Editor Grace here. I am what you would call “chronically online,” but I’m trying to be less attached to my phone. Looks like I’m not alone, with Google searches for “analog hobbies” recently jumping by 160%.
Dive into slow-paced pursuits with these hands-on hobbies to try here in Asheville.
Join the club
Needlepoint is having a major comeback moment. Join the resurgence by bringing your project to the next Stitch Club Asheville meeting. If you’re a beginner, cross-stitch may be a good intro — Sassy Jack’s Stitchery in Woodfin has plenty of supplies.
Personally, doing puzzles is one of my favorite hobbies, but it can get pretty pricey to keep adding to the collection. Enter: the Asheville Puzzle Exchange. Join the Facebook group to get the deets on the next meetup.
Class is in session
Muse Art Bar, a new adult-focused art space on the South Slope, can help you tap into new mediums. Check out the April schedule, including classes in macrame, watercolor, and creative journaling.
Sourdough baking continues to soar in popularity, and classes from The Asheville Kitchen can give you the tools you knead for success. Fair warning, classes sell out in a flash.
If you really want to get your hands dirty, take up gardening. The Asheville Botanical Gardens hosts a wide variety of courses, teaching you everything from understanding Southern Appalachian soils to picking native plants for your garden.
Pick up supplies
Even if you don’t have a hobby in mind yet, visiting craft stores like Earth Guild can get the creative juices flowing, offering supplies for niche interests like basketry, felting, and book arts.
Asheville NC Home Crafts in the Grove Arcade has an expansive selection of crochet and knitting supplies (as well as some especially fabulous handmade hats).
For everything from paint to markers to canvases to sketchbooks, Asheville Art Supply can equip you with the tools to unleash your inner artist.
If you’re more the building type, venture a little further into Hendersonville to visit Hobby House for all you need to build projects like trains, rockets, and RC planes.
