Winter evening passtimes

I'm trying to find some kind of pleasant winter evening passtime when at home. I really don't like TV much, so try to be selective and watch only what I really want to watch, problem is OH likes TV and also feels deserted if I take off to the study to listen to music/read which I prefer.

I'm trying to find something I would enjoy so I can not be accused of being a deserter and yet not put up with mindless telly (of which there seems to be plenty).

I've always wanted to learn chess so that is one option for when OH is not engrossed in TV, but I want something else. Oddly, I keep thinking of knitting, as I'd really like to make myself a nice jumper though I have no idea about knitting so not sure if it is possible to teach yourself.

What do you do in those cold winter evenings in the sitting room (yes, yes, yes I know all about the naughty bits so keep it clean !)? Any suggestions?

Cheers
GG

 

Put the laptop in the living room and a flood light outside. That way you can flip between doing the garden even in the dark, and coming on here to tell us all about it

 

Come winter we spend many an enjoyable evening tucked up in Gardeners Corner and there's often not time for anything else!

 

I've done knitting, its tedious but productive.

Was lying in bed one morning thinking about how on earth a loom worked.

Sussed it out in my head (pre internet days) Then got up and built one.

Worked too, a lot quicker than knitting.

 

So what did you make Zigs?

 

In my childhood, my mother taught us to crochet, knit and make rag rugs through winter evenings, so, a winter "hobby"/pastime was ingrained to a certain extent.

I've spent all of my life finding things to do on winter evenings:-

In my ??'s: I read a lot (historical fiction predominantly) and dabbled with baking (not cooking, baking!)

In my late ??'s: I took up 'crafts' of varying types (anything 'quick' suited my patience threshold but much of it was sewing based and gift/home-front themed)

In my ??'s: I got interested in Cross Stitch and dabbled a while. Also sewing and baking.

In my late ??'s: I became quite interested in quilting.

In my ??'s: I became engrossed in quilting but then migrated to "scrap-booking" (so much so, it became a verb )

Tempus fugit ...

... until I became interested in gardening - yes, even in the winter time (plans to be made; research to be done; people to meet, places to be, plants to locate.

Maybe I'm just ... fickle?

 

Couple of bags, a loo mat, some stand up socks and a jumper.

 

Zigs after reading the thread 'Not happy' I think we may need some 'straight jackets' making!

 

Years ago my dad decided he wanted a lathe but couldn't afford one. So, he attached an old fibreglass fishing road to the shed ceiling, some strong nylon string off the end of it, which then looped around an old broom handle at sort of chest height. The broom handle was the axle and was mounted in two bits of wood. Then the nylon string, having done a couple of loops around the broom handle, continued down and ended in a loop to put your foot through about 2ft off the floor. You tacked whatever you wanted to lathe onto the end of the 'axle' (broom handle), then put your foot in the loop. Pushing it down spun the axle and flexed the fibreglass fishing rod down. Then you lifted your foot back up and the fishing rod would straighten, pulling the string back up, spinning the axle the other way.

He was convinced it was his own unique idea, then a couple of days later there was a documentary on telly showing how the Vikings did their lathes. Ok, no fibreglass fishing rods, but springy bits of wood, and the nylon strong was of course natural fibres, but the principle was exactly the same.

 

I always wanted to be a weaver. I would make lots of cosy blankets. I also fancy having a spinning wheel.

What are stand-up socks??

 

I was wondering that Madahhlia - perhaps Zigs couldn't turn the heel so they just went straight up!

 

They stood up on their own they were that thick

 

My knitting attention span is er... narrow too, so I'm looking forward to making more tea cosies to sell in Shineyland. I go to a "Knit and Natter" group on the 2 and 4th Saturdays of each month when I can. All ages of knitters, cross stitch gurus, skilled crafters in crochet work.
I still have this pattern that I crocheted as a teenager ( price 1/-). Still love it - would look OK with crops and may make it this Winter - if I can get someone at K & N to awaken my crocheting skills! Still have all my crochet needles,

Jenny

 

Well, as usual, a variety of answers from fellow GCers though I can only do so much forward planning and research for garden - more veggies if I can find room next year methinks. And as to venturing into the garden in the winter evening, the Fens winds just cut you in half in a trice!!

I thought the stand-up socks were akin to what my Mum called stand-up trousers (usually when I'd come in from being out to play from 8am and reluctantly came home at sundown - gosh that dates me! ) which meant they were so filthy that the dirt would keep them stiff and could stand up all by themselves.

Jenny, what a fabulous pattern, but I'm not sure that a yellow crocheted 60s mini dress would suit me too well ... love the white (patent?) boots and all. I immediately thought of Up the Junction.

I'm determined on my knitting even if it is only to knit myself a good quality (if misshapen) scarp to begin with to keep out the Fen winds.

Also have a stained glass starter kit on my birthday wishlist this year so ... (wondering about a heated shed now )

GG