Reflected: Finding a fall hobby
5 hobby ideas + how to get started
Before I dig into this week’s topic - a little housekeeping!
After the response I got to the “Seattle Stuff” section in my last newsletter, I decided to spin it out into its own thing so I can do more with it. It’s called
and the next one goes out tomorrow! In each issue, you’ll find hand-picked recommendations, a curated list of weekend events, and a preview of what’s coming up in the next few months (so you never miss a thing).
Eventually, I’ll also include interviews with locals where they share their secret Seattle faves so we can all expand our horizons a little bit. It’s the newsletter I’ve always wanted, so it was time to create it. You can sign up for it here (and please share with other Seattleites!)This newsletter will likely continue to go out on more of a monthly basis as I get
up and running (but maybe more often! We’ll see). The rough structure will be an essay on a specific topic, a list of recommendations, and a question to reflect on or take to the journal. If there’s anything you’d like to see covered or get resources for, please let me know!
Okay - on to this week’s topic: finding a fall hobby.
Note: you might need to “expand this email” as it’s a big one this week!
Finding a Fall Hobby
I ended the summer feeling a little lost this year. After getting laid off, I decided to prioritize rest and enjoyment, but this meant that there were several times when instead of diving into something I was passionate about (and could risk becoming consumed by), I would guide myself to go for a walk or read on my roof instead. Not a bad redirection, but I felt unmoored by the end of the season without something I was excited about to tether myself to. Turns out, ya girl needs a project.
Fall is always the perfect time to dive into a new project or hobby (hence the resurgence of this newsletter), so I wanted to share a collection of resources I’ve gathered over the past few months for a few hobbies I’ve personally been interested in exploring in case you’re interested in them too!
Picking a hobby
When I started my hobby exploration a few months ago, I found this very comprehensive blog post with 125+ different hobby ideas + how to find the right one for you. It’s definitely worth a read! For me, there are a few key things that have made it easier to pick up and stick with a hobby:
Choose a hobby that has a low barrier to entry and doesn’t need a ton of materials, tools, or technical know-how to get started. I’d love to learn how to sew clothing, but acquiring a sewing machine and learning how to use it would be a pretty steep curve for me. Instead, I started out with a beginner crochet kit to make a top.
Take an in-person class or workshop on the hobby (even better if it provides you with the materials!). At this point, I’ve learned that I thrive in a classroom setting and am much more likely to keep chugging with a hobby if I can get started with guidance and structured learning time.
Find a friend to get started with (or someone who is already into it). Poll your friends to see who’s interested in exploring a hobby with you. Bonus points if you can also find a class or workshop to start the journey from.
Hobby ideas + inspiration
Watercolor Painting 🎨
Get started: I’d highly recommend starting with an in-person class or workshop, but the only materials you need to get going are: paints, a brush, and some watercolor paper. From there, you could try this YouTube beginner tutorial or this one from the MoMA.
Level-up: To get regular inspiration and try painting new things, I’d recommend signing up for something like the
. Even though it’s not necessarily for watercolor, the live drawing sessions with prompts would be a cool way to develop a practice and regularly commit to it.Seattle-specific: I just took a travel watercolor class at The Works and it was amazing! The instructors are very kind + approachable and know how to cater to beginners. I’m not sure when they’ll host it again, but you can sign up for their newsletter to stay informed. Other intriguing creative meetups are Urban Sketchers Seattle and Seattle Plein Air.
Language Learning 🗣
Get started: One of my former coworkers recommended Lingoda to me for its flexible small-group class format that almost feels like you’re going to school for it. Unfortunately, the languages you can learn are limited to Spanish, German, and French, but if any of those are on your list this looks like a better method than the apps. They also offer Language Sprints which are two-month learning challenges where you can earn some of your $$ back if you complete them.
Level-up: If you have some high school Spanish you want to develop or learn some Japanese for an upcoming trip, you can try working with a tutor on Italki. I’ve done this for French and it was incredibly helpful to have a standing lesson every week to practice speaking, comprehension, and grammar. Some of the tutors are more for practicing conversational skills rather than actual language learning, so keep that in mind when choosing a tutor! You can get $5 off with this link.
Seattle-specific: Seattle Central College hosts a variety of both virtual and in-person weekly language-learning classes that run about $269 for two months. Wouldn’t it be romantic to go to Capitol Hill every week for an Italian class?
