Crafting on the Cheap: Keeping Supplied

Whatever your hobby, there are oodles of options for inexpensive supplies.

According to Market Reports World, almost 1.4 billion people on the planet engage in some type of craft. That’s a sizable chunk of humans, all engaging in a hobby that allows us to express ourselves, forge connections with others, and helps with stress relief. For many, art and crafting are more than just a hobby; they’re self-care. The few hours we carve out of a week to paint, embroider, knit, or sculpt are an important part of keeping stress levels low, with the added benefit of producing something beautiful or useful. Win-win.

Unfortunately, the current economy is sending prices for even the most basic supplies through the roof. And we need these hobbies (and the piece of mind they bring) more than ever. So how do we balance making with making-do? By thinking outside the box when it comes to arts and craft supplies.

Alternative sources

One of the easiest swaps you can do when looking to lower your supply costs is to look for alternative sources for your craft materials and accessories. Specialty supplies come with a heftier price tag. The same multi-segment plastic storage container you get especially for your embroidery floss may be as much as half the price at a hardware store. Office supply stores stock big boxes of safety pins. You can find numerous options at your neighborhood dollar shop well, particularly if you know how to improve a tool. For example, your kitchen knife steel can make an inexpensive pair of scissors sharp enough to cut nicely through fabric. And if you don’t know how to sharpen scissors? A dozen videos are available for you online!

What are some other professions you share tools with? Florists, quilters, and tailors all use pins (as does your local dry cleaner). Jewelry makers use pliers in almost the same way as an electrician: crimping, looping, and splicing. Storage solutions, in particular, don’t have to be specific to your trade. Fishing tackle boxes, office file boxes, school supply bags, screw organizers; there are as many shapes and sizes of bins, baskets, and boxes as you could ever need or imagine.

Op (Thrift) Shops

Op shops offer a ton of supplies for crafters in several different ways. Your store may have a dedicated area for supplies in particular (one of my local shops even sorts donated thread by color) or some supplies secreted away in other sections. I regularly find craft patterns, watercolor paper, and coloring books in the book section, and basic painting and drawing supplies in the kids’ area. I once found several bags of miniature model paints, usually pretty pricy, bagged in the kids’ school supplies section for a buck a bag.

Maybe your supply isn’t a supply yet. There’s a big trend in knitting and crocheting circles to reclaim yarn by unraveling old sweaters. A long set of curtains offers a lot of fabric for fashion projects or quilts. The jewelry section is usually clogged with cast-offs, and sometimes you can even buy chains, earrings, beads, and finds by the jar. Discarded art can be painted over. Bowls and cups make great vessels for floral arrangements or planting.

Free Groups

In the last decade, numerous free-to-neighbors groups have sprung up around the globe. Generally, these groups are localized, and members list or request what they need. Other members reply, and a swap is arranged. Members frequently list new supplies that have been sitting unused for a while or works in progress they don’t have time to finish. Buy Nothing and Freecycle are the largest of these groups, but there are hundreds of smaller ones worldwide, and you can find them on most social media platforms.

Some social media platforms have free posting groups as well. Reddit, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist all have free listings of anything from boats to tree bark, and there are frequently offers of formerly loved craft supplies.

Libraries

Your local library may loan craft tools (like sewing machines and tile saws). The book collection is full of resources. And one of the overlooked gems of our library systems are the thousands of events and classes they offer every year. If you’re looking for a craft group, odds are your library hosts one or knows where to find one.

Want to learn a new skill? The library offers them days, weekends, and evenings. This past month, my small local library has offered classes on sewing, fluid art, pottery, Chinese watercolour, spinning, LEGO, and food preservation. You’ll have access to knowledgeable teachers, be surrounded by folks who also enjoy your hobby, and take home a new project, as well as some supplies to add to your own stash.

Additionally, library programs are frequently put together based on user requests, so don’t be afraid to ask for what you’re looking for!

Reuse & Maker Centers

Numerous recycling centers have sprung up across the globe to help combat landfill overflow and reclaim supplies that are still in terrific condition. Reuse shops accept items from the public, frequently from estate sales and craft closet clean-outs. They sort items, test them for usability, and offer them for sale. It’s another form of thrifting, but everything is craft-related, and the employees are generally well-versed in arts and crafts. Local craft groups will likely know the best spots; don’t be afraid to seek them out online and ask!

Swoodson Says’ blog features a mega list of reuse centers worldwide, and Makerspace has a global directory of registered sites. Fablabs is a more tech-focused maker hub if you’re looking for 3D printers and laser cutters.

You don’t have to give up your favorite hobby just because the price of supplies is going up. Whether you’re looking for sequins, yarn, ribbon, or beads, there’s a great chance that you can get them at a fraction of the price with a little googling and checking in with your local craft groups. You’ve got nothing to lose, and a whole heap of inexpensive supplies for your favorite hobby to gain!