We have all heard of the colouring-book craze, turning a childhood favourite into a soothing pastime. If you are looking for other activities that help calm your mind and get your creative juices flowing, how about crafting? It's a term that covers all kinds of skills, from sewing to tie-dye and everything in between. 

We spoke to New Craft House's Hannah and Rosie, who aim to bring old crafts to a new generation, for their top tips on how to get into crafts.

Hannah Silvani and Rosie Scott at the New Craft House

Hannah Silvani and Rosie Scott at the New Craft House

  • Insta-Inspiration: get involved with a community online who'll motivate and inspire you. We recommend Instagram because it's a fun visual channel and so welcoming to newbies- check out @sewcialists for sewing and @knittersofinstagram for knitting
  • Kit helps: Use kits to help you get into the craft you're interested in. They're easy and have everything you need to make a project, so you don't have to invest in any extra materials
  • Read all about it: There's a booming world of blogs and magazines that are easy to follow online and may help you to try out a particular craft outside of your comfort zone. We recommend A Beautiful Mess Blog and Mollie Makes and Love Sewing magazines
  • Tutorials: There are so many great classes and tutorials about if you start looking. To build your confidence, try YouTube for the craft you're interested in- it makes it easier if someone else is there to guide you, even if it's via a computer screen
  • Simple pleasures: Start things slowly and don't be too hard on yourself if you can't knit a jumper instantly. Celebrate your successes and keep projects manageable. Try making a pair of knickers with a kit, or aim to make a scarf from scratch. We believe in you!

Hannah and Rosie's kits can be found at http://thenewcrafthouse.com/