January is usually a time of new beginnings. It’s a new year with new possibilities and new aspirations. We’re all trying to stick to our New Year’s resolutions to lose a few pounds, save some extra money, or get that promotion at work. While these are excellent goals for the New Year, I propose you go a different route and take advantage of January as a month to begin a new hobby. January is, after all, National Hobby Month.
I enjoy getting my hands into a variety of things. I’ve tried knitting and crocheting, drawing, cooking and baking, making music, mastering crossword puzzles, biking, and jewelry making – just to name a few. Of course I’m always game for a good book too. The library is a great place to start looking into a new hobby.
When it comes to knitting and crocheting, you can’t go wrong with the books at the Sweetwater County Library. We have an extensive fiber arts collection. Look for books with a 746.4 call number. As I am a knitting novice, I’m partial to “The Needlecraft Book” by Maggi Gordon. This is a hefty book that outlines in detailed text and pictures the how to’s of knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, patchwork, applique, and quilting. Whew! It’s a great resource. I also noticed a book titled “Knitting Wizardry” by Amy Clarke Moore on the New Books Display today. The patterns in this book are inspired by fairy tales and mythology. I’d like to try to make almost anything in this book. Also, if knitting is your thing, check out the classes at the Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs.
I took a drawing class in college, and that’s when I realized that anyone can learn to draw. We have quite a few drawing books at the Sweetwater County Library as well. I was drawn to “Drawing Trees” by Victor Perard. This is a slender book filled with sketches of any tree you can think of. The author provides a basic framework to start with and then dots the remaining pages with explanations and tips. If trees aren’t your thing, we’ve got books about drawing dragons and other fantasy creatures, manga, portraits, dinosaurs, and more.
I began taking piano lessons at the ripe young age of 6 and continued for the next seven years of my life. Though my technique is definitely not what it used to be, I still enjoy banging away at the old ivories. My husband bought me a keyboard for Christmas this year, and my love for piano playing has been renewed once again. I checked the shelves at the library and found a number of piano/guitar/vocal sheet music books, and as I did so, I thought that it might also be a good time to pull out my old guitar.
Baking has always been one of my favorite hobbies. My Pinterest board is full of recipes for cupcakes, pies, bars, breads, muffins, and the like. The shelves at the Sweetwater County Library, however, are full of cookbooks tackling baking, grilling, roasting, broasting, broiling, sautéing, crock potting, smoking, and a number of other food-related techniques. Since I am almost always up for baking, I decided to branch out into another area. “Soup Night: Recipes for Creating Community Around a Pot of Soup” by Maggie Stuckey is a book that caught my eye. I love soup. I especially love soup in the winter. This book is full of great pictures, recipes, and anecdotes. You’ll find it in the 641.8’s.
If my choice of hobbies isn’t exactly up your alley, don’t worry, there are plenty of other hobby ideas to be found within the stacks at the Sweetwater County Library. Do you want to try canoeing, or maybe painting? Perhaps you’d like to give whittling a try or fly fishing? Whatever your pleasure is, I assure you that you can find a book to help you do it at the library.
If you’d rather get some hands on experience with a new hobby, keep your eyes peeled for the library’s programming options. On Feb. 3 you can learn a variety of new techniques for tying all those scarves you’ve collected in your closet, and on March 21 we’re hosting our March Mini Workshops where you’ll have a chance to make and learn about a number of hands-on projects.
I hope you’ll take advantage of National Hobby Month and try something new. Stop by the library and we’ll help you find everything you need to get started.
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