Jenna Doyle of Summit Dye Designs makes a tie-dyed T-shirt ( Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Crafting craze hits Medicine Hat

Mar 22, 2021 | 8:39 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– At the Duddy household it’s another day of woodworking. Together this couple has been busy, cutting, crafting, and creating.

” For the string art that’s one we usually do together. He cuts and stains the boards for me then I punch the holes in, string it and nail it so that one we are usually more together on,” Laura Duddy said.

Their desire to create went into overdrive as a way to escape the doom and gloom of the pandemic.

“It really took off. It was everything from 3D printing to laser engraving to woodworking to you name it,” Michael Duddy said.

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And they aren’t the only ones who have caught the crafting bug.

Jenna Doyle took up tie-dying this January.

” I think it is just fun. No tie-dye is the same. Every tie-die is different and it is unique, and you can use whatever colors you want, you can express yourself however you want. I just think it is fun and it brings a lot of color, it makes everyone happy when you see the tie-dye colors how can you not be happy,” Doyle said.

Since starting in January, she has started her own business called Summit Dye Designs which provides an array of tie-dyed products from, t-shirts, scrunchies, and bags.

Over at Top Knotch Custom Creations, in downtown Medicine Hat owner Shannon Deveau says a crafting craze has definitely hit the city.

At the beginning of March, with the approval of Alberta Health, she started offering educational arts and crafts workshops.

” They have been selling out within 10 minutes,” Deveau said.

“I’ve got five more to go this month and they are all sold out,” she said.

With so many people cutting, crafting, and painting, Deveau said, finding the right supplies at times has proven tricky.

“I’ve had to go to suppliers outside of Medicine Hat, and like have to wait for them for long periods of time whereas before I didn’t have to. Trying to find the paintbrushes that I need, paint colors that I need, just stuff like that.” Deveau said.

As for why so many are turning to crafts?

Crafters across the city said it all comes down to relaxation and the joy of creating something out of nothing.