Craft Activities Research Articles

Toropets in the Territorial and Administrative System of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Moscow State at the End of the 15th — 16th Century

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the territorial, administrative and settlement structure of Toropets and Toropets uezd at the end of the 15th — 16th centuries. During the period when Toropets was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it was influenced by its peripheral position and its status as a state settlement, direct tax collection and at the same time maintaining relative independence. Communal traditions inherited from the Old Russian period were also preserved. The involvement of both urban and rural population in crafts activities was recorded, which influenced the formation of special territories (perevaras) in the Toropets uezd. The territories of volosts and a perevaras according to the scribe book of 1540 were localized. The territories of perevaras were within the borders of volosts. The inhabitants of the volosts and the townspeople of Toropets owned the side honey trees. In the city, the yards of shabry are recorded — the collective landowners, and in the county, on the territory of the crossing — the “nest” of settlements under a generalizing name, which served as a means of identifying the object of taxation. After Toropets joined the Moscow state, these features remain. However, the community land ownership and honey craft gradually decline throughout the 16th century.

Poster Presentation

Poster Presentation

PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION: A FEW RECOVERY NARRATIVES

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru provides Recovery Oriented Services (ROSeS) to persons with mental illness which promote recovery beyond the mere alleviation of symptoms. A range of vocational sections (bamboo, candle, bakery, printing, mat weaving, tailoring, computer, plastic molding, weaving, leather, craft, horticulture, domestic skills, arts & recreational activities) are available to choose from. PRS is run by a multidisciplinary team comprising of professionals from psychiatry, psychiatric social work, clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing and vocational instructors (for training persons with mental disabilities and families in various vocations). The main objective of PRS is to encourage and empower persons with mental illness and caregivers to lead an independent, productive and dignified life with help of society, industry, community leaders, governmental and non-governmental agencies. The interventions promote reintegration of clients with mainstream society and improve the quality of life. The stories titled walking the road to recovery, rediscovering happiness, role model supporters, a journey toward wellness, smaller actions mean more than big intentions, and attitudinal barriers in rehabilitation are the recovery narratives of six individuals with mental illness in which they and their caregivers describe how the PRS team provided them with the support needed for recovery. Here the primary focus was on their personal strengths and resources than the deficits and symptoms. However, these narratives are indicative that recovery is possible for most of everyone as it is defined by the individual doing it.

Из истории проектной культуры Среднего Поволжья: санно-тележное производство середины XIX – первой половины XX вв.

The origins of design lie in the traditional forms of design culture of pre-industrial societies, expressed in handicrafts and folk crafts. Sledges and carts production (and the associated manufacture of wheels and rims) on the Middle Volga, as well as throughout Russia in the mid-19 – first half of the 20 centuries, was a common and traditional type of craft activity, handicraft. Due to the multi-ethnicity of the region, we can talk about its small local features — the specifics of production processes, decor, and the ethnic division of labor. The exchange of cultural forms led to the typification of tools and techniques in the sledges and carts production of all ethnic groups of the Middle Volga — Mordovians, Tatars, Chuvashs. The reasons for this alignment are the practical benefits and long cohabitation of peoples in the region, which through cross-borrowing determined the general economic structure and nature of the project culture. Sledges and carts production of the Middle Volga region from the mid-19 – first half of the 20 centuries was realized through traditional design forms (sledges such as dróvni, rózval`ni, koshévny`e; carts such as pólok, ry`dván, dolgúsha, drógi, tarantás). The paper pays particular attention to the analysis of their manufacturing technologies. The study of various aspects of the sledges and carts production of the Middle Volga region will allow enriching theoretical ideas in the field of studying the traditional design culture of the region. Some of the points and conclusions of the study may be useful in designing an urban environment.

SALVAGE AND RESCUE ARCHAEOLOGY INSIDE ANCIENT TULA: RECENT DISCOVERIES AND REVELATIONS

AbstractThis article presents the results of seven archaeological salvage and rescue projects that resulted in new information on settlement at Tula, Hidalgo that includes materials and evidence of activities rarely or never before encountered at Tula. Several localities exhibited evidence of craft activities that included the production of basalt megaliths, human and animal figurines, and the processing of human skulls. One locality was the scene of elaborate ritual involving the mass sacrifice of children, and another was the scene of elaborate ritual destruction and offerings involving some of the most sumptuous objects yet found at Tula. One of the most remarkable aspects of the wealth of information and material culture obtained was that these were salvage and rescue operations undertaken with limited time and resources in localities determined by factors in which previous archaeological knowledge played no guiding role. These investigations indicate that despite the extensive damage suffered by Tula outside the protected area, much of the old city still remains for researchers for the immediate future.

