I need inspiration for a new hobby. What do you do?

Hi Baublegirl I go to the gym but being pregnant that wont suit you too much. What about prenatal yoga or swimming? Both of these would be good for you whilst pregnant and the first would help you meet new friends?

I knit and I crochet! Both fab to do from home, and with minimal set-up costs. And they're not at all messy either! All you need to see if you like it is a ball of cheap yarn, and a pair of knitting needles or crochet hook. I only learnt a couple of years ago, and would recommend these books as great places to begin:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stitch--Handbook-Instructions-Generation/dp/0761128182/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231148089&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stitch--Crochet-Happy-Hooker/dp/0761139850/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231148089&sr=8-2

If you took up either, I would also recommend joining Ravelry.com, which is a giant yarn-craft community, and has loads of forums which support newbies. It is also a great source of inspiration as people upload pics and descriptions of their finished articles.

Hi MT,

Thanks for your reply. I've considered PN yoga, but most of the courses are in the daytime which is not possible because I don't have childcare. Also, having done some yoga before, I do find that I prefer more energetic forms of exercise! Swimming is a possibility because I could do it in the evenings, although it can be difficult to commit to going out on a particular night every week because my husband's work can be a bit unpredictable. Would be worth looking into though, thanks

Cau not keep up the running? I ran until I was about 8 months pregnant (ok, it was more of a waddle at the end!).

Ooh I hadn't really thought about knitting before. My mum knits, but has always refused to teach me because I'm left-handed! Surely it's not that much more difficult?

Will have a look at those books. In this weather, knitting something warm sounds appealing!

Thanks

VS - I prob could have kept up the running if I'd carried on at the start, but I was so sick and tired in the first few months that I stopped straight away, and I can't imagine starting now. Being baby no 3 I already have a considerable bump and am rather wobbly and unstable! I wish I had kept it up though, because I hate feeling unfit.

There are different methods to suit! I knit the 'English way', which is better for right-handers. The 'continental method' is meant to be better for lefties, and I am sure that there is probably an entire Ravelry forum devoted to left-handed knitting! Also, Knitty.com is a great pattern resource, and may also have articles about getting started with your left hand.

If you struggle, crochet is INFINITELY easier to learn and get started with. You may end up liking both, and using them interchangeable, as I do.

It's also a very useful skill to have around Christmases and birthdays - I made corsages, hot water bottle covers and iPod covers this year and everyone was well chuffed. I'd try something simple, such as a small scarf or shawl (or square pot holder!) as my first project.

I do cross stitch which as a beginner can be very easy (and cheap) to pick up a starter kit. Alternatively some of the magazines have small cards etc on the front as freebies which are usually quite easy. I personally find it really relaxing and its something you can pick up when you have a few moments spare and then put it down again.

Something else I was going to suggest until you said nothing to do with children, but I will mention it anyway. Perhaps getting involved with girl guides in your area. As a helper you could go along to whatever age group you feel more comfortable with and help for the couple of hours which then gives you something else to do and get out of the house whilst also having the opportunity to socialise with other adults. And you don't need any special skills for that, as they do anything from craft, cooking, games etc etc, you name it, they do it.

Baublegirl,

If you would like to try cardmaking/scrapbooking then send me a private message and I will send you a little sample of bits (card blanks, embellishments, a couple of mags etc, they are only cluttering up my craft room anyway

I play netball, it's cheap (well until we have to buy our outfits which I'm dreading) and it's great for a social life that's pretty much non existent, I started because I wanted to get out more and make new friends rather than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself and jealous that H was going out. I have a 2.5 year old. It's obviously not something you can do right now but something to consider once you've had your baby. Our team were advertising in the local supermarket for new players. Failing that why not try skittles? Most teams are always needing new players.

Another knitter here - I used to knit loads at school but gave it a break and have recently picked it up again - I'm currently making lots of socks and gloves. There are also loads of cute baby patters around, or you can make something for yourself if you are fed up of babies?

See if you can find a local wool shop - they will be able to get you started and point you towards any local knitting circles for some hands on help if you need it. Also join Ravelry - it's fab!

Edited: got the wrong smiley!

I wouldn't rule out horse riding. Like you I had horses from ages 11 to 21, but since selling my last horse I keep my toe in by riding other peoples' horses a couple of times a week. At the moment I ride my cousins horse 2 nights a week and pay for his shoes which is only £40 every 7 weeks. Before I moved house I used to ride an eventer for his owner as often or a little as I liked and didn't pay a penny.

It may take a while to find the right agreement (days, cost, location, type of horse and owner) but I'm sure you could find something, I know when I was looking for a sharer for my horse I was after someone older (i.e. not a teenager) and was happy for them to ride whenever they wanted during the week as it would have been doing me a favour for him to be exercised whilst I was working.

What is the best way to learn to knit? It's something I would love to do but have no idea where to start. Would it be something like a book or dvd in the first instance or is a class better? My mum has a full set of needles so can start off with them and some wool from the £1 shops! My nana tried to teach me and I couldn't grasp it but she did die when I was 10 so I was pretty young and won't write myself of completely as a knitting dunce. ?

