Tactile hobbies

[MrNarwhal]

My wife and I like to sit and watch television in the evenings. She often works on a craft project such as weaving. My main hobby is chess, so I usually play or study chess. But there are days when the mental energy is not there for me and I'd like to do something with my hands instead. When I did electrical work, I liked the process of terminating control wiring: carefully stripping the outer cable jacket without nicking the wire jackets, then stripping and landing the wires.

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

[Cletus Davenport]

My wife and I like to sit and watch television in the evenings. She often works on a craft project such as weaving. My main hobby is chess, so I usually play or study chess. But there are days when the mental energy is not there for me and I'd like to do something with my hands instead. When I did electrical work, I liked the process of terminating control wiring: carefully stripping the outer cable jacket without nicking the wire jackets, then stripping and landing the wires.

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

How would you feel about watch repair? There is an amazing YouTube channel called wristwatch revival. Just outstanding. If you watch a few videos and are intrigued, it can be a fairly inexpensive hobby to get started on. And the host claims that everything you need for the hobby can fit in a shoe box.

And if you don’t want to do it, you might still find the videos very engaging. I don’t personally try it, I think that would be too frustrating for me.

[safari]

You may want to try embroidery. There are all kinds of kits you can buy on Amazon, depending on the skill level.

[telemark]

Rubik's Cube? There's some mental energy involved, but it's very satisfying just to handle one.

[InMyDreams]

Woodworking? Many CCRCs offer a woodshop, and there may be places in your community that offer equipment and classes. One project that may exist is making wooden toys for children, which may additionally create opportunities for socialization.

Pottery seems to be another common project.

Musical instrument? I have friends who have taken up ukulele

[retire57]

Knitting, crochet, needlepoint. All excellent for keeping your hands busy in the scenario you describe.

[LittleMaggieMae]

Crocheting may work for you as well.

Consider doing a starter or simple project where you start with making your own "yarn" for a rug or a tote bag. You can use t-shirts or the ever present plastic grocery bags. There's a lot of different steps and processes - more than just the crochet stitching.

If you just want to buy yarn and a needle(s) for crochet or knitting - I'd recommend starting out with making a dishcloth. It can be a simple square or some a very very fancy intricate square. The goodness of this small useful project is you get to learn/practice all the basic skills and it doesn't take you weeks to complete. If you start out with a hat or a scarf or a afghan - odds are you won't finish it or you won't use it.


Embroidery is not a bad option either. It's a skill you build on. There are some very complicated stitches and patterns and things to embroider if you are a "competitive" crafter (as in you need to keep doing harder and harder things rather than getting to a point where you can do the same things really really really well over and over again. And enjoying it. )

[GmanJeff]

Model railroading can be engaging, and as simple or as complicated as you like. Smaller scales, like T, Z, or N, don't require a lot of space. The hobby can involve electrical wiring, landscape construction, painting, and modeling of features like buildings and roads, or places like ports, airports or anything you can imagine.

[mkc]

Some styles of quilting, such as English paper piecing and applique, involve mostly hand sewing that you can do while relaxing in the evening with a little background noise. You can start with a simple kit for a table runner or wall hanging to see if you like it.

Another thought is jewelry - specifically wire wrapping/beading. It requires a small investment in tools like pliers/cutters but the results make nice gifts.

[FCM]

I second model railroading.

[Jazztonight]

I'd recommend taking up a musical instrument, possibly the flute.

What's beautiful about learning a musical instrument from scratch is that there does not have to be any pressure on you to become "great." Also, you can move into any type of music you like (folk, early music, classical, jazz, pop, whatever).

The other perennial beginner instrument is the clarinet. Alto sax might work, too. All of the instruments I've mentioned are single note instruments.

Just make believe you're a 6th or 7th grader and start with a beginner's book or YouTube lessons. (I did exactly this with the trombone--I'd never played a brass instrument before, and now I'm 6 years into it...and love it!)

[dukeblue219]

Are you specifically looking for something that you can do with your hands while watching TV?

I was going to suggest you set a goal to read N books this year, whether it's 24 or 50 or 100 or whatever seems right, but not sure that's what you're looking for. Fun books, not chess strategy, so it's still relaxing.

