Top Guide to the Best Crafting Tutorials

Latest posts by Christine Lindstrom (see all)

There’s no time like the present to learn a new crafting skill. Whether you’re keeping a New Year’s resolution, pursuing a long-term goal, or following some spontaneous inspiration, any time is a great time to try a new hobby!

Crafting has been shown to have health benefits. Crafters are known for giving thoughtful, handmade gifts. It is a creative way to express yourself – and it’s a lot of fun. Through online crafting tutorials, you can learn a new type of craft or develop your skills in a craft you already love. 

There are many different types of crafting tutorials available online, and you can find them from a variety of sources. This guide will help you find the best online crafting tutorials to fit your individual needs, so you can spend less time searching and more time crafting. 

Types of Online Crafting Tutorials

Written Instructions with Photographs

Written tutorials with photographs are a great option for many crafters. If you are good at taking in information as you read with the occasional photograph to make sure you’re on the right track, then this is a great format for you. Well-written instructions can help you learn a new skill in an efficient and effective manner. 

Many people prefer written instructions with photographs because it allows you to set your own pace. You can read the instructions multiple times before trying to follow them, and you can work as slowly or as quickly as you want to.

You can easily skim through steps that are already familiar to you then study those that are challenging. There is no stopping and starting a video or feel rushed because the video moves on before you’re ready, but the photographs still provide visual support.

There are also some disadvantages to this type of tutorial. Most tutorial creators make an effort to provide pictures of each step and anything that might be especially difficult. If you happen to get stuck on a part that isn’t pictured, you have no visual support to help you. It’s impossible to share pictures of every action, no matter how thorough the tutorial is.

Still, photos may not capture a required motion well. Creating this type of tutorial requires a lot of skill, to both write clear instructions and to take helpful photographs. You’ll find a wide range of quality available online, so avoid tutorials with poorly written instructions, too few photographs, or photos that are too dark or poor quality to see clearly. 

Video Tutorials

Many people find video tutorials to be the most helpful. In a video, you can see every step of the process and all the small details that happen in between.

A quality video tutorial will include the demonstrator talking through what he or she is doing, explaining both what to do and what not to do. Good teachers know how to keep a good pace, understanding that beginners will often work slowly. Videos can be stopped, started, and replayed as needed to help you learn the skill well.

The main disadvantage to videos is the need to stop and start. If you are crafting along with the instructor, you may find it frustrating when your hands are full or messy and you need to pause the video to catch up or re-watch some instructions. One way to reduce this frustration is to watch the entire video at least once, but possibly several times, before attempting the project yourself. 

Where to Find Crafting Tutorials

Blogs 

Crafting blogs are a great place to look for free tutorials. The content for these sites is typically created by one person, or perhaps a small team of people, so when you find a favorite you can become familiar and comfortable with the style of this person.

Most craft bloggers specialize in one craft, such as knitting or beadwork, or a specific category of crafts, such as yarn crafts or jewelry making. This specialization can be helpful if you are ready to do a deep-dive into one specific type of craft. If you are hoping to learn multiple types of crafts, or you aren’t sure exactly what you’re interested in yet, you will probably need to look for several different crafting blogs that you like.

Since anyone with an internet connection can create a blog, the quality of these sites can vary greatly. New content may or may not be available regularly. You can expect there to be ads on these sites, and some content may not be available without signing up for the blogger’s email newsletter or mailing list. Signing up often entitles you to free patterns and other materials in addition to tutorials.

To help you get started, here are some great crafting blogs that offer quality tutorials and other content:

Online Magazines

Before the days of the internet, magazines were the go-to resource for crafting tutorials. Many of these magazines still exist in print, and you can subscribe to your favorites or find them in craft stores and some book stores. Print magazines also have a web presence, of course, and additional materials can often be found on these websites. This is especially true of video content, which can’t be printed in a magazine.  

There are also a wide range of online-only magazines that don’t produce print resources but follow the style of a magazine in the way they run their websites.

Magazines offer many advantages. Their content usually comes from a variety of contributors. This gives a broader range of skills and presentation styles, even if they are focused around one particular type of craft. Magazines typically also have an editor, which raises the quality of the work being published. Someone is screening, proofreading, and approving everything you see on the site. Typically these resources are well-established and trustworthy.

Resources from online magazines may or may not require a subscription. You will usually find advertisements on these websites as well.

Search for tutorials from your favorite crafting magazines, or get started with some of these well-known resources:

Tutorial Sharing Sites

Another place to look for tutorials is through websites whose sole purpose is sharing tutorials. You can find instructions on how to do just about anything from these sites, and they are usually free. There are some wonderful resources available!

Finding wonderful resources isn’t always easy, however. In an effort to have as much content as possible, some sharing sites have little in the way of quality standards. Contributors are often using these sites as free advertising, hoping to attract you back to their site for more tutorials and content. 

I don’t prefer tutorial sharing sites personally because I have found it too difficult to find quality content. They often lack organization and helpful search features. Exceptions to this are two tutorial sharing sites that cover a wide range of topics, including crafts. They are well worth checking out:

Paid Subscription Sites 

Paid subscription sites can require a bit of an investment, but there are many advantages that many people feel are worth the cost.

Tutorials on paid subscription sites are usually of professional quality. They are often much longer and offer more in-depth instruction. Videos will not be interrupted by advertisements nor will you encounter ads in the margins or popping up as you work. Subscription sites are able to recruit instructors who are not only highly skilled in their crafts, but also excellent teachers. In order to entice subscribers, they offer a high volume of content that spans a wide range of crafts.

