8 Classic Projects That We’re Bringing Back in 2022

Take a RIde in our Crafty Time Machine...

2022 is upon us and we don’t know about you, but each New Year rejuvenates us with ideas for new projects. We’re leaning into our Holiday nostalgia, and remembering our favorite craft pastimes that we hope make a comeback this year! We’re bringing in some old with the new. 

1.Shrinky Dinks:

Shrinky Dinks were invented in the 70s by two moms helping their children with a project and have since been a popular choice of medium for crafting. If you need a memory jog, Shrinky Dinks kits usually consist of sheets of polystyrene paper occasionally outlined with pre-printed images, that one cuts, shapes and fills in with color then heats in an oven to set which would shrink to a third of their original size. The polystyrene paper hardens, retaining the desired shape and color. A lot of crafty jewelry makers on Etsy still use this method to create jewelry, charms, tags, and more. Even more fascinating, scientists and technicians at Harvard University and MIT created a self-assembling robot – yes you heard that correctly, ROBOT – out of Shrinky Dink paper! Our minds are blown when the combination of science, art and technology happen.

2.Macramé:

Macramé has actually made quite a revival the last several years, the first time since it died down in the 80s, and we can’t get enough of it. Macramé is an ancient art form of knotting as opposed to weaving or knitting, and is utilized in various forms such as plant hangers, wall hangings and jewelry. Macrame has been around for centuries, with the first evidence of it originating in Babylon. In recent years, many have modernized macramé into a more sophisticated art form advancing it from it’s more utilitarian origins into intricate accent pieces for home decor. Although simple in repetition, these projects yield gorgeous results.

3.Granny Square Crochet Vests:

These super cute bohemian style projects are definitely on our to-do list this winter in preparation for summer (YES, our mind is already in summer mode, don’t judge), and this will help us pass the time by until then. Crocheted looks, like macramé décor, are making a big comeback in high fashion. Granny Square Crocheting received its name much like one would imagine, due to associating this craft with your grandmother! However, you can now find Granny Square-d garments being made by fashion brands such as Alice + Olivia, Mango and many independent designers on Etsy.

4. Splattered Jeans:

Splattered clothing is making a comeback especially within the last year as a response of wanting to dress fun again during the trying times of the pandemic. Many brands and designers attribute the trend being set by none other than Jackson Pollock, with the dubbed nickname of ‘Jack the Dripper’. Pollock simply dressing in his self-made work uniform unintentionally began a desired look in the fashion world that soon others would mimic and recreate: utilitarian streetwear meets avant-garde fashion. Many have enjoyed implementing this super inexpensive yet effective free-form way of ‘spicing’ up their wardrobes that look high fashion. 

5.Denim Short Bags

We’re feeling these 90s trends that are making a comeback these last few years, and do not want to leave out the Denim Short bags. Upcycling in any capacity to make a new garment or accessory, rather than buying new is such a win-win to us, as we should all be conscious makers facing today’s state of rapid climate change. Some larger brands are leading by example in showing us that upcycling denim can be high fashion, such as Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs and the queen of sustainable brands, Eileen Fisher. You and your little ones, go grab some scraps from your old jeans and make something new (and fashionable)!

6.Braided Rugs

Another ethical use of clothes that you were going to part with, braided rugs are a great activity to do with your little ones, and are really meditative and easy. Feel free to pick out a few episodes of your favorite show while you prepare your strips out of old t-shirts, button-downs and pants and start braiding! Not only have you saved your old clothes from ending up in a landfill, but you’ve spruced up your home with new custom decor that you made with your children. Plus, it’s always easy to add more braided yardage if you ever want to expand!

7.Mod Podge

What can’t Mod Podge do? From image transferring onto objects, to creating and assembling three-dimensional objects from scratch, this versatile medium will always be in style. Mod Podge was invented in the 60s and has since released various forms of the product for different goals. Such as: Fabric, Hard Coat for Furniture, Paper and Outdoor formulas. Again, what can’t it do? You can also choose from a glossy or matte finish in any of your applications, and as long as you have a good brushes and a clean surface you and your helpers can go to town!

8.Beaded Keychains

This timeless craft can adorn various surfaces, garments and accessories, and one of our favorites, and quickest beaded items to whip up are the memorable beaded keychains. Most modern beading is accomplished using glass, wood, clay or plastic beads, however, ancient beads originated from using ostrich shells in Africa, fascinating! Beading is a repetitive artform of placing beads on a wire or string and a series of tying and alternating sides of the string to create shapes and outlines. We also like incorporating different hues of the same color to create more three-dimension in whatever motif we are making. There are extremely intricate methods of beading under the beading umbrella (woah just pictured what a beaded umbrella would look like!), such as tambour, and bead weaving (on or off the loom) which takes patience and impressive precision, yielding stunning couture-esque results. Creating these beaded keychains really brings us back in time, especially when we see the infamous green geckos or the fruit shaped keychains. 

We will always love these classic projects that remind us of our own childhood and teenage years, and are thinking of creating one of each from this list, to strut the most extravagant ensemble you’ve ever seen! All of these projects are simple yet can generate such artistic and even, dare we say, wearable results. We can’t wait to have our campers back at The Handwork Studio this summer, but are excited for them to dive into these awesome projects in the meantime!

Discover hands-on skills in 2022 with our summer camp programs!

The Handwork Studio, a fun, summer enrichment camp where kids learn by making. Since 2001, we've been the leading educators in teaching kids hands-on skills that you won't find in your school curriculum. Whether your child is interested in building, sewing, coding or design, we provide engaging activities for kids to embrace their imagination and think like innovators. Click below to find a summer camp location near you.