Аncient Gilea in the Lower Dnieper

The purpose of the article is to highlight the dynamics of changes in the geographical situation in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, in particular on the Kinburn peninsula in ancient times and the development of the region against the background of the Greek colonization of the Lower Bug region. Methodology. When writing the article, general scientific methods and a systematic approach to the study of written and archaeological sources were used. The scientific novelty lies in the comparison of archaeological and ancient Greek literary sources with paleogeographic data, which made it possible to restore natural conditions in the area of the Bugo-Dnieper estuary and significantly supplement the idea of the formation of Greek-barbarian relations in the region. Conclusions. The natural conditions in the area of the Bugo-Dneprovsky estuary changed repeatedly over the past millennia, which was associated with fluctuations in the Black Sea level. Significant changes also took place after the 17th-18th centuries. In ancient times, the Kinburn Peninsula was known in antique literature, but it had a completely different configuration of the coastline and was covered with dense deciduous forest. At the end of the seventh century BC on the banks of one of the branches of the Dnieper delta, a settlement arose, which, by its morphological characteristics, was defined as a temporary seasonal marketplace, where artisans, people from the Dnieper region, the Balkans, the North Caucasus and even the distant eastern regions, worked in the warm season. The fading of life in the marketplace was associated with the founding of Olbia, where artisans who came from afar could stay for a long period, regardless of seasonal changes in the weather and renting premises for setting up temporary workshops there. From Olbia, those craftsmen could extend their activities to the chora settlements, as evidenced by the worn-out clay molds on some of them, and the burial of a barbarian caster in the Marytsynskyi burial ground near Olbia. When the lease expired, the craftsmen left, and the premises were cleaned and all traces of craft activities were dumped into an abandoned basement room in the Upper Town, excavated in the 50s of last century or into pits similar to the one that was excavated in 1982.

Constructing ‘good teaching’ through written lesson observation feedback

ABSTRACT This paper explores the ways in which ‘good teaching’ is constructed through mentors’ written lesson observation feedback during Initial Teacher Education (ITE). Written lesson observation feedback has received little research attention, yet represents a potentially powerful activity for teachers’ development. It is also an important aspect of direct university-school-beginning teacher collaboration which is common across diverse programmes and ITE partnerships internationally. Data were collected from written lesson observation feedback given to beginning teachers (n=127) on one ITE programme in England across oneyear to a total of 508 lessons, and analysed through a typology of competing conceptions of teaching defined by Winch et al.: craft, executive technician, and extended professional. These data suggest that teaching is predominantly constructed through mentors’ written feedback as a craft or technical activity. In response, we argue that there is scope to broaden the evidence considered, in particular by bringing observed insights about beginning teachers’ practice into dialogue with research evidence to construct a more expansive vision of teaching as a professional endeavour. This paper extends previous work on written lesson observation feedback through a larger scale empirical study, and by connecting the practice with broader attempts seeking to improve teachers’ engagement with research evidence.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on senior-to-senior social engagement activities at a community space in Japan

A local community space in Japan, Chiki Kastudokan, has been hosting several senior-to-senior social activities for community-dwelling older adults with support from the University of Tokyo. The activities are aimed at fostering communication and social engagement through exercise, music, cafe, and craft. After the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, these activities have been disrupted. We conducted a questionnaire survey between June and July 2020 to assess how the pandemic has affected 26 activities and identify support needs that can enable their continuity amid the pandemic (response rate: 77%). First, all 26 activities were suspended by the onset of COVID-19. Hosts of 8 (40%) activities devised alternative ways to engage participants at home. For instance, hosts of craft activities arranged and sent to participants crafting kits. Limited capacity in using online platforms like Skype or Zoom prevented virtual interaction of hosts and participants. Notably, hosts were anxious towards resuming activities amid the pandemic. They worried about their health (50%), of being criticized by friends and family(25%), and of infections spreading among participants (85%). Hosts wanted strategies to prevent infections during activities, and easy to understand infection prevention guidelines for participants. These findings reveal that COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected senior-to-senior activities at Chiki Kastudokan. The University of Tokyo could help hosts identify effective infection prevention strategies to use when hosting activities amid the pandemic. It could also provide ICT training to hosts and participants to enhance their capacity in using online platforms in case of future waves of COVID-19.

