5 Tips For Hosting Your Own Craft Night

I started hosting craft night about a year and a half ago, and it's still one of my favorite things to do with friends.  I know it can feel daunting at first to think about hosting your own gathering-- what to do, who to invite, etc... so I thought I'd share a little bit of what I've learned to help make it the most productive and fun it can be!

1. Choose a simple craft.  Instead of diving head first into something complicated, start simple and build from there.  You may be super crafty, but I guarantee that not all of your friends will be on the same level.

2. Find a teacher.  If you want to teach, go for it.  I only teach about once every 4-5 craft nights.  If you're already hosting, there is no need to take on everything yourself.  Utilize your friends' talents and share this responsibility.

3. Buy extra supplies and encourage others to do the same.  We're all busy and sometimes there isn't time to get to the store before your crafty destination.  Always try to have extra supplies on hand.  People will show up regardless, so why not throw out a helping hand? 

4. If space is limited, keep it small.  You don't need a giant conference room to host a craft night.  Make it work with the space you have.  If you want to invite more people than you have room for, rotate your guest lists week-by-week so you can include as many people as you'd like.

5. Don't stress, friend.  So what if your house isn't spotless or the craft you planned isn't quite what you thought it would be?  The point of the gathering is to ENJOY your company and do something collectively.  Take a deep breath and let go of that pressure.  We're in it for the fun.

Some other things for you to think about, but aren't absolutely necessary:

*Snacks!  Have everyone pitch in and help out with snacks and drinks.  It shouldn't cost you a fortune to host a craft night.  Also, it's nice to make sure you have options for your veggie and vegan friends.
*If you're a group who likes wine (we are!), make sure you also have options for friends who may not drink or may be pregnant.
*If you're doing a more in-depth project, printing out instructions for everyone can be most helpful.  That way, if a project doesn't get finished, everyone has the tools to complete it on their own.

I hope these tips were helpful and will encourage you to build a craft group in your area.  It really is such a wonderful time spent bonding with kindred spirits.  If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I will get back to you!  xo.

(photos by myself and Janae Hardy)