Craft Blogs - what content do you like?

[Hoogally]

So after years of procrastinating I am joining the world of blogging, admittedly a little late in the day.

I do a mix of crafts (knitting, crochet, paper craft etc) but always have a bit of sewing on the go, whether it's appliqué, quilting, embroidery or catering to DS' costume whims.

I was wondering though if I could canvas opinions on what people like, and loathe, in a craft blog.

What makes you return again and again and what makes a blog never darken your virtual doorstep again?

Do you like blogs with a mix of crafts or do you just wish they would make up their mind and stick to one type?

Do you like a "lifestyle" element or just wish they would focus on the craft unless the blogger lives an enviably glamorous and jet set lifestyle.

Do you like tutorials or are they a waste of time with so much free online content already out there?

I'm planning on having certain "features" repeated only a monthly basis to give a bit of structure but it's hard to know whether my ramblings are really only of interest to my biased family or whether I have anything to offer to people that don't know me.

I might be happy to stick to only ever being of interest to family and friends but it might affect the level of effort I put into the design.

This is just my opinion so feel free to ignore it because others might think differently but I think that you should start off with a mixture of crafts and see where it takes you. You might find you end up focusing on one or two over the others.

I think the important thing about blogs is to have something to show with every post. I really don't like blogs where there are endless posts with no pictures. I don't think I am alone in not reading every single word written.

I don't mind personal content either but I get very bored where the balance is lost and there are more pictures of trees and country walks and what the blogger had for tea and very little about their craft. I suppose if I had to put a percentage on it, 70% craft to 30% other stuff.

Tutorials are great so long as they are well done and they should get traffic to your blog which is great.

What sort of blog do you like though? What appeals to you? You could do worse than follow the model of blogs with a lot of followers. They must be doing something right.

No that's helpful thank you.

I've did a few posts and realised they needed a lot more pictures and a lot fewer words.

I love to write but need to practise a little brevity certainly!

Welcome to the land of blog. I started back in 2007...I think. BUT I sort of lost my way. It was one of my personal goals this year to get back into it. Mine is a sort of mish mash of life, waffle and various attempts at crafting.

dingle would you mind pm-ing me yours so I can have a look at it? No problem if not.

Do you have mostly family and friends read it or a wider audience?

I love to write, I itch to write but until I was made redundant this year I just haven't had the time so I am very excited. I get concerned that after a decade of being trained to write in my job (but not a writing for enjoyment/entertainment etc) that I'm going to end up over formal so it would be interesting to read yours.

From the few posts I've done I feel a bit more comfortable doing craft posts than just lifestyle ones. But partly that's trying to get a sense of how much of "me" I want to put into my blog.

It is exciting, I just want to get it right, I wonder if I have anything to add to the amazing body of voices already out there.

Hoogally, I am more than happy to share on here.

I used to be on several different DTs so at one time I did have a fairly wide audience and hits BUT then life got in the way and my crafting took a severe nosedive.

My blog for what it's worth. Needs a lot of TLC and updating but I have told myself I'd like to blog at least once a week...which in turn helps motivate my into crafting.

Happy to link to your blog and visit you!

I read a fair few and tbh I like different approaches....ones with bits of real life can be fascinating and it adds to the feeling that you 'know' the blogger (eg Attic 24, The Quince Tree). I enjoy catching up with those and feel impelled to revisit.

Others are more factual but that's fine too. I'm quite keen on sewing so gravitate to blogs like Handmade Jane which are fairly factual and impart useful/interesting information - tutorials are great IMHO.

Agree about the need for pics, though. And, petty as it might sound, I've given up on blogs before now because they use irritating fonts or backgrounds that look arty but are just incredibly difficult to read on eg a smartphone. Nice, clear, uncluttered design is a big plus in making me want to continue to read.

Good luck, I've occasionally toyed with the thought of blogging myself but I know I'd never be committed or disciplined enough!

Dingle excuse my ignorance but what's a DT please?

halsall it's a good point about ease of reading. I changed my font because of that but I need to check how it looks on a desktop as I've only used an old iPhone and iPad.

DT= Design Team.

I am not sure what mine looks like on a smartphone? It's not very professional, sorry.

Oh Dingle I love your creations.

I only ever dip my smallest toe in paper crafts so what you do seems like alchemy to a fabric junkie like me!

Thank you, but I am the complete opposite. Although I can knit and have tried other basic crafts, sewing is not something I am confident in at all. I was very pleased with my attempt at bunting for my piano though! LOL

I will watch with interest. Good luck.

Dingle I've got a couple of posts in the wings that need uploading to my site.

When I've done that could I pm you to have a look and give constructive criticism? I promise not to take offence.

If you are too busy it's fine. It would be in the next day or two but no rush on your response.

Not sure I will be of much use but I am more than happy to Hoogally!

Dingle, I followed your link and it looks just fine on my smartphone! I was thinking of 2 blogs in particular, one of which uses a very, very pale grey handwriting-type font....the other has a wallpaper background of elaborate curlicues which makes the text almost impossible to read. I've stopped looking at both as life is too short (won't name and shame though ).

OP, are you happy to blog for your own amusement, and count your followers as a bonus? In which case I'd just do what the heck you like.

The other way is to 'monetise' - a word I hate - which as far as I can see is a whole other ball game.....pretty much a full-time job.

I have got a patterned background for a bit of interest but I wanted to keep it quite neutral and subtle...after all it is a background and shouldn't take away from the details of photographs. Thank you for letting me know Halsall!

No, I didn't mean yours, Dingle! The one I'm thinking of is a cookery blog.....and their background is a dark colour in a very emphatic pattern, think William Morris wallpaper-type.

Actually I didn't notice a pattern on yours at all
so if there is one, it's obviously fine!

I'm happy to do it for non profit purposes but would like the interaction with readers, if that makes sense.

Sorry I've not pm'd you Dingle DD has been ill with a nasty tummy bug.

I'm hoping to get around to it by tomorrow once I've finished accommodating DS' very specific requests for a world book day costume

Not a problem, my lot all had it over Half Term, hope your DD feels better soon.

Are you going to blog the World Book Day Costume? LOL

Thanks I think she is on the mend but the cheeky monkey has seen it as an opportunity for extra milk feeds after I worked hard to get them to a reasonable number. So today she has refused all solids but breastfed hourly. I'm shattered - she's nearly eleven months now!

I probably should blog the costume. DS is pleased with it finally but that assumes I'm not doing the finishing touches as he stands on the doorstep on Thursday morning!

I'll be amazed if anything handmade survives a day of DS at school!

Hi Dingle I've pm'd you my blog as I don't know the rules about putting them on threads.

I'm hoping to do another post on the costume tomorrow but feel I should wait until his "grand reveal" at school!

The design isn't finished and things like "about" still need doing but you can at least see my style of posts.

Thank you

Just bumping this in case there are any more burning opinions on craft blogs out there!