So, you want to get out more, stop doomscrolling, rub shoulders with your friends and actually feel alive? YOU NEED A CRAFTERNOON CLUB! I mean, yes, you COULD join the time-honoured tradition of starting a book club, but I suggest you don’t.
Wanna know why? Let me preface this by saying I am a voracious reader, and yes, a book club would probably suit me quite well (don’t come for me book club lovers!). But I recently started a crafternoon club and it’s amazing in ways that are distinct and very different from a get together where you discuss a book. Mainly: at crafternoon club you get together, you get into a zone, and you chat while making something, and there is just something SO magical, therapeutic, and life-giving about craft chats where your hands are working and your mind is clearing. Also: no book homework!
You’re (often) freed from social anxiety and chances are you’ll find yourself baring your soul and sharing with others in ways that will surprise you. It’s such an incredible way to get to know yourself as well as everyone around you!
But how do you start one? Here are a few ideas!
don’t invite a neat friendship group
This is the secret: everyone brings a friend. Not their closest most overlapping friend, a different one like a work friend, a neighbour, someone from pilates, someone slightly unexpected. It stops the get together from falling into the same old conversations and creates that slightly chaotic mix where people are actually curious about each other. Also, you dramatically increase your chances of someone bringing a very niche craft skill into the room!!!
OR join a local craft club In case you find it really hard to discover a group of people who like crafting, a while back I did a video to help people connect with other crafty people in their own cities, you can look for your city in the comments here.
rotate houses
Take turns hosting, and keep it casual!!! This is not a dinner party and no one needs to impress anyone. Put out a few snacks, pour a drink, clear a table, done.
alternate between one craft for all and everyone does their own thing
There are two modes for crafting, both work well:
Free for all nights: everyone brings their own project, and the table becomes a glorious mess of materials. This is the ideal way to get introduced to someone else’s craft!
One project nights: you pick something simple (pull it from a course, pinterest, wherever) so everyone’s loosely doing the same thing. it’s good to have the host lightly organise this so the materials are the same.
accept the chaos as part of the appeal
This is not a tidy experience and that’s why you’ll enjoy it so much. there will be:
threads on the floor
beads scattered in every corner of the house
at least one person gluing their fingers together
don’t aim to finish anything
You probably won’t and you know what? That’s kind of the magic of it: you make progress and load up on joy without allll the pressure.
lock in the next one before everyone leaves
This is the difference between ‘that was fun’ and ‘this is now a thing. Better yet, plan your whole year of crafternoons in advance.
low effort crafts for your Craftnoon Club
Embroidery (names, doodles, tiny motifs)
Beaded jewellery (bracelets, phone charms, necklaces)
Air-dry clay trinket dishes or little sculptures
Découpage anything (eggs, boxes, trays)
Collage / vision boards (magazines + glue = instant satisfaction)
Simple sewing projects (tote bags, pillowcases, scrunchies)
Candle decorating
Painting terracotta pots or thrifted ceramics
Pressed flower bookmarks or cards
OR pick a project from one of my courses (perfect ‘guided’ nights!):
Crafternoon club works because it replaces something that feels like homework with something that feels like healing!!! You’re still catching up, you’re still socialising but your hands are busy, your brain gets a break and no one is pretending they’ve read the book. I highly recommend!!!
xxx Geneva
ps. book club lovers pls dont come for me.
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