Thursday, October 24, 2013

Craftsy 101

(Note: This is an affiliate post.)
What is Craftsy?
Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, and more.

Why should I take a class online?
Online education isn’t just for schools and universities anymore. Craftsy courses provide you the convenience of a world-class instructor in your home, whenever you want to learn. Online education, no matter what subject, is a great alternative to in-person classes for a number of reasons.

With many online learning opportunities being on-demand, you are able to learn at your own pace, anytime. Online learning is a fantastic alternative to in-store craft classes for people with busy schedules or who have difficulty leaving the house. It also allows you to watch a troubling section over-and-over again, so you can see exactly how a technique is carried out, or refer back to your class for relevant concepts before beginning any new projects.

My experience with Craftsy has been great.  I am enrolled in four different classes in a variety of subjects- sewing, knitting, crocheting, and bread making.  So far I've had great luck with all the classes I've tried.  The instructors have been great at explaining things.  They don't overwhelm you, or tell you that you need to buy a bunch of supplies to get started.  I work the afternoon shift and live in a small community, so my options for taking a class around here are pretty limited.  Plus, I do better in small groups or one on one, and Craftsy feels very one on one.

I love the online platform because I can go at my pace and pause the videos as I go.  The lessons are streamed right from the website.  There's no timeline for how often you have to sign on and no limit for how many of times you can watch a video.  You can type notes to each lesson as you go that are saved to the video.  You can post pictures of your finished projects. 

If you're interested in learning a new skill, I highly recommend Craftsy.    It's pretty awesome.  And if you're not sure about dropping the moolah on class, try one of the free ones so you can get your feet wet and try out the platform.  See how you like it.  Check out free classes by clicking on ad above.

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