One of the top subscription sites is Craftsy. Craftsy offers monthly or annual subscription options. You can also choose to purchase individual courses if you would prefer not to subscribe to the whole library. For a sample of what Craftsy classes are like, you can check out their list of free courses.

Another popular subscription service for crafting tutorials is Creative Bug. At Creative Bug you can sign up for a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription. They also offer a free 2-month trial to test it out. Creative Bug cooperates with the craft store chain Joann, so watch for discounts and special offers through the Joann website

Craft Store Websites

Craft stores are a great place to find crafting tutorials! If your local craft store has a website, check to see if they are offering any kind of learning library. You may also be able to take advantage of in-person classes.

The major, nationwide chains have plenty of resources available online. The Classes page at Michael’s has a wide variety of options that are updated regularly. Seasonal crafts are highlighted directly on this page, while other videos are arranged by category. The selection is extensive. Within the categories, though, the videos are arranged by date without an easy search function, so it can be hard to find something specific unless it was a recent video.

At Hobby Lobby, the DIY Projects and Videos page is also organized by category. Within the category, you can sort further by skill level. This page also lacks an easy search feature, but the selection is smaller and easier to browse. When you have selected a project, all the required supplies are listed below the video, and you can order exactly what you need with the click of a button.

The Joann Projects and Learning page offers project ideas with written instructions, but they save their video tutorials for their YouTube page. Most of the project ideas are simple patterns. Typically the only pictures are of the finished product, so these are not ideal for learning a new skill. Joann’s tutorial library on YouTube, however, is extensive.

Social Media

If there’s something you want to do but you don’t know how chances are you can find it on YouTube. From home maintenance to auto repair to computer skills, YouTube is the tutorial go-to for many people. This holds true for crafting as well. YouTube is a treasure trove for crafting tutorials. It can be somewhat overwhelming to navigate the sheer number of videos to find what you’re looking for, so I’ll discuss YouTube in more depth below.

While all of your top search results are likely to come from YouTube, especially if you use Google to search, don’t forget about Vimeo as a great source of video tutorials as well. Vimeo has very strict quality standards so while you may have fewer choices there, you will not have to sort through as many bad ones to find the hidden gems.

One of my favorite places to browse for craft ideas is Pinterest. This highly visual platform is great for inspiration, and you can usually find the how-to links attached to the pins that catch your eye. Save your inspiration for later, sorting it onto different boards to make things easier to find.

Pinterest is also great for finding something specific using the search feature. As you use it, the platform learns what you like and sends more great ideas your way. You can follow fellow crafters who have similar taste to find even more inspiration. Since bloggers and crafting websites use Pinterest to promote their sites, you are likely to find your new favorite craft blog or tutorial site by browsing or searching on Pinterest.

Finding Craft Tutorials on YouTube

YouTube is a source for practically unlimited resources. If all you did was watch craft tutorial videos on YouTube for the rest of your life, you would still not reach the end of them. Anyone who has ever used YouTube (which is pretty much everyone, right?) learns quickly that this site really is a massive collection of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unless you are looking to start a new hobby by watching videos about hobbies, you probably want to find what you need quickly and then get on with the craft. 

Here are some tips to help you spend less time scrolling and more time creating:

  • Get Specific in Searches. YouTube’s search functions are pretty good, so use them. Searching for “craft tutorials” is a waste of time that will bring up a string of ads and tutorials for random craft projects. It might inspire an idea you hadn’t thought of before, but there are better places to go if you just want to scroll for inspiration. Be as specific as possible when you search. “How to crochet” is a good start, but be more specific to find what you need quickly. Try “how to crochet a scarf” or “how to make a double crochet stitch” to narrow down your choices.
  • Save Videos for Later. Create playlists for different types of craft you enjoy, and when you find a really good tutorial, add this video to your playlist. You never know when you’ll want to revisit the video or recommend it to someone else. Be careful not to let these playlists get too long to be easily managed, though. Add only the most useful tutorials that you come across. 
  • Find Channels that you Like and Subscribe. When you’ve found a great tutorial, chances are the person who made it has made other tutorials related to the same craft. Click on the profile below the video to explore the channel and find more videos. If you like what you see, subscribe. This supports the crafter making the video and encourages more videos in the future. It also makes it much easier for you to find more great tutorials next time you’re looking.
  • Follow the Crowd. While this is not sound advice in general, on YouTube the number of views a video has, or the number of subscribers a channel has, can often be a good indication of quality. If thousands, or even millions, of people have watched and liked a video, then it’s unlikely to be terrible. That doesn’t mean that newer or smaller channels aren’t creating great content. They are harder to find, though, and you could waste a lot of time on bad videos to find them. When learning a new skill, aim for something that’s been well tested by others.
  • Read the Comments. Another piece of advice I wouldn’t usually give. In most social media, I try to avoid the comments. When it comes to YouTube tutorials, though, it’s worth skimming through them. Take them with a grain of salt, of course. Comments often come from unreliable sources. But, if you start to notice a trend of many users having the same issue, problem, or question with a tutorial, pay attention. There may be something about the video that is causing common confusion, whether it be a skipped step or an explanation that is unclear. If a lot of people seem to be struggling, find another video.