I would love to be able to knit lovely traditional but contemporary things for my friend's children and hopefully for my own one day! If I ever manage to be pregnant, it's likely I'll be spending much of it resting so being able to knit properly by then would be a great asset! One of my NW hitched friends knitted 24 little stockings as an advent calendar and I asbolutely loved it, I'd love to be able to do things like that for people!

Our local charity shops always have piles of knitting needles, wool and cross stitch kits in - worth looking at if you don't want to outlay too much, in case you don't get on with it.

Thanks Sarah-Kay. Unfortunately I certainly need to rule out horse riding for the next 5 months, and then at least 3 months post-section recovery. My best friend has two horses that I'm welcome to ride, but I can't do that with a toddler and newborn in tow! Time that stable yards started having creches i think!

Is something I'll go back to when the kids are older and I have some free time in the day I think.

Sorry - can't see other posters names.

Netball - definitely something I used to enjoy. I have looked up some clubs in the area and they all look like a very good standard - would need to find one for someone very rusty! Worth a look when I'm back to normal fitness though.

Scrap booking - doesn't appeal I'm afraid. I do spend a lot of time doing our photo albums and that's probably enough for me in that line. Thanks though.

I tend to flit between craft projects I get bored with one after a few weeks or so, so I find it helps to have something else on the go at the same time. But it also tends to mean I never become particularly accomplished in any one skill so I'm rather at beginner level with all my projects!

For example, at the moment I'm tired of card-making as I made all my own wedding invitations and Christmas cards and a load of birthday cards too back at the start of December. Then I did some work on my latch-hook (a piece of stiff, canvas mesh which you hook short pieces of yarn onto, following a pattern like you do with cross-stitch, to create an image). Then, for Christmas my MIL2B bought me some new knitting needles, a pattern for a funky scarf and some really nice yarn so I got started on that!

It depends what works for you, really! I found the two books above were what I needed to get me going, but I also joined a local knitting group (meets twice a month in Starbucks) for support and encouragement. If you google 'stitch and ***', you should be able to find a local group! The Ravelry forums are ace too. I think we knitters are rather lucky as there are so many resources and avenues open to us nowadays. Once you've got going, I would also recommend Vogue Knitting - The Ultimate Knitting Book. I got it for Christmas, and it really lives up to its title! Not so much a pattern book but full of advice and technical know-how.

Thank you so much! I've just looked at stich and *** and have found these:

Meets every Tuesday 5 pm - 8 pm at Knitwise, 375 Smithdown Road, Liverpool, L15 3JJ. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. I have a nice coffee machine that can make espressos, filter coffee, lattes and cappuchinos. Feel free to bring your own food if you are coming straight from work. Contact **********@***.*** tel: **** mob: ****. See website for updates.

Meets at least once a month - usually second week. All ages/levels welcome. For details of venues/times contact ******@*****.**.**

Meets every Thursday 5 pm - 7pm at Caffe Nero, corner of Whitechapel & Sir Thomas St, L1. Contact *****@*********.******.**.** or see Knitwits for more information

This could just be what I need, I desperately need to meet some local friends and find a hobby that meets regularly, at a reasonable time of day!

I'll have a look at the other things you mentioned to, your help is much appreciated! ?

I've just acquired my Nana's sewing machine and am teaching myself to sew, lots of videos on the net to show you how to do basics (threading the machine, loading up a bobbin). May have similiar tutorials on knitting - try youtube first.

My other hobby, H calls it my geeky hobby, is birdwatching. Peaceful walks without a toddler in tow and seeing things that don't visit my garden. Only tend to go local natural reserves, can get by without binoculars (although they help) if you have good hides with feeding stations.

You could try scrapbooking (visit www.ukscrappers.co.uk to find our more) which is great on a number of fronts. You can do it at home. It can help you create a great record of your children as they grow up. You don't have to spend loads on it. You can use digital scrapbooking (less mess, great results). The children can join in if you want them to.

Or try card-making - again, the same site can give you lots of ideas and inspiration.

I know you said scrapbooking wasn't for you but I do second or third it. Ukscrappers is a great site and its not necessaryily the "old fashioned" scrapbooking that people often think of.

A number of posters have suggested activities that will take you out of the house. So you could maybe consider joining a choir or local amateur orchestra if you've musical bent. And the choir doesn't have to be classical, it could be light music repertoire .... Or join an amateru dramatics group and get stuck into cosutmes or props or set-painting or whatever takes your fancy. Or join the local camera club - great way of learning how to get the most out of your camera and maybe discover new ideas for taking good photos of your growing family!

Like Sunset, I also play netball. I got back into it three years ago after an eight year break and I now run the league. I found it only took me a couple of months to get back to the same standard I was when I first stopped. I'm sure there will be teams of all standards near you, but it is often difficult to find them as many are not well advertised.

In our area there are teams for beginners, 'back-to-netball' classes as well as talent sessions with Loughborough Lightning players. We've had ladies coming along who are desperately unfit and haven't played for 30 years and they are all now playing in teams of their own.

The best thing you can do is contact the local league secretary and explain the standard you want to play, and she will probably help you find a team. If you can't find out who that is, England Netball will have her contact details.