Idle hands need new work
October 11, 2016 9:20 AM Subscribe
I need a new hobby to do while watching TV that fits my desires to improve myself, have something to show for it and still be able to concentrate on my show. Difficulty: I have a bum shoulder. Please don't recommend knitting!
About a decade ago I found my dream hobby: handspinning. It hit all my requirements: low start up costs, soothing repetitive movements, can do it on autopilot while watching things, and the nature of it means that even if you're not bad at it you can make interesting yarns. Sadly, long term this has knackered my right shoulder (specifically, my subscapularis muscle of the rotator cuff) and also done some damage to my left shoulder. (this question isn't about what to do with my shoulder. I have a physio and massage therapist treating it.)
Easy of course, I should just take up knitting or crochet! Sadly, something about the knitting movement triggers the same issue with my shoulder that spinning now does. I also find it hard and need to concentrate. I used to crochet, but I'm not enthusiastic about taking it up again. I'll do it if I have to, but what if there's another really cool hobby I'm missing out on? I don't want to spend £300 on a spinning wheel. I want something I can lie on the couch and do, inevitably with a cat in my lap.
I'm on a long term project to watch all the episodes of all the Star Trek series, and despite loving those heroic pajama-clad space coast guards, I find that my hands want to do something, and frankly I'm sick of mobile games. Do you know what I should be doing?
Just to recap, my requirements are:
- A skill I can learn upfront and then work on improving (i.e. not something that needs constant referral to a pattern)
- Something that can occupy idle hands that also make something physical (i.e. not worry/prayer beads, mobile games)
- Something that can be done while also watching TV on the couch and not stain it.
Thanks!
About a decade ago I found my dream hobby: handspinning. It hit all my requirements: low start up costs, soothing repetitive movements, can do it on autopilot while watching things, and the nature of it means that even if you're not bad at it you can make interesting yarns. Sadly, long term this has knackered my right shoulder (specifically, my subscapularis muscle of the rotator cuff) and also done some damage to my left shoulder. (this question isn't about what to do with my shoulder. I have a physio and massage therapist treating it.)
Easy of course, I should just take up knitting or crochet! Sadly, something about the knitting movement triggers the same issue with my shoulder that spinning now does. I also find it hard and need to concentrate. I used to crochet, but I'm not enthusiastic about taking it up again. I'll do it if I have to, but what if there's another really cool hobby I'm missing out on? I don't want to spend £300 on a spinning wheel. I want something I can lie on the couch and do, inevitably with a cat in my lap.
I'm on a long term project to watch all the episodes of all the Star Trek series, and despite loving those heroic pajama-clad space coast guards, I find that my hands want to do something, and frankly I'm sick of mobile games. Do you know what I should be doing?
Just to recap, my requirements are:
- A skill I can learn upfront and then work on improving (i.e. not something that needs constant referral to a pattern)
- Something that can occupy idle hands that also make something physical (i.e. not worry/prayer beads, mobile games)
- Something that can be done while also watching TV on the couch and not stain it.
Thanks!
Some things to try might be:
-coloring
-soap carving
-needle felting
- window art
-beading jewelry
-origami (although you'll probably be following a pattern at first, you could fold 1000 cranes pretty mindlessly)
These all involve repetitive movements, but since they're slightly different, you could try them out to see what aggravates your injury.
posted by tinymegalo at 9:36 AM on October 11, 2016
-coloring
-soap carving
-needle felting
- window art
-beading jewelry
-origami (although you'll probably be following a pattern at first, you could fold 1000 cranes pretty mindlessly)
These all involve repetitive movements, but since they're slightly different, you could try them out to see what aggravates your injury.
posted by tinymegalo at 9:36 AM on October 11, 2016
Best answer: Painted canvas cross-stitch (or other needlework)? I have often enjoyed counted cross-stitch (where the canvas is blank and you refer to the grid) but that might be too much referral for you.
I have a crafter's snobbery against adult coloring books, but some of them are more artistic, and if you color them well you could end up with pieces worth framing.
I've always found beading to be too random-tiny-bits intensive for couch-with-cat crafting, but it might work for you.
Origami. Especially modular origami. The nice thing about going down the sonobe unit black hole in particular is that you can make a huge pile of units while watching something intense, and sit down to assemble some pretty impressive stuff in more boring parts. And you can make sonobe units with post-its (hard to get a cheaper startup cost than that).
posted by sparklemotion at 9:36 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have a crafter's snobbery against adult coloring books, but some of them are more artistic, and if you color them well you could end up with pieces worth framing.
I've always found beading to be too random-tiny-bits intensive for couch-with-cat crafting, but it might work for you.
