If you are anything like me, you like trying your hand at lots of different arts and crafts. It's just satisfying! And working with wood as a material is even more so. If you are looking to diversify and try something new, here are three fun wood crafts to try!
Pyrography
What is it?
The art of burning a design onto wood, or onto other materials such as felt, using a heated tool.
Is it expensive?
Not as much as you’d think. Whilst you do need a specialist tool to get started, beginners kits are available and generally between £10 - £30. I tried this one from Hobbycraft, and it worked great, but if you already have some bits of wood to experiment on, you can always grab just the pyrography tool on it’s own for cheaper still.
Is it tricky?
It’s one of those crafts that is essentially pretty straightforward, but it can take a bit of time to get used to. Although you hold the pyrography tool much like a pen, you need to be holding it further from the nib than you would with a pen - because the nib and stem of the tool are ridiculously hot. Finding the best way to control the tool can take a few attempts, so don’t expect your first burn marks to be masterpieces. But once you get into the swing of it, it can be very addictive!
What’s good about it?
It’s incredibly satisfying once you get going. Once you’ve found your mojo - and can hold the tool comfortably - it can be a very calming and focusing medium. It’s not about rushing, and enjoying taking your time is part of the charm - but saying that, you can experiment and see fun results pretty quickly. If you quite like the smell of burning wood, that’s also a plus.
Any downsides?
You cannot get around the fact, the tool is a very hot hazard that you need to constantly be aware of. If the nib touches your skin, or anything else you don’t want it to, it’ll burn it. Don’t try to change nibs with your hands while it is hot - use pliers or have heat-proof gloves on. If possible work on a heat-proof surface, like a silicone mat, and it’s best to have some ventilation due to the burn fumes, so keep a window open or work outside if possible.
Want to see some pyrography in action? Check out this video, when I tried it for the first time, using the Hobbycraft craft kit.
Willow Weaving
What is it?
The art of weaving bendy, soaked sticks of willow together to create structures/forms.
Is it expensive?
You can get beginners Willow Weaving kits for varying prices, but I tried this one from Wonky Willow Crafts. I found it had everything I needed to have a go, and if I want to try and make something else in future, I can re-use the board (with holes for the willow) and the soaking bag which came in the kit. It’s more tricky knowing where to get the stocks of willow from, but a quick search can find various websites - such as worldorwillow.co.uk who sell rod bundles from around £7.50.
Is it tricky?
It takes a bit of patience at the start. The trick is in figuring out the best way for you to hold it, so that the willow rods are not waving about all over the place as you weave. (You can see the way I ended up doing it in my video linked below.) Also, the first time you need to weave in a new rod can be a challenge, but once you’ve done it a couple of times it gets a lot easier.
What’s good about it?
It is a process that you do need to think about, but because of that it feels like a real achievement when you’ve made something at the end. Also, once you are in the middle of the weaving, it feels a very mellow process.
Any downsides?
You need to factor in time (about 4-6 days) to soak your willow rods before you can start weaving with them - so you can’t be super-spontaneous about giving it a go.
Want to see some willow weaving in action? Check out this video, when I tried it for the first time, using the Wonky Willow craft kit.
Wood Engraving
What is it?
The art of creating designs in the surface of wood, by indenting it.
Is it expensive?
You only need an engraving tool and some wooden blanks to engrave onto - and they don’t need to be super expensive. Shop around for the best prices, but you should be able to grab an engraver for under £30. (This is a similar one to mine - note, this is an affiliate link). The prices of wooden blanks will vary depending on the size and shape of the item - you can engrave anything from coasters to wooden crates! Websites such as craftmill.co.uk have a wide range to give you ideas.
Is it tricky?
The trickiest bit is learning how to hold the engraver comfortably, and how to work with the grain of the wood. Figuring out how different pressure affects your marks is a matter of trial and error - so do your first engravings on scrap pieces of wood until you’re feeling more confident. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll pick it up though!
What’s good about it?
The simplest of designs can make a big impact, and wood is a great material to work with. Once you find your groove, it can be a very absorbing process which can create cool results quickly.
Any downsides?
Engravers aren’t quiet tools - so the main downside is the noise level. You may also find that the buzzing from the tool itself can numb your hand a little if using it for a while - so make sure to use it in short bursts and take regular breaks.
Want to see some engraving in action? Check out this video, where I used it to create printmaking blocks.
Thanks for reading - I hope you have fun finding a new crafty passion to try!
Keep making happy 💛
Love Gem x
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