How to Find a Hobby You Love When You Want to Try Everything
Maybe you've got a closet with a half-finished knitting project, a watercolor set you've used twice, a bag of polymer clay and a stack of patterned paper you were saving for something. Every time you see a new craft, you want to try that one too.
If that sounds like you, nothing is wrong with you. Wanting to try everything is a great way to find the hobby you'll love, as long as you have a way to try things without spending a fortune or feeling guilty every time you move on. At HobbyScool, our whole calendar is built around a different creative theme every month, so trying lots of things is the whole idea here.
Why it's so hard to pick just one hobby
There are a few things that make choosing a hobby feel harder than it should.
- The supplies add up fast. Starting a new craft can mean buying tools, materials and a book or class before you even know if you like it.
- Stopping feels like quitting. If you've spent money on a hobby, moving on to something else can feel like you wasted it.
- Social media makes everything look easy. You see a finished piece in a 30-second video and expect your first try to look the same.
- It feels like you have to choose forever. Picking one hobby can feel like saying no to all the others.
The good news is you don't have to solve any of those before you start. You just need a simpler way to try things.
A simple way to sample hobbies without buying everything
1. Try it before you buy it
Before you buy the full kit, take a free class or watch someone teach the craft from start to finish. You'll learn a lot about whether you like a hobby by watching the steps, hearing what the tricky parts are and seeing how long a project really takes.
2. Give each hobby one project
Instead of asking "is this my hobby?", ask "do I want to make this one thing?" One small project is a much easier yes. When it's done, you can decide whether you want to make another one.
3. Start with what you already have
A lot of beginner projects can be made with things already in your house, like printer paper, an old t-shirt, a mason jar, a pencil or a basic set of paints. Once you know you like a craft, then it makes sense to buy better supplies.
4. Keep a "tried it" list
Every time you try something new, write down what it was and answer three quick questions:
- Did I lose track of time while I was making it?
- Did I enjoy the process, or just the finished piece?
- Would I want to make another one next week?
After a few months, you'll start to see a pattern in the hobbies that get a yes on all three.
Keep your "tried it" list in the back of a notebook or in the notes app on your phone. Add a photo of each project next to your answers so you can see how far you've come.
5. Go easy on yourself the first time
Your first watercolor probably won't look like the one in the video, and your first crochet square might be a little lopsided. That happens to everyone. Judge a new hobby by how it felt to make it, and give it two or three tries before you decide it's not for you.
6. Try it with other people
Trying a craft alongside other people makes it more fun and a lot less intimidating. You can ask questions, see what other beginners made and pick up tips you wouldn't find on your own. A free online class or a craft community is an easy way to do that from home.
Look for what you enjoy, then find more hobbies like it
Once you have a few tries on your list, look at what the ones you loved have in common. Hobbies tend to fall into a few families, and if you love one hobby in a family, you'll probably enjoy the others in it too.
You like keeping your hands busy and relaxing
Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch and other fiber crafts are calming and easy to pick up and put down.
You like color and expressing yourself
Watercolor, mixed media, art journaling and collage are all about playing with color and making something that's yours.
You like making things you can use
Sewing, mending, home organizing projects and simple woodworking give you something useful at the end.
You like making gifts
Cardmaking, paper crafts, candles and holiday decorations are great if your favorite part is giving what you make away.
You like being outside or growing things
Gardening, flower pressing and nature crafts get you outdoors and change with the seasons.
Questions to ask yourself before you commit
If one hobby keeps coming back to the top of your list, these questions can help you decide whether to go further with it.
- How much time do I really have each week, and does this hobby fit in that time?
- Do I want something I can do on the couch, or something I need a table or a whole room for?
- Do I like working alone, or would I enjoy it more with other people?
- Am I excited to learn the next step, or did I mostly enjoy trying it once?
There's no wrong answer to any of these. They just help you figure out which hobbies fit your life right now.
It's okay to love more than one hobby
Plenty of makers never pick just one. Some rotate with the seasons, like knitting in the winter, gardening in the spring and making holiday gifts in the fall. Others keep one relaxing hobby for weeknights and one bigger project hobby for weekends.
One easy way to rotate is to pick a main hobby and a just-for-fun hobby each season. The main one is the craft you're getting better at, and the fun one is something new you're trying with no pressure at all. When the season changes, you can keep both, swap one out or start fresh.
If you love trying new things, that's just how you like to create. The goal is to enjoy what you're making, and there's no rule that says you have to stick to one thing to do that.
Try a new hobby every month with HobbyScool
This is exactly why HobbyScool runs a free summit every month, each with a different theme and around 30 artists teaching. You can try a few projects at one summit, add them to your "tried it" list, and come back next month for something completely different.
Each day's workshops go live at 9am Eastern and are free to watch for 24 hours. If you find a workshop you love and want to keep it, the optional All-Access Pass gives you lifetime access to rewatch it, the premium speaker bonuses and no ads.
Every summit is free to watch, and the easiest way to catch them is to sign up to get an email the minute each new event opens. You can also see what HobbyScool is all about here.
Never miss the next free summit
Sign up and we'll email you the minute each new HobbyScool event opens, so you can see the workshops and get your supplies ready early.
Tell me when the next event opens See what HobbyScool is all aboutFrequently Asked Questions
How do I find a hobby I love if I want to try everything?
Try each hobby with one small project before buying a full kit, start with supplies you already have, and keep a list of everything you try. Write down whether you lost track of time, whether you enjoyed the process, and whether you'd make another one. After a few months, the hobbies you love will stand out.
Is it okay to have more than one creative hobby?
Yes. Plenty of makers rotate hobbies with the seasons or keep one relaxing hobby for weeknights and a bigger project hobby for weekends. There's no rule that says you have to stick to one craft.
How can I try a new craft without spending a lot on supplies?
Take a free class or watch the craft taught start to finish before you buy anything, then try one beginner project with things you already have at home, like printer paper, an old t-shirt or a basic paint set. Buy better supplies once you know you like it.
Where can I try a different craft every month for free?
HobbyScool runs a free three-day online summit every month, each with a different creative theme and around 30 artists teaching. Each day's workshops are free to watch for 24 hours.
How do I find out when the next free HobbyScool summit opens?
Sign up at go.hobbyscool.com/event and HobbyScool will email you the minute each new summit opens, so you can see the workshops and get your supplies ready early.
