I need a hobby. Suggestions welcome!

[OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny]

DD leaves for uni soon, DS has reached the age where he's out with friends and suddenly I have time on my hands.

TBH I feel quite flat about my feeling redundant, so to avoid spending endless hours sitting on my arse on the laptop I really need to find something to do.

What hobbies do you have? What can you suggest?

(NB. running /high impact sport is not an option, ideally it shouldn't be too pricey)

Mine are;
Pilates
Yoga
Adult colouring
Puzzle books
Walking the dog.

I did Pilates years ago and quite enjoyed it but not sure I want to do it again. It became a chore being tied to a regular slot eg every Tuesday at 7.30pm IYSWIM.

I also tried Yoga but it definitely wasn't for me (although it may have been the instructor rather than the yoga itself).

Sorry, not being difficult, honestly!

Volunteering in a field that interests you? Eg at a school, sports club, meals on wheels, citizens advice

Walking group
Gardening group
Cake decorating ( could turn into a business)
Furniture restoration
Cycling
Swimming
Water aerobics
Crafts eg knitting
Orienteering
Kayaking

Indoors:

Diamond painting

Outdoors:

Bike rides

My mum knits, crochets, and loves art so visits lots of art galleries/museums & goes on trips/holidays to art things (she’s currently at the Venice Biennale). My dad plays squash and golf. I bake, read, dance & would like to start hiking & go back to horse riding. My boyfriend plays guitar and drums and plays in bands. My best friend crochets, bakes & sings/plays piano.

I’d just try lots of things that sound interesting to you and see what sticks! So many options - sports, music, food, art, craft etc

Volunteering? Search www.do-it.org or reachvolunteering.org.uk/ for opportunities in your area. I have volunteer on a helpline, as a referral order panel member for my local youth offending team, a school governor, and now a charity trustee (over the last 15 years or so, not all at once!).

Magistrate?

Help out in your child’s school?

Something crafty? Knitting, clothes making etc

Open University course or another course (where are you in the country?).

Geochaching - walks with a purpose.

Hiking.

Join the Ramblers.

Sing - join a community choir.

Check out the meetup portal for groups in your area.
I would go for something purposeful, healthful and sociable eg a walking/hiking group.

My hobbies are
Choir
Theatre
Reading
Walking
Cinema
Book club
Coach trips
Days out/meeting up with friends
Eating out

I have recently started scrap booking. I have always collected tickets and what not from holidays and days out: I’ve finally started sticking them in a book and being a bit creative about it.

Also, thanks to a lovely Mumsnetter mentioning it, I have started using Post crossings to exchange postcards.

Other than that, the gym, a lot of reading and puzzle books. For days out I love a gallery or stately home.

church bell ringing no church attendance required is quite technical and many people do it for years

Some great suggestions...keep them coming!

I used to volunteer years ago when the DC were little and in nursery/school. I really enjoyed it actually so maybe I should think about going back. Only thing is that it's committing to set times and days, not something I can pick up as and when I have time.

Clothes making appeals too. I have a sewing machine that my mum gave me so I'm half way there! In fact something creative seems right as I'll have an end result.

Singing?! I can't carry a tune in a bucket! For the sake of everyone else I'll give that a miss

Bell-ringing - believe it or not I did this as a teenager as my friends Dad was a bell-ringer. I gave up when I discovered boys, parties and cider. No desire to go back to it though.

Sewing - quilting in particular
Photography
Dog walking
Scrapbooking

Mine are quite active: pilates, boxing, running and krav maga. But also interested in book clubs, learning a new language, baking and plan to volunteer at a local hospice.

There was another really good thread on this recently, it gave me a few ideas:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3664022-what-hobby-do-you-have

I've started doing papercutting. All you need is a craft mat and a craft knife/scalpel, templates (from Pinterest/Etsy) and the paper!

OP, not wanting to steal your thunder in any way, but you have a sewing machine - this was my third ever quilt I made.

So, you can achieve very satisfying things with (in my case) limited talent.

When not wasting time online, I knit, crochet, sew, garden, read, cook, forage, play poker, go to WI stuff.

Consider changing your hobbies as the seasons change. That way you won't get bored and you try new things.
Crochet in the winter. Hoola hooping in the summer.

Other ideas:

Pebble painting, permaculture courses, scuba diving, train spotting, learn an instrument, cookery course, retrain, golf.

Join the dressmaking revolution Op.

I've been at it (as a complete novice) for about 6 months. I've just made all the clothes for my upcoming holiday. They all fit perfectly and are one of a kind.

It really is addictive though so brace yourself . It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. If you want any tips/help let me know.

My other hobby is buying fabric. Trust me it's a completely separate obsession. I have fabrics I'm too scared to cut as they cost an arm and a leg but just having them brings me joy.

Aerial hoop or aerial yoga

Dog walk for a rescue (can usually be as and when). I did this as a home tester and took dogs home for the day and it's one of the most rewarding things I've done seeing a dog exhausted from kennels, curling up and sleeping for hours. And then my friend adopted him

Knitting/rag rugs/crochet

My mum did an Indian cookery course and adored it we got to eat delicious stuff

Dowsing
It opens the door to all kind of weird and wonderful stuff and some amazing people

NewName that quilt looks lovely.

Now you see I love the idea of having something to show for my time. The same would apply to dressmaking as like "MaidenMotherCrone* I would end up with some original pieces.

NoHummus thanks for the link, I'll have a read of that this morning

I like to knit while watching the telly, card making and scrapbooking . I also spend hours on line reading lots of forums.

I second sewing/embroidery! I love it so much I'm genuinely considering dropping my shitty career and going to college for fashion.

It's not the cheapest hobby as you end up buying more and more equipment (overlocker, mannequin, nice threads, gadgets) but I buy my fabric at my local market for £4 a metre, so the clothes are pretty cheap.