Week Two of staying at home, and we're bored already...
If you’re self isolating at home, it can be difficult to think of things to keep yourself occupied all day long – especially if you’re normally out and about, going to work, the gym, the pub...
The evenings are often the worst, having been indoors all day, you don't really want to just stare at the TV all night.
We’re all in the same boat and know how strange these conditions are, so we’re determined to help you stay focused and motivated. There are loads of hobbies you can enjoy in your own home without having to go out.
Does anyone have a hobby any more, under the age of 70, we hear you ask? We might have thought hobbies were best left until you're in your retirement, but now we can't go out anywhere, we're thinking differently.
From origami to quilting to wood crafting, painting and knitting, we’ve chosen some of the best craft books that can inspire you to take up a new hobby. You can order these online and get them delivered to your door – along with any of the equipment you might need – and get started straight away.
A lot of these crafts you can enjoy with your kids, too - which is super handy now they're not at school and you're trying to think of a million things to keep them occupied all day...
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Find a new hobby with these craft books:
1 of 11Easy Origami
If you've never tried origami, then this book is ideal for real beginners – it has 32 simple projects to help you fall in love with the art of paper folding. Soon your home will be covered in paper decorations. It is a simple book, and not at all complicated.
2 of 11The Ultimate Guide to Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering for Beginners
Add a touch of flair to your letters and cards with some calligraphy. Not many people keep up with this hobby any more, as people are mainly stuck in the digital world – but you can create some unique and beautiful works if you follow the advice from this creative author.
£7.99
3 of 11The Quilter's Bible - How to make a quilt and much more
This book is a comprehensive guide to quilting, covering pretty much everything you need to know to get started. There are patterns to try, advice on what stitches to use, how to quilt circles, and little projects to get started.
4 of 11Beginner's Guide to Quilting: 16 Projects to Learn to Quilt
Kick-start your new quilting hobby with 16 simple projects. From paper piecing to appliqué, this book covers the essentials with lots of inspiration for newcomers to the craft.
5 of 11How To Knit: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners
A great introduction to knitting, this book is full of great photos and illustrations, to help you quickly learn the basic techniques. There are lots of projects to get started with, such as fingerless mittens, scarves, and baby toys.
6 of 11Knit Yourself Calm: A Creative Path to Managing Stress
Just seeing the cover of this book made us feel a bit calmer, and that's exactly what we need at the moment. This book combines knitting and mindfulness advice and techniques, and covers the basic skills and patterns for any beginner to get to grips with.
7 of 11How To Crochet: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners
If you know nothing about crochet but keep seeing lovely blankets and toys that everyone else is making, then this book is ideal for newbies. From explaining the stitches in easy language to loads of small projects to get started on, there's everything you need in one place.
8 of 11Crochet Step by Step: 20 Easy Projects
Does what it says on the tin – lots of techniques and patterns for the crochet newbie to get to grips with.
9 of 11Artist's Painting Techniques: Explore Watercolours, Acrylics, and Oils
A great introductory book into all the different types of painting techniques, whether you're interested in oils, watercolour, or acrylics. There are lots of step-by-step guides and helpful tips to get you started.
10 of 11Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner
Watercolour painting is a beautifully calming hobby to enjoy, and this tome helps you understand the techniques needed to get started on your own landscape paintings. Start off with detailed advice from the experienced author, then simple step-by-step exercises, then bigger projects such as painting a windmill and mountains.
11 of 11The Urban Woodsman
I recently gifted this book to my friend, an experienced tree surgeon, to give him something to use all that leftover wood for. He has raved about this book, and has even made me a spoon. You don't need much specialised equipment to get started, but you will need some wood!
Origami
Find a bit of paper lying around and off you go with this craft that originated in China nearly 2,000 years ago. Paper folding was originally often religious in nature, but now is a simple craft that doesn’t require much in the way of equipment but does need a lot of concentration and dexterity.
Calligraphy
It’s generally recognised as the script from ancient Rome, and a bit of calligraphy can bring words alive. Whether you fancy learning for fun or to create your own pieces of art, practising calligraphy is a beautiful hobby.
Quilting
This is an ancient hobby that remains hugely popular, with lots of quilting groups around the country. But if you’re staying at home, you can still join in with online communities, many of which do virtual sew-alongs so you can still take part in group activities.
It’s pretty easy to get started with quilting; you don’t even need a sewing machine, as you can do it by hand. All you need is some fabric, and you can get started with old clothes. It’s a great hobby as you can enjoy it thoroughly without any specialist equipment (although, of course, there’s plenty of stuff you can buy if you want to!).
You could make a quilt for yourself, or for a present for a family member or friend. Plus, there are schemes such as Project Linus where quilts are given to children in need.
Knitting
If you haven’t already embarked on knitting as a hobby, you’re about to join a massive community – there are more than 7 million knitters in the UK at the moment.
Not only can you be really creative with the patterns you follow, but you’re also being productive too, making your own clothes or toys for little ones. You will need equipment for this – wool and needles, obviously. But, if you can’t find any wool, you could always unravel an old jumper and re-use the wool.
Crochet
Crochet has seen a resurgence in recent years, with Facebook groups and YouTube tutorials everywhere you turn – one of the best recommended YouTube experts is Bella Coco.
It’s easy to start, and easy to get addicted to – it just takes a few stitches and you’ve made something, so it’s no wonder it’s a fast hobby to adopt. To get started, all you need is some yarn or wool, a crochet hook, and some scissors.
You can make all sorts of things with crochet, from blankets to hats, scarves, and bags.
Painting
Whether you fancy painting a watercolour landscape, a still life of the fruit in your bowl, or some modern techniques with acrylics and oils, painting is a hobby that anyone can get started with, whatever artistic talent you think you have. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the next Rembrandt, as long as you’re enjoying the process.
It can be daunting knowing where to start, so get yourself a good book that explains the basics and give it a go. It’s a great pastime when the weather’s lovely and you can sit outside, but equally enjoyable when it’s raining and you’re indoors.
You will need some kit to get started painting, from paintbrushes to materials and canvases.
Wood craft
If you have some spare wood knocking around – either from your wood stores for your log fire, or perhaps a fallen branch off your tree – then you’ll be surprised how much you could create from one piece. Whittling is a really mindful process, as it requires tiny but precise movements. One you can easily do from your armchair – although it does take some tidying up afterwards – but you’ll be so pleased when you’re cooking dinner using a spoon you made yourself.