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Creating a Craft Group

A Few Tips For Starting a craft group

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First check if there is one already running in your area. If there is a strong group already, check it out. It may be what you want or at least you can learn from it.

*  Write down what the group's purpose is and let people know this. Consider how often and at what time you will meet. You can adjust these things as you go.

You can create a craft group or any interest group via www.Meetup.com and invite people in your area. That works well and if you don't know many people it draws on interested locals. It costs a fee every month. I am in a great Meetup group. It started out very small and now has 400 members with 2 dozen coming to each meeting.

Another way is through your local library or community centre. Ask if you can hold a craft group meeting there. Usually it's free. You will need to advertise in the library or centre that it's coming up, ask local craft stores, schools, universities, mum's groups etc to put a notice in their newsletters or display windows.

You can start with friends. Invite them and ask them to invite their crafty friends. Use word of mouth.

Think about the meeting's location.  Where you are going to hold the meeting?  In your home, cafe, restaurant, pub, craft store, library, church, community centre, local hall, etc?   Investigate and ask permission. Find out if there is a fee or booking requirements.


Advertise the upcoming meeting on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, your blog or website, notice boards, forums and what ever social media you have access to. Ask friends to help. Use email for initial contact, do not give out your mobile number to the general public.


Remember to be on time to your meetings if you are the host! Introduce yourself. Make people feel welcome! (That is the number one thing in forming a group.)

Food and drink can always be helpful to get everyone socialising. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, but at least tea, coffee and a snack. (You can ask people to bring something to share if it's not in a coffee shop.)

In the first meeting thank people for coming. Explain briefly why you want to start a craft group. Ask people to introduce themselves and their craft of choice. Ask people what they are working on. Be interested. Listen.


Toward the end of the meeting plan the next one. Discuss what works day and time-wise and location. Ensure you can contact people again directly via email, Facebook or Instagram for example to invite them again.


It takes time and effort to start a group and develop it, so have patience. The reward is new friendships and connection.

Good luck!
Jane
Aka Queen Babs, Fibre Art Friday host & Art of Craft member


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  • Home
  • Queen Babs
    • Commissions & Art
    • Why I yarnbomb
    • Is ART Pointless?
    • Trees and yarnbombs
    • Yarnbombers United
    • Favourite Yarnbombers
  • Get Involved
    • Contribute to a Yarnbomb
    • Workshops
    • Fibre Art Friday >
      • FAF Upcoming
    • Help Fund a Project
  • Projects
    • NCIE Projects >
      • NCIE Yarnbomb 2015-2016
      • National Centre for Indigenous Excellence Forecourt 2014
    • The Plot Music Festival
    • Surry Hills Festival
    • Optus Knit the Campus >
      • Knit the Campus >
        • Photos
    • QANTAS Yarn Art
    • Central Park Mall
    • Sydney Mardi Gras
    • Christmas Yarnbombs 2015
    • Redfern Park
    • FMS Hope Mandala Project
    • Yarnified Love Bombs
    • Redfern Cycleway 2014 & ongoing
    • Spinx Yarnbomb in the Domain, Sydney
    • 17 Bike Racks at Redfern Train Station
    • Sydney Garden Show
    • Around Sydney >
      • Chippendale
      • Newtown Yarnbomb
      • Dream Alley Yarnbomb
  • Tips
    • Yarnbomb Tips
    • Craft Group Tips
  • Patterns & Video
    • Songlines Mandala
    • Super Easy Heart
    • A Full Heart Crochet Pattern
    • CD Mandalas
    • Celebration Flower
    • Chunky Christmas tree
    • Chunky Snowflake
    • The Courage Flower
    • The Extended Courage Flower
    • Courage Coasters
    • Healing Flower
    • Bab's Flashy Flower
    • Bab's Loop the Loop Flower
    • Bab's Teeny Tiny Fairy Flower
    • Bee-utiful Bee
    • Blue Sky Garland
    • Bunting Pattern via Ravelry
    • Cherry Blossom Flower
    • Chunky Snowflake
    • Curly Daisy Pattern
    • Friendship Flower
    • Galaxy Mandala
    • Give Happiness Scarf
    • Hand Pattern by Susan Regalia
    • Happy Hangers How-To Pattern
    • Jane's Joy Starflower
    • Just Little Things Blanket
    • Large Leaf by Karen & Wendy
    • Loopy Love Bloom
    • Meeting Place Mandala
    • New Year Flower 2015
    • Ombre V-stitch Scarf
    • Pay It Forward Flower
    • Peace Mandala
    • Simple Tiny Butterfly
    • Sphinx Necklace
    • Sunburst Bloom
    • Togetherness Flower
    • Video Tutorial >
      • Pom-Pom Tutorial
  • Contact
  • Thank You!
    • Photos
  • Project sizes and requirements
    • FMS Hope Mandala
  • Media links
    • News/BLOG
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