There are definitely some homestead crafts and skills that I’ve learned over the past few years that I never imagined I’d be into. At the end of this post, find out what I’ve been learning. These have been great things to pick up to just have a hobby. Previously I just didn’t have the time to learn these skills and have too many hobbies. I was doing my Masters degree while working in a very high stress environment. Honestly I don’t know how I survived doing both of those at the same time. Studying occupied a lot of my free time and my priority was to actually get outside as much as possible doing activities like hiking. I was waking up at 4am to commute about an hour, run an entire shift, and not get home until 7 or 8 pm.
A lot has happened over the past few years and I’ve managed to rearrange my priorities. This includes taking care of our now 1 year old! She’s my top priority. 🙂
Table of Contents
Why You Should Learn Some Homesteading Crafts
Homesteading crafts encompass a wide range of skills and activities that are not only practical but also enrich the self-sufficient lifestyle. Whether working with wood, fibers, metal, or cultivating the land, these crafts provide a connection to the materials and the processes that sustain daily living. The revival of traditional techniques and the integration of modern innovations mean that today’s homesteaders can tailor their crafting endeavors to fit both their needs and creative aspirations.
At the heart of homesteading crafts is the ethos of resourcefulness and self-reliance. With a bit of creativity and determination, you can turn natural and reclaimed materials into useful and beautiful items for your home and family. From practical skills such as canning and preserving harvests to more artistic endeavors like pottery and basket weaving, these crafts not only serve functional purposes but also add a personal touch to the homesteading lifestyle. By mastering various homesteading crafts, you can reduce your reliance on store-bought goods, minimize waste, and create a home environment that is a true reflection of your values and hard work.
Key Takeaways
- Homesteading crafts are crucial for a self-sufficient lifestyle and can be both practical and creative.
- Learning these skills enhances resourcefulness and reduces dependence on manufactured goods.
- These activities allow for personal expression and a deeper connection with the materials used.
This post is all about homestead crafts.
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Basics of Homesteading Crafts
Homesteading crafts require a thoughtful selection of materials and tools, teamed with dedicated practice to master the needed skills and techniques.
Note: This is just the beginning for this list of resources! Check back periodically for updates.
Choosing the Right Materials
Natural materials are the cornerstone of homesteading crafts. For instance, woods like cedar or pine are excellent for carpentry due to their durability and ease of use. Wool, cotton, or linen are top choices for fiber crafts; they’re sustainable and hardwearing. For projects such as basketry or paper-making, sourcing high-quality, natural fibers is crucial. Their biodegradability and strength make them suitable for numerous homesteading projects, from textiles to building materials.
Essential Tools for Beginners
A well-equipped toolbox is essential for anyone just starting out. If you’re just getting started, here are some items you might consider gathering:
- Knives and Scissors: Sharp blades for cutting various materials.
- Measuring Instruments: Rulers, tape measures, and squares for precision.
- Basic Woodworking Tools: Hammers, saws, and drills for construction and repair tasks.
- Sewing and Knitting Notions: Needles, threads, and hooks for fabric crafts.
Homestead Crafts To Learn
So what could you possibly consider learning? What are some themes that you’re drawn to? My suggestion – think about what your interests are, write them down, and then go through the below list to see what matches what you wrote down.
Woodworking
Develop skills in carpentry to build furniture, fences, and structures to just name a few. There are many skills within woodworking that you can learn like:
- Sawing – using different types of saws to cut the wood you’re working with
- Sanding – smoothing out the product you made
- Finishing – putting a finish on the product you made
If you’re looking for resources about woodworking, check out the following links:
The Crucible – Woodworking 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started
50 DIY Woodworking Projects for Every Skill Level
Food Preservation
Self-sufficiency extends beyond the growing season. Learn preservation techniques such as canning, drying, and freezing to ensure that the bounty from your homestead garden sustains you throughout the year. This not only reduces reliance on external sources but also provides a sense of security and abundance.
A few great resources for learning these techniques are:
- The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving: Over 350 of the Best Canned, Jammed, Pickled, and Preserved Recipes
- The Farmhouse Culture Guide to Fermenting: Crafting Live-Cultured Foods and Drinks with 100 Recipes from Kimchi to Kombucha [A Cookbook]
- The Complete Guide to Pressure Canning: Everything You Need to Know to Can Meats, Vegetables, Meals in a Jar, and More
Baking and cooking
Start cooking and baking from scratch. Items you can consider baking are:
- Sourdough bread
- All kinds of desserts
[RELATED POST: What’s the Best Sourdough Starter Jar?]
