National Craft Month

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Activities Fun Hobby
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every March
Holiday emoji:: 🎨

National Craft Month invites everyone to explore their creative side throughout March. It’s a perfect time to pick up a new skill, revisit an old hobby, or share your handmade creations with the world. Dive into knitting, scrapbooking, pottery, or jewelry making, and connect with fellow crafters.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
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Expected National Craft Month Deals

Throughout March, National Craft Month inspires a flurry of deals on supplies and workshops. Look for major retailers like JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby to offer significant discounts on yarn, fabric, paints, and tools. Online platforms such as Etsy and Amazon Handmade often feature promotions from independent artisans. Specialty stores like Paper Source or Daiso might have unique themed kits. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as March approaches.

Platform Guide for National Craft Month

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalCraftMonth. Share photos and reels of your latest projects, from knitting to pottery.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalCraftMonth. Create short videos showcasing DIY tutorials, craft hauls, or time-lapses of your creative process.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalCraftMonth. Join craft groups, share project ideas, and organize virtual workshops.

National Craft Month Hero

William Morris

William Morris (1834-1896) was a British textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist, and a major figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. He advocated for the importance of handmade goods and traditional craftsmanship in an era of industrialization, believing that art should be accessible and integrated into everyday life. His work revived many traditional crafts and emphasized quality and beauty in functional objects.

History of National Craft Month

There is no question that healthy people’s lives include creative outlets, a way to express themselves constructively so there’s less danger of anxiety and stress “speaking” from within, in negative ways. That was a big part of the reason the Craft & Hobby Association (now the Association for Creative Industries [AFCI]) established National Crafting Month back in 1994. The awareness-raising was meant to help individuals discover their hidden creativity and introduce Americans to outlets they hadn’t tried before, ranging from embroidery to candle-making to any number of other crafts. Over the years since, National Crafting Month has also come to signify a time for practiced crafters to start on a new project, try a new medium, or learn a skill they’ve always been curious about.

Today, crafting is not only a worthwhile, relaxing pursuit for anyone and everyone, but it also has become big business. For example, the AFCI sponsors a yearly mega-convention for companies that fall under the heading, “creative industries.” It’s an event where the leaders in crafting domestically and worldwide trade knowledge, experience and economic strategies. The good news for a typical at-home crafter? In this case, the “trickle-down” theory really works well, spreading the word about new tricks of the trade, cutting-edge materials, and more.

So if you find your fingers itching to be busy, and your heart yearning to make gift-worthy items that combine art and trade skill, join us in celebrating National Crafting Month!

National Craft Month timeline

1830

Expanding the “fabric” of reality

Inventor Richard Roberts builds the first successful “Roberts Loom,” a machine that makes fast mass production of cloth a reality.

1777

Switching muskets for needle and thread

Formed from scraps of uniforms and clothing, the very first iteration of the American Flag is sewn for our brand-new country by soldiers of the American Revolution.

1000 B.C.

A “stitch in time”

Ancient peoples use knitting tools to make some of the first socks worn by humans, their implements to be unearthed by archaeologists three thousand years later.

4000 B.C.

A case of either, “ore”

Ancient peoples on the Indian continent begin to practice Dhokra, a metal-casting technique that is still in use today.

National Craft Month FAQs

When is National Craft Month?

In 2027, National Craft Month will again run for the entire month of March, from Monday, March 1, to Wednesday, March 31. This annual observance encourages everyone to explore their crafting passions.

How many people participate in crafting?

Annually, the crafting industry sees significant engagement, with millions of Americans dedicating time and resources to various creative projects. The appeal spans generations, from DIY enthusiasts to professional artisans, reflecting a deep-seated desire to create.

What is the economic impact of the craft industry?

The market for craft supplies alone is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar sector, demonstrating the significant financial contribution of crafting to the economy. Beyond direct sales, it also fuels related industries like publishing, events, and digital content creation.

What are some popular types of crafts?

The world of crafting is incredibly diverse, with widespread interest in disciplines such as digital crafting (e.g., using cutting machines), resin art, candle making, and textile arts. Traditional crafts like quilting and calligraphy also maintain strong followings, reflecting a blend of modern and classic techniques.

HOW TO CELEBRATE National Craft Month

Try a new creative medium
If you’re a painter, try scrapbooking. If you're a knitter, try sculpting. The beauty of crafting is that there are endless possibilities for creating, and for stepping outside your creative comfort zone. This could lead to some amazing innovation on your part — you never know if you don't try!
Show off your work
Everything's better when it’s shared with those you care about. Use National Craft Month as a reason to show everyone what you’ve been working on. Whether it’s showing in a small arts and crafts exhibition, giving your creations as gifts, or traveling to a craft fair, be sure to take this opportunity to share your art with the world. Get some eyes on your work, be proud, and of course keep crafting!
Dare to be colorful
Old-schoolers may be familiar with the phrase, “a monochrome life.” It means a drab, repetitive day-to-day existence, but it can be taken a little more literally, too. Your crafting up to this point may show a distinct preference for one or two favorite colors. During National Crafting Month, branch out into the brights, the neons, or even the blackest of the blacks. Broadening your repertoire is never a bad thing.

FIVE AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE CRAFT OF SCRIMSHAW

“Thar she blows!”
Scrimshaw, the craft of meticulous line carving on the surface of bone or ivory (with the impression filled in with pigment for visibility), was originally done by seamen on whaling vessels, who not only did not want to waste any part of the whale (including the baleen) but also needed a way to pass the time on extended sea voyages.
Your dentist’s second career?
Modern-day scrimshaw artists use tools that are finer and offer better control than the traditional sailors’ needles, many of said tools being borrowed from the broad inventory of dental drills and picks.
“Do I get a certificate of authenticity?”
As you can imagine, 20th-century laws protecting whales and another old-time popular source of scrimshaw ivory, elephants, force much of the craft’s existing samples into the realm of contraband.
A fragile medium
Since ivory teeth are prone to drying out, scrimshander Gary Kiracofe of Nantucket has long advised collectors to fill a dry tooth’s hollow part with baby oil and let it sit to absorb into the microscopic pores, from the inside.
Take a very close look
Today’s scrimshanders often use technology that makes their pieces more easily mass-produced, going against the philosophy of many purist crafters who feel that a scrimshaw piece’s uniqueness is one of its main draws.

WHY WE LOVE National Craft Month

It boosts creativity and inspiration
Having the freedom to create without boundaries stimulates both the imagination and the spirit. We may even gain the confidence to think outside the box in other realms of our lives, such as education, profession, even relationships. And who knows, channeling those creative energies into one of your hobbies could even turn into a side career!
Crafting brings people together
Whether it’s creating something with your kids or throwing a casual crafting dinner party, sharing one’s imagination and creativity with others is a key reason why humans create. Not only is there another person or people there to appreciate your work, but you can spend quality time with friends and help each other with fun shared ideas.
Handmade gifts are best
There are few things that show how much you care, as much as a gift from the heart and hands. Home-crafted gifts are one of a kind — nothing tells your friend or relative how much they mean to you more than receiving something that you only made one of. On top of all that, homemade gifts are fun to make and can save you a few bucks!