Great YouTube Channels for Crafters

  1. The Crafts Channel. Their videos are bright and professional. The channel has been around since 2007 so they have stood the test of time and they are still reliably producing new content. They are British, so you get the lovely accent as a bonus, but be careful that some differences in terminology may arise for an American audience.
  2. Craft Klatch. Based in the United States and time tested, this channel releases new videos twice a week. The edits are a little rough but she has a lot of unique projects organized primarily around seasons and holidays. 
  3. DIY Craft Tutorials. This is a newer channel, but there are many videos available teaching a wide variety of skills. This channel is especially good for tutorials about working with resin, paper crafts, and Cricut tools. It is based in Australia, so again you can enjoy the accents but you may encounter some terminology differences. 
  4. Craftsy. The same company that brings you the well-known subscription site also has a YouTube channel that allows you to benefit from their professional tutorial-making skills in shorter formats for free. 
  5. The DIY Mommy. Created by a Canadian mompreneur who shows you how to do creative DIY projects for your home, as well as using the Cricut tool and making up-cycled and recycled crafts. Her videos are high quality and upbeat, which is why they’re so popular. She also has a whole series about renovating and redecorating RVs that adds to the diversity of tutorials available. 

Top Pick for Paid Craft Tutorial Subscription: Craftsy

Hands down, if you have room in your budget for a tutorial subscription, it is hard to beat Craftsy. I love Craftsy’s selection of video tutorials and the in-depth format that addresses every detail from start to finish. Avoiding interruptions for ads and knowing the content will be trustworthy every single time are factors that make it worth paying for a subscription if you are someone who uses craft tutorials often.

The standard subscription price is a little steep and understandably may cause some hesitation. If you watch for sales and specials, though, it can be very affordable.

This past Christmas, I was able to snag an annual subscription for under $3 thanks to a tip from a friend. Occasionally there are deals where you can receive a Joann gift card when signing up that helps turn a good chunk of the subscription fee into craft supplies. 

Craftsy’s selection is great for crafters of all ability levels. My pre-teen daughter is just discovering her passion for crafts and she received a Craftsy subscription as a gift. She is learning so much from exploring all the videos that interest her. I love that I can set her free on the site without worrying about questionable ads or other inappropriate content. 

I highly recommend using Craftsy for craft tutorials. With the right timing, you can get an incredible value for a very reasonable price.

Top Pick for Free Craft Tutorial Resources: YouTube

While I have used just about every resource in this article at one time or another, the fact remains that YouTube is still my go-to in a pinch. When I’m in the middle of a project and encounter a problem I’m not sure how to solve, I know that I’m certain to find something on YouTube that can help. 

There are so many resources that can teach you how to tackle a new type of project, step-by-step from start to finish. For beginner crafters, it is sometimes better to start elsewhere. Once you start to gain a little experience, it is more common that you look for help with smaller details rather than big-picture questions. Being able to search YouTube quickly and easily for a very specific skill makes it the perfect resource for free craft tutorials.

There’s no time like the present to learn a new crafting skill. Whether you’re keeping a New Year’s resolution, pursuing a long-term goal, or following some spontaneous inspiration, any time is a great time to try a new hobby!

Crafting has been shown to have health benefits. Crafters are known for giving thoughtful, handmade gifts. It is a creative way to express yourself – and it’s a lot of fun. Through online crafting tutorials, you can learn a new type of craft or develop your skills in a craft you already love. 

There are many different types of crafting tutorials available online, and you can find them from a variety of sources. This guide will help you find the best online crafting tutorials to fit your individual needs, so you can spend less time searching and more time crafting. 

Types of Online Crafting Tutorials

Written Instructions with Photographs

Written tutorials with photographs are a great option for many crafters. If you are good at taking in information as you read with the occasional photograph to make sure you’re on the right track, then this is a great format for you. Well-written instructions can help you learn a new skill in an efficient and effective manner. 

Many people prefer written instructions with photographs because it allows you to set your own pace. You can read the instructions multiple times before trying to follow them, and you can work as slowly or as quickly as you want to.

You can easily skim through steps that are already familiar to you then study those that are challenging. There is no stopping and starting a video or feel rushed because the video moves on before you’re ready, but the photographs still provide visual support.

There are also some disadvantages to this type of tutorial. Most tutorial creators make an effort to provide pictures of each step and anything that might be especially difficult. If you happen to get stuck on a part that isn’t pictured, you have no visual support to help you. It’s impossible to share pictures of every action, no matter how thorough the tutorial is.

Still, photos may not capture a required motion well. Creating this type of tutorial requires a lot of skill, to both write clear instructions and to take helpful photographs. You’ll find a wide range of quality available online, so avoid tutorials with poorly written instructions, too few photographs, or photos that are too dark or poor quality to see clearly. 

Video Tutorials

Many people find video tutorials to be the most helpful. In a video, you can see every step of the process and all the small details that happen in between.

A quality video tutorial will include the demonstrator talking through what he or she is doing, explaining both what to do and what not to do. Good teachers know how to keep a good pace, understanding that beginners will often work slowly. Videos can be stopped, started, and replayed as needed to help you learn the skill well.

The main disadvantage to videos is the need to stop and start. If you are crafting along with the instructor, you may find it frustrating when your hands are full or messy and you need to pause the video to catch up or re-watch some instructions. One way to reduce this frustration is to watch the entire video at least once, but possibly several times, before attempting the project yourself. 

Where to Find Crafting Tutorials

Blogs 

Crafting blogs are a great place to look for free tutorials. The content for these sites is typically created by one person, or perhaps a small team of people, so when you find a favorite you can become familiar and comfortable with the style of this person.

