, but that's not my only passion. I went to school had classes for Photography & that's given me a keen eye when it comes to presenting my handmade items. Instead of just offering a standard perspective, I'm always thinking about how I can make a photo of mine more dynamic-to tell a story. What angles I can use & what complementary colors work with it so that it's as strong as it can be.

I learned how to sew before I learned how to crochet, & that helped with the transition. I became accustomed to measuring, cutting, locking stitches, & understanding the differences in fabrics. I've used all of this and more in my handmade crochet items and without having sewn before, it might’ve e taken me a lot longer to learn the art of crocheting.

Drawing abstract art is one of my favorite hobbies & it helps free my mind. When I draw, I just let my mind wander wherever it wants to. I don't commit to a single idea, it just flows out of me, & while it's important to plan when it comes to crochet, I try to lean into letting inspiration lead me in unexpected directions. Sometimes, I truly even surprise myself.

If there's another craft that interests you, you should go for it. And there are still more crafts I'd love to pick up some day. You don't know what you might learn & how you can apply it to your main area of interest.