I’ve got a lot of time to myself and I’m looking for better and cheaper things to do sitting on my sofa getting wasted. It would be great to learn some simple useful skills, or to do an online course that doesn’t require too much commitment or having to watch videos. Have you got any ideas?

Oh dear, I think you might regret asking that question on here . . .

Whittling

Can you sew? I’m not talking about making party frocks, but useful stuff. Altering garments to fit, mending ripped clothing, making simple things like stuff sacks – that kind of thing. You can save loads of money with “make do and mend”. And it saves things going to landfill too.

Esme, I’m sure they won’t dissapoint

Jon1973, I was thinking about that. Is there a knife you’d recommend?

Esme I do sew. I’m ok at hand sewing and mend tears and make minor adjustments but I’ve not made anything with the sewing machine for a while. Making sacks would be a good place to start, I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks

I twiddle about on (bass) guitar…… what about some sort of instrument? Initial outlay doesn’t have to be much, and it can be very absorbing.

Learning an instrument would be cool, I quite fancy the double bass or the clarsach

the double bass

A short-scale electric bass will do lot more, is much easier to play and can be transport in a gig bag. From about £80 delivered to your door.

Learning a language. Look at duolingo.com

Along the lines of sewing, knitting. Definitely useful, you can also not only make clothes but things like stuffed toys (I made my sisters knitted stuffed toy elephants for christmas last year). You can also spin your own yarn and stuffs too.

I started whittling a few years ago, mostly my winter go to activity. In front of the fire.

A good book is the urban woodsman. I have a couple of Mora knives, which seem to be good and won’t break the bank.

Astral projection. It’ll get you out and about more.

Rubik’s cube. 😉

The short scale electric guitars might be an option, I’ve got wee hands and struggle with normal size ones. I’m not intending on taking it beyond the sofa though.

I’ll have a wee look duolingo, I could do with brushing up on my languages too.

I like the idea of doing something practical like sewing. I’m quite arty but would prefer to make something I can utilise, they’re great ideas.

I whittled an owl when I was a kid, I found it quite therapeutic and was curious to see what shape the wood would take. I work in forestry and I’m quite interested in the properties of each species, which do you prefer?

I’ve tried astral projection, I ran into some druids

This..

And this..

Just a sample of the myriad of instruments and amps out there…

Much better to fiddle with than picking yer nose..

Disciplining a simian?

Have you a confession to make CaptainFlasheart?

What’s not to like about sitting on the sofa getting wasted? It’s a lot more comfortable than sitting at a bus stop getting wasted…

Correct the internet

You could try hacking?

I love sitting on the sofa getting wasted, but it’s much more fun with company

Mikewsmith, I’ve had some practice 😂

@aweeshoe – a Mora knife like this one would be ideal:
https://ukoutdoorstore.co.uk/shop/mora-106-wood-carving-knife-made-in-sweden/?CAWELAID=730004950000005200&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=33865546630&CATCI=pla-194607758470&catargetid=730004950000015778&cadevice=t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyOWo2PfN4QIVYbvtCh3GwwmmEAQYBCABEgKc5PD_BwE
Get a leather strop and paste to keep the edge keen and you’re golden.

I’m not sure sitting on the sofa is the best use of your time. Get out for a walk.

Countzero, thanks for the that. It’s a lot more reasonable than I expected. What wood would you recommend to start with?

Slowoldman, I’d like to but can’t for various reasons

Does it have to be conducted whilst sat on your sofa?

How about getting Cameron McNeish’s book on the Munro’s & Geoff Allan’s “the bothy bible” – between the two there is at least 3 years worth of weekends to get out into the hills and up to mischief.

Gaming. I do xbox during the darker months.

Scruff9252, I find that quite appealing for when I get the odd weekend to myself

Myti, I’ve got a ps4 but I’m finding it boring playing alone

I haven’t been around on here as much lately and things have obviously slipped as no one has suggested coke and hookers yet

Hmm, electric bass? Why not a ukelele? Same thing really.

Electric uprights are pretty much the neck and spike portion of a traditional double bass and appear to come in cheaper by a significant amount.

Sewing is a good shout, my wife does it but I’d like to knock some stuff together eventually. If you wanted to start on a budget get yourself an old but solid machine then learn to fix it. I have her mum’s old Toyota sitting waiting to get the tensioner fixed when it becomes less of a touchy subject.

Might seem odd, but I gave started riding a bike. You could then stop for whittle.

Wiggles, how much do you reckon I should charge?

Squirrelking, that sounds like something I could have a go at. It would be easier to store too.

I’ve got my Nan’s old singer sewing machine from 1947! It’s the one I prefer to use but I’ve also got one that does all the fancy stuff, I can’t even thread the thing

Caher, I’d probably get done for child neglect

About £30 a gram

£1,620,000 that’s not bad. That’ll get you half an hour

Haha – took me a moment to work that out, aweeshoe 🙂

Modelmaking.
Been doing it since I was a kid, started building plastic kits, then converting & modifying them, then building from scratch.
Keeps me off the streets & passes the cold winter evenings!
Doesn’t have to be military either, plenty of cars, motorbikes, birds & figurines if you don’t fancy tanks or aircraft.

Crochet? Minimal costs to get started and loads of free patterns on the internet. Kept me sane when I was working away from home.

Wood? Limewood or redwood. There are loads of videos on YT on whittling and carving.