Most craft bloggers specialize in one craft, such as knitting or beadwork, or a specific category of crafts, such as yarn crafts or jewelry making. This specialization can be helpful if you are ready to do a deep-dive into one specific type of craft. If you are hoping to learn multiple types of crafts, or you aren’t sure exactly what you’re interested in yet, you will probably need to look for several different crafting blogs that you like.

Since anyone with an internet connection can create a blog, the quality of these sites can vary greatly. New content may or may not be available regularly. You can expect there to be ads on these sites, and some content may not be available without signing up for the blogger’s email newsletter or mailing list. Signing up often entitles you to free patterns and other materials in addition to tutorials.

To help you get started, here are some great crafting blogs that offer quality tutorials and other content:

Online Magazines

Before the days of the internet, magazines were the go-to resource for crafting tutorials. Many of these magazines still exist in print, and you can subscribe to your favorites or find them in craft stores and some book stores. Print magazines also have a web presence, of course, and additional materials can often be found on these websites. This is especially true of video content, which can’t be printed in a magazine.  

There are also a wide range of online-only magazines that don’t produce print resources but follow the style of a magazine in the way they run their websites.

Magazines offer many advantages. Their content usually comes from a variety of contributors. This gives a broader range of skills and presentation styles, even if they are focused around one particular type of craft. Magazines typically also have an editor, which raises the quality of the work being published. Someone is screening, proofreading, and approving everything you see on the site. Typically these resources are well-established and trustworthy.

Resources from online magazines may or may not require a subscription. You will usually find advertisements on these websites as well.

Search for tutorials from your favorite crafting magazines, or get started with some of these well-known resources:

Tutorial Sharing Sites

Another place to look for tutorials is through websites whose sole purpose is sharing tutorials. You can find instructions on how to do just about anything from these sites, and they are usually free. There are some wonderful resources available!

Finding wonderful resources isn’t always easy, however. In an effort to have as much content as possible, some sharing sites have little in the way of quality standards. Contributors are often using these sites as free advertising, hoping to attract you back to their site for more tutorials and content. 

I don’t prefer tutorial sharing sites personally because I have found it too difficult to find quality content. They often lack organization and helpful search features. Exceptions to this are two tutorial sharing sites that cover a wide range of topics, including crafts. They are well worth checking out:

Paid Subscription Sites 

Paid subscription sites can require a bit of an investment, but there are many advantages that many people feel are worth the cost.

Tutorials on paid subscription sites are usually of professional quality. They are often much longer and offer more in-depth instruction. Videos will not be interrupted by advertisements nor will you encounter ads in the margins or popping up as you work. Subscription sites are able to recruit instructors who are not only highly skilled in their crafts, but also excellent teachers. In order to entice subscribers, they offer a high volume of content that spans a wide range of crafts.

One of the top subscription sites is Craftsy. Craftsy offers monthly or annual subscription options. You can also choose to purchase individual courses if you would prefer not to subscribe to the whole library. For a sample of what Craftsy classes are like, you can check out their list of free courses.

Another popular subscription service for crafting tutorials is Creative Bug. At Creative Bug you can sign up for a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription. They also offer a free 2-month trial to test it out. Creative Bug cooperates with the craft store chain Joann, so watch for discounts and special offers through the Joann website

Craft Store Websites

Craft stores are a great place to find crafting tutorials! If your local craft store has a website, check to see if they are offering any kind of learning library. You may also be able to take advantage of in-person classes.

The major, nationwide chains have plenty of resources available online. The Classes page at Michael’s has a wide variety of options that are updated regularly. Seasonal crafts are highlighted directly on this page, while other videos are arranged by category. The selection is extensive. Within the categories, though, the videos are arranged by date without an easy search function, so it can be hard to find something specific unless it was a recent video.

At Hobby Lobby, the DIY Projects and Videos page is also organized by category. Within the category, you can sort further by skill level. This page also lacks an easy search feature, but the selection is smaller and easier to browse. When you have selected a project, all the required supplies are listed below the video, and you can order exactly what you need with the click of a button.

The Joann Projects and Learning page offers project ideas with written instructions, but they save their video tutorials for their YouTube page. Most of the project ideas are simple patterns. Typically the only pictures are of the finished product, so these are not ideal for learning a new skill. Joann’s tutorial library on YouTube, however, is extensive.

Social Media

If there’s something you want to do but you don’t know how chances are you can find it on YouTube. From home maintenance to auto repair to computer skills, YouTube is the tutorial go-to for many people. This holds true for crafting as well. YouTube is a treasure trove for crafting tutorials. It can be somewhat overwhelming to navigate the sheer number of videos to find what you’re looking for, so I’ll discuss YouTube in more depth below.

While all of your top search results are likely to come from YouTube, especially if you use Google to search, don’t forget about Vimeo as a great source of video tutorials as well. Vimeo has very strict quality standards so while you may have fewer choices there, you will not have to sort through as many bad ones to find the hidden gems.

One of my favorite places to browse for craft ideas is Pinterest. This highly visual platform is great for inspiration, and you can usually find the how-to links attached to the pins that catch your eye. Save your inspiration for later, sorting it onto different boards to make things easier to find.

Pinterest is also great for finding something specific using the search feature. As you use it, the platform learns what you like and sends more great ideas your way. You can follow fellow crafters who have similar taste to find even more inspiration. Since bloggers and crafting websites use Pinterest to promote their sites, you are likely to find your new favorite craft blog or tutorial site by browsing or searching on Pinterest.

