Crafting on the go: the new iPad app from Craftsy

I am intermittently craft-crazy, with bouts of knitting and jewelry-making fever. Unfortunately, my skill set doesn't always match up to my enthusiasm, as evidenced by the sweater I knitted for my son that took two years. (Yes, two years…

November 1, 20122 min read
Crafting on the go: the new iPad app from Craftsy
I am intermittently craft-crazy, with bouts of knitting and jewelry-making fever. Unfortunately, my skill set doesn't always match up to my enthusiasm, as evidenced by the sweater I knitted for my son that took two years. (Yes, two years; the second year consisted of me adding panels to the original pattern because my kid insisted on growing.) Now, there's an app for enthusiastic, if execution-challenged crafting amateurs like myself.



Craftsy, the uber-popular home for online crafting classes in knitting, sewing, quilting, cake decorating and much more, has launched their iPad app, now available for free download.  Of course, free download doesn't mean free classes; there are a few free mini-classes, but the majority of the instruction on Craftsy is between $19.99 and $40.

While this may sound expensive, especially since there is much free content on YouTube, Craftsy's video quality is excellent (including helpful close-up shots of the stuff you really need to see) and their instructors are professionals, who are screened, reliable and probably charging a lot more moolah for a live class. You can re-watch any portion of your class as many times as you like and even ask questions of the teacher and community. Online classes with this level of interaction elsewhere often run into the hundreds.

Subjects range from creating modern quilts to metalsmithing at home, decorating your own wedding cake, scrapbooking, and even a few holiday crafts for beginners. Poke around and you'll have fun imagining what you'll do with your new skills.

A helpful side note: if there's no sound on your Craftsy class, check your iPad to make sure it's not on mute--there are many videos and music sites that will play even if your device is muted, but Craftsy is not one of them. I say this only because that tip is all over their website, not because it actually happened to me. Ahem. -Shari

Download the free Craftsy iPad app at the iTunes store. Or check out Craftsy.com to take craft courses online from your computer.
Note: This is imported sample content. Original source.
The Weekly Pick

One tested product, every Thursday

No roundups, no fluff. Just the thing we'd actually buy for our own kids.

More in DIY