Craftcore

Craftcore
Artwork from Tumblr user greatlakeslady
Key values	Love for all things handmade
Related aesthetics	Cottagecore Grandmacore Scrapbookcore

Craftcore is the aesthetic themed around hand-crafted items. Most common is embroidery, but it also includes (but is not limited to) sewing, knitting, crochet, needle felting, pottery, woodworking, quilting, bookbinding, scrapbooking, and papercraft.

History

Crafts have existed for a long time. However, the word "Craftcore" hasn't been used for this aesthetic until the late 2010s.

In a society where most products are made by machines and robots, appreciating crafts and the craftsmanship that goes into it is something that has become lost on many members of society. Luckily, many people are still enjoying making and buying handmade items. Just like Cottagecore, Craftcore may be seen as an aesthetic that longs for simplicity and self-sustainability. However, Craftcore is not anti-tech. Using the newest tools for crafts is not looked down upon.

Fashion

Craftcore does not have a clear fashion guideline (it is very versatile and easy to combine with other aesthetics), although the following do fit the Craftcore aesthetic:

• (Self-)knitted sweaters
• Thrifted clothing items that have been personalized by tailoring and/or embroidery
• Overalls that can hold all/most of your tools
• Pencil behind your ear
• Embroidering clothes you already have (most commonly insects (bees, butterflies, ladybugs), flowers/plants, stars/planets, animals (hedgehogs, deer, birds, foxes, cats, dogs), mushrooms, fruit, but also gaming and fandom-related patterns)
• Sturdy boots
• Crocheted hats with flowers on them
• Clothes that you added pockets onto
• Aprons
• Patchwork clothes (like jackets)
• Handpainted denim

Incorporating the aesthetic in your daily life

Examples of this aesthetic in your daily life (that weren't previously mentioned in "Fashion"):

• Making your own bullet journal/sketchbook/scrapbook by bookbinding
• Making your own jam jar fabric cover
• Needlefelting/Knitting/Crocheting your own plushies
• Crafting a desk organizer out of cardboard
• Sewing your own pen case
• Making your own mugs in a pottery class
• Having a desk/place that you use only/mainly for crafting, with all of your tools nearby
• Even choosing to just buy handmade items instead of machine-made ones helps this aesthetic (flea markets are fantastic for this in particular)

(Note: the point of Craftcore is not to "do as many crafts as you can", but it is about loving and appreciating handmade items, whether that is via one craft or more.  Remember; quality over quantity.)

Craftcore does not have to be expensive. Even though professional tools (such as a good sewing machine) are expensive, you can act this aesthetic out by, for example, just buying embroidery needles ($3-6) and yarn ($4-8) (maybe also embroidery hoops ($10-20)) to start embroidering your clothes.

Gallery