9 Vintage Craft Tutorials That You’ll Actually Want to Try

Candle-making is an age-old craft with roots in ancient civilizations, and it hasn’t ever truly gone out of style. This accessible vintage craft is a hands-on way to add warmth to any space (just be safe about your burning practices!). Can’t find a scent you love at Bath & Bodyworks? Candle making let’s you play with scents and colors in fun and unexpected ways.

Supplies

• Wax (beeswax, soy wax, or paraffin)
• Wicks (sized to match your candle container)
• Fragrance oils (optional for scented candles)
• Dye blocks or liquid dye (optional for color)
• Candle molds or containers
• Double boiler or melting pot

Getting Started

Start by gathering the essential materials, including wax, wicks, and a heat-safe container. Beginners can find step-by-step candle-making guides or DIY kits (linked above) to walk them through the process. Begin with simple projects, like small container candles, to get a feel for the basics. Look out for common pitfalls, like overheating the wax or improper wick placement—these small details can affect the burn quality of your candle.

Originating as an art form in the 13th-century, Macramé found its way across the globe through trade routes. Sailors embraced the craft, using it to decorate items aboard their ships, from bottles to parts of the ship itself.

In the 1970s, Macramé became synonymous with boho-chic decor, featuring everything from wall hangings to plant hangers. Today, this ancient craft has found a new generation of enthusiasts, with its intricate knots and patterns offering a meditative and creative outlet.

Supplies

• Macramé cord
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• A dowel, curtain rod, or stick for mounting

Getting Started

Start by learning the basic knots. A variety of resources, both online and offline, provide step-by-step guides for beginners. Starting with beginner projects like friendship bracelets or mini wall hangings can help you build your confidence. Some common mistakes include knotting too tightly or inconsistently—patience and practice are key to this craft.

Quilting has a rich history, with the craft dating back thousands of years. Originally a practical solution for keeping warm, quilting has evolved into an art form, with patterns and techniques reflecting cultural trends and personal stories. Today, the quilting community is as vibrant as ever, with quilters embracing both traditional designs and contemporary innovation.

Supplies

• Fabric (100% cotton is typically recommended)
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting mat
• Quilting ruler
• Sewing machine and thread

Getting Started

Your first quilting project doesn’t have to be a full-sized quilt. Consider starting with a potholder or placemat to learn the basic skills. Numerous patterns and techniques cater to beginners, and online tutorials can guide you through the process. As with any craft, there can be hurdles, like learning to sew straight seams or mastering the rotary cutter, but with time and practice, you’ll find your rhythm.

Letterpress printing, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, revolutionized the world by making books more accessible. As a process, it fell out of favor with the advent of digital printing but has experienced a resurgence due to its distinctive, high-quality impressions. Today, artists use it to create wedding invitations, greeting cards, and more.

Supplies

• Letterpress machine
• Type set or printing plates
• High-quality paper
• Ink and brayer
• Paper cutter

Getting Started

To begin your letterpress printing journey, learn how to set up the press and prepare your paper and ink. Practice making prints with simple designs before moving onto more intricate projects. You’ll likely face challenges like uneven impressions or misalignments at first.

Hand embroidery is a craft that spans different cultures around the globe. Once a sign of wealth and status, it evolved into a domestic skill taught to most young women. Nowadays, it’s an accessible and versatile craft appreciated for its ability to create intricate designs and charmingly simple ones.

Supplies

• Embroidery hoops
• Embroidery needles
• Embroidery floss
• Fabric
• Scissors

Getting Started

Your first foray into hand embroidery could start with learning the basic stitches such as running stitch, back stitch, or satin stitch. Simple designs like flowers or letters are perfect for beginners. It’s common to struggle with achieving even stitches and tension at first, but don’t be disheartened.

Dating back to the Neolithic era, ceramic pottery making is one of humanity’s oldest crafts. Over centuries, it has served various purposes—from utilitarian to decorative and ritualistic. Today, pottery is appreciated both as a relaxing hobby and a means of artistic expression.

Supplies

• Clay
• Pottery wheel (optional for wheel throwing)
• Kiln (for firing the pottery)
• Various shaping tools (like a needle tool, wire cutter, and rib tools)
• Glaze

Getting Started

Start by learning basic techniques such as pinching, coiling, or slab building. For those with access to a pottery wheel, trying out wheel throwing could be exciting. Expect to get your hands dirty and make a few misshapen pots initially.

Basket weaving is a craft as old as human civilization itself, providing essential storage and transport solutions for our ancestors. Techniques vary greatly among different cultures, but the fundamental concept remains the same.

Supplies

• Basket weaving reed or other materials like yarn or paper
• Scissors
• Water tub (for soaking reeds)
• Clothespins or clips (to hold reeds in place)

Getting Started

Begin with simple basket shapes before moving on to more intricate designs. Online tutorials and local classes can be immensely helpful. Common challenges for beginners can include maintaining even tension and preventing the reeds from drying out during the weaving process.

Decoupage, a craft that involves cutting out pictures and gluing them onto an object before varnishing, has its roots in East Siberian tomb art. From 12th century China to 17th century Europe, it has been enjoyed across centuries and cultures.

Supplies

• Object to decoupage (like a piece of furniture or a box)
• Images or decorative paper
• Decoupage glue
• Scissors or craft knife
• Paintbrushes
• Varnish or sealer

Getting Started

For starters, select a simple object and a design that you love. Cut out your images carefully, arrange them on your object, and then apply them using decoupage glue. Once dry, seal your work with varnish. It’s common to encounter issues like bubbles or wrinkles in your paper, but quality sealer can help.

Tatting, a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace, became popular in the early 19th century. The delicate art form was once a favorite pastime of ladies in the Victorian era. (Perhaps I should add it to my Victorian morning routine.) In today’s fast-paced world, tatting remains a soothing craft that yields beautiful, intricate results.

Supplies

• Tatting shuttle or needle
• Thread (cotton or linen)
• Scissors
• Pattern

Getting Started

To get started with tatting, learn the basic knot or “double stitch.” Try simple patterns before advancing to more intricate designs. Like quilting, common challenges for beginners include managing thread tension and following patterns.