Ideas for an Easy Craft to Take Up

Have a look for craft groups in your area ones that do mixed crafts that way you will find something you might fancy. And the members will teach you . The craft group I go to people knit ,crochet,sew,needle felt and cross stitch. I taught someone to cross stitch last month . Many are held in church halls but you don't have to be a church member ,plus libraries have them . Also local colleges do courses for older people who want to learn new things including clay work,sketching and painting .

Have you tried Diamond Art, very relaxing. I also do Cross Stitch and started Quilting at the start of Lockdown. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with the lovely ladies at retreats.

I recently looked into Sashiko, a traditional form of Japanese embroidery for reinforcing textiles and invisible mending. Just need to get around to giving it a go.

Painting by numbers for adults, it’s brilliant, relaxing, not expensive. Just look at Amazon, hundreds of choices. Or you can send a photo to them, they transfer onto a canvas, it arrives with all the paint colours,ready to go!

Allira

Well, I found crochet again during lockdown and, having failed before, there are now so many helpful YouTube videos and Crochet Alongs to follow that it is easier to learn.

You can crochet whilst watching TV in the evening unless it's a complicated pattern.

I crochet all the time. I find it much easier than knitting. I am not at all adept generally but find crochet easy and relaxing.

I gave up knitting when I had a shoulder injury but could manage crochet.

If you start needle felting, buy a plentiful supply of sticking plasters- those barbed needles are dangerous!
Is there a craft group bear you? Some libraries run them. My group is mostly knitters, but there's crochet, patchwork and cross stitch going on as well- everyone is happy to help which is great if you get in a tangle.

Have a look for a Knit and Natter group near you. My local u3a knit and natter involves more natter than knit, but is fun and relaxing. WE also help each other out with knitting and crochet.

Rag rugging, I tend to make cushion covers rather than rugs as they're lighter and quicker to finish.

I used to do beaded jewellery,
It was good to wear something I made.
Junie

You say your local crochet group isn't for beginners but each member was a beginner once upon a time. Why not pop in and ask if anyone would be willing to give you a couple of starter lessons. A small payment could be offered.

I just love doing Lego, you can get some lovely adult sets. I find them very therapeutic and relaxing.

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Have you thought of quilling? It’s very simple. Rolling paper strips into tight circles and making shapes. Good YouTube tutorials .
You can do flat pictures or stick them onto things like my Easter egg tree .

Scrapbooking is a nice easy one. Crochet, very relaxing if you like repetitive things. Just Start Simple! So many are put off by trying to make elaborate things. You need to “chain” for miles, unpick it, and do it again! Then slowly make a dishcloth or something, well I’m sure you get the idea. Watch Fibre Spider on YouTube, he’s great with a lovely relaxing voice. I see a lot of folks recommend Needle felting, not sure about this as I’m a very experienced fabric crafter, and for some un-fathomable reason….I’m not very good at it🤣🤣. Whatever you pick, start simple, only buy the basics, and I’m sure you’ll settle on something, if it’s only grown up colouring books.

. You need to “chain” for miles, unpick it, and do it again!

I don't get on with chains!
I like squares. Large ones, small ones, fancy ones 😁🔷️🔶️🔸️🔹️⬜◽

Thanks for the inspiration! I love knitting but it feels like more of a winter craft. I’ve just ordered a cross stitch kit off Amazon- they have some lovely modern designs (and some not so!) Also, I’d never heard of Bargello. I will definitely give that a go. Thanks! I just need something to do while watching TV otherwise I get fed up.

Thankyou Silverbrooks for all that information. Never heard of Zentangles but looks great, especially for children - and me!!
Very informative

Marty75

Have you tried Diamond Art, very relaxing. I also do Cross Stitch and started Quilting at the start of Lockdown. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with the lovely ladies at retreats.

I’ve recently started doing this, I had never heard of it until a friend told me about it. There are some lovely kits available on Amazon and it’s very easy. I’ve also started to learn how to crochet, plenty of tutorials on YouTube and if the pattern you are following doesn’t work out, so what? Jigsaw puzzles are another good hobby, if you’re on Facebook there are plenty of buy,sell and swap groups.

I have just the answer! Tatting is a form of lace, made with a shuttle and crochet thread and is a very old craft, but surviving and popular worldwide. It's very portable and relaxing. I have been tatting for 45 years and it kept me sane during lockdown. I made a tatted doily, which is now in a frame in my lounge, and also a long piece of edging for the two curtain valances in my lounge, which I sewed on. I do my tatting when I am in a waiting room at the docs/hospital/dentist or when travelling, but most of what I make is done in the evening while watching tv. I am too busy in the afternoons on my sewing machine, as my other hobby is handbag making! I have looked through my camera and here are some photos of modern tatting (I hope you can see the cards through the film). Apart from the cards, there is a Christmas tree decoration, a needlecase and a tatted jewellery set. I would love to help you learn and if you are interested, I've had a couple of ideas of how you can contact me. My tatting friend Joelle has a blog called Le Blog de Frivole. You can find me through there, or join the Facebook group Just-Tatting, then post asking for Linda who suggested tatting to you on a forum.

I have always fancied doing some tape lace.
Sadly too busy to start something new.

Steelygran, you sound like me - flower arranging, pilates, creative writing and a willingness to try something new. I am currently pushing my writing into finishing a book and I have my beady eye on an independent publisher too. If you want to go that route I can probably tell you the name without being done for advertising.

There may be clubs that do making items from glass eg jewellery, suncatchers, candleholders near you. I have a Men's Shed near me and they do this as well at etching on wood, art, pottery, amongst all the usual wood crafts. Have a search round your local area, you may be surprised at what's going on.

I have never been remotely creative and had no interest in crafting. However a spell of ill health meant I needed something to do while unwell. I tried knitting, couldn't find it interesting.
Crochet was different. I taught myself with YouTube and have been crocheting for 5 years now. I have painful hands from arthritis so I can't do it for long periods. I make blankets, which takes a very long time but is easier than fiddly little projects.
I also started sewing in lockdown. I'm not careful or patient enough for dressmaking but enjoy quilting and making bags

Hardangar embroidery is another type of counted stitch embroidery - Google it for pics. I've just started a table runner - I may be occupied for a while.....

I also do lacemaking - not really a relaxing in front of the TV type of craft but it has an unexpected further development side to it - the use of bad language when things aren't going to plan 😂

I've been having a go at water colour painting. So many u tubes available to help you get started. It's relaxing and sometimes I surprise myself when a painting is good. 😊