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With summer coming to a close, are you starting to think about hobbies and crafts to keep you occupied during autumn and winter?
At this time of year the days get shorter and temperatures drop, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend your free time indoors. Being outside and engaging with nature is a simple, low-cost way to combat stress and support your emotional wellbeing, so taking the hobbies outside as well as indoors is a great idea at any time of year.
Great hobbies and crafts for autumn
I always find that the ‘back to school’ vibe of autumn is the perfect prompt for starting a new project. If you’d like to explore some new hobbies and crafts this autumn, here are some ideas to get you started.
Get gardening
This was always going to be on my list, wasn’t it! You may think that the end of summer means the end of gardening season, but autumn is actually great time to start preparing your garden for winter and next year, and there’s plenty to do. For example, you can tidy up your lawn before it gets too wet, start to make your own compost, or get the shed organised. Check out my series on gardening jobs for each month for lots more ideas.
You can also still grow lots of things during the colder seasons, including winter vegetables such as onions, sprouts, parsnips and carrots, which can all grow well in a garden cloche. Autumn is the perfect time to plant bulbs and sow seeds for next year’s flowers too.
Craft with nature
Crafting with materials from nature is a low-cost, eco-friendly and easy way to get creative, and it’s ideal for getting the kids involved too. I’ve got lots of autumn nature crafts for you to explore. You could make some lovely leaf mason jar lanterns, have a go at leaf printing, or make a pumpkin fairy house.
Nature crafts and nature books also provide the perfect opportunity to combine time outdoors (gathering your materials) with a cosy indoor hobby. Or you could sit back and relax with my autumn quotes.
Try your hand at pottery
Pottery can be a great way to express your creative side. It’s also a practical hobby, because you can make things that are useful, such as crockery and vases. You can explore different techniques like hand building or wheel throwing, and different types of clay and tools. Bear in mind that once you’ve created your piece of pottery, you will need to fire and glaze it. You may be able to find kiln space to hire in your local area, or you could join a local pottery course to gain access to specialist equipment.
Experiment with painting, drawing or colouring
If you’re keen to explore your artistic talents, why not try your hand at still life painting or drawing? This art form can be done simply with a pencil and paper or paint, brush and canvas, and doesn’t require much in the way of setup either. You can start with simple objects like fruit or furniture, and build your skills over time. Youtube is a fantastic source of inspiration and advice here.
If colouring is more your thing, check out these adult colouring pages for autumn and autumn pictures to colour for children.
Go wildlife spotting
Autumn is a lovely time to explore nature. You can try to catch a glimpse of migrating birds, red squirrels, or even the salmon run. The changing of the seasons has some stunning effects on both flora and fauna, so wrap up warm and head outdoors – it can be as simple as a trip to your local park or nature reserve.
Perfect your baking skills
When temperatures start to fall, spending more time in the kitchen can be a good way to keep warm! Baking is also a fun way to spend time with family, and the added bonus is yummy treats to enjoy. Perhaps you could invest in a bread machine, try out some new recipes, or have a go at making your own showstopper cupcakes.
Go foraging
Autumn is harvest time, and that means there’s an abundance of edible treasures to be found outdoors. Blackberries, apples, hazelnuts, sweet chestnuts, sloe berries and elderberries are all plentiful in autumn. This is another great way to combine outdoor time with indoor enjoyment, this time in the form of cooking, preserving and eating.
Do make sure you take care when foraging. Don’t venture onto private land, and only ever pick things that you’re absolutely sure are edible. Also some plants are prickly, so you might need to take gloves with you!
Autumn can be a very relaxing and calm season. While your outdoor activities may be more limited, there are still plenty of creative ways to spend time indoors and out during the colder months. What crafts and hobbies do you have planned this autumn?
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This post has been included in Twinkl’s End of Terms Activities blog
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