Changes in Electroencephalography and Cardiac Autonomic Function During Craft Activities: Experimental Evidence for the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy.

Occupational therapy often uses craft activities as therapeutic tools, but their therapeutic effectiveness has not yet been adequately demonstrated. The aim of this study was to examine changes in frontal midline theta rhythm (Fmθ) and autonomic nervous responses during craft activities, and to explore the physiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of occupational therapy. To achieve this, we employed a simple craft activity as a task to induce Fmθ and performed simultaneous EEG and ECG recordings. For participants in which Fmθ activities were provoked, parasympathetic and sympathetic activities were evaluated during the appearance of Fmθ and rest periods using the Lorenz plot analysis. Both parasympathetic and sympathetic indices increased with the appearance of Fmθ compared to during resting periods. This suggests that a relaxed-concentration state is achieved by concentrating on craft activities. Furthermore, the appearance of Fmθ positively correlated with parasympathetic activity, and theta band activity in the frontal area were associated with sympathetic activity. This suggests that there is a close relationship between cardiac autonomic function and Fmθ activity.

Pärandtehnoloogiline käsitööuurimus: lähenemised ja väljavaated / Craft research and traditional technologies: practices and perspectives

The article provides an overview of the practices and perspectives related to craft research and traditional technologies as studied and taught in the Estonian Native Crafts Department in University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy. Academic craft research is discussed in the context of neighbouring disciplines in the humanities, such as ethnology, semiotics, archaeology, art history, and conservation, amongst others. Against this background, the distinctive traits of craft research are foregrounded. The article also aims to position Estonian craft research amongst its peer disciplines. We hope that it sparks constructive discussion and further cooperation with interested partners in order to advance craft studies in general.
 Within the framework of an academic institution, craft research inevitably involves difficulties that need to be overcome as academic knowledge is traditionally considered to be abstract, and not skill-related. Traditional craft skills are part of intangible cultural heritage, therefore it is important to pay them due respect in research and higher education.
 The Committee of Craft Terminology was established in 2016 at the initiative of the Estonian Native Crafts Department. The definition of craft skills they work with is: the combined set of manual, bodily and intellectual practices that form part of intangible cultural heritage, the usage of which produces examples of material culture. It is acknowledged that traditional craft skills are not objectively given, but are constantly constructed by the masters of craft as well as by researchers. In craft research orientated to traditional technologies the following objects of study may be listed: artefacts, technologies, materials, tools and workshops, master skills. The chief research questions are: how are artefacts made?, what skills does this require?, what are the reasons behind doing certain things? This article focuses on the application of practice-led research, drawing on examples from four outstanding MA theses defended at the Estonian Native Crafts Department of UT VCA.
 Ethnographic research has provided a firm platform for the development of Estonian craft research. The importance of skills and their documentation was already acknowledged as a vital aspect in understanding local material culture in the 1920s at the beginning of systematic ethnographic data collection by the Estonian National Museum. The questionnaires sent to the members of the network of the museum’s correspondents all over Estonia have yielded a great deal of interesting information about various craft-related practices. And, to date,not all of this material has been exhaustively studied.
 The most interesting ethnographic studies concerning traditional technologies combine thorough fieldwork, skilful use of written responses from correspondents, outstanding observational skills, and a deep knowledge of local dialects and folklore.
 Especially interesting developments in the study of old technologies have been initiated during the past few decades by archaeologists using experimental methods. When dealing with ancient artefacts whose makers can no longer be observed or interviewed and for which there is archival information, novel methods have to be employed. Experimental creation, chemical analyses, or study under a microscope may supply interesting data about the artefacts in question, the ways they were made and the material they were made from.
 Practice-led research usually starts with the question ‘How is it made?’, and the first stage of data collection comprises ‘close observation’, which involves a detailed mapping of all the physical and observable parameters of the object under study, including drawing up a technological description with notes about its wear, defects, repairs, and so on.
 A craft researcher should be a skilled craftsperson him- or herself in order to be able to pose meaningful questions about the technological aspects of the objects being studied. A craft researcher can detect, describe and reconstruct the methods of making of an old artefact in a way that will make it possible to repeat that original process of making, bequeathing us a material object technologically similar to the original.
 How might craft research contribute to the humanities in general? This article offers three keywords: materiality, bodily knowledge, and environmental sustainability. The co-operation between master and his/her material is crucial in skilled craft activities. The notions of embodied knowledge and embodied cognition that originate in phenomenology, as well as the concept of tacit knowledge associated with Michael Polany, are cornerstones in the understanding of traditional crafts. Environmental sustainability is a key question that will increasingly shape human activity. Studying traditional technologies, tools, materials, skills and crafts provides a much-needed basis in the general turn towards a more sustainable lifestyle
 Keywords: Craft research, practice-based research method, material culture, craf

