Hobbies27 hobbies to watch and startStarter manualsOne plain-English manual per hobbyHow it worksWatch, get the manual, start Get a manual
For anyone ready for something new

It's never too late to learn something new.

Just retired, tired of the same routine, or simply curious? Watch real makers at work, find a hobby that grabs you, and get a plain-English manual that takes you from zero to your first finished project.

Popular: Woodturning · Pottery · Blacksmithing · Sourdough

Finished burl and resin vase, glowing amber Featured Turning free wood into a $6,000 vaseVideo by David Adamsen · YouTube Hooked?Start woodturning
Where are you starting from?

Everyone starts somewhere.

Just retiredYou finally have the time. Find something to fill it that you'll actually look forward to. Ready for a changeSame job, same evenings. Get off the couch and make something with your hands again. Just starting outNew place, small space, tight wallet. Hobbies that start small and grow with you. Something to shareHobbies to take up with a spouse, a grandkid or an old friend.
27 hobbies · 27 starter manuals

Videos people can't stop watching

Turning free wood into a $6,000 vase, by David Adamsen WoodturningTurning free wood into a $6,000 vaseVideo by David Adamsen Throwing and trimming a clay bowl, by Florian Gadsby PotteryA clay bowl, thrown and shown in cross-sectionVideo by Florian Gadsby Start forging in your backyard, no special tools, by FargoFX BlacksmithingStart forging today, right in your backyardVideo by FargoFX A tabletop full of real flowers, set in resin, by king process Resin artA table full of real flowers, sealed in resinVideo by king process A leather wallet with no real tools, by Corter Leather LeathercraftCan you make a leather wallet without tools?Video by Corter Leather Turning a rusty spike into a miniature knife, by Bobby Duke Arts Knife makingA rusty railroad spike becomes a tiny knifeVideo by Bobby Duke Arts A sealed jar that's been alive for 12 years, by Jartopia TerrariumsA sealed jar that has lived for 12 yearsVideo by Jartopia Your first sourdough, for complete beginners, by Brian Lagerstrom SourdoughYour first sourdough loaf, start to finishVideo by Brian Lagerstrom Pink and burgundy peonies in a hoop, by Diana Vingert EmbroideryPink and burgundy peonies, one stitch at a timeVideo by Diana Vingert Restoring a rusted antique bread slicer, by TysyTube Restoration RestorationSaving a rust-caked antique bread slicerVideo by TysyTube Restoration The one mistake all bonsai beginners make, by Bonsaify BonsaiThe one mistake every bonsai beginner makesVideo by Bonsaify A Tiffany-style lamp as a first big project, by What's Another Hobby Stained glassA Tiffany-style lamp as a first big projectVideo by What's Another Hobby Strips of wood become an end-grain cutting board, by Hess Woodwork Cutting boardsPlain strips of wood become a checkered boardVideo by Hess Woodwork How to make a candle, for beginners, by Cosy Owl Craft Candle makingPink candles with flower tops, made at homeVideo by Cosy Owl Craft A mountain sunset, painted layer by layer, by AhmadArt WatercolorA mountain sunset, painted layer by layerVideo by AhmadArt Building a mini metal foundry, by TKOR Metal castingBuilding a mini metal foundry at homeVideo by TKOR Knit your first sweater, with a free pattern, by handmade by florence KnittingKnit your first sweater, free pattern includedVideo by handmade by florence A rough branch becomes a smooth spoon, by Nadav Art and Wood Spoon carvingA mossy branch becomes a smooth wooden spoonVideo by Nadav Art and Wood A masterclass in smooth buttercream, by CupcakeJemma Cake decoratingHow to ice a cake this smoothVideo by CupcakeJemma A silver and turquoise inlay ring, made without a lathe, by GomeowCreations Jewelry makingA turquoise inlay ring, no lathe neededVideo by GomeowCreations Soap with a swirl in every bar, by Tree Marie Soapworks Soap makingOne bar of soap, swirled like marbleVideo by Tree Marie Soapworks Making a medieval book, start to finish, by Four Keys Book Arts BookbindingMaking a medieval book, start to finishVideo by Four Keys Book Arts An easy crochet blanket for beginners, by Bag-O-Day Crochet CrochetAn easy blanket, one hook at a timeVideo by Bag-O-Day Crochet A sign painter's roundhand lettering demo, by Airbrush Action Magazine Hand letteringWatch a sign painter letter by handVideo by Airbrush Action Magazine Wood burning for beginners: how to get started, by Hobby Hoarder PyrographyDrawing on wood with a hot penVideo by Hobby Hoarder How to make a macrame plant hanger, by Tatiana Cm MacrameKnot your own plant hanger from plain cordVideo by Tatiana Cm The Deadliest Weapon of the Ancient World, by NORTH 02 Ancient slingMake a shepherd's sling in an afternoon, then learn to hit a targetVideo by NORTH 02
The rough burl on the lathe
Before
The finished burl and resin vase
After
Creator of the month · October 2026

David Adamsen

Woodturning · YouTube

He takes free, rough, rotten wood that most people would burn and turns it into glossy, one-of-a-kind vases. Watch one of his videos and you'll want a lathe too.

Watch his video Visit his channel

Each month we feature one maker who gets beginners started. Know someone we should feature? Nominate a maker

How it works

From “that looks fun” to “I made that.”

1

Watch a maker

Browse videos by hobby. Every one credits and links back to the person who made it.

2

Get the starter manual

$14.99. Clear drawings, a shopping list and your first project, step by step. Download it or read it online.

3

Make your first project

Follow the drawings step by step and finish something real, usually in a weekend.

Starter manuals

One clear manual per hobby.

No fluff and no 40-minute videos to scrub through. Just what a beginner needs, in the order they need it. 27 hobbies so far.

  • Exactly what to buy, and what to skip
  • Labeled drawings of every tool
  • Your first project, start to finish
  • Safety, explained plainly
See all 27 manuals Look inside $14.99

Made by makers.

Every video is credited and linked to the maker who made it. Are you a creator? Claim your page and earn a share of every manual your video helps sell.

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