[RELATED POST: How to Make Sourdough Discard and Put It to Use]
Seed Starting
Utilize biodegradable materials like newspaper or egg cartons to make seed starting pots. This helps reduce waste and adds nutrients to the soil as the pots decompose. Grow your own garden from seeds as a cheaper alternative to having a garden and to try different varieties that aren’t available at your local nursery.
Check out sites like:
Garden Markers
Create durable garden markers using painted rocks or stamped metal tags to keep track of your plantings.
Beekeeping
Assemble your own beehives to support honey bees, and harvest honey and honeycomb. Instructions for constructing beehives can be found at The Survival Journal. Also check out my post about how to start beekeeping right in your own backyard!
[RELATED POST: How to Start Beekeeping in Your Backyard]
Raised Garden Beds
Build raised garden beds using untreated lumber to improve drainage and soil quality in your garden.
[RELATED POST: Why Raised Garden Beds Enhance Your Plant Growth and Soil]
Natural Dyeing
Use plants and other natural materials to dye fabrics and yarn. Check out the Woodlark Blog’s section about natural dyeing. She covers several different ways to dye using simple things like tea, blackberries, and walnut hulls. There’s even a post about How to Naturally Dye Easter Eggs – just in time for Easter!
Fiber Arts
Explore spinning, knitting, crocheting, and weaving using natural fibers like wool.
Sewing Garments
Develop sewing skills to repair clothes or create new garments from your handmade textiles.
Crochet
There are lots of FREE crochet patterns and resources that you can find online. Check out Michael’s, Joann’s Fabrics, Yarnspiration, blogs, or my personal favorite – Pinterest. Youtube has a bunch of tutorials with free patterns as well, and you get to learn as you go. You can also venture onto Etsy to purchase crochet patterns.
My favorite blogs so far for free patterns:
Knitting
There are lots of FREE knitting patterns and resources that you can find online. Check out Pinterest! There are also so many free tutorials and free patterns on YouTube. Etsy has patterns for purchase.
Sewing
There are lots of FREE sewing patterns and resources that you can find online. Check out Pinterest! There are also so many free tutorials and free patterns on YouTube. You can find patterns for purchasing on the following platforms and websites:
- Etsy
- JOANN’s
- Lowlandkids.com
Quilting
There are lots of FREE quilting patterns and resources that you can find online. Check out Pinterest!
Making candles
Craft candles from beeswax or soy wax. There are plenty of kits on websites for Amazon that you can explore and look into. This is the kit I purchased to eventually start making candles.
A Beautiful Mess has a great guide for How to Make Candles. She reviews what tools you’ll need, how to make the candle, the different types of wax to use to make candles, how to make molded candles, and how to store them once they’re made.
Soap making
Create your own natural soaps using various oils and scents. There are so many people that make soap that use essential oils to make their own personalized scent(s).
Check out The Nerdy Farm Wife’s Soap Making 101: How to Make Soap . She goes over the difference between cold and hot processes for soap making, provides a beginner soap making recipe, and all of the tools you need to start making your own soap!
Making tallow
Learn to render tallow from animal fat for candles or soap.
A great resource is Hey GRILL Hey’s blog post about How to Make Tallow. In the blog post, the writer discusses what tools you’ll need, how to render (make) tallow, and shares recipes to use the tallow you just made.
Holiday Crafts
Make your own holiday crafts like a dried citrus garland.
Herbal Remedies
Learn to make herbal teas, tinctures, and salves from herbs grown on your homestead. Check out my post about starting an herb garden and the remedies you can make by using the herbs you grew!
[RELATED POST: A Basic Guide for How to Start an Herb Garden]
[RELATED POST: Herbal Remedies: 6 Easy Herbal Remedies to Make at Home]
Dehydrating
Dry herbs, make jerky, or fruit leather using a dehydrator or oven for long-term storage. There are so many ways to dehydrate and so many recipes. It’s also the perfect way to use what you grow.
[RELATED POST: 4 Tips for How to Dehydrate Fruit in Air Fryer]
Cheesemaking
Produce your own cheese from milk obtained from your livestock. There are so many cheeses that are easy to make like mozzarella and ricotta. If you’re looking for a resource to make mozzarella cheese, I’m sharing Venison for Dinner’s Homemade Mozzarella recipe. She also has a video tutorial to go along with it on her YouTube channel.
Another good resource to get started is Cultured Guru’s blog post How to Make Feta Cheese from Scratch with Cow or Goat Milk. She includes lots of facts about fet and of course, how to make it.
