We at Alachua County Library District are big hobby fans. Through our programming, our collection, and our online resources, we love giving you free outlets to pick up new passions and ideas.
What if you're looking for something beyond the norm? You've tried knitting and your yarn got tangled; you thought about learning piano, but something about the little mallets inside the piano freaks you out. Or maybe you're just already a hobby whiz, and you need something more.
Well, whatever your reason, we've got oodles of suggestions for new hobbies and skills that you can start learning with the help of our collection. We thought we'd share a few with you here, to help stimulate your imagination, and help you put some new books on hold. So keep reading, and find your new passion.
Get a Hobby!
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For those uncertain on which hobby they want to pursue, there are a few handy resources out there that offer beginner guides to multiple different disciplines. Get a Hobby: 101 All-Consuming Diversions for Any Lifestyle by Tina Barseghian offers beginner projects for more mundane hobbies like quilting, gardening, and collecting, but also offers a breadth of hobbies like bell ringing, gilding, gravestone rubbing, and Polaroid transfer.
Other General/Multi-Hobby Books
The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Needlecraft by Lucinda Ganderton focuses on just about everything that can be done with needle and thread. 52 Random Weekend Projects by Grant Thompson is for those who want weekend-optimized activities, and Craft Activism by Joan Tapper is for those who want to combine creativity and social change. There's also Life Skills: How to Chop Wood, Avoid a Lightning Strike, and Everything Else Your Parents Should Have Taught You by various, and The Little Book of Life Skills by Erin Zammett Ruddy, as well as Storey's Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills by Storey Publishing, all of which are pretty self-explanatory.
This is only a small selection of the more general reference books we have, so make sure to go to your local branch to find even more selections.
The Backyard Blacksmith: Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith
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Some of us get burned microwaving foods, but for the more safety-conscious and adventurous, blacksmithing might be a great creative outlet.
More Blacksmithing
The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers also offers how-tos.
Hands-On Dulcimer
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The dulcimer is just one of several unique musical instruments you can learn more about through the library.
More Dulcimer
Music of the World for Mountain Dulcimer, also features international sheet music. Junkyard Jam Band by David Nelson will teach you how to create your own DIY instruments, as will Make: Musical Inventions by Kathy Ceceri.
You can find music lessons on LinkedInLearning, which has lessons on the ukulele, banjo, and mandolin.
The Art of Tapestry Weaving
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More Tapestry Weaving
Getting a look at some of these tapestry books, we're tempted to take up the loom and recreate our favorite Read posters in thread. Additional tapestry instruction books include Tapestry Weaving by Kirsten Glasbrook and Tapestry Weaving: A Comprehensive Study Guide by Nancy Harvey.
Generation T: Beyond Fashion
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Like re-fashioning your clothes but with no plans to actually learn how to sew? No problem! The classic Generation T: Beyond Fashion by Megan Nicolay has hundreds tutorials on how to re-use and re-cycle t-shirts.
More Cutting Up Your T-Shirts
There's also Mend: A Refreshing Manual and Manifesto by Kate Sekules and DIY Wardrobe Makeovers by Suzannah Stanley.
The New 5-Gallon Bucket Book
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Plastic 5-Gallon Buckets
Yep, even buckets! The New 5-Gallon Bucket Book has 60-some projects for using a plastic, 5-gallon bucket in new ways. Whether you want a bucket-chic home makeover or you just have a lot of spare buckets, you know, now you have the resources to make that happen.
And here's a free bonus suggestion for bucket use: this librarian's mother uses a 5-gallon bucket in her wet brine method for her famous Thanksgiving turkey!
Candy is Magic
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Cooking is one thing--making candy is something else. But if you want to tackle the sweetest of treats, we've got a few books for you.
More Candy-making
Additional titles include Candy Aisle Crafts by Jodi Levine and The Liddabitt Sweets Candy Cookbook by Liz Gutman, just to name a few.
Creativebug also has a number of classes on making candies and desserts.
Pine Needle Basketry: from Forest Floor to Finished Project
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Consider this: baskets are useful. Whether they're of the picnic or waste or paper basket variety, baskets are one of those things we all use and need. Candy may feel necessary, but if you're the type of person who likes the satisfaction of knowing you've made something useful, basket weaving may be for you.
More Basket Weaving
We've also got Basket Essentials by Lora Irish and Basketry Basics by BJ Crawford. If you're interested in basket-weaving as a skill in a more self-sufficient lifestyle, you might also like The Back to Basics Handbook by Abigail Gehring.
Paracord Outdoor Gear Projects
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You could interpret knots as a craft--nay, a lifestyle--in a few different ways.
More Knots
If you want to learn more knots for a practical reason, such as for sailing and camping, we have a number of other books for that, including The Book of Outdoor Knots by Peter Owen and Knot It! by John Sherry.
There's also knots for hairdos, found in DIY Updos, Knots and Twists by Melissa Cook.
Macrame is in itself a type of craft involving knitting threads, and we have a number of macrame books in the collection
You can also find classes on Creativebug, as well.
And finally, if it's really just plain knots you're yearning for, we've got Decorative Fusion Knots by JD Lenzen, which is really, truly, just about knots for the sake of knots.
Extreme Pumpkin Carving
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Start practicing now--after all, there's only eight more months until Halloween!
More Pumpkin Carving
For gourd decor enthusiasts, we also have How to Carve Pumpkins for Great Results by Deborah Schneebelli-Morrell and Realistic Pumpkin Carving by Lundy Cupp. You can even double-team on hobbies, with Making Gourd Musical Instruments by Ginger Summit.
DIY Wine Corks
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You can make a craft out of just about any material you'd otherwise throw away, and wine cork crafts are gaining popularity amongst ecologically conscious sommeliers.
More Wine Cork Crafts
At the library, you can also find The Eco-Christmas Craft Book by Marianne Miall.