Hobbies

Hi JessM. I've played guitar (badly) for years, I build guitars and ukes and thanks to my rule of 40s (40 years of smoking, 40" waistline and 40Kg overweight) my singing is more a case of speaking in time with the music, but it's a good social outlet and gives me the chance to help other people enjoy their uke playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ZVFvtl2IM

I tend to flit between things - it is almost as if any creative instinct I have only works in one direction at a time. At the moment I am baking (and, unfortunately, eating!). I am also knitting squares for the Woollyhugs group on Mumsnet (if you don't know, they produce handmade blankets for mums whose children have died; it's a collective effort) - a lovely idea.

When my children were young I used to make most of their clothes, but I haven't done any dressmaking for ages now (I do have a few things in the wardrobe which I have kept all these years). Does anyone remember Clothkits - I occasionally bought their kits, although usually my friend got the most wonderful velour and terry towelling from Derby and Chesterfield markets. I have knitted things recently for my grandson and granddaughter.

Hello there poppa long time no see. Wish i could join you in those rocking evenings!

Night owls lawn bowls one night a week for me, and a couple of ukulele clubs one night a week, sometimes more. Our uke clubs are mainly over 50s, with several members over 60. It's fun to be rocking out with a bunch of people who appreciate the music of the 60s, 70s and 80s! I led one of our groups on Tuesday night where we were blasting away to Dr Hook's "Cover of the Rolling Stone"! :-)

DH is never happier than when he's got a piece of wood in his hand. He also reads a lot and makes airfix kits !!! Now what use are they except as dust collectors

I love jigsaws, crosswords, reading, used to knit but can't do it these days. I admire anyone who is "crafty".

Patchwork is a lovely way to preserve memories, and some finished products are amazing.

Thanks for your replies. Seems on the whole we are a busy, interesting bunch.

I sew for pleasure so the surplus and it's mostly surplus is sent to a friend's shop in a London Hospital which when I visited had empty shelves. So they get money (I hope ) for what gives me a hobby.

I used to knit about 25 yrs ago and still have a couple of things - including a Kaffe Fasset poppies jumper
I have recently started to learn to crochet. Last night i managed to make a hair ornament for GD. It is a bit wonky - a blue flower, with a yellow middle, attached to a hair clip. I am hoping that she does not spurn it. You can never tell with 7 yr olds what is ok and what is embarrassing! (pity that starts so early these days...)

My mother made all my clothes when I was a child - even coats, and they were exquisite. Later in life, when I needed evening dresses or long skirts, she would always make them.

Me - nah! I think Wonder Web is an amazing invention. I have her work box, however, so do have the wherewithal to sew on a button if pushed.

I do wish I wasn't so ham fisted, though. I can knit, (Aran sweaters once) but don't see the need any more.

Last item I knitted was a cardigan for GS but sleeves were a bit long. Would have been suitable for a baby chimp. So won't bother for new GS due in November. My sewing is just as bad - good job hubby is handy with a needle!

I enjoy knitting when my arthritic hands allow. I make cards, jewelry and keyrings. I have made them for my daughters with their childrens' names on them and for me with the diseases I suffer from.

My favourite hobby is reading, I read a lot. I also write stories and blogs. Living in France learning French isn't so much a hobby as a way of life!

Probably people will think my hobbies are a waste of time but it is what I enjoy.

No problem snap, I've been called worse!

Apologies Ella .. I addressed you as Ellie! .. Ooooops!!

Ah Ellie .. don't be fooled by his babyfaced look .. I did make an attempt to stop him taking the bike for a spin .. he simply placed his hand on my shoulder, looked me squarely in the eyes, and said, 'Chill out Grand-dad, you know I can handle this baby much better than you' .. and off he went! .. hhmmmm!!

I used to do a lot of patchwork. I can see the point; for me it's the soothing rhythm of sewing and chosing lovely colours. I'd like to do a wall hanging but haven't got round to it yet. I do a lot of knitting. There's a whole art movement in knitting. I cook. Visit museums and galleries, theatres and the cinema. I have recently started baking again. I'm learning Spanish. I read a lot, walk and do yoga.

That sounds exhausting. I think I should cut down

Your little gs looks a sweetie, has he got a licence for that bike?

Until my wife and I separated I designed and built toy castles in my garage/workshop .. not large quantities you understand, just a few here and there .. but now I live alone in a first floor flat I have nowhere I can use circular saw, scroll saw, linisher, pedestal drill etc .. I shall post a photo or two when I fix my PC as this old laptop struggles with images .. Talking of images, I also enjoy digital photography .. I take photos at my local rugby club and edit them using Adobe Photoshop .. I also edit shots taken on occasional days out.

I hated sewing at school, the teacher was very fussy....later when I discovered you didn't have to do things her way, I started making my own clothes - I couldn't find things I liked in the shops and got fed up!

Making curtains at the moment to keep the sun out but they are on hold until we get some. But hand sewing has become difficult owing to hand arthritis.

Needle and thread? Only used in surgery!

It certainly skipped mine! The sight of a needle and thread brings me out in a cold sweat. My grandmother was a fine needlewoman and my mum was pretty good as well. Now my grand-daughter is doing well on the creative side of he fashion course and her half sister is creative too.

I think it can skip a generation! My mum could sew but hated it. I think her mother was the same, though her sister enjoyed it. My paternal grandmother made some lovely things and my paternal grandfather, a coal miner, was very good at woodwork. Similar skills and patience required, I imagine.

My maternal grandfather, when grandma told him the kitchen needed decorating, said: "Why are you telling me?"

I have a natural affinity with sewing, too. I wonder if it's hereditary? I know my mother, who died when I was a baby, was a very keen dressmaker.

I have always enjoyed sewing and seemed to have a natural affinity for it from an early age. Good eyesight helps. I make quilts and other patchwork items, used to make dresses, shirts, etc. Have always knitted and crocheted. Taught myself to tat and make temari, and a few other things. These things can be quite meditative in the sense that you have to concentrate enough not to go wrong, but it is a complete change from other kinds of thinking and therefore restful. Also, it's immeasurably rewarding to be able to create something useful, beautiful and unique. Nothing more so, I'd say, except perhaps helping others to create. Cheers, therefore, to the teachers who taught me to use my brain and my hands together

I have started sewing again, havng recently treated myself to a new machine. I've always got some knitting on the go, there's a jigsaw on the kitchen table, which I'll do when there's a radio programme I want to sit down and listen to, I bake for fun, love gardening, and my best pastimes are spent introducing my grandchildren to crafts and hobbies. Homecrafts are becoming more popular and important, which is one in the eye for consumerism. I do enjoy the Kirst Allsop progammes.

Hoping to go strawberry and raspberry picking with a friend in Poynton this afternoon, if the sun will come out. Not enough strawberries in my garden yet and I fancy making some jam.

We used to be dingy sailors. One wet miserable day as we were driving to the sailing club to take part in a race we drove past a golf club. Looking at the golfers DH commented 'What sort of sad sacks play golf on a day like this'. My reply was 'The same sort of sad sacks as go sailing on a day like this'.

I was born into a family of talented needlewomen. Unfortunately I was the one member born with the desire to be creative but with 10 left thumbs and I was put off handcrafts by all the family members who tried to 'help' me by pointing out all my mistakes. However the family talent may have missed me but DD inherited it big time and is far more understanding of maternal failings. As a result we work together on projects. She runs a small online needlework business and makes sure I have the proper equipment as a result I am completing a project using vintage materials to make a pair of bedspreads, I have signed up for a course on patchwork and quiltling and I have even returned to knitting, something DD has never got to grips with.