Origami. Especially modular origami. The nice thing about going down the sonobe unit black hole in particular is that you can make a huge pile of units while watching something intense, and sit down to assemble some pretty impressive stuff in more boring parts. And you can make sonobe units with post-its (hard to get a cheaper startup cost than that).
posted by sparklemotion at 9:36 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
There are a lot of papercraft activities that are mindless and pleasant. My cousin has a craft business and I've helped her make christmas ornaments, greeting cards, wedding invitations, paper flowers, and many other things all while watching tv. You just have to do a couple to get in the rhythm first. It could be a nice way to knock out Star Trek and complete a bunch of homemade holiday gifts.
posted by galvanized unicorn at 9:45 AM on October 11, 2016
posted by galvanized unicorn at 9:45 AM on October 11, 2016
Crossstitch or tapestry, not sure if the motion would hurt your shoulder or not but for small pieces you can get by with just moving your wrist and elbo.
Felting.
Rug hooking.
posted by wwax at 9:46 AM on October 11, 2016
Felting.
Rug hooking.
posted by wwax at 9:46 AM on October 11, 2016
Best answer: There is a world of hand embroidery beyond crossstitch. It might be better than knitting for your shoulder since you aren't doing the exact same motion over and over. You can find cool, contemporary patterns here and here. For more traditional patterns, search ebay for "embroidery transfers."
posted by FencingGal at 10:06 AM on October 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 10:06 AM on October 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
I would do something show related - blog, journal, shoebox dioramas.
posted by zutalors! at 10:06 AM on October 11, 2016
posted by zutalors! at 10:06 AM on October 11, 2016
You could get really good at the Rubik's Cube - there are many larger models available if you get tired of the 3x cube.
Does it have to be your hands or can it be your feet? A Pedal Exerciser might work for you. You can't lay down, but you can recline a bit.
Seconding modular origami
Jigsaw puzzles, playing solitaire card games with real cards, and pen and paper games like crosswords, sudoku or logic problems are all things I have done in front of the TV. They may not be as skill-improving as you would like, but they do all engage the brain.
posted by soelo at 10:11 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does it have to be your hands or can it be your feet? A Pedal Exerciser might work for you. You can't lay down, but you can recline a bit.
Seconding modular origami
Jigsaw puzzles, playing solitaire card games with real cards, and pen and paper games like crosswords, sudoku or logic problems are all things I have done in front of the TV. They may not be as skill-improving as you would like, but they do all engage the brain.
posted by soelo at 10:11 AM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You wouldn't be able to lay on the couch, but have you considered weaving? A rigid heddle loom doesn't take up much space and it's a good way to use up yarn (they were marketed to knitters in recent years for that reason). You could make scarves, or long panels to sew together into a blanket or a bag or something like that. I have a Kromski Harp, but there are several makers of small rigid heddle looms.
And if the rigid heddle is too big, you could get an inkle loom and make straps and belts and other things.
My personal obsession right now is with machine knitting, but machines can be expensive. If something like that appeals to you, I'd recommend keeping an eye out at thrift stores and garage sales. You can sometimes score old, barely-used knitting machines for a song because no one knows what they are.
posted by cabingirl at 10:43 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
And if the rigid heddle is too big, you could get an inkle loom and make straps and belts and other things.
My personal obsession right now is with machine knitting, but machines can be expensive. If something like that appeals to you, I'd recommend keeping an eye out at thrift stores and garage sales. You can sometimes score old, barely-used knitting machines for a song because no one knows what they are.
posted by cabingirl at 10:43 AM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
macrame?
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:55 AM on October 11, 2016
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:55 AM on October 11, 2016
While it's a little harder to do laying down, you get a lap desk or similar (I use the box that my ill-fated Nook came in) -- my very favorite hobby is old-fashioned correspondence. Letters, cards, postcards, anything snail-mail related. You would have to see if it bothered your shoulder, I think depending on what your set up is, you could make it work. The pluses of this are: getting to pick out neat things like beautiful stationery and stickers and washi tape, creating something lovely, keeping alive a nearly lost art, and connecting with the people in your life that you love, or making new penpals! I find that it's very calming to use my TV time to also write to friends. In terms of the more "making" piece of it, I do often make my own cards and postcards, and am honing the fine art of making/creating beautiful envelopes, which I sort of love because they're so ephemeral (doubt that most people keep them.)
That is of course, if you can both do correspondence and pay attention to TV at the same time. I tend to watch shows where it doesn't really matter if I zone out for a minute.
Other ideas: Making your own cut & paste style zine about anything you're interested in. Drawing neat little signs or pictures which you can later take pictures of and text to friends ("Hey I miss you!" with a weird animal or something!) More creative than gifs and can be personalized. Also: friendship bracelets! I have a good friend who has made me several of the oldschool embroidery floss friendship bracelets over the years and I cherish them and their aura of nostalgia.
posted by fairlynearlyready at 11:41 AM on October 11, 2016
That is of course, if you can both do correspondence and pay attention to TV at the same time. I tend to watch shows where it doesn't really matter if I zone out for a minute.
