What to do with my hands?

[CherryAndAlmond]

I hope I've put this thread in the right section.

I would like to start listening to the radio, podcasts and music a lot more than I do at the moment. And I'd like to stop watching TV every night whilst eating rubbish food. In the daytime I can move about while listening, but in the evening I want to sit and relax. It feels weirdly empty just sitting listening, not looking at anything and not doing anything with my hands! So I wonder if crafty mumsnetters could help me find a hobby? I'd like it to be something I can do on the sofa (so not painting!) and it can't be knitting or crochet because I've tried that and can't do it and get frustrated. Something easy, creative, with something to show for it at the end...?

For context, I'm a single parent and spend most evenings alone in the living room as my teenagers no longer want my company. I read a lot, but increasingly like to have a bit of background noise.

Thanks!

Adult colouring books? You can get some really lovely ones!

I was going to suggest crochet - there are some amazing YouTube crochet videos for people who can't / haven't done even basic stitches

Needlefelting. Small outlay on needles, mat/sponge pad to protect your lap, and wool roving (like teddy bear stuffing). Can be as small or large a project as you like, no stitches to count, don't have to concentrate, apart from making sure you don't stab your fingers cos it hurts when you do! You can create 2d/3d pictures or sculptures of anything that comes to mind, and have something to show at the end of it. Search online for videos showing how it's done.

Cross stitch?

Thank you for the suggestions. I like the idea of needle felting - have googled and it's very creative. And adult colouring is something I occasionally used to do and found relaxing. I'd forgotten about that, so maybe will pick that up again.

Cross stitch
Puzzle books etc
Colouring
Baking
Reading and writing
Word searches and so on
Painting with numbers
Knitting
T shirt making
Embroidery
Patchwork
Sewing
Puppet making
Weeding

I know what you mean about making things for a purpose rather than just doing something to fill time, but I don't necessarily want lots of 'craft' projects around the house myself!

I do knitting and like to make things to give away, so have done socks, scarves, a dog with the same markings as someone's own dog, birds, christmas tree decorations etc etc.

I'm having a go at cross stitch and am planning to make some small designs, like 5cm x 5cm to use for xmas cards. I have got some patterns from magazines which you can download for free from the library - I use the libby app.

I do jigsaws, and charity shops are full of them. I do them then take them back. You can get all sorts, even some where the picture is from the point of view of the subject, so not the picture of the jigsaw but what the jigsaw is looking at iyswim

Also mecrame or bobbin lace?

Ooo thought of some more, weaving, tapestry, beading x

Ooo, some great ideas here! Lots to explore!

If you’re interested in cross stitch I’d recommend starting simple otherwise you’ll put yourself off! Caterpillar cross stitch do some fab kits with good designs.
Or there’s another called oh sew beautiful and they do a bit like tapestry kits/wall hanging kits that again are simple

Card making is quite a good one because you'll always be able to use cards!

Look after your hands - file and paint your nails, soak your hands and put on handcream.

I've recently started diamond painting. You can get beautiful cheap ones on Amazon. There's no counting stitches so I've been able to fully listen to podcasts whilst doing so.

Hmm, I also don't want the house filling up with my 'art'! But although I like doing jigsaws, I feel like it's a shame to spend such a long time on something you're just going to break up.

I made this little creature last night. I thought I'd give a few different ideas from this thread a go. It was a needlefelting starter kit from Hobbycraft. It was very satisfying!

Felting! It's really easy to get into and quite therapeutic to stab stab stab

Ha, cross post!

I used to be a spot picker while feeding dd1, then spots cleared up so became a dry lip picker while feeding dd2. Bought myself a handheld sudoku game thingy, was awesome

@Starcaller

Felting! It's really easy to get into and quite therapeutic to stab stab stab

Yes, the stabbing is very satisfying! Though once I'd almost finished the little bird and it was taking shape it began to feel very odd stabbing the poor thing. But maybe that's just me

I love doing a jigsaw on with podcast in my ears.

I can’t crochet but I’m on a Facebook page called random acts of crochet kindness. They make little things like flowers or worry worms or snails - millions of things, and then they print out a little poem and leave it somewhere. Then sometimes people come on and say that they found the item and it made their day. It’s really cute and heart warming. One day I might even learn to crochet…

All the poems are there, although obviously you could write your own, and the tutorials of links to videos. They don’t look too complicated.

I joined because my friend makes little angels all year and distributes them at Christmas.