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Nobody tells you what to make here. Drawing, fiction writing, pottery, digital illustration, songwriting, cake and cookie decorating -- the method is yours, and two sessions rarely end up in the same place. That openness is also the catch: there is no clear right answer to aim at, so if you would rather follow a pattern, a recipe or a set of rules, the hands-on and useful lists are kinder places to begin.
140 hobbies. Each has what it costs to start, how much time it takes and a first session to try.
2D animationDrawing a picture for every frame so characters move, usually on a tablet.
3D printingPrint plastic objects layer by layer from downloaded models or your own designs.
Acrylic paintingFast-drying, bold paints on canvas, from brushwork to poured abstract pieces.
Aerial silksClimbing, wrapping and dropping on long fabric hung from the ceiling.
Amateur theatreRehearse and stage scripted plays, clowning or physical theatre with a local group.
Argentine tangoImprovise with a partner in a close embrace, walking to tango music at social dances.
Balloon modellingTwist long, thin balloons into dogs, swords, flowers and hats for parties.
Beat-makingProgram drums, basslines and samples in a music app, then arrange them into tracks.
BeatboxingMake drum beats, basslines and effects with nothing but your mouth and voice.
Belly danceIsolate hips, chest and arms in flowing shimmies and drops to Middle Eastern music.
BlacksmithingHeat steel in a forge and hammer it on an anvil into hooks, tools and knives.
Blogging & newslettersWriting and publishing regular posts on your own blog or email newsletter.
BMXRiding small, tough bikes at skateparks, dirt jumps and race tracks.
Board game designInvent your own board or card game, make prototypes and playtest them with friends.
BonsaiShaping small trees in pots by pruning and wiring them over many years.
BreakdancingDance on the floor with fast footwork, spins and freezes, often in friendly battles.
Cake & cookie decoratingPipe buttercream, flood cookies with royal icing and cover cakes in fondant.
CapoeiraKicks, dodges and acrobatics played as a game in a circle, to live Brazilian music.
Card makingMaking greeting cards by hand with stamps, layered card and embellishments.
Chocolate makingTemper chocolate by hand and make truffles, bars and filled bonbons.
Clothes upcyclingMending, altering and restyling clothes you own or thrift into something new.
CNC & laser cuttingCut and engrave wood, acrylic and more with computer-controlled lasers and routers.
Cocktail makingShake and stir classic cocktails at home, balancing spirits, citrus and sugar.
Coding side projectsCode your own apps, websites, bots and AI tools, often to automate everyday chores.
Collage & decoupageCutting and gluing paper images into new pictures, or onto boxes and furniture.
Combat roboticsBuild and drive radio-controlled fighting robots, then battle them in an arena.
Comics & zinesTelling stories in drawn panels, or making small self-published magazines.
Contemporary danceExpressive, free-flowing dance that blends ballet, modern technique and floor work.
CosplayMaking costumes and props of fictional characters, then wearing them to conventions.
Creative codingWrite short programs that draw moving patterns, generative art and web toys.
Cricut & vinyl craftingCutting designs from vinyl on a cutting machine for decals, stickers and T-shirts.
CrochetOne hook and yarn, building loops into blankets, toys and granny squares.
Data visualisationTurn real-world data into clear charts and maps that tell a story.
Digital illustrationDrawing and painting on a tablet with layers, from characters to full scenes.
DioramasBuilding small scenes with rocks, trees and figures, from terrain to book nooks.
DJingMix recorded tracks together live, matching beats so the music never stops.
DollhousesBuilding and furnishing tiny houses and rooms at doll scale, down to the teacups.
DrawingPencil, ink, charcoal or pastel on paper, from quick doodles to detailed portraits.
Electronics & ArduinoWire up circuits, sensors and lights, programmed with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
EmbroideryFreehand stitching on fabric in a hoop, drawing pictures with coloured thread.
Fan fictionWriting new stories set in the worlds of books, films and shows you love.
Fiction writingWriting your own short stories and novels, and building the worlds they live in.
Film & game scoringComposing music to fit scenes in films and games, timed to the action on screen.