Pottery
Create functional pottery items like bowls, mugs, and plates. A great resource for making your own pottery at home is Soul Ceramics’ post about How to Make Pottery at Home. In the post learn about which kilns are the best for home use, the different types of clay that are used to make pottery, pottery wheels, other tools you’ll need, glazes, and more.
Metalworking
Learn basic blacksmithing or metalworking skills for repairs and crafting tools.
The website the Crucible also has a Metalworking 101: the Basics of Metalworking page that discusses what skills you learn with metalworking, the different types of metalworking, forms and techniques, the casting process, and how to start metalworking.
Basket Weaving
Craft baskets for harvesting, storage, or decor.
Gathered has a good resource with a Beginner’s Guide to Basket Weaving. In this article you’ll learn about the tools needed to make baskets, the different types of material you can use to make baskets, the techniques for making baskets, and more!
Leatherworking
Make leather goods such as belts, wallets, and pouches.
Leatherworking is such an interesting skill to learn. To get you started, check out Gold Bark Leather’s a Beginner’s Guide to Leatherworking. Find out how to choose a project, what tools you’ll need, what skills you need, and even how to purchase your first piece of leather.
Beading
Create jewelry or decorative items using beads made from natural materials. There are actually so many resources right at your fingertips to start learning skills like beading. The Spruce Crafts has a whole section on its website about beadwork. Check it out if you’re interested in learning all about this skill.
Vinegar Making
Produce vinegar from fruit scraps or other fermentable materials. The Cultured Guru’s got all the information you need about How to Make Vinegar from Scratch, and even how to make it from fruit..
Paper Making
Recycle paper scraps or use natural fibers to make your own paper. Find out exactly to make paper by visiting the Woodlark Blog. She goes over the whole process of DIY Handmade Recycled Paper. In her post, she discusses what materials you’ll need and shows a step-by-step process.
Making Wine, Mead, and Brewing Beer
Ferment fruits or honey to produce wine and mead, or make your own homebrewed beer. Check out the following sites for tips on how to make any of these three or make all of them!
- wineenthusiast.com for information about how to make wine at home.
- Grow Forage Cook Ferment’s post about How to Make a Gallon of Mead: A Simple Mead Recipe
- She even has an ebook about mead and all kinds of recipes like: Maple Mead with Orange and Spices , How to Make Mulberry Mead
- Practical Self Reliance’s post with 50+ Winemaking Recipes for Homemade Wine (from any fruit!) and How to Make Beer at Home.
Loom Weaving
Explore weaving on a loom to create fabric or rugs. To learn about weaving, check out the website Fibers and Design. Gina, who’s the creator of the site, has a ton of resources to learn about weaving and get you started.
Spinning Wheel Use
Spin yarn from raw fibers using a spinning wheel. If you’re interested in finding out about using a spinning wheel, Jillian Eve’s blog has you covered. She has a post about How to Spin on a Spinning Wheel for Absolute Beginners.
Embroidery
Decorate fabric with intricate stitched designs. Embroidery is an old skill that dates as far back as humans have been using fabrics. There are fossilized remains of hand stitched and decorated clothing that are 30,000 years old! Of course, over the centuries, embroidery has changed. Check out Cutesy Crafts’ blog post How to Embroider by Hand for Beginners. Her blog post gives you the basics, beginner patterns, and other resources to get you started.
Felting
Make felted items such as hats, slippers, or toys. If you’re looking for some projects, the Woodlark Blog is again another good resource for this in her Felt + Fiber section. She has some of the following projects listed as an example of what you can find:
- DIY Wool Felted Eggs for Easter
- DIY Wool Felted Acorns
Wax Sealing
Make custom wax seals for letters or packages. Wax seals date back to Ancient Roman times and have been used throughout history to seal letters. They were used as a form of authentication. Later during the Middle Ages they were used to sign contracts, letters, and agreements. It was perceived to be as powerful as a signature and could be used instead of a signature.
A great resource is Note & Wish’s blog post How To Use A Wax Seal Stamp – A Beginner’s Guide, as well as a plethora of other posts about wax sealing.
Seed Saving
Learn techniques for saving and storing seeds from your garden. This can be a great way to start becoming more self-reliant. Seed Savers Exchange is a good resource to get you started with seed saving. They have a blog post about exactly how to do it.
[RELATED POST: Indoor Seed Starting: DIY – How to Build a Seed Starting Rack]
Wattle Fencing
You may not know what type of fencing this is from its name, but you’ve probably seen it. It’s a fence or partition using woven branches. It’s also a cheap way to make a fence because you can use materials from your own yard. Homestead Lady has a good tutorial about DIY Wattle: Cheap Garden Fence.
