handmaking

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The activity or skill of making things by hand rather than by machine.

   Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural and takes a singular verb: Handmaking takes time.

   Patterns

   • the handmaking of something
   • handmaking of jewelry
   • a handmaking tradition

   The village is famous for the handmaking of wool blankets.

   She teaches handmaking at a community center on weekends.

   Modern shoppers often pay more for the handmaking of small leather goods.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Used before a noun to describe something made by hand, especially in a traditional way.

   Grammar: Attributive only; it comes before the noun and is not used after a verb.

   Patterns

   • handmaking skills
   • handmaking process
   • handmaking techniques

   The workshop preserves old handmaking skills that machines cannot copy.

   Their handmaking process is slow but produces very strong shoes.

   He learned traditional handmaking techniques from his grandmother.

Common combinations

traditional handmaking

Traditional handmaking is still alive in this mountain town.

handmaking skills

Good handmaking skills take years to develop.

the art of handmaking

She wrote a book about the art of handmaking paper.

handmaking process

The handmaking process for each violin takes months.

Synonyms and how they differ

craft

Craft is the more common everyday word and covers both the activity and the objects made; handmaking stresses that machines are not used.

handicraft

Handicraft usually refers to the objects made or the trade itself, while handmaking focuses on the doing of the work.

Opposites

Word family

handmade adjective

Made by hand rather than by machine.

handmake verb

To make something by hand; rare and mostly used in the -ing form.

Commonly confused: handmaking or handmade?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “handmaking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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