Film photographyShooting with film or instant cameras, and developing and printing in the darkroom.
FilmmakingPlanning, shooting and editing short films and documentaries, often with a crew.
FishkeepingLooking after fish in aquariums or garden ponds, from water care to aquascapes.
FlamencoStamp out fiery rhythms with your feet and hands in the dance of southern Spain.
Flow artsSpin hula hoops, poi and staffs around your body to music, sometimes on fire.
Flower arrangingArranging cut stems and greenery into vases, bouquets, wreaths and ikebana.
Furniture restorationStrip, repair and refinish old chairs, tables and cabinets to use again.
GardeningPlanting flower beds, tending lawns, shaping hedges and making room for wildlife.
Glassblowing & lampworkBlowing molten glass in a hot shop, or melting glass rods at a torch into beads.
GuitarStrum chords and pick out melodies on six strings, acoustic or electric.
HarmonicaBlow and draw notes on a pocket-sized mouth organ, from blues bends to folk tunes.
Hip-hop danceGroove, bounce and hit the beat to hip-hop tracks, learning street-style routines.
Home cookingCook new dishes at home, from weeknight batch cooking to sushi and dumplings.
Home recordingRecord real instruments and vocals at home, then layer and mix them into a track.
Hosting dinner partiesPlan a menu, cook several courses and host friends around your table.
Ice cream makingChurn ice cream, gelato and sorbet at home, or make no-churn versions.
Improv comedyMake up scenes on the spot with other players, building comedy from suggestions.
Instrument makingBuilding guitars, violins and ukuleles by hand, from shaping wood to stringing.
Interior stylingArranging furniture, colour and objects so the rooms of your home feel like you.
Inventing languagesInventing a language from scratch: its sounds, grammar, words and script.
Jewellery makingMaking earrings, bracelets and rings from beads, wire, chainmaille or silver.
JournalingWriting private pages about your days, thoughts and plans, just for yourself.
LARPAct out a story in costume as your own character, live with other players.
LEGO buildingBuild LEGO sets made for adults and design your own creations from bricks.
Life drawingDrawing a live model at a class, from two-minute gestures to longer poses.
Makeup artistryCreating looks with makeup, from everyday and glam to special effects.
Making video gamesDesign and program your own video games, or mod the games you already play.
Making videosFilming, editing and posting videos for YouTube or short-form apps.
Memoir & life writingWriting true stories from your own life, shaped for other people to read.
Miniature paintingPainting small figures for tabletop games or display, down to the tiniest details.
Miniature wargamingBuild and paint armies of small models, then battle them on a tabletop with dice.
Model railwaysBuild miniature train layouts with track and scenery, and run model locomotives.
Model rocketryBuild small rockets from kits and launch them on motors in an open field.
Modular synthsPatch ready-made synth modules together with cables to shape sound, no soldering.
MosaicSetting small pieces of tile or glass into patterns, then grouting them in place.
Murder mystery partiesHost or play a whodunnit with friends over dinner, everyone in character.
Music visualisationTurn sound into moving pictures, from oscilloscope drawings to live visuals.
Musical theatreSing, act and dance in staged musicals with a local musical society.
Nail artPainting designs on nails with polish, stamping and gel, from dots to tiny scenes.
Natural dyeingColouring yarn and fabric with plants, onion skins and other dyes from nature.
Nature journalingSketching and writing notes on the plants, birds and weather you see outdoors.
Needle feltingStabbing loose wool with a barbed needle until it firms into small figures.
Oil paintingSlow-drying oil paints on canvas, blended and built up in layers over days.
ParkourMoving through city spaces by vaulting, climbing and jumping over obstacles.
Perfume makingBlend scented oils into perfumes of your own, layering top, heart and base notes.
Personal stylePutting together outfits, hunting vintage pieces and working out your own look.
PhotographyTaking and editing photos on a phone or camera, from landscapes to portraits.
PianoPlay tunes on the keys, right hand on the melody and left hand on the chords.
Pixel artPlacing pixels one at a time to make retro game-style sprites and scenes.
