Top 5 Craft Hobbies to Pick up in 2025

Mar 31

Why should we waste our summers away?

After a little digging, I discovered craft hobbies were the best option for a homebody like me.

You’ve probably been asked the question “what are your hobbies?” at least a couple of times every year. It’s a simple question, with simple answers. You could mention your favorite sports, your favorite leisure activity to do with friends, and go on and on and on about why you like it so much.

However, that was not the case for me up until last summer. I had absolutely no hobbies—other than scrolling on social media for hours or doing homework. Many of my friends were in a similar boat as well. With all the assignments piled up to our noses (or for the very fact of scrolling on Instagram for hours), there is simply not a second to spend on pastimes, that is, until the summer rolls around.

During the Summer of 2024, after I moved from California to South Korea, I realized that there was absolutely nothing I could do: I didn’t have friends I could hang out with yet, and I was scared to go out and shop alone. I couldn’t scroll on the internet for hours anymore either. I mean, why should I waste my summer away? No. I wanted to achieve something. After a little digging, I discovered craft hobbies were the best option for a homebody like me.

During my search, I realized that crafty things were what I tend to stick with. Some of these are beginner-friendly, while some take time to figure out. If you’re also looking for new hobbies to try in the upcoming summer break, here is my top 5 list of craft hobbies.

1. Punch Needling

Personal Opinion: For me, this was one of the easiest hobbies I tried during the summer. I’ve only completed one project, but I found that it’s very satisfying and doesn’t take long to finish compared to the other crafts. I liked the repetitiveness of poking yarn through the fabric. Both the front and back sides could be used as well since it doesn’t leave a lot of messy strands.

Difficulty: The learning process is simple. A few YouTube tutorials will be helpful, if not, read the instructions manual. At the start, it may take some time to get used to it, but this craft doesn’t necessarily require skill or talent.

Cost: Punch needle kits are recommended, since they include everything you need: punch needle tool, yarn, and cloth with a design. I bought my first punch needle kit from a stationary store, but they are also sold on Amazon for $15 to $25. Michaels or some other local craft stores may sell them as well.

Rating: I would give this a 6.5/10 stars. While the hobby is very satisfying and fun to do, I found it difficult to find designs I actually like. Also, the cost is not very ideal if you’re on a budget. However, if you’re looking for a simple craft or to release your stress, I would recommend giving this a try.

2. Diamond Painting

Personal Opinion: I was given a diamond painting kit about a year ago, but didn’t start on it until a few months after. It was very on and off for me, since this craft is very time-consuming. Still, although it took about 3 or 4 months for me to complete one, the result was very fulfilling. I got to put one up on my wall as a room decoration as well. I found that watching a movie or listening to music while working on this will help pass the time and make it more enjoyable.

Difficulty: This is also a very simple and easy hobby. It isn’t difficult at all—the whole process is to place tiny colored diamonds onto their corresponding letter name on the canvas. All you need is a bit of patience, and possibly a separate multiple-placer tool to help you get through it more quickly.

Cost: On Amazon, there are plenty of diamond painting kits that are under $10. If you’re trying for the first time, I recommend getting a small canvas (around 12x12 inch). You can find ones at Michaels as well, but the canvases are bigger and pricier.

Rating: 8/10 stars. This is probably one of the most cost-efficient crafts, unless you want to spend money on more tools (the resin pen tools are very good, as well as the storage containers). One downside is that your workplace will get messy if you don’t have containers to store the diamond dots. If you have young children in the house, then it could become harmful as well. If these aren’t major concerns for you and if you enjoy repetitive, satisfying crafts that don’t require skills, I would highly recommend this craft to you.

3. Journaling/Scrapbooking

Personal Opinion: Many people around me write in their journals/diaries about events in their lives. I have been interested in this activity since elementary school, and I would buy journal notebooks every time I saw one at a bookstore. However, I was never consistent in writing in these, and they would just sit on my shelf for years, most of them unused. Recently, I started seeing scrapbooking on social media, so I decided to give this a try, since writing didn’t really work for me. It was hard for me to get into it at first, because I didn’t have a lot of materials and my spreads did not look as aesthetic as those I see on social media. It took time for me to find my own way of journaling, and once I did, the process became more entertaining. One of my favorite ways to journal is printing out pictures I took and giving little captions of what I did.

Difficulty: There’s no right or wrong to this process, and you can feel free to do whatever you want. Writing, crafting, drawing, or simply just printouts/photos can be used to fill the pages. If you’re like me and you’re inconsistent with writing diary entries, you can try making it more interactive. Think of it as a fun way to write a journal, but having fewer words and more images/creativity.

Cost: It doesn’t cost anything at all if you just use supplies you have at home. You could probably find random things around your house to use—even “trash”, such as receipts or old homework! “Junk journaling” is a way to recycle stuff you have no use for, and make it into something creative. But first, if you don’t have a journal you can use, there are plenty of good ones on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The ones in Barnes & Noble are a bit more expensive, but the paper is high quality and the cover is thick enough to last. If you’re beginning to journal, then I highly recommend getting ones from Amazon that are cheaper and have fewer pages. There are also many stickers and decorative tape you can find there if you’re looking for supplies to decorate your pages.

