When you start doing a craft many times you rely on taking classes and reading instruction books to learn how to actually go about making crafts. It’s difficult to save money on these items because you can’t really buy a “used” class. As always there are things you can do to make it cheaper on yourself.
CLASSES
Classes are a wonderful way of learning a craft but you have to think about whether or not they are necessary. Classes can be $10 to $100 even more for a private instructor and with google and wide array of blogs and Youtube channels you can learn many techniques without even stepping foot in a classroom. Now I’m not completely against classes, nothing compares to having an actual instructor, in front of you, walking you through a process or technique. My tip when it comes to saving money on classes is to learn what you can on your own and then see what you might need help with before you take a class. You may find you skipped the beginner class and need a more advanced technique class. Also, when taking classes at a chain store, wait until you can get the classes on sale, sometimes up to 50% off and, look for short classes, Jo Anns offers 1 hour classes for $10 that focus on one specific technique. This is reminiscent of the “Buy what you need when you need it”. If a class teaches stuff you’re pretty proficient in I wouldn’t buy the class.
INSTRUCTION BOOKS/PATTERN BOOKS
Books are the way we learn how to make the specific items in our craft. My advice when it comes to these items is to look online first. With pinterest, google, and youtube, it’s amazing what can be found. Also I find it easier to find a specific project when I’m able to type it in a search bar. If you really want a book scour ebay and amazon for used books before buying a new one. Of course if you have to use a coupon or buy it on sale and you can save money.
SEWING PATTERNS
This has more to do with sewing, if you don’t sew you can skip this part.
Ah patterns, those lovely little envelopes that cost anywhere from $3 to $35. I bring these up because I know all too well about trying to save money on these. Sewing patterns are difficult to buy used because of how they are used, if you buy one used you may not be able to use it yourself which is what makes buying patterns cheap fairly difficult. Most chain craft stores will have sales of patterns every once in a while. I don’t buy them from chain stores unless they are less than $3 a piece. One of my suggestions, when it comes to sewing patterns, is to buy as many as you intend to make when they are on sale. Even if you don’t have the skills yet to make them, go ahead and get them any way, because you never know when they will go out of print. When they go OOP the only way to get them is online and the websites don’t tend to have sales and the shipping cost can be pricey. Be mindful of limits the store puts on patterns, they usually don’t allow more than 10 per transaction, this is to prevent resellers, even though smart resellers will find a way around this but that’s a rant for another time.
So in closing when it comes to learning material see what you can find for free online first, then try and buy what you need used, and finally try to buy it on sale or with a coupon.
Happy Crafting
Read Part 1 Here
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