There’s something deeply satisfying about creating something with your own two hands. Whether it’s a hand-sewn tote bag, a beaded bracelet, or a refurbished chair you fixed up yourself. For many, the joy behind DIY and indeed teaching creative arts is fast becoming more than a weekend pastime. Today, learning DIY skills is becoming a practical and empowering way to express creativity, save money, live sustainably and even generate income.
From informal markets popping up all over the country, it is clear that there is a growing appreciation for artisanal crafts.
If you have DIY skills, or long to hone them and want to know how they can benefit your home and your pocket, keep reading, your skills may more purpose than you thought.
We are all makers. We are born makers. We move what we’re learning from our heads to our hearts through our hands."
Brené Brown
DIY: More Than Just a Hobby
South Africans are known for their resourcefulness. Whether it’s fixing household items without calling a handyman, upcycling old furniture, or creating handmade gifts, DIY is part of how many of us live and think. But learning DIY skills goes far beyond problem-solving. It builds confidence and independence, and it gives you tools that you can use for life.
There’s a reason so many people are returning to crafts like beadwork, sewing, or woodworking. In a fast-paced digital world, working with your hands is grounding. It's also creative and productive. You’re not just making something nice; you’re building a skillset.
So, what are the craft skills to learn? And, is there a demand for learning creative arts?
Sustainability is Driving Craft and Creativity
One of the major influencers driving interest in DIY skills is the popularity of sustainable living and creating art through upcycling. As the cost of living rises everywhere people are choosing to fix and reuse and even learn DIY skills online! Here, you’ll be encouraged to work with what’s available like using scrap fabric for cushion covers or old tins as plant holders. Even leftover wool has its places! Every small project is a shift towards creativity and conscious living.
Today, markets like I Heart Market in Durban or the Neighbourgoods Market in Jozi are stunning showcases of upcycled and handmade goods. Imperfection, meaning and local are new trends that factory-made items simply cannot match!
Popular DIY Crafts in South Africa
In communities across the country, traditional crafts are enjoying a new wave of popularity, and in many cases, are being reimagined for modern tastes. Beadwork, for example, has deep cultural significance and is often passed down through generations. Today, many young creatives are mixing traditional beading with contemporary fashion to create striking accessories and apparel.
Another craft on the rise is pottery with studios popping up everywhere from Woodstock to Maboneng. Here, spaces provide access to wheels, kilns, and even mentorship opportunities. Also trending across all generations is the craft of knitting and crochet, while sewing remains of the most practical and profitable craft skills to learn.
Platforms like Makers Valley in Joburg are excellent examples of how DIY learning can lead to sustainable income. Here, students who started with online sewing classes now run their own tailoring businesses from home or shared workshops and for them, learning DIY skills was both an opportunity for enrichment and income.
How to Get Started: Learn DIY Skills Online
Thanks to digital tools and online communities, anyone can start crafting from home. Whether you’re a beginner looking for simple tutorials or a more experienced maker wanting to refine your style, there are endless options to learn DIY skills online.
YouTube is a treasure trove. Channels like "Made in South Africa" offer tutorials on everything from bead embroidery to macramé wall hangings. Local creatives like @SewSoEasySA on Instagram also share step-by-step guides that make it easier for beginners to follow along.
Then there’s Superprof, a unique platform where you can find South African tutors who offer one-on-one or group classes in everything from woodworking to knitting to home décor.
So, whether you’re interested in reviving an old skill or learning something completely new, finding a tutor can make a huge difference. Not only do they provide guidance and accountability, but they can also help you build a portfolio of work if you're hoping to sell or teach in future.
Teaching as a Way to Grow
One of the most powerful outcomes of developing your DIY skills is the ability to share what you know with others. Teaching creative arts is one of the most fulfilling ways to deepen your knowledge while helping others build confidence in themselves.
In many townships and under-resourced areas, the transfer of skills is a life-changing tool. A simple beading class at a community centre or an online crochet course through Superprof can become the foundation of someone’s small business. Tutors will share knowledge, offer hope, structure and all the steps you need for self-reliance.
Remember that teaching creative arts is about nurturing creativity, discipline and entrepreneurship, hugely rewarding aspects in themselves.
As a tutor, platforms like Superprof make it easy to build a profile, set your rates, and advertise your availability. Now, with the growing interest in sustainable living and handmade goods, there is real demand for tutors who can guide learners through more personalised and practical classes.
Monetising Your DIY Journey
As a crafting or DIY student, once you’ve built confidence, you may want to start selling your work. This can be as simple as opening a small Instagram shop or selling at weekend markets in your city. You could start with friends and family, and slowly grow a customer base through word of mouth.
Eventually, you could use your skills to teach online. Once you’ve mastered learning DIY skills, there’s no reason why you can’t begin to start mentoring others.
Branding need not be perfect or expensive, rather focus on telling your story by being authentic.
Whether you decide to teach or not, branding will play a big role in getting your product known. Naming your business, designing a logo, and creating a basic website or social media presence are all the beginnings of a professional identity. Remember it need not be perfect or expensive, rather focus on telling your story by being authentic.
As a tutor offering craft skills to learn for any level, you could guide your students through this branding process. If you can offer more than DIY crafting skills, you’ll be helping them to build strong business foundations.
Why DIY is for Everyone
There is no single type of person who does DIY. From university students looking to save money, to stay-at-home parents making décor for their homes, to retirees exploring creative hobbies, DIY is for anyone who loves creating and working with their hands.
What starts as a hobby can slowly grow into a service, a shop, or even a new career path. The benefits are beyond income generation. Studies have shown that crafting reduces stress, improves focus, and boosts mental health. Unsurprisingly, it also connects us to tradition, community, and ourselves.
By embracing DIY skills, we tap into a form of learning that’s active, joyful, and empowering. Whether you’re knitting a scarf, painting a flower pot, or teaching someone how to sew, you’re creating value not just in what you produce or teach, but in how you feel.
Learning DIY Skills is the Quiet Revolution
In a world that often values speed over care and mass production over craftsmanship, DIY is a quiet revolution. It’s a return to personal connection and to making things with intention and pride. For South Africans, our rich creative history and vibrant communities provide rich fodder for inspiration and for honouring our heritage.
So, if you’ve been curious about learning to sew, knit, bead or build, why wait? Now is the time to start. On Superprof you could learn DIY skills online or in-person, connect with mentors, like-minded souls and even turn your craft into income. Make sure you check out the other articles in this series about the best craft skills to learn to enrich lives, create jobs and simply make each day a little more beautiful.
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