[celia]

So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

For knitting, start with slippers or a lap blanket (for watchingTV). Knitting is pretty easy since there are only 2 kinds of stitches to learn (knit and purl). And there are lots of directions on youtube:

Knit:
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/7nDS1aEuly8
Purl:
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/e7jGtCGLRfE

Slippers1:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Blh_P5Q_Gw

Slippers2:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQu8OlCuva8

[topofthebellcurve]

My wife and I like to sit and watch television in the evenings. She often works on a craft project such as weaving. My main hobby is chess, so I usually play or study chess. But there are days when the mental energy is not there for me and I'd like to do something with my hands instead. When I did electrical work, I liked the process of terminating control wiring: carefully stripping the outer cable jacket without nicking the wire jackets, then stripping and landing the wires.

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

I have an extensive, tactile hobby that I do while my wife embroiders.

The dishes.

[MJS]

Modular origami, where you fold 6-600 identical forms then connect them to make boxes, stars, wreaths, lanterns, etc. Precision is important, but after the first few, you don't have to think about your fingers. If you like geometry, it can be quite interesting.
Example

[FeralCat]

I don't know that much about it, but I like to work with plants. What about bonsai?

[Elric]

Lockpicking, aka locksport, sounds perfect for what you want. TOOOL has a good set of training locks for the very beginner and a decent set of picks. Also a great introductory set of intro slides to watch free. There shipping times can be a bit slow, though (all volunteer).

Once you can do the training locks, move up to a master lock #3, then branch out from there.

To see where incredible expertise can lead, watch YouTube videos by The Lockpicking Lawyer.

[Beensabu]

Maybe try wire wrapping? It's not too late to be a hippie.

But seriously, it sounds like you might really get into it and enjoy it. It's a couch activity.

[flyfishers83]

I vote for fly tying. You don’t really have to be into fishing to appreciate the art. Can start simple and work into very complicated. The history of some flies is interesting, both historical and modern materials are interesting. Learning Etymology and crafting realistic flies is interesting. I need to go tie some flies.

[MrNarwhal]

Thanks for all the ideas so far. Lockpicking is an interesting one. My wife seems excited about teaching me to knit, so I might try that first. She has lots of yarn already, I'll just need to get needles. They are inexpensive, which is nice.

[Nver2Late]

…,or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

DW makes hats while watching TV. Heads up- our dog likes to chew up the wood crochet hooks. She has to keep them out of reach of the pup.

[rockstar]

Painting miniatures is fun.

Check these out:

https://camospecs.com/?s=

It's a relatively cheap hobby.

[fasteddie911]

Knot tying. Weaving with Paracord or plastic lanyard string.

[Totrep]

Excellent thread. I second the idea of solving Rubik's cubes. Once you learn the algorithms it requires minimal mental energy but is very satisfying. Get a decent 3x3 speed cube with magnets such as the Moyu RS3M, and check out J Perm's YouTube video on the beginner's method to get started. If you like it, you can progress to fancier solving methods, different sized cubes, shape mods, etc. Check out speedcubeshop.com.

I may need to try lock picking for my next tactile hobby!

[nannid]

Lockpicking, aka locksport, sounds perfect for what you want. TOOOL has a good set of training locks for the very beginner and a decent set of picks. Also a great introductory set of intro slides to watch free. There shipping times can be a bit slow, though (all volunteer).

Once you can do the training locks, move up to a master lock #3, then branch out from there.

To see where incredible expertise can lead, watch YouTube videos by The Lockpicking Lawyer.

This is fascinating , never heard of it . The things I learn on this site amaze me .

[yankees60]

My wife and I like to sit and watch television in the evenings. She often works on a craft project such as weaving. My main hobby is chess, so I usually play or study chess. But there are days when the mental energy is not there for me and I'd like to do something with my hands instead. When I did electrical work, I liked the process of terminating control wiring: carefully stripping the outer cable jacket without nicking the wire jackets, then stripping and landing the wires.

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

I don't think we've yet received clarification from you as to whether this needs to be something that can be done while both you and your wife are in the same room watching television? If so, then some of the suggestions, e.g., fly fishing, would not work. Unless it was creating lures to be used while doing fly fishing. I will have to reread that suggestion.

