It's Hip To Be Crafty

HILLIARD, Ohio -- Knitting needles and buttons, thread and glitter. Although not typical items young adults would have, there is an increasingly popular trend sweeping across the country.

In large metropolitan areas, such as Columbus, alternative crafting is all the rage.

Imagine making scarves, jewelry, even bags with your own hands.

For many, it is a rewarding creative outlet that is becoming even more common.

According to the Sacramento Bee, a California newspaper, there is a growing number of people in their 20s and 30s and younger who have begun using traditional craft techniques in nontraditional ways.

With the ongoing push to become a more “green” society, many see making their own goods as a way to reuse and recycle. For example, people are using old jewelry or vintage clothing and creating new, more modern products. Others use ordinary items, such as newspaper, to craft unexpected items such as purses.

The Internet has played a huge part in the spread of ideas and tips, especially for first-time crafters and those looking to sell their products for profit.

Many blogs and magazines specialize in allowing members to post photos and share instructions.

Etsy.com is a treasure-filled gem of all things handmade from across the world. The site’s slogan, “Buy, sell, and live handmade,” says it all.

Much like eBay, artists are able to create online stores where they sell their crafts, ranging from handmade candles to Obama jewelry and crocheted cupcakes.

The Web site allows the sellers to target an audience they would otherwise not reach if they remained local.

Here in Columbus, there is a large alternative crafting scene.

Festivals -- such as ComFest, which brings people from all over to Goodale Park for food, fun and music -- give individual vendors a chance to share their goods with large crowds.

In addition, there are multiple shops and boutiques throughout the city that feature crafters.

Wholly Craft, located behind an unmistakable hot pink façade, is situated in the middle of Clintonville on North High.

According to the shop’s Web site, it is a “comfortable place to shop for handmade goods, [and] a fun and fabulous alternative to mass-produced madness.”

The shop features items from more than 100 artists, designers and crafters, and also hosts workshops and events for those interested in learning the basics of all things DIY.

Crafting gives ordinary people the opportunity to enjoy items that are high-quality and aren’t mass-produced.

For many students, learning to do things homemade is a simple yet rewarding process.

“I love the idea of alternative crafting,” said senior Christina Guay. “It is a great way to express your creativity and make something that you are truly proud of. Stores like Wholly Craft make Columbus unique and I love supporting the local artists.”

This story first was written for Hilliard Darby's Panther Press and shared with NBC 4 as part of a media collaboration between school and the station.