I'm going to a craft workshop this weekend

[Mugon]

On my own.

I'm quite looking forward to it. I'm not a creative person, at all, but I like having a go and learning something new.

If I'm completely honest I booked it on a whim to avoid something else I was invited on and didn't want to do (too peopley).

I'm very introverted and won't know anyone there. It think it will be OK while we're in the sessions and working on our crafts, but I've been brave and also booked to stay for lunch. I expect most people will be going with friends.

Survival techniques please?

Smile (everybody likes smiley people), hold your head high ( to create an impression that you’re absolutely fine with being by yourself) and ask people questions (most people enjoy talking about themselves)! Have fun!

Good for you! What craft are you doing?

I’ve been on loads of these. There’ll be lots of twos, where one person has dragged their friend along with them, but it would be unusual for there not to be lots of people on their own too.

If you get really stuck but want to make conversation, tell someone you love what they’re making.

Have a brilliant time.

Crochet and felting. I've never tried either and am not even sure what felting is 😆

I’m super introverted too. Happiest in my own company and find even being with my DP depletes my energy. I like things like craft classes etc as you have a focus, so don’t have to think of things to talk about. You can get your head down and concentrate on what you’re making or just make polite chat about the materials or “ooh its a bit fiddly isn’t it” and you won’t come across rude. I used to go to a rock choir, which I loved as you had 10 mins of polite chitchat when you arrived and a tea break half way through, but were otherwise fully engaged in the learning and singing so no need to be sociable. Parties etc where the whole focus is the talking to people, my idea of hell!

Have fun and show us a pic of what you make!

Take a drink and a packed lunch - in my experience these things are often quite a way for somewhere sensible to grab a lunch.

You'll have a great time. Lots of more reserved people do classes like this, it's not very chatty unless you want it to be.

You can lose yourself in the activity or you can talk to people, it is totally normal to do either one.

They're providing lunch. A very reasonably priced extra, which is why I decided it would be daft not to.

Felting is brilliant. It’s one of those crafts where imperfections don’t really show (unlike cross stitch or sewing for example); they’re just part of whatever you’re making, so you can really just relax and enjoy the process without worrying about whether anything is a millimetre out of place.

Crochet is a bastard. And that is completely unrelated to me being very bitter because I am totally incapable of doing it! 😁

You’ll have a wonderful time.

@WilfredsPies - I'm the other way around - crochet is loads of fun and felting is quite fun but items to stab myself quite a lot and bleed over my project

I’d love to be able to do it. I’ve read books with diagrams. I’ve watched you tube tutorials, I’ve done a work shop and my friend has literally guided my hands, but as soon as she stopped, I just couldn’t work out where to put the needle next. And I can knit. I mean, I won’t be making any jumpers or anything, but if you want a scarf, I’m your woman. But crochet is completely beyond my skills and that irritates the life out of me!

I’m very jealous of anyone who can do it.

It's quite easy to talk to people whilst working on something with your hands. I've done quite a few classes like this. There is usually someone you can easily chat to about a shared interest, or alternatively someone who loves the sound of their own voice so all you have to do is nod occasionally.

I run workshops like this and often get messages from people saying they're coming alone and a bit nervous, can I make sure they're not somewhere they feel awkward... part of the job is a bit of seating planning, and facilitating chats etc. drop the facilitator a message!