5 Trending Craft Revivals You Need to Try in 2024

2024 is set to be the year of heritage appreciation, with traditional crafts making a welcomed return to the fore; from retro crochet and rustic woodwork, to intricate mosaic making that’s super easy to get lost in, this is the year to craft your way through history. 

So whether you’re keen to explore ancient skills with a modern twist or you just want to carve out some creative me-time in the new year, we’ve rounded up the top five traditional crafts that are making a comeback for 2024. Roll up those sleeves and get ready to stitch, print and sand your way to success! 

Explore age-old crafts with woodworking

Woodworking has exploded back onto the creative scene in the past few months, with an 85 percent surge in curious crafters visiting our woodworking classes and a 50 percent increase in people searching for decorative wood burning on Google. If our viral TikTok is anything to go by, we can safely predict this is one craft you wood-n’t want to miss! From learning how to carve artisan-style utensils to mastering the art of designing your own furniture, it’s time to slow down and immerse yourself in tradition. 

3 reasons you’ll love it:

1. Woodworking and pyrography (decorative wood burning) are slow, methodical crafts that are great if you fancy switching off from the everyday. Surrounded by natural materials, you’ll be able to plane, sand and smooth your cares away.
2. Wood crafts are super versatile, which means it’s great for beginners to break themselves in gently! Start off with a spoon carving or bowl turning workshop, and before you know it you’ll be whipping up your own shelves, stools and chairs!
3. If you’re an interiors lover, woodworking is the craft for you – from artisan style accessories to mastering the art of wooden panelling, learning how to work with wood will let you put your unique stamp on your home.

Try this workshop…

Ease yourself into this age-old craft with a utensil carving workshop in London from the experts at The Green Wood Guild. Led by a local expert, you’ll safely learn all the knife techniques needed to create your own kitchen accessories, and will leave with a beautiful hand-carved spatula. ClassBento crafter Charlotte said, ‘This class was great, set in a beautiful workshop on Stepney City Farm, and led by a really engaging and fun teacher. Everything was clear and explained well, and we all learned a lot. A really satisfying way to spend a day and highly recommended!’

Lose yourself in intricate mosaic making

It might be too early to call it, but if a 369 percent lift in eyes browsing our much-loved mosaic class isn’t a hint, mosaic making is one to watch in 2024! Slow, methodical and intricate, this is one creative activity that’s going to help you unwind your mind. From super simple checkerboard designs to time-consuming graphic patterns, make your projects as easy or complex as you like. We think cool tiled projects are really going to take off this year – so grab your glue and get stuck in!

3 reasons you’ll love it:

1. Mosaic making requires lots of concentration, which makes it ideal for anyone looking to slow down – plus the joy and satisfaction of finishing such a detailed project is unparalleled! 
2. It’s a great craft for any interior fans; start small with coasters and then move up to picture frames, mirrors, wall art and table tops. Love your home, boost your mood!
3. Mosaic making is super versatile; keep it simple and monochrome or go crazy with colour – there’s a design to suit every space.

Try this workshop…

Treat yourself to a full day’s crafting with our exciting workshop from South London Mosaic. Led by a professional artisan, you’ll learn all about the history of mosaic making and discover how to create your own project from start to finish, leaving with a 15cm design to take home. Community crafter Philippa said, ‘a wonderful experience, it really helped give me the confidence to have a go on my own.” 

Turn trash into treasure with creative upcycling

For the ultimate in revival crafts, breathe new life into old things in 2024 and show a little love to the planet with upcycling and recycling. Currently on Pinterest’s list as one of the hottest trends for the new year, making something from nothing is going to be huge, and with a 125 percent lift of sustainable minds searching the ‘upcycle old clothes’ on Google last year it’s clear that 2024 is going to be the year of zero waste. From mastering the art of visible mending and learning how to repair clothes to transforming tired old tables into cool new pieces, it’s time to get stuck in and make something from nothing!