Pizza makingMake slow-rise dough and bake pizzas as hot as your oven or pizza oven goes.
Playing in a bandRehearse, jam and play gigs with other musicians, covers or your own songs.
PodcastingRecording and editing spoken episodes, solo or with guests, for others to hear.
PoetryWriting short poems, playing with rhythm, imagery and line breaks.
Pole dancingSpins, climbs and upside-down holds on a vertical pole, building strength as you go.
Polymer clayShaping coloured oven-bake clay into earrings, charms and tiny figures.
PotteryShaping clay on the wheel or by hand into bowls and mugs, then glazing and firing.
Pressed flowersDrying flowers flat in a press or book, then arranging them into frames and cards.
PrintmakingPrinting one design many times from carved lino, stamps, silk screens or gel plates.
Public speakingPractise giving speeches and talks, often at a supportive club with feedback.
PuppetryMake puppets from socks, foam or wood and bring them to life in performance.
PyrographyDrawing on wood with a hot pen, burning in outlines and shading.
QuillingRolling thin paper strips into coils and gluing them into pictures and cards.
QuiltingPiecing fabric scraps into patterned blocks, then layering and stitching a quilt.
Resin artMixing and pouring clear resin into moulds to make coasters, trays and pendants.
RoboticsBuild and program machines that sense their surroundings and move on their own.
SaxophoneBlow through a reed mouthpiece on a curved horn, from jazz standards to pop solos.
Scout & Guide leadingRunning weekly meetings, games and camps for a local Scout or Guide group.
ScrapbookingArranging photos, keepsakes and notes into decorated album pages.
ScreenwritingWriting scripts for film and TV, with scenes told through action and dialogue.
SculptureModelling clay or carving stone into three-dimensional forms, figures and heads.
SewingStitching fabric into clothes and bags by machine or hand, and drafting patterns.
Silk paintingPainting dyes onto stretched silk, with outlines that stop the colours running.
SingingTrain your voice with breathing, warm-ups and lessons to sing with range and control.
SkateboardingRiding a board at skateparks and on streets, learning to push, turn and ollie.
SongwritingWriting lyrics and melodies, shaping verses and choruses into original songs.
Sound designRecording everyday and outdoor sounds, then reshaping them into new effects.
Stained & fused glassCutting coloured glass and joining it with foil or lead, or fusing it in a kiln.
Stand-up comedyWrite your own jokes and perform them solo at a mic in front of an audience.
Stop-motion animationMoving models or clay a tiny bit per photo so they come alive on playback.
StorytellingTell true stories and folk tales aloud to a live audience, without a script.
Street art & muralsPainting large designs and murals on legal walls with spray cans and brushes.
Street photographyCapturing candid moments of strangers and everyday life in public places.
Swing & lindy hopDance lindy hop and other bouncy partner styles to big-band swing jazz.
Synth DIYSolder your own synthesiser from a kit, then play the sounds it makes.
Tabletop role-playingTell a shared story round a table with dice, playing a hero or running the game.
Tap danceMake rhythm with metal-tipped shoes, tapping out shuffles, flaps and time steps.
TerrariumsBuilding tiny planted landscapes of moss and ferns inside glass jars and bowls.
Tufting & punch needlePushing yarn loops through fabric with a punch needle or tufting gun to make rugs.
Urban sketchingDrawing the streets, buildings and cafés around you on location, often in a group.
VexillologyStudying flags and their history, and designing your own from simple rules.
Voice actingPerform character voices into a home mic, for auditions, fan projects and games.
Watercolour & gouacheWater-based painting, from soft see-through washes to flat, opaque gouache.
WeavingPassing yarn over and under on a frame or table loom to make cloth and hangings.
Wildlife photographyWaiting patiently outdoors to photograph birds, animals and insects in the wild.
Wood carvingCarve spoons, birds and figures from wood with a knife, gouges or an axe.
WoodturningSpin wood on a lathe and shape it with chisels into bowls, pens and spindles.
WoodworkingCut and join timber into furniture, boxes, inlaid marquetry and even boats.