Finding Craft Tutorials on YouTube

YouTube is a source for practically unlimited resources. If all you did was watch craft tutorial videos on YouTube for the rest of your life, you would still not reach the end of them. Anyone who has ever used YouTube (which is pretty much everyone, right?) learns quickly that this site really is a massive collection of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unless you are looking to start a new hobby by watching videos about hobbies, you probably want to find what you need quickly and then get on with the craft. 

Here are some tips to help you spend less time scrolling and more time creating:

  • Get Specific in Searches. YouTube’s search functions are pretty good, so use them. Searching for “craft tutorials” is a waste of time that will bring up a string of ads and tutorials for random craft projects. It might inspire an idea you hadn’t thought of before, but there are better places to go if you just want to scroll for inspiration. Be as specific as possible when you search. “How to crochet” is a good start, but be more specific to find what you need quickly. Try “how to crochet a scarf” or “how to make a double crochet stitch” to narrow down your choices.
  • Save Videos for Later. Create playlists for different types of craft you enjoy, and when you find a really good tutorial, add this video to your playlist. You never know when you’ll want to revisit the video or recommend it to someone else. Be careful not to let these playlists get too long to be easily managed, though. Add only the most useful tutorials that you come across. 
  • Find Channels that you Like and Subscribe. When you’ve found a great tutorial, chances are the person who made it has made other tutorials related to the same craft. Click on the profile below the video to explore the channel and find more videos. If you like what you see, subscribe. This supports the crafter making the video and encourages more videos in the future. It also makes it much easier for you to find more great tutorials next time you’re looking.
  • Follow the Crowd. While this is not sound advice in general, on YouTube the number of views a video has, or the number of subscribers a channel has, can often be a good indication of quality. If thousands, or even millions, of people have watched and liked a video, then it’s unlikely to be terrible. That doesn’t mean that newer or smaller channels aren’t creating great content. They are harder to find, though, and you could waste a lot of time on bad videos to find them. When learning a new skill, aim for something that’s been well tested by others.
  • Read the Comments. Another piece of advice I wouldn’t usually give. In most social media, I try to avoid the comments. When it comes to YouTube tutorials, though, it’s worth skimming through them. Take them with a grain of salt, of course. Comments often come from unreliable sources. But, if you start to notice a trend of many users having the same issue, problem, or question with a tutorial, pay attention. There may be something about the video that is causing common confusion, whether it be a skipped step or an explanation that is unclear. If a lot of people seem to be struggling, find another video.

Great YouTube Channels for Crafters

  1. The Crafts Channel. Their videos are bright and professional. The channel has been around since 2007 so they have stood the test of time and they are still reliably producing new content. They are British, so you get the lovely accent as a bonus, but be careful that some differences in terminology may arise for an American audience.
  2. Craft Klatch. Based in the United States and time tested, this channel releases new videos twice a week. The edits are a little rough but she has a lot of unique projects organized primarily around seasons and holidays. 
  3. DIY Craft Tutorials. This is a newer channel, but there are many videos available teaching a wide variety of skills. This channel is especially good for tutorials about working with resin, paper crafts, and Cricut tools. It is based in Australia, so again you can enjoy the accents but you may encounter some terminology differences. 
  4. Craftsy. The same company that brings you the well-known subscription site also has a YouTube channel that allows you to benefit from their professional tutorial-making skills in shorter formats for free. 
  5. The DIY Mommy. Created by a Canadian mompreneur who shows you how to do creative DIY projects for your home, as well as using the Cricut tool and making up-cycled and recycled crafts. Her videos are high quality and upbeat, which is why they’re so popular. She also has a whole series about renovating and redecorating RVs that adds to the diversity of tutorials available. 

Top Pick for Paid Craft Tutorial Subscription: Craftsy

Hands down, if you have room in your budget for a tutorial subscription, it is hard to beat Craftsy. I love Craftsy’s selection of video tutorials and the in-depth format that addresses every detail from start to finish. Avoiding interruptions for ads and knowing the content will be trustworthy every single time are factors that make it worth paying for a subscription if you are someone who uses craft tutorials often.

The standard subscription price is a little steep and understandably may cause some hesitation. If you watch for sales and specials, though, it can be very affordable.

This past Christmas, I was able to snag an annual subscription for under $3 thanks to a tip from a friend. Occasionally there are deals where you can receive a Joann gift card when signing up that helps turn a good chunk of the subscription fee into craft supplies. 

Craftsy’s selection is great for crafters of all ability levels. My pre-teen daughter is just discovering her passion for crafts and she received a Craftsy subscription as a gift. She is learning so much from exploring all the videos that interest her. I love that I can set her free on the site without worrying about questionable ads or other inappropriate content. 

I highly recommend using Craftsy for craft tutorials. With the right timing, you can get an incredible value for a very reasonable price.

Top Pick for Free Craft Tutorial Resources: YouTube

While I have used just about every resource in this article at one time or another, the fact remains that YouTube is still my go-to in a pinch. When I’m in the middle of a project and encounter a problem I’m not sure how to solve, I know that I’m certain to find something on YouTube that can help. 

There are so many resources that can teach you how to tackle a new type of project, step-by-step from start to finish. For beginner crafters, it is sometimes better to start elsewhere. Once you start to gain a little experience, it is more common that you look for help with smaller details rather than big-picture questions. Being able to search YouTube quickly and easily for a very specific skill makes it the perfect resource for free craft tutorials.