3 reasons you’ll love it:

1. Doing your bit to reduce your impact on the planet is a great way to spark joy; upcycling means you get to combine creativity with climate awareness, and is super rewarding. 
2. There are endless project possibilities! From learning a few DIY tricks to give old furniture a new lease of life to mastering sewing techniques so you can practise your sashiko skills, there’s an upcycling project for every kind of crafter.
3. Whether you’re transforming a bookcase or finally sewing up those torn trousers, repurposing isn’t just great for the planet  – it’s budget friendly and good for your wallet too! 

Try this workshop…

Breathe new life into old clothes and boost your eco-credentials with a Japanese mending class from the team at Restoration LDN. You’ll master the art of sashiko and boro repair work and pick up a few new techniques to transform your wardrobe – plus with all sewing done by hand, it’s a super relaxing way to meet new people and get creative. Don’t just take our word for it either; ClassBento craft fan Liz said, “a lovely group of ‘like minded’ people, gathered in a wonderful location. What a joyful experience!”

Breathe life into tradition with block printing

Love your crafts steeped in history? Then roll up those sleeves and prepare to get marvellously messy with a little block printing in 2024. Thought to be one of the oldest printing techniques in the world, this versatile craft is currently enjoying a thoroughly modern resurgence. With Google search terms lifting 24 percent in the last twelve months and an uptick in sales on our lino printing classes (not to mention the 1 million plus Instagram posts dedicated to beautiful printworks!), we’re sure that ink-stained fingers are going to be the hottest craft accessory this year!

3 reasons you’ll love it:

1. Lino printing is super versatile – if you can draw it, you can print it! From simple shapes and graphic styles to complex mandalas, landscapes and even portraits, the world is your oyster. 
2. Whether you’re after some wall-worthy artwork or custom-designed clothes to show off your own unique style, block printing is the way to go; with a variety of paper and fabric-friendly inks available, the only limit is your own imagination.
3. Block printing currently appears on the Heritage Crafts red list, which means it falls into the endangered category. By learning this time-honoured skill, you’re helping to keep this wonderful craft alive. 

Try this workshop…

Dive into this ancient craft with a beginners lino printing class from creative heroes M.Y.O, held at their cosy London studio. Led by a professional designer, you’ll learn how to create a custom design, transfer it to a lino block and carve it to perfection, before printing onto a series of cards. ClassBento crafter Daisy said, “our class was fantastic, plenty of guidance and instruction but also room for experimentation. We’ll definitely come again!”

Get hooked on calming creativity with crochet

If you like your crafts with a colourful retro vibe, get ready to embrace the wonderful world of crochet! Often overshadowed by knitting, this vintage yarn craft is currently enjoying a revival that shows no sign of slowing down for 2024. The amount of people searching crochet on Google continued to rise by 50 percent in 2023 and crochet-packed videos with views into their millions all over TikTok, one thing’s for sure – the humble granny square is going nowhere. The best news is that crochet is one of the most accessible crafts around; arm yourself with a ball of yarn and crochet hook, and you’re ready to set off on your woolly adventure!

3 reasons you’ll love it:

Crochet is super relaxing; the soothing repetitive stitches make it easy to switch off from those everyday stresses.
You don’t need any specialist equipment – you can whip up a simple project with just a hook and a single skein of yarn, and there are even beginners crochet kits to help you get started. Which makes it super budget-friendly!
The list of things you can make once you master the basic stitches is almost endless; from super cosy cable jumpers and brightly coloured blankets to on-trend granny-square bags, bucket hats and even hanging planters!

Try this workshop…

If you’re keen to lose yourself in crochet, our beginner’s granny square class in London from Tea and Crafting will help you kick off your journey. With plenty of refreshments provided and reviews such as, “great fun to learn something new in a convivial atmosphere with a very patient teacher!” from craft lover Gina, this is one not to be missed!