Germans rediscover passion for do-it-yourself

By Susanne Collins Jan 5, 2012, 3:06 GMT

Munich - There was a time in Germany when only ambitious people attempted really challenging do-it-yourself projects like making a pair of shoes, building a table or making jam.

Now DIY experts say Germans are returning to their passion for doing things themselves and creating a new DIY movement that isn't just for ambitious types. All kinds of people are delving into all sorts of activities - from building and gardening projects to sewing and cooking.

In years past things like home-made socks and quince jellies were considered frumpy and square. But the market research institute Ipsos says a survey shows that nearly three-quarters of Germans pick up tools for various home DIY projects.

'People who create something with their hands get a boost of self-esteem,' said author Susanne Klingner. 'This trend is the inevitable development to counter the consumer society.'

Klingner did her own experiment over the course of a year in which she baked bread, grew potatoes, made lavender soap and even cobbled her own shoes, her personal favourite: 'My shoes still make me proud and my bread has been copied by other people like crazy.'

Klingner is convinced that it makes people happy when they make things themselves. People who only a few years ago were laughed at for their attitudes toward home-made things are now cool.

She said people who are creative or who try to create something themselves are usually very clear-headed and satisfied with themselves. Professor Joerg Mehlhorn, chairman of the Mainz-based society for creativity, agrees.

'A person who wakes up his slumbering creativity unfurls his personality, experiences deep satisfaction and an instant feeling of happiness,' he said.

In addition to courses helping people discover their DIY passions, there are books, groups and above all the internet. For example, Klingner said she found instructions for making socks online.

The new DIY coolness is not only something people want to show. Some profit from it by selling their home-made items at flea markets or bazaars. There also are dozens of possibilities on the internet to get products into the market and team up with others who make similar items.

'The new home-made products have nothing to do with the dusty image of scratchy socks. Conscious consumption, fun and creativity are the main impulses,' said Claudia Helming, founder of the DIY portal DaWanda.com which has 1.5 million registered users.

'More and more people are recognizing that their creativity can earn them a little additional income.'

Portals like DaWanda are also where people discuss ideas, exchange patterns and meet others with similar interests. Brit Bradt, a mother of three from the western German town of Ibbenbueren, has painted, sewed and managed schedules for her family and friends for years.

'Now I enjoy sharing my ideas with others and on the side earning a few euros,' she said, adding that making things with her own hands helped her enjoy life more.

'When I hold a painting, a pillowcase or a felt-covered egg holder in my hands, I realize that when I concentrate completely on something it makes me happy.'

Starting a DIY project is easy. Klingner's most important tip is that people should try out whatever it is they like the best and look for a course on the internet. Everyone can make something themselves and this is a good way to find out whether the actual doing is enticing or not.

It might require picking up knitting needles or a saw, opening an easel or using craft scissors. People interested in food items should make a trip to the market for inspiration. They might find fruit that could be made into jam for the family.

'I think making things with ones own hands is more than a trend. It is a sign of a social transition,' said Klingner.

A big difference now, compared with earlier times, is that 'self-made items are no longer life necessities,' she said.

'Today people can decide for themselves whether they want to make something with their own hands or whether they prefer to buy it at the supermarket.'