[yankees60]

I vote for fly tying. You don’t really have to be into fishing to appreciate the art. Can start simple and work into very complicated. The history of some flies is interesting, both historical and modern materials are interesting. Learning Etymology and crafting realistic flies is interesting. I need to go tie some flies.

Just reread this.

I read it way too fast the first time, which I read as actual fly fishing. This is creating the lures used in fly fishing?

[Jack FFR1846]

As my mode of operation with most things in life is to try to stack benefits, here's my tactile hobbies.

First is firewood processing. We have forest land surrounding our house that's under a state program where we get a property tax cut for keeping the borders marked and taking firewood in a way to help the forest grow. So I'm assessing what needs to be cut. Storm damage, downed trees, dead trees, double trunk trees, leaners, trees competing with other trees. I take them down with a chain saw and cut them into firewood size. Load with a tractor bucket loader and trailer, use a log splitter to split them and pile them in piles by year. Most of the wood is oak, so it should be seasoned 2 years before using. We have a wood furnace in the basement hooked into our forced hot air system. I take a log sling and haul wood into the basement for the furnace and load it in to keep the fire going. I also process older pine. The difference being that I split it into stick sized pieces. These are used over paper as kindling to start the furnace first thing.

My second hobby is a combination of car work and metal work. I'll weld scrap metal into pieces needed for around the house or for protection under the Jeep as it's offroaded in the non-snow months. I'm no pro welder so I'm trying to learn as I go. I have welded here and there since the mid 70's so it's not new, I just don't do it a lot. Presently, my trailer has a rickety front and side rail setup and it's starting to fail. I plan to weld box steel scraps to start replacing the wood. The key is to make it stronger but also not too heavy.

Speaking of scrap, I also scrap electronics. I have a number of sources for old equipment and there's always the old computer system sitting in front of someone's house. I disassemble and box various categories of electronic scrap and also materials like copper, brass, aluminum and steel. When I have enough and am heading to where the electronic scrap yard or steel scrap yard is, I stop in and bring in the collected scrap. Unless I've got a catalytic converter or a lot of copper pipe, it tends to be tens of dollars. I know I'm making nothing per hour doing this but it's fun for me.

[Sandtrap]

My wife and I like to sit and watch television in the evenings. She often works on a craft project such as weaving. My main hobby is chess, so I usually play or study chess. But there are days when the mental energy is not there for me and I'd like to do something with my hands instead. When I did electrical work, I liked the process of terminating control wiring: carefully stripping the outer cable jacket without nicking the wire jackets, then stripping and landing the wires.

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

to op:
clarifications needed for focused input for you.
1
Tactile hobby to do "while you are watching tv with spouse?
2
Tactile hobby in and of itself or....as an adjunct to a larger hobby or avocation.
IE: as mentioned, "fly" tying, as an adjunct to fly fiishing.
antique typewriter repair or restoration as an adjunct to global corresponding via snail mail to type friends.
Assembling and programming robotics, drones, etc, as an adjunct to . .?
An example:
https://www.robotis.us/robotis-premium/ ... QIDWHOdoz0
3
video games ....flight simulators...on a computer and monitor in another room not with spouse....
or...nintendo switch "chess", or Valve Steam Deck (handheld computer), laptop chess with others around the world, etc.
4
physicality, setup, etc.
ie: desk or table, dedicated work place, or on your lap watching tv?
5
budget???
Assembling replica Rolex and/or Omega watches from kits.
Very very fine work. Some tools. Steady hands.

standing by....
j

[munemaker]

Learning to play guitar or another stringed instrument?

[Padlin]

I tried carving while watching tv, didn’t work. While I do carve, it takes too much concentration and makes a mess.

We have what we call the sun room, it’s 8x8 off the family room. My wife does all her craft stuff in there and can see and hear the tv from it. She does all the needle crafts and sells at a couple craft shows just to get rid of all the items she turns out, 2 big closets and the little room full.

I read this forum. Usually have no idea what I just saw on tv.

[Boglenaut]

I like to make an occasional jigsaw puzzle. Usually about 750-1,000 pieces is good. Take your time and do it slowly to really become one with the artist or photographer and really appreciate it.

