National Hobby Month 2026

So last week rather escaped from me. I was busy at work and at home and I seemed to constantly be in motion doing something. I had no problem with keeping up to date with work but I was very tired in the evenings and I didn't even keep up with reading my favourite blogs. Never mind I'll catch up today.

I've been a little disappointed over the month as here in the UK January is national hobby month. This is the perfect time to try something new or pick up a hobby that I haven't done for a while, but this year I've not had the time. However all is not lost as I have managed a few bits and pieces. One of my hobbies is baking but in recent time I haven't been doing much as I wanted to lose some weight. However at the beginning of last week I decided we had a small glut of apples and I could use them up by making an apple tray bake. When cut there are 16 slices.  This tray bake was yummy.

On Saturday I made a loaf and another tray bake. This time it was a coffee cake. Again this makes 16 slices. The topping is made with mascarpone, icing sugar and coffee. I think there is one other ingredient but I can't remember without looking up the recipe. Again this bake is yummy. In fact it disappeared faster than the apple one. Maybe it's because my family are all addicted to coffee. I'm the odd one out as I usually drink tea.

I've been knitting recently. Having finished the baby blanket for my daughter I wanted to use up the rest of the yarn so I started a simple basket weave blanket. This blanket will be a donation to a local children's charity called Little Village. By the time this blanket is finished I should have very little of either yarn left. I have a lot of different yarns that I was given quite some time ago and I would like to use up as much as possible this year. That would provide some vital space for other hobbies e.g. quilting dressmaking and embroidery.

Yesterday I finished the cardigan I was knitting for my new grandson. I'll take this with me the next time I visit but I need to block the cardigan first.

Over this year I want to try new things, e.g. goldwork, different embroidery styles or tatting. I decided I could try one new thing a month so this month I discovered how to knit using double ended needles. It took me a little time to feel comfortable with the technique. The initial few rows caused me the most trouble. Younger daughter has asked for a pair of knitted socks since I now know how to use the double ended needles.

Sewing and quilting are my anytime hobbies but for me knitting is a winter activity, especially if I'm using thicker yarn. The same is true for crochet. Holding knitting makes me feel warm and in summer definitely causes me to over heat.  Embroidery on the other hand feels perfect whatever the weather and smaller embroidery pieces are just so portable.

I finished this frog stitchery this weekend. I altered the position of the mouth so I need to remove the marker pen.

Sorry about the shadow of my phone. Tonight I started on one of the larger patterns. Here is how far I've got. I will be doing some more stitching once I've finished this post.

I couldn't decide where to start so the lily pads seemed a good place. There is this piece and another of similar size to finish up the stitching. I've already pulled the fabrics I'll be using for the pieced blocks and I may start putting some together at the weekend.

That's all for now as I want to get back to my stitching. At the moment I have a lot of different stitcheries to work on. 

Take care

Lyndsey