Other ideas: Making your own cut & paste style zine about anything you're interested in. Drawing neat little signs or pictures which you can later take pictures of and text to friends ("Hey I miss you!" with a weird animal or something!) More creative than gifs and can be personalized. Also: friendship bracelets! I have a good friend who has made me several of the oldschool embroidery floss friendship bracelets over the years and I cherish them and their aura of nostalgia.
posted by fairlynearlyready at 11:41 AM on October 11, 2016
while your shoulder is healing, I would be very cautious about any repetitive motion. Ask the physical therapist what strengthening exercises you can do. My friend uses a spring loaded hand-strength-builder thing with good results.
posted by theora55 at 1:08 PM on October 11, 2016
posted by theora55 at 1:08 PM on October 11, 2016
Multiball Contact Juggling - Palmspinning.
Ticks all your requirements and would be low impact for your shoulder. :)
posted by Dr Ew at 3:15 PM on October 11, 2016
Ticks all your requirements and would be low impact for your shoulder. :)
posted by Dr Ew at 3:15 PM on October 11, 2016
Quilting of hexagonal pieces is done by hand. Craftsy course.
posted by kjs4 at 4:44 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kjs4 at 4:44 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Make a ring from a coin with a spoon.
A few years back, I read about someone who made rings out of coins by whacking the edge of the coin repeatedly with a spoon every evening while watching TV for several months. I did it myself somewhat more quickly with a silver dollar using a hammer and it turned out very nice! It's pretty simple, just whack a spoon on the edge of a coin, turning the coin between whacks, until the edge mushrooms and flattens out to the size and inner diameter you need, then drill and/or file out the center of the coin. Some instructions suggest drilling a small hole in the coin and inserting a round file or the like, just to hold the coin while you tap it. A search for "spoon coin ring" brings up lots of instructions, pics, and videos.
posted by MoTLD at 7:25 PM on October 11, 2016
A few years back, I read about someone who made rings out of coins by whacking the edge of the coin repeatedly with a spoon every evening while watching TV for several months. I did it myself somewhat more quickly with a silver dollar using a hammer and it turned out very nice! It's pretty simple, just whack a spoon on the edge of a coin, turning the coin between whacks, until the edge mushrooms and flattens out to the size and inner diameter you need, then drill and/or file out the center of the coin. Some instructions suggest drilling a small hole in the coin and inserting a round file or the like, just to hold the coin while you tap it. A search for "spoon coin ring" brings up lots of instructions, pics, and videos.
posted by MoTLD at 7:25 PM on October 11, 2016
I've occasionally laced and tensioned bicycle wheels while watching Star Trek. Lacing is simple and repetitive once you've done a wheel or two and learned the pattern, and preliminary tensioning even more so. I'm not sure how shoulder-intensive it is - lacing may require some range of motion, but tensioning is mostly a hand/wrist/forearm thing.
You could visit your local Bike Collective, have them train you, and then build wheels for them as a volunteer. They might be able to have someone else put together parts kits for you and do the final tension & true, which requires special tools and more attention, so you can stick to the TV-appropriate stuff if you want. If someone offered this service to the collective I volunteer at we would be absolutely thrilled. (Or you could buy parts and sell the finished wheels, if you're so inclined.)
posted by sibilatorix at 11:56 PM on October 11, 2016
You could visit your local Bike Collective, have them train you, and then build wheels for them as a volunteer. They might be able to have someone else put together parts kits for you and do the final tension & true, which requires special tools and more attention, so you can stick to the TV-appropriate stuff if you want. If someone offered this service to the collective I volunteer at we would be absolutely thrilled. (Or you could buy parts and sell the finished wheels, if you're so inclined.)
posted by sibilatorix at 11:56 PM on October 11, 2016
Sashiko embroidery? You can start with a printed cloth. It's beautiful, and the lines mean you can do it while watching TV, no need to concentrate too hard.
posted by third word on a random page at 1:54 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by third word on a random page at 1:54 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! Somehow I had forgotten about embroidery. I've ordered myself a cute chinoiserie style kit and a hoop that should arrive in time for my next weekend DS9 binge :). I also remembered I have an antique embroidery stitch book that I've never really looked at. I'm also really interested in weaving, it seems the next step from spinning, so when I get some money I might buy a mini loom and have a go!
There are a lot of great recommendations here, I'm going to try as many of them as I can!
posted by litereally at 3:02 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are a lot of great recommendations here, I'm going to try as many of them as I can!
posted by litereally at 3:02 AM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Friendship bracelets and this new cousin kumihomo are low cost and can be done with floss or yarn you may have on hand. You can just use pretty colors together or get any nature of complex patterns (that repeat, so once you get the flow you don't need to reference) from friendship-bracelets.net.
posted by WeekendJen at 8:51 AM on October 12, 2016
posted by WeekendJen at 8:51 AM on October 12, 2016
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posted by goggie at 9:32 AM on October 11, 2016