New hobby ideas?

[Duck on Wheels]

I spent my sabbatical year two years ago in an unfurnished apartment in an unfamiliar town all on my own. There was a yarn and quilting shop just across the street, alongside a bakery and café. I would pick up my daily breads and coffee and then browse among all the colors and patterns and textures of the yarns and materials. I did several knitting projects that year, including learning some unusual techniques such as moebius (sp?) strip knitting. Then just before heading back home I took the one quilting course they offered where you didn't have to bring a sewing machine with you -- a course on color and design. After the course I bought a couple of books, some cutting tools, materials for a quilt, and got to work when I got back home to my machine. I gave the first one (you could call it "The G@y Olympics Cycling Flag quilt") to my sister (Trek420). Then made another (a quilted, patchwork messenger bag) for my daughter (UK Elephant), then another (in soft flannels with inset photos printed on muslin) for my grand-nephew. Now I'm about to start on a rock-climbing themed quilt for my son. In the course if 1 year, I guess it's turned into a new hobby, and with retirement looming a few years down the line that's probably a good thing. If you can sew at all, quilts are surprisingly simple to make, so I've discovered, and can give impressive results in spite of numerous simplifications and even downright mistakes. Here are my very first three: nr. 1 overview, nr. 2 finished and in use, and nr. 3 front and back. [announcer's voiceover: Only the mistakes are hidden to protect the incomptent.]

[sandra]

I am on another messageboard and recently posted the same thing!

I want to do something different, learn something new, or try a new hobby. Something to keep life from becoming stagnant.

But, right now I don't know what that might be. I know it is not knitting.

[shootingstar]

I will be taking an acrylic painting course..more to rejuvenate my latent painting passion. 'Course I got into abit of multimedia...which you can see in my avatar/profile photo.

In the past I've taken several courses in Western calligraphy and illumination (decorating those borders, medieval style) and stainglass making. My interest in fine arts has been there parallel to cycling --in gets buried, then reignited ....

Before cycling, I used to sew most of my clothing...meaning seriously tailored jackets with lining, jeans with pocketc, French seams, bound buttonholes.

From seeing in all the wonderful stuff on cycling trips, shooting tons of photos...does give me inspiration to capture it on canvas.

I really don't want to just focus on cycling....after all, if I become ill/injured/sidelined from cycling, then for one's own mental health, a non-cycling passion is always a great thing long-term.

[bikerHen]

I'll second the vote for quilting. Once learned, it's a skill you can continue for the rest of your life. It's not fatting and you get lots of warm cozy quilts. If you don't have attachment issues, like I do with the quilts I make, they make wonderful gifts. And it's a great creative outlet. You get to play with lots of different colors and patterns and even create your own. It can be a real social hobby as well. There are all kinds of large and small quilt groups in every part of the country.

Enough said, I'll get back to work, quilting! Still can't decide if it's a good thing or bad thing that my hobby became my business! bikerHen

[sandra]

I have and can make the quilt tops, but I've never put the thing together and "quilted" it. How do you all do it? by hand or machine?

Maybe I should tackle that. I have a bag of fabric I bought years ago to make a quilt. (It's all red, white and blue. I was going to make it for son while he was serving overseas. never got it done.)

[solobiker]

About 5 years ago I taught my self how to quilt. It is a big destressor for me, except when the blocks don't line up I also started woodworking about 3 years ago which intails using a scroll saw and a wood lathe the DH had got me for Christmas. I have so much to learn!!

[bikerHen]

Solobiker - One word, square! If you square up your blocks as you assemble them, you stand a much better chance of everything matching up.

Sandra, I have a longarm quilting business, so I use my machines. Hand quilting is a great traditional method, but you need alot of free time and patience to be a hand quilter. Tying with DMC floss or Pearle Cotton is the quickest and easiest way to finish your quilts. You can also machine quilt smaller quilts on your home machine with a walking foot and free motion foot. bikerHen

[solobiker]

Solobiker - One word, square! If you square up your blocks as you assemble them, you stand a much better chance of everything matching up.

Sandra, I have a longarm quilting business, so I use my machines. Hand quilting is a great traditional method, but you need alot of free time and patience to be a hand quilter. Tying with DMC floss or Pearle Cotton is the quickest and easiest way to finish your quilts. You can also machine quilt smaller quilts on your home machine with a walking foot and free motion foot. bikerHen

Thanks!! I actually do square them up, DH thinks I am to critical with it and often does not see the "errors" That is totally awesome that you have your own longarm business. I would be nervous that I would not quilt it exactly how the owner would want it.

[Zen]

. It is a big destressor for me, except when the blocks don't line up

The genesis of a crazy quilt!

[Mr. Bloom]

Why don't you visit Silver and let her teach you jewelry making