Don't do them one after another otherwise it becomes a chore versus being fun.

[Boglenaut]

As my mode of operation with most things in life is to try to stack benefits, here's my tactile hobbies.

First is firewood processing. We have forest land surrounding our house that's under a state program where we get a property tax cut for keeping the borders marked and taking firewood in a way to help the forest grow. So I'm assessing what needs to be cut. Storm damage, downed trees, dead trees, double trunk trees, leaners, trees competing with other trees. I take them down with a chain saw and cut them into firewood size. Load with a tractor bucket loader and trailer, use a log splitter to split them and pile them in piles by year. Most of the wood is oak, so it should be seasoned 2 years before using. We have a wood furnace in the basement hooked into our forced hot air system. I take a log sling and haul wood into the basement for the furnace and load it in to keep the fire going. I also process older pine. The difference being that I split it into stick sized pieces. These are used over paper as kindling to start the furnace first thing.

My second hobby is a combination of car work and metal work. I'll weld scrap metal into pieces needed for around the house or for protection under the Jeep as it's offroaded in the non-snow months. I'm no pro welder so I'm trying to learn as I go. I have welded here and there since the mid 70's so it's not new, I just don't do it a lot. Presently, my trailer has a rickety front and side rail setup and it's starting to fail. I plan to weld box steel scraps to start replacing the wood. The key is to make it stronger but also not too heavy.

Speaking of scrap, I also scrap electronics. I have a number of sources for old equipment and there's always the old computer system sitting in front of someone's house. I disassemble and box various categories of electronic scrap and also materials like copper, brass, aluminum and steel. When I have enough and am heading to where the electronic scrap yard or steel scrap yard is, I stop in and bring in the collected scrap. Unless I've got a catalytic converter or a lot of copper pipe, it tends to be tens of dollars. I know I'm making nothing per hour doing this but it's fun for me.

You are also being great for the environment!

[MrNarwhal]

Requested clarification: I am just looking for a way to keep my hands busy while on the couch and maybe have the satisfaction of making something useful-ish. Typically I use a small magnetic chess set to study endgame puzzles or annotated games from a book. I work on a computer all day so computer or smartphone time is not appealing after work and I'm trying to prioritize any extra up-close screen time for playing actual chess games.

I bought plastic knitting needles today ($4) and my wife has given me a ball of yarn and promised a lesson. Lanyard making or Rubik's cube are fallbacks so far if knitting doesn't go well (or maybe try lock picking).

Cup stacking just occurred to me but the surface and vibe are not right for a quiet evening on the couch.

[buyMyBogle]

Paint by numbers, inexpensive and a ton of variety
Lego building (and sorting of bulk buys from Facebook, etc)

[andypanda]

"The Lockpicking Lawyer"

I haven't purchased the tools, but I love the videos. I'm amazed at the so-called great locks and expensive locks that he can open and he explains the how and the why.

[CapeLinda]

MrNarwhal

Good luck with the knitting. I started dishcloths while watching tv. Its pretty repetitive and an easy project. I give them away as gifts - its been a running joke for when I stay with family /friends to bring these dishcloths as a gift.

Happy knitting

Linda

[lthenderson]

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

I whittled for many years. They sell protective gloves for your hands to prevent cutting yourself. Having sharp knives and soft woods helps too.

As for other hobbies, I Christmas gift myself a set of adult Legos every couple years and do that in the evenings as my tactile outlet. The have mostly been race cars with several thousands of pieces and takes me a couple months to assemble, usually during the winter when I have more free time. This year I'm working on a McClaren P1 Hypercar.

[firebirdparts]

I like cross-stitch for that sort of thing. Not much skill involved (or none).

[rockstar]

Requested clarification: I am just looking for a way to keep my hands busy while on the couch and maybe have the satisfaction of making something useful-ish. Typically I use a small magnetic chess set to study endgame puzzles or annotated games from a book. I work on a computer all day so computer or smartphone time is not appealing after work and I'm trying to prioritize any extra up-close screen time for playing actual chess games.