Woodworking technology during the early Neolithic: First results at the site of La MARMOTTA (Italy)

The archaeological site La Marmotta (AnguillaraSabazia, Italy) is a singular place as regards the conservation and recovery of wood and plant remains. The exceptional preservation at the site allowed the recovery of five canoes and numerous objects related to navigation, house building, agriculture, hunting and craft activities. The wide range of artefacts found, and the time of the occupation between 5700 and 5300 cal BC, make La Marmotta a point of reference for the study of technology in wood during the early Neolithic in the Mediterranean basin. The specific objective of this study is the taxonomic identification of the ligneous species used as raw material to make artefacts for farming activities. An assemblage of complete and fragmented sickles has been studied. Deciduous Quercus sp. Is the most important taxonaccording to the number of sickles identified. However, other taxa were also used. Woodworking implies a profound knowledge of the natural environment and the characteristics of the wood. The assemblage of wooden objects found at the La Marmotta site reflects the significance of this raw material for Neolithic societies. They are undoubtedly the reflection of a technologically skilled society that will revolutionise our conception of Neolithic communities, which were much more advanced than we thought.

Sosyo-Ekonomik Değişmeyle Başa Çıkmak: Küçük Esnafın Taktikleri

As a result of economic and social transformations, new professions arise, and some established professions diminish or reform themselves. In this context, small shopkeepers based on commercial or arts & crafts activities develop new methods to survive in new settings. In order to explore this phenomenon qualitatively, a neighborhood in the inner city of Istanbul with a rich variety of small businesses was chosen. In-depth interviews and participant observations we re conducted with a limited sample of shops that have survived at least 15 years. They compete against increasing taxes, changing laws and legislations, a growing impact of chain stores and authorized sellers, and changing cooperation and conflict relations with local economic actors. They also try to keep up with changing consumption patterns and expectations of their clients. Small shopkeepers’ efforts to survive we re analyzed referring to the concept of “tactic,” defined by de Certeau as practical solutions created by ordinary individual actors, as opposed to “strategies”, meaning institutional macro regulations. In particular, we re-analyzed three types of tactics developed by small shopkeepers against changing socio-economic conditions: widening the range of products and services within the borders of their professions, providing customer-specific services, and creating informal solidarity networks.

Psychotherapy as a skilled practice.

While psychotherapy is related to both science and art, it is primarily a craft activity requiring the development of skilful practice, epitomized by the discipline of the analytic attitude. In terms of the forms of knowledge outlined by Aristotle, this places psychotherapy in the realm of 'technê' (arts and craft) rather than epistêmê (science). In particular, the technê of psychotherapy is concerned with the development of phronesis (practical wisdom) in both patient and analyst and its ultimate aim is concerned with the promotion of eudaimonia, a state of well-being considered by Aristotle to be definitive of 'the good life'. It is therefore fundamentally an ethical endeavour. The nature of psychotherapeutic skill is illustrated by analogy with three other forms of technê - music, meditation and pottery. Clinical examples illustrate the crafting of interpretations and the art of patient holding.