There’s no time like the present to learn a new crafting skill. Whether you’re keeping a New Year’s resolution, pursuing a long-term goal, or following some spontaneous inspiration, any time is a great time to try a new hobby!

Crafting has been shown to have health benefits. Crafters are known for giving thoughtful, handmade gifts. It is a creative way to express yourself – and it’s a lot of fun. Through online crafting tutorials, you can learn a new type of craft or develop your skills in a craft you already love. 

There are many different types of crafting tutorials available online, and you can find them from a variety of sources. This guide will help you find the best online crafting tutorials to fit your individual needs, so you can spend less time searching and more time crafting. 

Types of Online Crafting Tutorials

Written Instructions with Photographs

Written tutorials with photographs are a great option for many crafters. If you are good at taking in information as you read with the occasional photograph to make sure you’re on the right track, then this is a great format for you. Well-written instructions can help you learn a new skill in an efficient and effective manner. 

Many people prefer written instructions with photographs because it allows you to set your own pace. You can read the instructions multiple times before trying to follow them, and you can work as slowly or as quickly as you want to.

You can easily skim through steps that are already familiar to you then study those that are challenging. There is no stopping and starting a video or feel rushed because the video moves on before you’re ready, but the photographs still provide visual support.

There are also some disadvantages to this type of tutorial. Most tutorial creators make an effort to provide pictures of each step and anything that might be especially difficult. If you happen to get stuck on a part that isn’t pictured, you have no visual support to help you. It’s impossible to share pictures of every action, no matter how thorough the tutorial is.

Still, photos may not capture a required motion well. Creating this type of tutorial requires a lot of skill, to both write clear instructions and to take helpful photographs. You’ll find a wide range of quality available online, so avoid tutorials with poorly written instructions, too few photographs, or photos that are too dark or poor quality to see clearly. 

Video Tutorials

Many people find video tutorials to be the most helpful. In a video, you can see every step of the process and all the small details that happen in between.

A quality video tutorial will include the demonstrator talking through what he or she is doing, explaining both what to do and what not to do. Good teachers know how to keep a good pace, understanding that beginners will often work slowly. Videos can be stopped, started, and replayed as needed to help you learn the skill well.

The main disadvantage to videos is the need to stop and start. If you are crafting along with the instructor, you may find it frustrating when your hands are full or messy and you need to pause the video to catch up or re-watch some instructions. One way to reduce this frustration is to watch the entire video at least once, but possibly several times, before attempting the project yourself. 

Where to Find Crafting Tutorials

Blogs 

Crafting blogs are a great place to look for free tutorials. The content for these sites is typically created by one person, or perhaps a small team of people, so when you find a favorite you can become familiar and comfortable with the style of this person.

Most craft bloggers specialize in one craft, such as knitting or beadwork, or a specific category of crafts, such as yarn crafts or jewelry making. This specialization can be helpful if you are ready to do a deep-dive into one specific type of craft. If you are hoping to learn multiple types of crafts, or you aren’t sure exactly what you’re interested in yet, you will probably need to look for several different crafting blogs that you like.

Since anyone with an internet connection can create a blog, the quality of these sites can vary greatly. New content may or may not be available regularly. You can expect there to be ads on these sites, and some content may not be available without signing up for the blogger’s email newsletter or mailing list. Signing up often entitles you to free patterns and other materials in addition to tutorials.

To help you get started, here are some great crafting blogs that offer quality tutorials and other content:

Online Magazines

Before the days of the internet, magazines were the go-to resource for crafting tutorials. Many of these magazines still exist in print, and you can subscribe to your favorites or find them in craft stores and some book stores. Print magazines also have a web presence, of course, and additional materials can often be found on these websites. This is especially true of video content, which can’t be printed in a magazine.  

There are also a wide range of online-only magazines that don’t produce print resources but follow the style of a magazine in the way they run their websites.

Magazines offer many advantages. Their content usually comes from a variety of contributors. This gives a broader range of skills and presentation styles, even if they are focused around one particular type of craft. Magazines typically also have an editor, which raises the quality of the work being published. Someone is screening, proofreading, and approving everything you see on the site. Typically these resources are well-established and trustworthy.

Resources from online magazines may or may not require a subscription. You will usually find advertisements on these websites as well.

Search for tutorials from your favorite crafting magazines, or get started with some of these well-known resources:

Tutorial Sharing Sites

Another place to look for tutorials is through websites whose sole purpose is sharing tutorials. You can find instructions on how to do just about anything from these sites, and they are usually free. There are some wonderful resources available!

Finding wonderful resources isn’t always easy, however. In an effort to have as much content as possible, some sharing sites have little in the way of quality standards. Contributors are often using these sites as free advertising, hoping to attract you back to their site for more tutorials and content. 

I don’t prefer tutorial sharing sites personally because I have found it too difficult to find quality content. They often lack organization and helpful search features. Exceptions to this are two tutorial sharing sites that cover a wide range of topics, including crafts. They are well worth checking out:

Paid Subscription Sites 

Paid subscription sites can require a bit of an investment, but there are many advantages that many people feel are worth the cost.

Tutorials on paid subscription sites are usually of professional quality. They are often much longer and offer more in-depth instruction. Videos will not be interrupted by advertisements nor will you encounter ads in the margins or popping up as you work. Subscription sites are able to recruit instructors who are not only highly skilled in their crafts, but also excellent teachers. In order to entice subscribers, they offer a high volume of content that spans a wide range of crafts.