I bought plastic knitting needles today ($4) and my wife has given me a ball of yarn and promised a lesson. Lanyard making or Rubik's cube are fallbacks so far if knitting doesn't go well (or maybe try lock picking).

Cup stacking just occurred to me but the surface and vibe are not right for a quiet evening on the couch.

LEGOs.

You can watch TV and build. Lots of good sets these days. And if you want to do custom builds, check out rebrickable.

[safari]

LEGO is fun, but it gets rather expensive. My son is into LEGO, and we probably spent close to $1,000 just in the last year on sets. Another issue is space. We have to constantly add more shelves to display his creations.

[rockstar]

LEGO is fun, but it gets rather expensive. My son is into LEGO, and we probably spent close to $1,000 just in the last year on sets. Another issue is space. We have to constantly add more shelves to display his creations.

My wife spends at least $5k a year on LEGOs. It’s her main hobby. I don’t think she’ll ever retire to keep feeding it. My house has them in every room except for the bathrooms.

[barnaclebob]

Knitting or crochet is a great hobby to do in front of the TV. I've crocheted a few hats (which are a great beginner project once you make a few practice squares. Its relatively cheap a has a pretty quick learning curve.

Ravelry.com has a lot of free patterns for crochet and knitting. There are plenty of youtube tutorials too.

Go to a local yarn shop and start with good yarn. They can help you to pick out the right weight yarn.

[telemark]

Requested clarification: I am just looking for a way to keep my hands busy while on the couch

The sawing is definitely out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKmAPh46JXk

[Dottie57]

My wife and I like to sit and watch television in the evenings. She often works on a craft project such as weaving. My main hobby is chess, so I usually play or study chess. But there are days when the mental energy is not there for me and I'd like to do something with my hands instead. When I did electrical work, I liked the process of terminating control wiring: carefully stripping the outer cable jacket without nicking the wire jackets, then stripping and landing the wires.

My first thought was whittling, but I don't want to cut myself with poor lighting or excite our dog who loves to chew wood. So now I am thinking about learning to knit.

Any advice on beginner knitting projects? Or other hobbies to try?

Take up weaving too!

I am a weaver too. I have a floor loom and table loom. There are extremely talented men who pursue the craft. So it is not a gender based craft.

[quantAndHold]

I do printmaking, which is definitely not a “couch” hobby, but it requires a lot of drawing, which can be a couch hobby. I do my actual artwork with the TV turned off because it takes too much focus. But I fill sketchbook after sketchbook with doodles and random thoughts while I’m in front of the TV. Most of it is terrible, but that isn’t the point. Some of it turns into ideas for art projects, but most of it just keeps me busy and keeps my hand in shape.

[bagle]

I think this is a very personal thing. My cousin, whose day job is software, recently discovered and enjoys.. restoring old Singer sewing machines

A grad school classmate has retired to make amazing ceramics.

I'm looking at damaged old turntables to (try to) repair one.

[dknightd]

My darling one likes knitting

[roamingzebra]

Back when one of my relatives had a big jar of coins, I volunteered to put them in coin rolls. It was a fun thing to do in front of the TV.

First you sort into piles. Then put them in the rolls using touch alone.

Was engaging, but short-lived obviously.

[SimplyCurious]

You sound like you enjoy precise work, so knitting could be fun for you: it takes practice to coordinate hand movements in order to have the even tension that produces attractive knitwork. Let us know how you like learning to knit.

I learned to knit as a teen: simple squares of plain "garter stitch", then knit/purl practice, moved on to scarves, caps, slippers, mittens, and sweaters. Hand arthritis has imposed some limits, but I hope I've got at least one more sweater in me. Knitting, for me, combines two satisfactions: the challenge of solving a puzzle using calculation skills and following precise directions, combined with the endless possibilities of creating something useful and beautiful for myself and others. Caps, mittens and scarves are often welcome as donations, at least in my four-season climate.

No one has mentioned mending as a way to keep hands occupied during television shows. Does anyone beside me mend these days--holes in favorite socks, buttons to re-attach, a small tear in a seam? I have sewn for decades and enjoy the precision required for neat stitches and sturdy repairs. Given how poorly made many textile products are today, even expensive "quality" items, mending is a useful skill.