Put these nimble fingers to good use!
October 25, 2010 6:44 AM Subscribe
I need a hobby. I find myself getting bored and stir crazy a lot lately. Ideally this hobby would be something I can do in my living room, on the coffee table or couch, and could take it outside with me if I wanted to. It shouldn't take up a lot of room since our house is so small. I was thinking of learning to knit, but I know there have to be other crafty-leisurely-finished product- oriented hobbies that I am not thinking of. Thanks!
Fly-tying! You could do it outside if it's not windy, and sell your creations or make them into earrings.
posted by fish tick at 6:48 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by fish tick at 6:48 AM on October 25, 2010
I just finished sewing a protective cover for my Kindle. I used felt, embrodery floss and snaps to keep it closed.
I get some craft ideas from browsing Etsy.
Now would be a good time to start making Christmas ornaments, if that tickles your fancy.
There are a few DIY websites out there. Try this one.
posted by cranberrymonger at 6:51 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
I get some craft ideas from browsing Etsy.
Now would be a good time to start making Christmas ornaments, if that tickles your fancy.
There are a few DIY websites out there. Try this one.
posted by cranberrymonger at 6:51 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Jewellery making - addictive, crafty, home based, portable, and has the added bonus of contributing to your fashion right from the get go! I adore making earrings!
posted by shazzam! at 6:52 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by shazzam! at 6:52 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Embroidery? Or learn to sew by hand? Either are sofa/coffee table type stuff and easily portable.
Also, scrap booking is popular I hear, though I don't know if you can take it outside.
You could learn to tat.
posted by patheral at 6:58 AM on October 25, 2010
Also, scrap booking is popular I hear, though I don't know if you can take it outside.
You could learn to tat.
posted by patheral at 6:58 AM on October 25, 2010
You could learn to intricately etch brass, then make crazy designs on bullet casing which you then reload to create beautiful, yet completely functional and deadly ammunition.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:13 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:13 AM on October 25, 2010
Best answer: Needle felting! Woolpets has a cute blog, with tutorials, and they sell kits. I'm also a fan of Jenn Docherty - here's her chicks over by Martha...and if those are too sweet, you can also go for things that are a bit twisted.
posted by peagood at 7:18 AM on October 25, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by peagood at 7:18 AM on October 25, 2010 [4 favorites]
Actually, to heck with knitting after you learn to spin. Go for naalbinding.
posted by elsietheeel at 7:27 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by elsietheeel at 7:27 AM on October 25, 2010
Any of the really itty bitty crochet laces (hairpin is a favourite, but all of them are gorgeous). Or tatting.
Or just normal crochet.
(I really want to pull out my crochet stuff now. Instead of studying.)
posted by anaelith at 7:30 AM on October 25, 2010
Or just normal crochet.
(I really want to pull out my crochet stuff now. Instead of studying.)
posted by anaelith at 7:30 AM on October 25, 2010
Guitar! I only started a few years ago, and it perfectly satisfies my DIY, fiddle-around-every-once-in-a-while, do-something-kind-of-useful bent. My daughter plays ukulele, which is a lot more portable and easy to learn, so that might be an option, too.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:40 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:40 AM on October 25, 2010
Tatting is very portable. Depending on the project, you can put it in your pocket.
Crochet is much easier and faster than knitting, IMO.
posted by jgirl at 7:51 AM on October 25, 2010
Crochet is much easier and faster than knitting, IMO.
posted by jgirl at 7:51 AM on October 25, 2010
Response by poster: These are all great ideas! Most I had never heard of!
posted by MayNicholas at 8:12 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by MayNicholas at 8:12 AM on October 25, 2010
Another vote for crochet here. I've been crocheting for about three years now, and I love it.
