Artsy Crafty Library: Fun projects when it's too hot to craft

When summer is in full force, it can feel too hot to do much of anything. I live for a cool autumn morning, sitting by a fire with a cup of coffee and my knitting. But when temperatures hang out in the 90s and 100s, that fantasy quickly turns into a sweaty nightmare. Here are some tips for staying creative even when it feels too hot to do your usual crafting.

Learn a new hobby

For those moments when you’re staying inside and out of the heat, why not learn a new craft? Knitting and other fiber related arts might not be ideal when the temperatures soar, but there are so many other crafts and hobbies to learn! Always wanted to learn to draw, check out one of our Arts & Crafts kits and start learning the basics. Painting all the colors of summer can be a satisfying way to spend your time, too. Creativebug has several watercolor and acrylic painting classes available to help you at any level of your painting game. I recommend the Acrylic Painting for Beginners.

Plan your autumn crafts

When I can’t spend my time crafting, I love to plan out what I’ll be creating next. Even in summer I make time for knitting (knitting socks during summer is much more pleasant than a blanket, plus you have comfy warm socks when the weather finally turns!), but I always like knowing what project I’ll start next. I keep a running list in my notes app of what project I want to start next, and if needed, what materials I need to get to begin. The next best thing to actually crafting, in my opinion, is thinking about crafting.

Explore crafts in different formats

Sometimes it’s too hot and takes too much effort even to think about crafting, let alone actually craft. When those times hit, I like to grab a book. The library has an excellent Arts & Crafts section where you can read or checkout videos about your favorite artist or photographer. Or read about crafts you never plan to do! I find woodworking fascinating, though I’ll likely never take up the craft myself (power tools intimidate me). If cozy mysteries are more your vibe, the Handcrafted Mysteries series by Holly Quinn is a cute series set in a small town craft shop.

Sometimes it really is just too hot, and that’s okay. The great thing about crafts, is they’re always waiting for you when you’re ready.