Craftster.org: This DIY Website Will Show You How to Become a Do-It-Yourselfer

Would you love to be a DIY'er (Do-it-yourselfer) but just don't know, well, how to DIY? That could all change with a few clicks of the mouse. Today, one doesn't have to have a craft-savvy grandma in order to learn how to make things. There are websites for almost every
craft under the sun.

I am forty years old and I have just learned to knit and crochet. It was all quite serendipitous. I was doing research for an article on tattoos and tripped right over a website called Craftster. I started poking around on the site and discovered that the people there were charming, friendly and extremely talented.

The Craftster website was created by Leah Kramer in 2003. There are thousands of members and more ideas than you can imagine. If one of the members can't tell you exactly how to do something (which is rare), then they will direct you to a website that can. That is precisely what happened for me. I was admiring all the pictures of the members' knitted and crocheted handiwork, wishing that I possessed that skill. I checked out a link or two that someone posted, one being Knitting-help.com. This website has videos of the stitches necessary to knit. There are close-ups of the knitter's hands as she slowly knits for the camera and talks us through the stitch. For you left-handed folks out there, don't worry. She has videos for left-handed knitting as well. I learned enough from Knitting-help.com to make a scarf within a few days.

Craftster.org is a hip website filled with young and old creative souls who love to share what they know. It is an edgy, punky, not-your-grandma's sort of website. So, if you've always loved the idea of crafting but just didn't know what to do with another "homespun" looking craft, Craftster.org is the place for you. Their motto, "No tea cozies without irony", sort of sums up what the site is all about. No lambies and bunnies for Craftster people. Skulls and Pop-tab belts are more their style. Still, if you want to make something more traditional, they will be the first to share the little tips that will make it easier for you.

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Julie, well two years later I am hear to comment back. Thanks for the really nice comment. Isn't it great that it's still just as great or better in 2008?! A real testament to Leah.

Posted on 09/08/2008 at 3:09:19 PM

Flirtingwithdisaster, that is probably even more true all this time later! It's growing all the time. It's awesome. Maybe I'll do another article some day and the membership will be in the millions!! whoohooo. Go Leah and Craftster.

Posted on 09/08/2008 at 3:09:16 PM

Lambies and bunnies seem to have become more hip than when I first wrote this article, which I think is one of those fascinating things that happens in the craft world. I certainly didn't mean to make anyone feel left out. Craftster is for anyone who likes to make stuff or just look at stuff other people made. It definitely has a skull and poptab belt edge, though!

Posted on 09/08/2008 at 3:09:23 PM

It's not all skulls and pop tab belts. Some people do make stuff with lambies and bunnies, you know?

Posted on 08/20/2008 at 12:08:53 AM

Loved the article! One thing, though, bothered me. You said that their are thousands of members, but that just doesn't do justice to the 50 thousand people that are there. "Thousands" just doesn't seem like you covered everyone.

Posted on 03/15/2006 at 7:03:00 PM

Great article from another CRAFTSTER FAN I am on that site constantly! I love that the people are also excited for you when you learn something new and want to share photos of your work. Craftster is very inspiring for all ages I think. Well written and what a great kuddos to Leah!

Posted on 03/15/2006 at 10:03:00 AM

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