One of the top subscription sites is Craftsy. Craftsy offers monthly or annual subscription options. You can also choose to purchase individual courses if you would prefer not to subscribe to the whole library. For a sample of what Craftsy classes are like, you can check out their list of free courses.

Another popular subscription service for crafting tutorials is Creative Bug. At Creative Bug you can sign up for a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription. They also offer a free 2-month trial to test it out. Creative Bug cooperates with the craft store chain Joann, so watch for discounts and special offers through the Joann website

Craft Store Websites

Craft stores are a great place to find crafting tutorials! If your local craft store has a website, check to see if they are offering any kind of learning library. You may also be able to take advantage of in-person classes.

The major, nationwide chains have plenty of resources available online. The Classes page at Michael’s has a wide variety of options that are updated regularly. Seasonal crafts are highlighted directly on this page, while other videos are arranged by category. The selection is extensive. Within the categories, though, the videos are arranged by date without an easy search function, so it can be hard to find something specific unless it was a recent video.

At Hobby Lobby, the DIY Projects and Videos page is also organized by category. Within the category, you can sort further by skill level. This page also lacks an easy search feature, but the selection is smaller and easier to browse. When you have selected a project, all the required supplies are listed below the video, and you can order exactly what you need with the click of a button.

The Joann Projects and Learning page offers project ideas with written instructions, but they save their video tutorials for their YouTube page. Most of the project ideas are simple patterns. Typically the only pictures are of the finished product, so these are not ideal for learning a new skill. Joann’s tutorial library on YouTube, however, is extensive.

Social Media

If there’s something you want to do but you don’t know how chances are you can find it on YouTube. From home maintenance to auto repair to computer skills, YouTube is the tutorial go-to for many people. This holds true for crafting as well. YouTube is a treasure trove for crafting tutorials. It can be somewhat overwhelming to navigate the sheer number of videos to find what you’re looking for, so I’ll discuss YouTube in more depth below.

While all of your top search results are likely to come from YouTube, especially if you use Google to search, don’t forget about Vimeo as a great source of video tutorials as well. Vimeo has very strict quality standards so while you may have fewer choices there, you will not have to sort through as many bad ones to find the hidden gems.

One of my favorite places to browse for craft ideas is Pinterest. This highly visual platform is great for inspiration, and you can usually find the how-to links attached to the pins that catch your eye. Save your inspiration for later, sorting it onto different boards to make things easier to find.

Pinterest is also great for finding something specific using the search feature. As you use it, the platform learns what you like and sends more great ideas your way. You can follow fellow crafters who have similar taste to find even more inspiration. Since bloggers and crafting websites use Pinterest to promote their sites, you are likely to find your new favorite craft blog or tutorial site by browsing or searching on Pinterest.

Finding Craft Tutorials on YouTube

YouTube is a source for practically unlimited resources. If all you did was watch craft tutorial videos on YouTube for the rest of your life, you would still not reach the end of them. Anyone who has ever used YouTube (which is pretty much everyone, right?) learns quickly that this site really is a massive collection of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unless you are looking to start a new hobby by watching videos about hobbies, you probably want to find what you need quickly and then get on with the craft. 

Here are some tips to help you spend less time scrolling and more time creating:

  • Get Specific in Searches. YouTube’s search functions are pretty good, so use them. Searching for “craft tutorials” is a waste of time that will bring up a string of ads and tutorials for random craft projects. It might inspire an idea you hadn’t thought of before, but there are better places to go if you just want to scroll for inspiration. Be as specific as possible when you search. “How to crochet” is a good start, but be more specific to find what you need quickly. Try “how to crochet a scarf” or “how to make a double crochet stitch” to narrow down your choices.
  • Save Videos for Later. Create playlists for different types of craft you enjoy, and when you find a really good tutorial, add this video to your playlist. You never know when you’ll want to revisit the video or recommend it to someone else. Be careful not to let these playlists get too long to be easily managed, though. Add only the most useful tutorials that you come across. 
  • Find Channels that you Like and Subscribe. When you’ve found a great tutorial, chances are the person who made it has made other tutorials related to the same craft. Click on the profile below the video to explore the channel and find more videos. If you like what you see, subscribe. This supports the crafter making the video and encourages more videos in the future. It also makes it much easier for you to find more great tutorials next time you’re looking.
  • Follow the Crowd. While this is not sound advice in general, on YouTube the number of views a video has, or the number of subscribers a channel has, can often be a good indication of quality. If thousands, or even millions, of people have watched and liked a video, then it’s unlikely to be terrible. That doesn’t mean that newer or smaller channels aren’t creating great content. They are harder to find, though, and you could waste a lot of time on bad videos to find them. When learning a new skill, aim for something that’s been well tested by others.
  • Read the Comments. Another piece of advice I wouldn’t usually give. In most social media, I try to avoid the comments. When it comes to YouTube tutorials, though, it’s worth skimming through them. Take them with a grain of salt, of course. Comments often come from unreliable sources. But, if you start to notice a trend of many users having the same issue, problem, or question with a tutorial, pay attention. There may be something about the video that is causing common confusion, whether it be a skipped step or an explanation that is unclear. If a lot of people seem to be struggling, find another video.