Fishing Net Making
Craft fishing nets for harvesting fish from nearby water sources. East Woodland Survival has a great video on YouTube that shows you exactly DIY a Simple Net. Follow the link to check it out!
Knife Making
Forge and shape knives for various homestead tasks. Popular Mechanics has a good article about How to Make a Knife from a Kit . It tells you where to buy kits and exactly what to do. Blade Magazine also has a Knifemaking 101 that goes over topics like designing a knife, the length of the handle, and using a computer to design knives.
Bow and Arrow Crafting
Make traditional bows and arrows for hunting or recreation. To read up on making your own bow and arrows, start with Outdoor Life’s post about How to Make a Bow and Arrow: a Beginner’s Guide to Making a Wood Bow. In this post you’ll learn about topics like what tools you’ll need and how to cut a bow stave.
Candle Dipping
Dip candles to create tapered or pillar candles. Dipping candles is another way to make candles that you might want to explore. This practice involves dipping both ends of a long wick to make two candles at the same time. Our Oily House helps to explore Candle Dipping for Beginners.
Outdoor Cooking
Master techniques for cooking over an open fire or using outdoor ovens. Check out Bare Bones Living’s article 5 Outdoor Cooking Tips for Beginners. In the article it discusses cooking with a dutch oven over coals, what types of recipes to start with as a beginner, and other helpful tips.
Harvesting and Processing Wild Edibles
Ok so this skill will involve quite a bit of studying, mentoring, and other tools to properly identify the correct plant. Backpacker’s The Beginner’s Guide to Foraging has some tips before you get started.
Stone Masonry
Build walls, paths, or structures using stones from your property.
Fermentation
Dive into the world of fermentation by learning to make homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, or fermented vegetables. Fermentation not only preserves food but also enhances its nutritional value and flavor.
[RELATED POST: Home Brewed Kombucha: How to Make Kombucha]
[RELATED POST: Homemade Kombucha How to Bottle Kombucha]
Check out Cultured Guru as well!
Make your own cleaning products
Homemade cleaning products are where it’s at. If you’re looking to ditch strong, harmful chemicals in your home, this may be a good start for you. Pinterest has a ton of ideas and recipes for this area. You can even make your own homemade recipes that’ll replace what you currently use, like Oxiclean.
Check out an example of this homemade Oxiclean recipe by Homesteading in Ohio. All you need are 3 simple ingredients that you probably have around the house.
Tanning hides
Tanning hides is a great way to reduce waste as my friend Catie Wark always says and I couldn’t agree more! She goes over two different ways to go about tanning hides – using eggs and an alum taw process. I’ve linked below two videos she put together that show you both processes.
These crafts provide practical skills for self-sufficiency and offer opportunities for creativity and self-expression.
What I’ve Been Learning
Lately, I’ve been learning how to crochet and LOVING it. At the moment I’m working on a pattern that I found on Youtube which has a complete tutorial. My very first project ever is a blanket for my daughter. I plan to do a review of this pattern. As a little hint, it’s been SUPER easy to do.
If you’d like to check it out, here’s the video: Easy Crochet Blanket | Crochet Beginner Blanket | Bag O Day Crochet Tutorial .
I also recently mastered making sourdough bread and other goodies. If you’ve been following along on my journey, you’ll know we also built our raised garden beds and I’ve been planting from seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Discovering crafts suitable for various age groups can enhance your homestead experience. These activities cultivate practical skills and embody the homesteading spirit of self-reliance and creativity.
What are some easy craft projects for kids to engage in on a homestead?
You can introduce your children to the joys of crafting with simple projects like building birdhouses, creating beeswax candles, or painting rocks. These activities promote an appreciation for nature and fine motor skills development.
What kinds of crafts can adults create to embody the spirit of homesteading?
As an adult on the homestead, you might enjoy more involved crafts like soap making, cheese making, or spinning wool. These crafts not only provide useful products for your homestead but also connect you to traditional methods of self-sufficiency.
What are appropriate homesteading craft activities for toddlers?
For toddlers, safe and engaging crafts like finger painting with natural dyes or easy gardening projects help them to connect with their environment and the concepts of growth and self-sustenance early on.
Which homestead handcrafts are popular to make and sell for a profit?
Handcrafts like handmade jewelry, pottery, and woven baskets are popular and can be viable products to sell. The key is to create items that reflect the authenticity and craftsmanship of the homesteading way of life.
What are some simple crafts that embody the homesteading lifestyle?
Simple crafts that embody the homesteading lifestyle include knitting dishcloths, constructing wooden utensils, or preserving foods through canning. Each of these crafts represents an aspect of the simplicity and functionality prized in homesteading.
