Get crafty! Find your new hobby

Haven’t had a hobby since you were a kid? It’s time to change that! Hobbies are good for mind, body and soul: they can be therapeutic and help you relax, making you feel happier, healthier and more fulfilled. But with such a huge variety of crafts out there, it can be hard to know where to start, so we’ve put together some advice to help you decide which craft is right for you.

The craft: Sewing

The person: Dedicated crafters

If you want to make your own clothes and furnishings then sewing is the hobby for you, but be warned: it also requires space, time, money and patience. 

Who is it for?

If you know you tend to pick up and drop your hobbies quite quickly, it’s probably best to pick something that requires less equipment and gives quicker results. But if you enjoy a challenge and have a good amount of patience and stamina, you’ll be able to advance from beginner status quite easily. 

Where do I start?

A decent sewing machine and a good beginners’ sewing manual are essential, as are a table, cutting mat, thread, good scissors and plenty of fabric. Buttons, sequins and ribbons make great embellishments. Sewing isn’t a portable hobby, so you’ll need a dedicated sewing corner or room.

There’s a lot to learn so it’s best to start small and simple. Try hemming things like clothes and curtains, then have a go at revamping some old clothing until you feel confident enough to make something from scratch. 

The craft: Knitting

The person: Travelling crafters

Knitting has become über-trendy in the last decade or so and it’s no longer just for grannies! You’ll find super cool hipsters knitting in trendy cafes, professionals doing it on the tube to work and a whole army of yarn bombers covering our cities with colourful, wooly love. But why is it so popular? Because it’s easy to learn and get good at, and it’s an extremely portable hobby. 

Who is it for?

The repetitive action of knitting makes it extremely relaxing, and it’s the perfect hobby to do in front of the TV or on your way to and from work. It’s also becoming a sociable hobby, with fun ‘stitch and bitch’ social groups springing up all over the place. 

Knitting will be perfect for you if you need a relaxing hobby, don’t want to spend a load of money to get started, and want to create some beautiful things for yourself and others. 

Where do I start?

All you need are some knitting needles, balls of wool and a pre-prepared pattern, or even a knitting nancy. You can buy these from most crafting shops or get them out of knitting magazines.

The craft: Cross stitch

The person: Artistic crafters

Things have changed in the world of cross stitch in recent years: as well as the traditional chocolate box images of spaniels and country cottages, cross stitch devotees have started producing detailed, realistic landscapes, funky patterns and even subversive images, as the hobby has been embraced by a younger generation.

Who is it for?

Cross stitch has a huge variety of applications, from wall art to floor art, jewellery to handbags, clothing to shoes - ideal if you like to have short jobs and plenty of projects on the go at once. Like knitting, cross stitch is a relaxing, meditative hobby, and one that you can take with you when you go travelling.

Where do I start?

If you want to make cool, cute art, all you need to do to cross stitch is thread a needle and follow a pattern. You can buy your own needles and threads, or find some counted cross stitch kits which include everything you need in one package. 

The craft: Cake decorating

The person: Sweet-toothed crafters

Wow your friends and family with stunning cakes and cupcakes whilst stretching your artistic talent to the max. The added bonus with this hobby is that you get to eat the results!

Who is it for?

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, an eye for detail and a love of all things pretty, cake decorating could be your thing. Although you can get relatively quick results with cake decorating, you will need some artistic talent and a good eye for copying.

Where do I start?

These days there lots of shortcuts for budding cake decorators - readymade coloured fondant icing and pretty decorations are available at most supermarkets to allow you to start making gorgeous cakes straight away - and you can build up to hand-making your own decorations in time. 

If you’re keen to start, get your hands on some cake decorating magazines, check out blogs and forums online, and look for courses at local schools. There are lots around! 

The craft: Découpage

The person: Home-making crafters

Basic découpage involves gluing paper or card cutouts to a surface, and then adding several coats of varnish over the top. It’s easy to do and gives satisfying ‘quick wins’, plus you can use what you make to spruce up your home!

Who is it for?

If you want to revamp your furniture and accessories, then try your hand at découpage. It’s a fabulous hobby for anyone who learns fast and is keen to start creating lovely things straight away. 

Where do I start?

All you’ll need is some glue, paper, varnish and inspiration to achieve something spectacular. Also, part of the fun of every découpage project is the prep work. Any great image, pattern or colour that you come across in a magazine, newspaper or even wrapping paper can spark off a new project. Once you’ve mastered the basics, there are lots of other techniques to learn to take your craft to the next level. 

We hope you’ve been inspired to take up a new crafting hobby. For more ideas and crafty equipment, take a look at DotComGiftShop’s huge range of craft gifts.