The deeply saturated hues to be found in nature are inspiring a lot of the trends in 2023, none perhaps as vivid or striking as Pantone's colour of the year for 2023. Viva Magenta "vibrates with vim and vigour. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative." - Pantone.

Okay, so vim and vigour aside, Viva Magenta won't be to everybody's taste but how gorgeous is it? The real message here is that elemental inspiration - colours that can be found in the wild anywhere from the tropics to your back garden - can be enjoyed all year round. A colourful, natural wreath for example doesn't have to be just for Christmas; it can be recycled throughout the year using the colour palettes that reflect the seasons. Viva Magenta, for instance, is resonant of winter berries, spring-flowering magenta clematis, vivid dahlias in summer, or the autumn colours of acer.

What then are the crafts that we are sure to see a lot more of in 2023? 

Resin crafts are truly versatile: you can make everything from jewellery to coasters, vases to wall panels, side tables to resin river dining tables, or a sculptural piece for the house or garden. With the addition of glitter, pigments, and dried flowers, the creative possibilities are endless.

Resin is technically short for epoxy resin which is a two-component system consisting of resin and hardener. By mixing the two components, a chemical reaction takes place so that the liquid resin gradually hardens to a solid plastic.

The technique of Punch Needling creates a gorgeously soft, puffy texture and can be used for many projects such as hoop art, wall hangings, rugs and cushion covers. As this is done by hand, it’s better suited to smaller projects but if you are looking for a needlecraft that is easy, mindful, quick to progress and with limitless creative possibilities, this is the craft for you.

Macraweave is an ingenious combination of macrame and weaving that allows you to lose yourself in the moment. This growing trend is great for thrifty crafters looking to make use of yarn scraps and create stunning, decorative pieces for the home. For all you avid macrame makers out there, macraweave is the perfect way to take your skills to the next level and your creativity to new heights.

Knitting is seeing a huge resurgence with avid knitters showing off their skills and makes on social media platform Tik Tok. However you want to express your knitting skills, there are plenty of people out there willing to share their secrets with you. Not only good for your mental wellbeing, knitting is good for manual dexterity, and food for the soul. With 'Knit and Natter' groups popping up all over the place, knitting is as ancient as the hills but as fresh as the proverbial daisy! Just look at any fashion brand and traditional styles of knitwear are everywhere. Learn to knit and you could be making your own.

With personalities like Tom Daley showing us how it has helped him overcome some confronting issues with his mental health, crochet is another yarn-based craft reaching new heights of popularity. Steeped in domestic history, crochet is as practical as it is beautiful. If a crocheted coaster or tea cosy is a bit too kitsch for you, why not set your sights on something much more challenging and try a blanket or even a cardigan? 

Tufting is an ancient weaving technique that is a renowned method of rug making. It involves placing strands of wool or yarn onto a frame and punching the strands with a tufting tool. This tool automates the process, as yarn is fed through a hollow needle that penetrates a stretched cloth.

The process of latch hooking involves short segments of yarn being tied to the horizontal strands of a small or medium sized canvas grid and can be used to make everything from cushion covers to carpets and is great for using up leftover yarn.

In the current craziness of the cost-of-living crisis, never has it been more important to look to the benefits of 'make do and mend' in our bid to upcycle, recycle and reuse. The benefits of making your own clothes are not just financial however; 'dressmaking' and sewing in general are important life skills that combat the throwaway fashion culture, protecting the environment from millions of tonnes of clothing and industrial waste. Not only that, it feels pretty good to wear something made to measure (just got to get that zip right - yikes)!! Whether you're making clothes from scratch or giving your old threads a new lease of life, 'make do and mend' is a habit and a hobby we should all fully embrace. 

With the wealth of gadgets, gizmos and tools out there giving us all a better shot at trying out a much wider range of new hobbies and crafts, the chance to launch a side hustle has never been more tempting. Learn a new skill - tick! Make some extra money - tick! Make some new friends - tick! You don't have to be a master craftsperson to become really skilled at something that could steer your life in a whole new direction. So don't hesitate, jump in with both feet, and find that crafty something that really hits the creative spot.

Oh! and if you'd like to think about teaching your new skill, check out our blog on becoming an arts and crafts tutor and head to the Teach page on CraftCourses.com. We would love to hear from you. Or if you're already teaching and want to expand your skill set, how about trying out some of the new trends. If macrame is your thing, give macraweave a go. If rag rugging floats your boat, branch out into tufting or latch hook. If jewellery making lights your fire, maybe experimenting with some resin techniques will resonate!

We're here to help, just get in touch! You know where to find us.