Sewing 🪡
Get started: Before you order that sewing machine, try updating the clothes you already own with Sashiko, aka visible mending. All you need is some thread, fabric patches, and a needle to get going. This article from NPR is a good jumping-off point.
Level-up: When I’m ready to graduate to sewing clothes + acquiring a sewing machine, I’m using this article by Ann Friedman as my guide (she also explains how learning how to sew makes you better at buying clothes). Ann recommends starting off with really easy patterns like this A-line skirt or this tote bag. As for sewing machines, this one has been the most highly recommended by the NYT and Reddit.
Seattle-specific: Pacific Fabrics in SoDo has a monthly Sewing 101 class that teaches you how to use a sewing machine to make some pillows. You can even bring your own sewing machine for them to show you how to use! The Works is also hosting a Sashiko Mending class on 10/13 if you’d like to start there.
Knitting + Crochet 🧶
Get started: Snag a kit from Wool And The Gang or We Are Knitters to get everything you’d need for a project delivered in one go. I’ve done the Woodstock tank and the Good Life Top from WATG and they were great starter patterns!
Level-up: Make a list of the things you’d like to make, and then search for patterns on Ravelry or Etsy. Use the yarn that’s listed, or find a substitution using YarnSub. On my list: this balaclava, these legwarmers, and this sweater.
Seattle-specific: Bring a pattern to Seattle Yarn in West Seattle and they can get you set up with the right yarn + needles for it. It’s super helpful to feel things in person! They also host meetups on Sundays and the 2nd + 4th Wednesdays of every month.
Cooking 🍳
Get started: Picking a cuisine or technique-based cookbook is a great way to actually learn how to cook rather than just following a recipe. J. Kenji López-Alt’s books The Food Lab and The Wok are good examples of this, as well as The Woks of Life.
Level-up: Fall is the perfect time to explore more project-based recipes like how to make dumplings or fresh pasta. Sur la Table has some seemingly good + affordable virtual classes ($29) that would also make for a cute date night. For full meals, I’ve been eying Julia Turshen’s classes (since her recipes are already so excellent!).
Seattle-specific: I had heard the cooking classes at PCC were kind of meh, but I took one this summer with my family from an instructor named Ben and it was fantastic. I’m not sure if he’s still teaching, but highly recommend taking one of his classes if you see it on the schedule! Otherwise, I’ve heard amazing things about The Pantry, but have yet to give it a try myself.
📰 Articles:
Do the weirdest thing that feels right (
) - my new mottoIn Praise of the Meandering Career (Every) - this made me feel much more comfortable with my own nonlinear path
Inside the Federal Bureau Of Way Too Many Guns (GQ) - a fascinating and insane exploration of how we trace guns (hint: not using computers - it’s illegal!)
Life's Not a Race, It's a Party (
) - for anyone who has ever felt like it’s too late to get started on something (it’s not!)
🍴 Recipes:
Easy Bok Choy Breakfast Skillet with Crispy Garlic (Recipe Fiction) - new savory breakfast fixation (pictured above)
Better Than Takeout: Beef & Broccoli (Brocc Your Body) - perfect for the nights when you just wanna order in
One Pot Creamy Turkey Rigatoni (Brocc Your Body) - an excellent one pot recipe for a chilly evening
In the queue:
Easy Same-Day Peasant Bread (Cup of Jo)
Sprout top, potato, and chorizo soup (The Guardian) - recommended by my CSA!
👀 Cool Things:
A seasonal tea + ritual membership
Martie - an online grocery store with discounts up to 70% off popular pantry staples + household goods (like Brightland olive oil for 50% off)
A cozy game database
An organza cord cover (that I’d love to make my own version of since it’s $$)
✍️ Journal Question:
Thinking about an upcoming decision or choice you need to make (where to plan a trip, should you start that thing, what kind of job do you want), what is the weirdest thing you could do (that feels 100% right)?
That’s all for this issue of Reflected! I’d love to hear what your favorite hobbies are and which ones are calling your name this fall. Share them in the comments, plus any resources or tools that have helped you along the way.
I’m learning to quilt this fall! But also leaning Italian in cap hill is now on my radar 🤔🤔