5 Steps to Discovering Your Ideal Hobby

You have decided that you need a hobby.  What now, where do you start?  Let’s start by defining “hobby”.  Oxford American Dictionary defines hobby as”a favorite leisure time activity”.  With that in mind, let’s look at some steps you can take to determine your ideal hobby.

Step 1 – Decide what you want out of the hobby.  What do you want to get out of this?  Do you want something that helps calm you when you are stressed?  Do you have lots of spare time and need something to fill it?  Do you want to show your creativity?  Make a list of what you want to get from your hobby and keep it handy for later reference.

Step 2 – Assess your current skills.  Create a list of your current skills.  This is an important step because most people have more skills than they realize.  Write down every skill you possess, ask family and friends for help, if needed.  Now divide this list into things you really like to do and things you don’t enjoy that much.  Highlight the things you really like and don’t worry about the rest. 

Step 3 – Create a list of hobbies that sound interesting.  As you go about your daily activities, look for possible hobbies ideas and write them down.  Take your time to do this step because you don’t want to hurry through this and miss the one that could turn out to be ideal for you. 

Let’s say as a kid, you remember watching your grandfather or a favorite uncle carving wood, and you wanted to try it but were too little.  Do you admire cross stitch pictures?  Or, do you stop and look at paintings whenever or where ever you run across them?  This type of action shows interest, even if you are not fully aware of it.

Step 4 -   Compare your lists and decide on 2-3 options.  Now, take out your 3 lists; what you want to get from your hobby, your skills list and your interesting options list and compare the three.  Is there any kind of common theme?  Does something jump out at you?  Whether it does or not, select 2-3 options from the list of possible hobbies. 

Step 5 – Research your options.  Once you have your 2-3 options, it is now time to do some research on them.  What kind of supplies or equipment do you need?  Compare the different brands.  Do you already have some of the equipment or supplies?  At this step, you should start to feel excited about getting starting.  If not, it may not be the hobby for you, so you can select another and do your research.  At some point in your research, your passion should kick in and you will recognize at once when you have selected the correct one. 

Now get started and enjoy your new hobby. 

Hi again!  Today I wanted to expand a little more on the different types of needlework.  Some of the more popular forms include counted cross stitch, crewel embroidery, embellished cross stitch, felt applique, needlepoint and stamped cross stitch.

Counted cross stitch is simply a form of counted thread embroidery where X shaped stitches are used to create a picture.  Not all the stitches on the fabric are X shaped, there are also 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 stitches as well as backstitches.  Counted cross stitch is usually done on an easily countable, blank evenweave fabric.  Some types of evenweave fabrics are linen and aida cloth. 

Another form of cross stitch is called stamped cross stitch.  It is named this because the design is printed on the fabric showing every single stitch.  Stamped cross stitch is easier for some beginners due to the fact they don’t have to worry about counting and can just enjoy creating the design.

Until next time…