The Acquisition of Peer Manding Using a Speech-Generating Device in Naturalistic Classroom Routines

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of an interrupted chain procedure and a time delay with full physical prompts, in the establishment of peer manding, within a naturally occurring classroom routine. The participants included three preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who used a tablet-based speech-generating device to communicate. Using a multiple baseline across subjects design, the participants were instructed to complete an arts and crafts activity, with an item needed to complete the activity in possession of the peer listener. Training included a three-second time delay with full physical prompts, which was used to evoke correct responding. Participants were exposed to this paradigm until responding reached a mastery criterion of 80% independent peer manding across three consecutive sessions. All three participants acquired the ability to mand from the peer using the training procedures, two of the three participants demonstrated maintenance of the acquired skill. Limitations and considerations for future investigations are also discussed.

¡Bienvenidos! Cuentos en el Parque: Taking Library and Other Community Services on Location

During the middle of the summer in Sherwood, Oregon, if you are walking through the grounds of one of the largest parks in town, you will see tables set up for lunch for a crowd, other tables with free books and community information, bubbles filling the air, and about 100 kids and their grown-ups enjoying a camp-like experience. You will see families of all demographics enjoying stories and songs in Spanish and English. You will see happy faces lined up for lunch, and a riotous enthusiasm that only kids exude during a fun craft or outdoor game activity. You might wonder what is going on. Is it a school gathering? Is it a city event? Is it a community fair? The answer is all of the above. It’s Bilingual Storytime in the Park/Hora de cuentos en el parque, an annual storytime session that runs once a week for six weeks during the summer, now in its fourth year. Bilingual Storytime in the Park is an outreach program run by Sherwood Public Library, Sherwood School District’s Sherwood Helping All Reach Excellence (S.H.A.R.E.) Center, and Sherwood YMCA. Community partners also include Helping Hands, MudPuddles Toys and Books, Sherwood Center for the Arts, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, and the City of Sherwood, all of which come together to reach Spanish-speaking families. This article will describe how our library partnered with other city organizations to create a successful outreach program for families and how you can do the same.

A New Car Concept Developed with Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE)

In this work, a structured design method, the Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE), is applied for the construction of a new minivan car, in particular a new city car, which we will call FIAT 600 Omega. The SDE, or Stylistic Design Engineering, is a structured engineering method for carrying out automotive design projects. The SDE method consists of six different phases: (1) Analysis of stylistic trends; (2) Sketches; (3) 2D Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings; (4) 3D CAD models; (5) Rendering; (6) Solid stylistic model (also called style maquette). This project deals with the external redesign of the Fiat 600 multiple, a small minivan which was very successful in the 1950s and 1960s. SDE is a methodology consisting of various technologies and design methodologies that will be further explained in detail, such as the Pininfarina method, the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method, Benchmarking (BM), and Top Flop Analysis (TPA). The work was organized according to the different phases. Initially, the Fiat style was studied, in particular the style of the FIAT 600 MULTI PURPOUSE VEHICLE (MPV). This step is essential to better understand the characteristics of the brand and also the main characteristics carried out over the decades. Then we moved on to the freehand sketching phase, based on what we learned in the previous phase of the study. When a satisfactory shape was found for the new car, by analyzing and discarding the different proposals of the various types of style, we proceeded to the evaluation of the proportions and dimensions through two-dimensional drawings and finally we obtained the three-dimensional shape of the new car thanks to 3D CAD software and rendering software. Many advantages in the industrial world SDE takes together with its development. In fact, until the early 2000s, car design and styling was considered quite a craft activity, not a technical or scientific one, mostly based on the great capability of famous car designers and masters, just like Giugiaro, Zagato, Bertone, Pininfarina, Stephenson, Bangle, etc. Then, thanks to the industrial activity of Eng. Lorenzo Ramacciotti, former CEO of Pininfarina Spa and Mechanical Engineer, and also thanks to the academic studies developed at ALMA MATER STUDIORUM University of Bologna, SDE became the object of attention, because it is able to systematize the car design process and reduce costs. With SDE, a good design research or an industrial product development team can complete a car design project, also without the presence of a mentor. Car Design Process finally becomes with SDE a scientific method; Car Design becomes with SDE an industrial method. Industrial needs are nice products made in a short time; SDE is structured to attend these issues. Industrial challenges follow innovation, in shape and functionality; SDE is able to recognize innovation. Industrial benefits can be reached with SDE, ensuring beautiful aesthetic projects are realized systematically and with low costs.

