ON EDGE 3: The art of finding solace in craft work

by Merle Nunneley 

Making things with your hands can have many benefits. For centuries people have found solace in craft, from the embroiderers of the Bayeux Tapestry to the knitters of WW1.

With so much more time at home, I’ve been grateful for projects that let me keep busy, but are relaxing and enjoyable. The possibilities of craft are endless and there really is something for everyone. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t have to look good- just make something. Make anything. Have a go, try something new and see what happens.

Mosaic

Making a mosaic is a fun way to make something you can hang on your wall. Get creative with what materials you use- you could try broken crockery, pebbles and rocks, even bottle caps. I used bits of pottery I collected from a beach. There are quite a few ways to construct the mosaic, but the basic idea is that you need to secure the pieces of material onto a backing board (this could be cardboard, thick plastic or wood.) Glueing them on works well (eg. PVA, hot glue, UHU) or you could use grout or plaster in a container and press the objects in. I used plaster of Paris inside a stiff cardboard box, but I did have to be careful not to let the pottery pieces sink to the bottom.

We all carry a fear of failure. We don’t want to do something wrong or embarrass ourselves, and it often stops us from trying something new. Craft can be a place to experiment without self judgement. It really doesn’t matter how good it looks, and there’s something charming about slightly lumpen craft projects anyway. Your mosaic really doesn’t have to be perfect. Just having a go is good enough- try to focus on the process of making rather than the finished object.

Crochet

If you’ve tried knitting but struggled, have a go at crochet. I think it’s much more intuitive and the motions are more natural, and it grows much more quickly. My favourite thing to crochet is a granny square blanket- I love choosing the colours and making each square different. Once you’ve learnt the basic crochet stitches, a granny square is pretty easy and a great beginner project. There’s something so satisfying as well about making a blanket. It’s tangible evidence of your hard work and of the time and effort you put into it. If you don’t want to invest so much time into one project, try something smaller like amigurimi. This technique for creating small 3D animals and characters originated in Japan and has taken the world by storm. It’s a bit trickier than a flat object, but once you get the hang of it there are some super cute patterns to follow.

 Lots of us are spending all day typing on a computer, and it’s important to have a chance to move in a different way. Typing too much can cause repetitive strain injuries to develop, and it’s important to take breaks to help avoid this. Taking just a few minutes to crochet can help you to focus, reflect and stretch your fingers. Once you’ve got the hang of crochet, it will be second nature and you won’t have to think so much about what you’re doing.

Origami

Origami is great because all you need is a piece of paper. Any kind of paper will do as long as it’s not too thick- wrapping paper, printer paper or notebook paper are all great. You will need to turn it into a square before you start. To turn A4 into a square take one corner and bring it towards the opposite long side and fold it so it makes a right angled triangle. Cut off the extra rectangle, unfold the triangle and you should have a perfect square. There are origami patterns for all abilities. Start simple and you can get as advanced as you want to. The crane is the classic pattern and not too tricky, and other animals are fun too. My favourite origami patterns are tiny dresses, boxes and water bombs (which don’t really hold water but they do blow up into little square balloons!)

Many crafts have the possibility to become moments for mindfulness and even meditation. The often repetitive motions require you to focus on only the task at hand, staying firmly in the present moment. Try to concentrate on making each fold of the paper crisp and precise. Try to take your mind off the news; the cleaning you need to do; or the work you haven’t finished.

Mending

Mending your clothes serves two purposes: you give your clothes a new lease of life, and you get an opportunity to slow down and relax. If you’ve got ripped trousers, or a top with a hole, have a go at fixing it up. Sewing on patches of fabric is an easy way of dealing with a hole. Cut a piece of fabric larger than the hole and place it either over the top or underneath. Sew around the edges of the patch to secure it. You could also try Sashiko stitching to add extra strength to your patch. If you’ve got a hole in a knitted item, darning is the traditional way of fixing it. It’s like weaving with a needle and thread to fill in the hole, and if you use the same coloured thread as the garment it should be fairly invisible. Visible mending (making the repair a feature of the garment) has become quite a trend, so it isn’t necessary to make everything neat and inconspicuous.

There is very little we can be in control of, especially at the moment. Craft is a great way to take command over something. It may be a small thing, but you can do it however you want to, and no outside factors are going to affect it. It’s empowering to get to take charge and have complete responsibility over your project. Mending your clothes is a gratifying experience, and you get to wear the results for all to see.

Natural Dying

All sorts of ingredients and food waste can create beautiful dyes for fabric, clothes and yarn. The skins and stones of avocados make a pale pink; turmeric turns fibres bright yellow; and onion skins create a range of shades from purple to beige. It’s a great way of minimising your household waste and making use of what you have around. These dyes will best dye natural fibres, so try using cotton, linen or wool- you could use pieces of fabric or whole garments. To create these patterns I used shibori techniques; a Japanese method of tie-dying, traditionally with indigo. There are loads of ways of creating patterns on fabric and it’s fun to experiment and see what comes out. You could use rubber bands and string to tie up bunches of fabric; use pegs and clips to secure the fabric into folds; or wrap the fabric around objects like marbles.

Above all else, I think crafts should be fun! Getting hands on and creative should be an enjoyable experience that gives you a break from the stress and anxiety in your life. Embrace the mess and get stuck in- experiment and try new things. Natural dying is a fantastic opportunity to do this. It’s so exciting to start with a piece of plain fabric and end up with a crazy patterned piece. Mistakes can end up being genius moves- there is absolutely no right or wrong.

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This is part three of an ongoing blog series, inspired by and reflecting back on the Science Gallery London exhibition ON EDGE: Living in an Age of Anxiety during the time of the Covid-19 Crisis.

Merle Nunneley is a Mediator at Science Gallery London. She is interested in ways that art and science can work together, such as the development of new materials. She has a background in art having completed a foundation year at Camberwell College of Arts.