The Crafties – getting creative in Sheung Wan

We’re all for a little bit of DIY action in the ‘Kong, so we sent Sassy blogger Jane to check out a new crafty studio space in town…

The thing that strikes you when you first walk into The Crafties is quite how gorgeous it is! Beautiful objects, beautiful design – just being there makes you feel a little more creative. I felt inspired from the moment I walked in, and immediately wanted to get crafty!

The Crafties is a creative workspace that is open to anyone to get together and practice their craft, whatever that may be. They have loads of tools and machines available for use; for example, if your tiny Hong Kong apartment just doesn’t have space for a sewing machine, you can drop in and use theirs. You can also just turn up, meet like-minded people and get knitty with it, or alternatively book in with a group of friends to get DIY-ing!

Alternatively, if (like me) you are a bit more clueless, The Crafties offers a series of workshops, including soap making, leatherwork, knitting, screen-printing, crochet… the list goes on. They even offer a personalised stamp-carving course – just supply a photo of your favourite person and then immortalise them in all their glory in a stamp… Such a sweet gift idea!

I took part in one of The Crafties’ free crochet workshops (it’s amazing to find anything for free in this city!) and was pretty excited as, despite being pretty crafty myself, I’ve never been quite able to master crochet, despite several attempts with YouTube tuition. My wool and fingers always seem to end up in knots, which is incredibly frustrating given that the basics of crochet are quite simple. However, with a good teacher, crochet isn’t nearly as difficult as I’d thought!

My host for the evening class, Asa, had me doing slipknots, single, and double stitches in no time (though I discovered I still needed to work on my ability to count!). In around 30 minutes, I had mastered the basics and felt confident that with a few more lessons, I could actually make something cute and worthwhile. Asa also showed me an “upcycled” bathmat that she was working on, using old t-shirts to crochet a funky and functional mat. Super cool!

The class was great because the small size meant that I got loads of individual attention and therefore, managed to master a skill that I was unable to perfect on my own. In order to really get a handle on your chosen craft, you will probably need to attend more than the one introductory class, but given that the class is free and offers the chance to socialise while creating something unique, what’s not to like?

There are plenty of other Crafties’ workshops that you can sign up for that focus on producing specific items; for example, there’s a baby owl-hat crochet workshop that requires a few classes to complete, but would make a lovely thoughtful gift for a new baby… and a very pleasant way to while away a few hours on a Saturday afternoon to boot!

In addition to the workshops, The Crafties can host birthday parties and private events, offering you exclusive use of the space. Similarly, they also hold regular themed evenings and other events – check their Facebook Page or Event Calendar for more updates on their latest happenings!

The studio also doubles as a retail space with heaps of cute gift ideas and craft supplies, along with a small snack bar so you can enjoy a cuppa with your new crafty friends! We look forward to seeing that new DIY scarf, girls!

The Crafties, 1/F Sing Kui Commercial Building, No. 27 De Voeux Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 3461 1368

www.thecrafties.hk

Jane is an ironman, multiple marathoner, corporate lawyer and mum of one, who recently moved south to Hong Kong after a two-year stint in Shanghai; she chronicles her adventures on her blog, Dim Sum and Long Runs