The New Craft Night
Written by Susan Beal

Are you looking for a way to meet new crafty people in your city, or just the chance to unwind with a cocktail in one hand and sequins in the other? Craft nights -- like potluck house parties, late-night bar gatherings, studio workshops and coffee shop get-togethers -- are a great way to get expert help with a brand-new craft, or just work another ten rows on your never-ending sweater!

CRAFT PROJECTS ON THE COFFEE TABLE

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a group of crafty women has met up to knit at one another's houses (with the occasional foray into quilting), sewing or crochet) for the last three years, rotating who hosts, week by week. Betsy Greer, who started the group in 2003, says, "I can't emphasize enough how nice it is to know that every Tuesday, no matter what, I can go and knit and chat and visit with people whom I hold dear."
  Fiona Gillespie, who heard about the Tuesday Night Knitting Circle from a friend, says, "I was originally a little apprehensive about coming on my own, but everyone was so welcoming and supportive. It's so relazing and just really something to look forward to in the middle of the week." The ladies even plan knitting retreats to the beach or the mountains, with their projects in two: "It's fun to get away from the real world, where you can't knit at the breakfast table!" adds the group's co-organizer, Kelly Wooten.
  In Atlanta, Ann Meyers runs the Crafty Pirates group, which meets twice a month at her house for embroidery, button-making and small-scale Gocco screenprinting over snacks and drinks. After she and her husband created flyers to hang in a neighborhood coffee shop, "about eight people showed up, and I got everyone's e-mail addresses.  It was quite simple to get it going." Now she's planning new craft projects centered around her latest thrift-store finds. She posts all the details of upcoming meetings on her blog for the other Pirates.
  Medical history student Bridget Collins has always loved knitting, and when she moved to Madison, Wisconsin, for graduation school, she found several craft circles to join. "I'm always on the lookout for new students who knit," she says,. "My grad student group, Playing with String, is a broad range of women from the humanities to the sciences to partners of academics, and we meet a people's houses every week.  I really like making friends outside my department and [The University of Wisconsin] is such a big campus, I don't think I would see them otherwise!" She also goes to a craft group especially for librarians and an open Stitch 'n Bitch meeting, called Sip n' Knits.

CIP (CRAFTING IN PUBLIC)

If drinks and DJs are your thing, consider finding (or starting) a laid-back bar craft night. Julianna Parr did just that at her favorite nightspot in Los Angeles, Akbar. "My friends and I used to bring postcards to draw on and when people would say 'Hey, what are you doing?' we'd invited them to join in and make things with us," say Parr. "I bought a couple of paint-by-numbers, then some glitter glue and eventually, it developed into a regular schedule." Akbar Craft Night offers a different project every Wednesday, from shrink art to the ever-popular Thanksgiving hand turkeys. "Craft Night encourages experimentation and messes, and it's friendly, unassuming, open, free and fun, There have even been quite a few little Craft Night romances, gay and straight -- one of my most committed couples met on Hand Turkey Night!" Parr adds.
  In Rochester, New Yrok, Karrie Laughton hosts Craft Night every Monday at her bar, Lux Lounge. "I love being able to sit around with friends, drink beer, and make stuff. It's such a great outlet. If you have a rough day, you can come in and let it all out with glue and scissors.  People come up with the most amazing things." Laughton brings an assortment of craft supplies for themed projects like paper lanterns and clothespin dolls. Her only rule? "NO GLITTER. It's way too messy - I would be sweeping up glitter for years!"
  Craft studios often host a fun, eclectic mix of craft-ons outside their regular classes. In Boston, Spark Craft Studios offers a different, stylish "Wine and Crafts" workshop each week -- like Chunky Cocktail Rings or Luscious Long Necklaces. "It's something unique to do on a Friday night," says owner Jan Stephenson. "And it's easy to meet people and have fun because everyone is learning something new together. A fair number of women come solo, but we often get a few generations - moms, grandmothers, and daughters coming together.  We also host private events, like bridal showers, bachelorette parties, baby showers, and birthday parties."
  San Francisco's Craft Gym holds regular crafty get-togethers, like Open Sew and Sew & Tell, but to celebrate their first anniversary, co-owner Jane Logan says they wanted to do something special: "We held a 'Craft-Off' competition, like Iron Chef, and chose Tic-Tacs as our secret ingredient. The winning team, Team Circus, used them as 'eyes' in a series of Sculpy animals, all set in a big top circus tent. It was amazing to watch these teams work, and it was really fun to see the crowd cheer them on!"
  The studio also hosts a "Make & Donate Chemo Caps" afternoon four times a year, and offers free patterns and instructions for knitting, sewing or crocheting hats for cancer patients. "We were inspired by my mother, who continually knitted scarves and blankets during her chemo treatments at the University of California - San Francisco," explains co-owner Jackie Ortega. "It was a natural fit and a bit of a personal thank you to support UCSF by starting this program. It strengthens our mission and resolve of fostering craft-making and the crafter through community: with events like these, our own creativity is renewed."

HOLY CRAFT!

Church of Craft, which "promotes any and all acts of creation as a means to live life best," has chapters in dozens of cities worldwide, and more forming all the time. Diane Gilleland leads the flock in Portland, Oregon, and her monthly meetings include free classes in sculpture, crocheting with plastic bags, or creating Artist Trading Cards. "The mix is always different, with anywhere from twelve to forty people coming. This is part of what makes our group so wonderful -- it's a new experience every time. And there's a real culture of friendliness, so it's easy for everyone to feel welcome and also have a good time."
  In Omaha, Nebraska, Eliza Metz says, "Our Church of Craft meetings are really loose. People like that they can come in and have a few hours to just lose themselves in friendship and creative flow. We have kids and senior citizens in our group, too -- it isn't age-specific."

Susan Beal, author of "The New Craft Night," is a freelance writer and jewelry designer in Los Angeles who goes out to Craft Night as often as she can -- she even got married in the Church of Craft! Visit her web site at www.susanstars.com.