And if you go with knitting or crochet (or spinning or weaving or even needle-felting), join Ravelry. It's geared mainly towards knitters and crocheters, but you can find local craft groups, keep track of your yarn, patterns, and projects, ask questions, find resources, etc. I found both yarn groups I've attended through Rav and made lots of great friends. Plus there are tons of great free patterns!
posted by catwoman429 at 8:41 AM on October 25, 2010
And if you go with knitting or crochet (or spinning or weaving or even needle-felting), join Ravelry. It's geared mainly towards knitters and crocheters, but you can find local craft groups, keep track of your yarn, patterns, and projects, ask questions, find resources, etc. I found both yarn groups I've attended through Rav and made lots of great friends. Plus there are tons of great free patterns!
posted by catwoman429 at 8:41 AM on October 25, 2010
Here's a vote for programming (a computer or phone). Won't cost a thing (evidently you already have a computer). As for exactly how to get started, there are too many choices, none without problems. Which to choose depends on your circumstance (any friends that program, what OS you use, where your interests lie, etc), so I won't even recommend any here. You'd need 2 things, a programming environment and a tutorial. If you're interested in pursuing this, mefimailme and i can suggest some programming environments/languages.
posted by at at 9:11 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by at at 9:11 AM on October 25, 2010
I thought I would be the first person to suggest UKULELE!!! but MrMoonPie beat me to it. I ditched knitting/crocheting as hobbies and took up ukulele after moving to a 250 square foot home because of the space issue*, and I absolutely cannot state strongly enough what a wonderful decision this was.
*The fact that my collection of ukuleles is now up to five notwithstanding.
posted by chez shoes at 10:22 AM on October 25, 2010
*The fact that my collection of ukuleles is now up to five notwithstanding.
posted by chez shoes at 10:22 AM on October 25, 2010
Response by poster: While I appreciate the sentiment in which the guitar and ukulele suggestions are given, I will have to pass. I dated someone for 11 years who did nothing BUT play the guitar on the couch from sun up to sun down. Not something I ever care to have to hear again... :)
posted by MayNicholas at 10:30 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by MayNicholas at 10:30 AM on October 25, 2010
Best answer: Learn to solve the Rubik's cube. It's like Sudoku, only awesome and greener. Plus, unlike Sudoku, if you do it among your friends, they all automatically assume you're a Nobel laureate.
It's actually really easy to learn, the thing never runs out of batteries, and is something you can absent-mindedly do while you're watching TV, if you want.
A funny college student named Dan Brown (not the Da Vinci Code guy) created some videos about how to do it. Part One (youtube), Part Two. He's even updated it with shorter videos: Part One.
After I wrote out a cheat sheet with the seven algorithms (just seven), after about 26 solves, I didn't need the cheat sheet anymore.
Good luck!
posted by phoebus at 11:12 AM on October 25, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's actually really easy to learn, the thing never runs out of batteries, and is something you can absent-mindedly do while you're watching TV, if you want.
A funny college student named Dan Brown (not the Da Vinci Code guy) created some videos about how to do it. Part One (youtube), Part Two. He's even updated it with shorter videos: Part One.
After I wrote out a cheat sheet with the seven algorithms (just seven), after about 26 solves, I didn't need the cheat sheet anymore.
Good luck!
posted by phoebus at 11:12 AM on October 25, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Put the tinkerer inside you to task with a windowfarm (windowfarms.org). THen cook with what you grow.
posted by jander03 at 1:26 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by jander03 at 1:26 PM on October 25, 2010
If you have any musical inklings at all, I can't recommend the guitar (or uke, or whatever) enough. It's really not that hard to get decent and it's a blast.
posted by saul wright at 5:20 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by saul wright at 5:20 PM on October 25, 2010
Ditto on cross-stitch, embroidery, etc. Cross-stitch is nice because you don't have to think about stitch size. However you can really do some fun things with embroidery and applique.
posted by radioamy at 5:55 PM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 5:55 PM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Chain mail.
posted by novalis_dt at 6:25 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by novalis_dt at 6:25 PM on October 25, 2010
Best answer: I realize this doesn't meet your criteria, but I had the exact same question for myself awhile back and wound up working in my yard. I have always been a pretty big couch potato, but I like the instant gratification of trimming trees and digging dirt. My yard looks 100x better and I even lost a little weight.
posted by TallulahBankhead at 7:44 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by TallulahBankhead at 7:44 PM on October 25, 2010
Similar to cross stitch, but different looking is needlepoint. I find that working on either can really put me into a zen-like state.
posted by sarajane at 9:02 AM on October 26, 2010
posted by sarajane at 9:02 AM on October 26, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
And nowadays there are all kinds of geeky/pop culture patterns to find. You don't have to be stuck doing the same samplers your grandmother did.
posted by sandraregina at 6:46 AM on October 25, 2010 [1 favorite]