Great YouTube Channels for Crafters

  1. The Crafts Channel. Their videos are bright and professional. The channel has been around since 2007 so they have stood the test of time and they are still reliably producing new content. They are British, so you get the lovely accent as a bonus, but be careful that some differences in terminology may arise for an American audience.
  2. Craft Klatch. Based in the United States and time tested, this channel releases new videos twice a week. The edits are a little rough but she has a lot of unique projects organized primarily around seasons and holidays. 
  3. DIY Craft Tutorials. This is a newer channel, but there are many videos available teaching a wide variety of skills. This channel is especially good for tutorials about working with resin, paper crafts, and Cricut tools. It is based in Australia, so again you can enjoy the accents but you may encounter some terminology differences. 
  4. Craftsy. The same company that brings you the well-known subscription site also has a YouTube channel that allows you to benefit from their professional tutorial-making skills in shorter formats for free. 
  5. The DIY Mommy. Created by a Canadian mompreneur who shows you how to do creative DIY projects for your home, as well as using the Cricut tool and making up-cycled and recycled crafts. Her videos are high quality and upbeat, which is why they’re so popular. She also has a whole series about renovating and redecorating RVs that adds to the diversity of tutorials available. 

Top Pick for Paid Craft Tutorial Subscription: Craftsy

Hands down, if you have room in your budget for a tutorial subscription, it is hard to beat Craftsy. I love Craftsy’s selection of video tutorials and the in-depth format that addresses every detail from start to finish. Avoiding interruptions for ads and knowing the content will be trustworthy every single time are factors that make it worth paying for a subscription if you are someone who uses craft tutorials often.

The standard subscription price is a little steep and understandably may cause some hesitation. If you watch for sales and specials, though, it can be very affordable.

This past Christmas, I was able to snag an annual subscription for under $3 thanks to a tip from a friend. Occasionally there are deals where you can receive a Joann gift card when signing up that helps turn a good chunk of the subscription fee into craft supplies. 

Craftsy’s selection is great for crafters of all ability levels. My pre-teen daughter is just discovering her passion for crafts and she received a Craftsy subscription as a gift. She is learning so much from exploring all the videos that interest her. I love that I can set her free on the site without worrying about questionable ads or other inappropriate content. 

I highly recommend using Craftsy for craft tutorials. With the right timing, you can get an incredible value for a very reasonable price.

FAQs

Question: How can I learn a new craft at home?

Answer: The best way to learn a new craft at home is through online tutorials. You can find tutorials online to help you learn just about any kind of craft you can imagine. These tutorials can either be written instructions with photographs to illustrate, or they can be video lessons.

Watch or read some tutorials first to get an overview of what to do, then gather your materials and go through it again, following along step by step. With just an internet-connected device, you can learn any new craft that captures your imagination.

Question: What are the easiest crafts to learn?

Answer: This is a question of individual skills and preference. Many people find that papercrafts are a natural extension of the cut-and-paste skills that most of us learned as children. If you’re good with a needle and thread, then learning to cross stitch is as simple as following a pattern.

Beginner-level jewelry making can be as simple as stringing beads in a specific pattern. 
The more important question to ask is “What am I most interested in learning?” Interest and enthusiasm can make things feel much easier to learn. Even if a craft is easy to learn, what is the point of learning it if you lack interest?

Question: How can I find a crafting hobby that I will love?

Answer: Begin by taking notice of what handmade items strike you as beautiful. A big part of the satisfaction of crafting is in creating something beautiful, so if you don’t love the final product, you’re unlikely to love the process of making it. Make a list of the types of crafts you might be interested in learning to make.
Next, consider your current season of life and the opportunities and limitations that come with it. If you currently live in a small apartment, it may not be a good time to learn to weave on a giant loom. If you have toddlers at home, you may prefer to find a craft that can be put away quickly and easily when you’re not working on it. What are your current budget constraints when it comes to supplies?
When you compare your interest list with your season of life, you may find that one or two ideas will naturally rise to the surface. If you need further help deciding, watch a few tutorials to start learning more about each type of craft. Choose whichever craft seems most appealing, or decide to learn more than one new crafting hobby.

Question: What crafts can I make and sell to earn extra money?

Answer: Most types of crafts can be turned into a profitable side business with enough time, skill, and creativity. Handmade gifts are especially popular, as are decorative items with a seasonal theme. Use the crafting skills you already have or learn new skills through crafting tutorials. You can find opportunities to sell your crafts by attending craft fairs, or you can create an online shop on Etsy. 

Question: How do you make a craft video tutorial?

Answer: Creating a craft video tutorial requires excellent skills in the craft you’re demonstrating, as well as video production skills (or someone to help with the video production). Speak slowly and clearly, film your video in a well-lit room and make sure the lighting is coming from the right angle.

Have all your supplies ready and place your camera on a tripod to be sure the camera remains still and at the right angle. You’ll also need some basic video editing software to put it all together. Finally, you’ll need somewhere to share your video with others. It may be a tutorial sharing site or a social media site such as YouTube or Vimeo.

Top Pick for Free Craft Tutorial Resources: YouTube

While I have used just about every resource in this article at one time or another, the fact remains that YouTube is still my go-to in a pinch. When I’m in the middle of a project and encounter a problem I’m not sure how to solve, I know that I’m certain to find something on YouTube that can help. 

There are so many resources that can teach you how to tackle a new type of project, step-by-step from start to finish. For beginner crafters, it is sometimes better to start elsewhere. Once you start to gain a little experience, it is more common that you look for help with smaller details rather than big-picture questions. Being able to search YouTube quickly and easily for a very specific skill makes it the perfect resource for free craft tutorials.

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