In full bloom

Flowers, plants, snails and birds provide inspiration for a range of craft activities, including finger puppets, paper plate bird nest decorations and a crown of leaves.

The authenticity of using visual methods to represent the emotional well-being of children and young people with cerebral palsy

Background and objectives Whilst the evidence base supports the physical health benefits, less is known about the emotional wellbeing effects from participation in recreational activities for children and young people with cerebral palsy. Especially for those who need assistance to walk, are non-ambulant or have difficulty with communication and learning. In Wales, although investment in adapting sporting activities has increased, wider participation in recreational activities remains limited for this group. This lack of choice for meaningful participation for children and young people with cerebral palsy, can lead to less participation in adulthood. This is thought to reduce their health related quality of life. The objectives were to explore how children and young people with cerebral palsy and their carers viewed, experienced and chose their level of participation in recreational activities and how they think this impacts upon their emotional wellbeing. Study Design Comparative case study design- Those who participated a lot and those whose participation was limited. Study participants and setting 7 children and young people were recruited via schools, charities and community groups (age range 9-16 years, Levels III-V Gross motor Function Classification System: 4 at IV, 2 at III, 1 at V; Communication Function Classification System: 4 at IV, 2 at III, 1 at V; 4 boys, 3 girls; 4 who participated a lot and 3 whose participation was limited). Materials and methods A qualitative approach was devised. Each case study was comprised of 2 semi-structured interviews 12 weeks apart, a diary written in between, plus some observations at one of their usual activities during this time. Visual images were taken during the observations as well as field notes written. Some parents took images to add to the diary. Two of the participants were interviewed via their communication aids which gave insight into their experiences and choices. However to ascertain their views it had to be reported by proxy via the parents, as it was not possible to probe further with their limited vocabulary. The 5 who were not able to communicate directly were observed and the parents were interviewed. The data was managed with NVIVO and analysed according to Braun and Clark’s six stages of thematic analysis. Results The 7 cases generated 212,843 words, 220 images, from 18 hours of interviews, 7 diaries and 15 hours of observation across both data sets. Themes were identified that reflected both Intrinsic factors with their Idiosyncratic ways to communicate well-being and Extrinsic factors including People’s Attitudes towards Disabled Children. Those in the participatory group had a vast range of experiences that supported a positive emotional well-being state. These activities included surfing, skiing, bike riding, Race Running, swimming, horse riding, uniformed clubs, trampolining and some craft activities. These were attributed to innovative designs. Those who participated less encountered barriers from pervasive ‘Can’t do’ attitudes and environments or equipment that had not been adapted for their needs. Only 1 child had evidence of the Leuven Scale for emotional well-being and involvement for non-verbal children, being used in school. Conclusion/Significance The case study method enabled rich data to be collected to represent their views, experiences and choices. More needs to be developed to reliably capture this group of children and young people’s emotional well-being.

Effects of Interest Inducing Activities Programs on the Attention and Self-efficacy of School-aged Children

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of interest inducing activities program (IIAP) within three type on attention and self-efficacy in school-aged children.Method/Statistical Analysis: This study was conducted on 22 children except 3 out of 25 elementary school children registered in the center In addition,they were classified into craft activities, reading activities, physical activities. To determine the change in the child’s attention and self-efficacy, Harris & Harris Grid Test, and self-efficacy questionnaire are used.Findings: There was no statistically significant difference in attention through IIAP in three groups (p>0.05). In the self-efficacy, there was a statistically significant difference among the groups (p 0.05).Improvements/Applications: We suggest it is important to develop programs for voluntary participation and children’s attention and self-efficacy

Making Certainty and Dwelling through Craft

Abstract This article offers a fieldwork-based reflection on how the performance of craft is entangled with attempts to overcome uncertainty. Drawing on research with two urban craft groups, I explore how participants engage in textile making and other craft activities. This article reconsiders the importance of heterogeneous craft practices as ways of operating in a precarious environment, suggesting that in the face of adversity, craftsmanship can play a role in carving out spaces of possibility.