Are you finding yourself with copious amounts of free time? No..? Well, free time or not, it’s always a good idea to have a hobby on the side to keep you sane. Read below for some hobby inspiration!
Needlepoint
I first picked up needlepoint last year but let it lapse over the past couple of months. I find the best way to get back into needlepointing is to have a project that you are excited to complete. The key to a good project is a cute canvas! Here a few of my go-to-needlepoint kits!
Hannah Bass - My pick would be this map of Washington, DC or her alphabet collection.
Lycette Designs - Based out of Palm Beach they have plenty of colorful and fun designs. Ranging from Tabasco Bottles to Elephants Drinking Martinis!
Bad Bitch Needlepoint - Gives you the opportunity to needlepoint some of the biggest icons… aka Taylor Swift and Madame VP, Kamala Harris! - Rebecca
FISHING
My boyfriend introduced me to fishing at the beginning of the pandemic and I’ve been “hooked” ever since! There are a lot of places to go within a 30-minute drive of DC (I recommend checking Virginia’s trout stocking schedule for the best times and places) but nothing compares to the springtime shad run right in the city at Fletcher’s Cove. DC’s fishing licenses are very affordable, even if you don’t live in the district, and you can have a great time tossing a hook in the water at iconic DC sites like Tidal Basin. - Meg
BRAVO
Sometimes, the idea of learning a new hobby is daunting and ends up completely deterring me from starting one. Hobbies don’t have to all be super creative and impressive. Oftentimes you just need a hobby to unwind and escape the real world—and that’s why the Universe gave us the Real Housewives Franchise. I consider myself a Bravo expert and can’t recommend delving into these shows enough. Some might find it intimidating because there are so many cities, but I’ll give you my expert advice. Start with the Real Housewives of New York, it’s a classic and created the footprint for many to follow. Next, go with Potomac (not to be confused with the DC version) because every single character is iconic and will have you hooked. After that, you should be pretty well versed in the Housewife Universe and can move into all of the other cities! My ranking: NYC, Potomac, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, OC. - Rebecca
Live Music
Madison recommends checking out other people’s hobbies! Head on over to Mr. Henry’s on Wednesday evenings for Capitol Hill Jazz Jam.
Knitting
One to never sit still, I took up knitting after a particularly grueling campaign season when I was on the trail. Keep in mind this was pre-parenthood but I still strongly recommend knitting to anyone! You can stick to simple scarves or try your hand at something more complicated. I really loved the book Stitch N Bitch for helping me get started because - wait for it - I taught myself how to knit before YouTube tutorials were an option (yes, I am that old). Here are fun examples of what knitters have made from this book - I actually did this baby blanket for my nephew and it was so easy. My mom got my daughter started with a kit like this one and we made this fun scarf together! - Molly
Collage Making
One of my favorite hobbies is making collages. Grab some magazines, old newspapers, stickers, and a glue stick. I start by flipping through all my materials and cutting/ripping any image or phrases that stand out to me. Collages are a great creative outlet, I've even started making digital collages with Canva! I'm working on my 2022 mood board collage so I can visualize all the good vibes and goals I want to accomplish this year. Give it a try! - Whitney