Rating: 10/10 stars. This is by far my favorite hobby. Unlike the other crafts, there’s more freedom and no right or wrong way to do it. It is also the most cost-efficient, especially since buying supplies aren’t necessary (other than the journal itself). It might take a while to find what you like to put on the pages, but there are hundreds of different methods and ideas you can choose from. Journaling is also a good way to reflect on your day, whether it be every day, once a week, or even once a month. It's also fun to flip through the pages later on and read about your past lifestyle, events, thoughts, and feelings. I would 100% recommend this hobby to you as my top choice. Give this a try, and see what you can do to fill up every page!

4. DIY Miniature

Personal Opinion: This craft is by far one of the hardest, and the most entertaining hobby I’ve tried. Putting together little pieces was challenging–most of the time I would get glue on my hands and it would make a mess on my table. In many cases, I would screw up and pull the objects apart. In my opinion, this hobby isn’t as rewarding as the others–it takes time and patience, and the result is a little decoration for your room. However, I enjoy the process of creating the miniatures. I always watch a movie, show, or listen to a podcast, which helps pass time. Even though it isn’t as rewarding as others, it still helps me relieve stress and take my mind off other things as well.

Difficulty: For some, this craft might be very challenging. Although you could just read the instructions and follow along, the gluing, cutting, and mess could throw you off. This hobby requires patience and focus—and the ability to sit at your desk for a long period of time.

Cost: I got most of my miniature kits from a stationary store called ArtBox in Korea. If you are traveling to Korea sometime, then I recommend getting these at ArtBox or Kyobo bookstore since they are cheaper than the ones that sell on Amazon. As a comparison, these kits are around $20 to $25, while those on Amazon are around $30 to $40. However, it depends on which model of miniature kit you’re getting. I highly recommend Flever Dollhouse Kits, because they’re around $10 to $15.

Rating: 6/10 stars. This is one of my favorite hobbies to do during breaks, but considering that it can be different for everyone, I wouldn’t recommend this to you as my top choice. It isn’t as simple or as relaxing as the others. It could make you feel frustrated if you mess up. The most rewarding part for me was the process and looking at my completed work at the end.

5. Crotcheting/Knitting

Personal Opinion: Out of all the crafts listed here, I would say that crochet and knitting are the most expensive and the hardest to learn. I tried learning crochet since elementary school, but would quickly give up. Like many of my hobbies, I wasn’t consistent with it at all. It wasn’t until the Summer of 2024 that I started making little crochet items. Once I did, I started making room decorations (stuffed animals, pencil holders, key rings), everyday items (scarves, bags, pouches, mini-blankets), and gifts for friends. For knitting, I found it more difficult than crochet at first. I tried learning from my cousin and my mom, although both attempts did not go well. It took me months to finally start making progress, which I did in January 2025.

Difficulty: From my personal experience and my friends’, crocheting and knitting are very hard to learn at first. Getting the right tension and grip on the yarn and hook/needle takes time. Once you accomplish that, there’s the problem of counting your stitches correctly (crochet makes you doubt your counting abilities). If you make a mistake while knitting, it’s extremely difficult to unwind and fix it. The process is different for everyone. Some people learn it really easily, while others don’t. For these two, consistency is very important. Many of my friends gave up trying, but those who kept trying eventually created something. If you’re starting for the first time, I highly recommend crocheting a scarf (to get used to the process), bag, or small wallet rather than something that needs a rounded shape (such as a stuffed animal). For knitting, scarves are the easiest to make.

Cost: The cost of yarn in the U.S. is expensive. In Michaels (my personal favorite place to buy yarn), each skein of yarn is around $10 to $20 on average. In Korea, you can buy one small skein yarn for 1000 won (around $0.70) in Daiso. Because of this, I would highly recommend stocking up on yarn for those of you interested in this hobby and are planning a trip to Korea. A hook and needle set is around $20 -$30 on Amazon. I suggest looking for those in Michaels, since they may be less expensive. Between crochet and knitting, knitting uses less yarn, but the needles cost slightly more than the crochet hooks. In the long run, however, I would say that knitting may be slightly cheaper compared to crochet.

Rating: 9/10 stars. Despite the cost and difficulty, crocheting and knitting are by far my favorite craft hobbies. I can create everyday items, unlike the other hobbies listed in this article. They are one of the hardest hobbies to learn in my opinion, but the most rewarding. For those who are on a budget, I suggest looking at the other crafts for alternatives. Otherwise, this is your sign to start learning and create your own!

Comment below if you’ve tried any of these top 5 crafts, or share your favorite craft hobbies with us!

culturestudent advice

Evelyn K.

8th Grade, Castillero Middle School & Korean International School
Hobbies/Interests: Watching Netflix, Crocheting, Drawing, Painting, Reading

Why I write: I write not only because it’s a necessity for school, but as a way for me to express myself. My thoughts, feelings, and ideas in my writing show who I am and what I’m interested in. Putting my thoughts into words allows me to have a better understanding of myself, and it is a great way to create goals that benefit me and others around me. Writing is also a way to communicate my ideas to others and strive for a change in my environment, or even the world. Whether it is argumentative, persuasive, narrative, or just journal writing for myself, I believe that writing has many benefits that will change my future.