Instead it has marked a new beginning with a massive online four-day craft fair that aims to give craft lovers across Australia as much of a craft-fix as they would have had wandering the stalls of a face to face craft show.

CraftAlive founder Sally Taylor said about 120 craft exhibitors would have "stalls" at the Great Australian Craft Show online craft fair with each exhibitor having their own page featuring a five minute video in the "exhibition hall". Just like an event exhibitors man their trade stands running demonstrations, event specials and chat - but it's all online.

"Craft is very much a passion and the craft community is huge. It's more than just craft, it's about supporting each other, about expression, and shows have a huge social aspect so we've tried to put all of that in to an event online.

"The bigger picture is about keeping wheels turning for businesses that are used to living off events - to connect them with the public and connect the public to them. Many of these exhibitor craft business are family business who all of a sudden didn't know which way was up ... and a lot didn't even have Facebook."

Ms Taylor said it had been a steep learning curve for many businesses in setting up Facebook pages and websites to create a virtual shop front, and many customers have had to learn new online skills to connect.

She said craft had enjoyed a resurgence over the recent COVID-19 lockdown months.

"Knitting and crochet is always really popular this time of year and it's just huge at the moment as a lot of younger people are getting on board and want to get creative do something with hands while sitting at home.

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"Card making and stamping are always popular and going through roof at the moment as people want to learn those different techniques because they are making cards and sending them again. And your traditional quilter always has a tonne of fabric and unfinished projects which are all getting finished now and baby quilts are very popular to send as a gift."

Ms Taylor is expecting around 60,000 visitors to the online craft fair over the four days, with many taking advantage of the world class teachers who will conduct demonstrations and classes online.

CraftAlive's Ballarat fair, due to be held in April, was cancelled but there are at least three Ballarat exhibitors in this weekend's online event. The Great Australian Craft Show runs online at gacs.craftalive.com.au until Sunday.

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