'Skill Stacking' Is the New Trend Crafters Are Embracing for Creative Growth

Once the crafting bug hits, it’s natural to start jumping around to different techniques and materials. This kind of experimentation does more than just keep things interesting—it can strengthen your creative practice and help your work stand out from the crowd. Known as "skill stacking," this practice is all about diversifying techniques and gaining mastery along the way. 

What Exactly Is Skill Stacking?

If you’re a crafter, you may know just how fast a simple hobby can spiral (in the best of ways). Maybe you start with cross-stitching or embroidery, learning the basics with a beginner kit and a few online tutorials. Fast-forward to a few months later, and you’re all in—organizing mountains of thread, bins of tools, and piles of works in progress. You’re experimenting with new materials, testing out more complex techniques, and may have even joined a community of other like-minded makers. Some crafters take it a step further, selling their pieces online or at local markets. Either way, you’re now fully and completely committed. 

And it turns out, you’re not alone.“We’re seeing a clear shift from casual crafting to intentional skill-building,” says Heather Bennett, president and chief customer officer at Michaels. Crafts that take dedicated time and expertise are being celebrated and shared across social media. “Our customers are treating creativity as a serious skill,” Bennett explains. 

The term “skill stacking” was popularized in 2013 by comic writer Scott Adams as a strategy for career growth. Instead of trying to be the best at just one thing, he says to merge several complementary skills to make something entirely new (and potentially stronger). The same concept can be applied to creative work. “Skill stacking often means combining disciplines to create more customized, professional-looking results,” says Bennett.

Skill stacking can also help you find your own distinctive artistic voice. For example, combining two or three techniques (like embroidery, sewing, and beadwork) can evolve into a new process that feels unique to you. Whether you’re selling your crafts or just making things for yourself, a layered skillset opens up more possibilities.

What Kinds of Crafts Work Well For Skill Stacking?

Any craft can be used with skill stacking, but Bennett explains that some activities are a more natural fit. She recommends things with a clear progression path, like fiber arts or painting. These crafts are accessible to beginners, but can naturally grow and adapt with more advanced techniques. 

Heritage crafts like needlepoint, knitting, sewing, and embroidery are seeing a major resurgence, especially among younger makers. According to Bennett, sales of needlecraft supplies have risen by 35 percent per year, while sewing-related tools and materials have doubled. This trend suggests that people aren’t just stopping at the basics, but are building on foundational skills. 

While beginner-level kits remain popular, crafters are gaining more confidence to tackle independent projects and more complex techniques. Specialty methods like relief painting are also on the rise. A step up beyond traditional paint-by-number kits, this technique involves layering and carving on a canvas to create a textured, dimensional surface. "They’re great for anyone ready to take the next step and refine their technique, while still benefiting from some guided structure," says Bennett. These types of projects encourage experimentation, which is at the core of skill stacking.

How to Get Started

The more you practice it, the more intuitive it becomes—but the key is to show up consistently. Instead of dabbling with one-off projects, this approach is about really digging in and committing to improving your skills.

1. Build On What You Know: Skill stacking is all about gradual expansion. Start with something that you already have some experience with, and look for ways to learn more. Start small by watching an online tutorial, trying a different (but not too-complicated) technique, or incorporating a new material.
2. Upgrade Your Tools Over Time: Skill stacking doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does require some commitment. As your skill set expands, better tools can help you get to the next level.  Bennett says that more crafters are prioritizing higher-quality tools that can grow with them as they advance their skills.
3. Learn from Others: Online tutorials, in-person classes, and other resources are invaluable when you’re learning a new skill. A pre-made kit can also help get you started with all the basic materials and instructions you need in one place.
4. Move Beyond Beginner Kits: Beginner-level kits are a great entry point, but it's also important to know when to leap out on your own. Self-directed projects can help you gain confidence and develop your own personal style.
5. Set Goals—and Keep Going: As with any skill, the more you work at it, the better you get. Setting a goal or working towards a big project can help keep you focused and motivated.