ADD friendly hobbies and crafts | ADHD Information
Is there any such thing?
What hobbies and crafts do you participate in and enjoy? How many unfinished projects do you currently remember?
Personally, I make jewelry, sometimes, when I feel the muse. I used to do cross-stitch, ribbon embroidery, couldn't wrap my brain around needlepoint though. I'm thinking of taking up knitting but I worry that this would bore me out of my ever-loving mind. But.... I could do it while I watch tv. My husband is all in favor of it because it would stop me from "reading all those damn books".
Are there any ADD knitters out there?
Yes, there are....but if you ask me, it still isn't very AD/HD friendly.I've tried my hand at it a bit....and I don't think I've finished a project yet. I do it mainly whilst I'm doing something else....say reading, talking on the phone, etc.....just to keep my hands busy.
However, if you want to make "the good stuff" it often entails way too much concentration & attention to detail than I can handle. I try, but I always forget what stitch I'm on, or what row I just finished, etc. And, as most hobbies are, it comes & goes.
You could always try your hand at it and let us know how it goes!
I would probably stick to scarves. Very simple scarves. Using really big needles so that I finish faster.
I think I'm going to get a book from the library called "Stitch and Bitch" . I've heard it's very user friendly. I looked at the KNitting for dummies book but my eyes glazed over. Stitch and Bitch uses live hand models for the pictures instead of diagrams! somehow it's better that way.
How about crochet. I found that I could crochet squares or strips (mile-a-minute style) and then turn them into afghans or scarfs. I have not done much since the kids were born, but may start again.
Unfinisthed-Way to many to count. I have a garage full of stuff that I explore when I want to re-start a craft.
I make beer ~
and drink it too ~
Crocheting does seem to be more AD/HD friendly....granted, I only do sc & dc....and not in complicated patterns lol.I started a cable-knit scarf a little while ago and keep forgetting what I've done and where I'm at. I had to unravel 1/4 of my piece already....and am just waiting for the next slip up and my delayed noticing.
Hey John, I've heard that making beer makes the whole room/house smell....do you find that this is true?
I actually did some needlepoint just out of high school. Took every ounce of patience I had LOL. Did a denim vest with "BLUE OYSTER CULT" and design flares on it. I thought it was quite nice. Friends thought it wierd me sewing but what the hey!
I recommend against anything with exacto knives or sharp edges for teen ADHDers and hobbies unless they prove less clumsy than I was. Nearly cut my thumb off in school doing a bas relief where you carve a thin clay slab for painting.
Over the years until recently every time I picked up a knife there was a subsequent trip to the ER. Maybe it's me - maybe the ADHD.
Just a fair warning LOL.
I play on ebay for hobby now. It can be quite enjoyable and I've got 172 positive feedback on my standalone account. Add that to what I had with ex and I've had over 300 positive and only had 3 negative in the past.
Just about kicked myself when I forgot my older hobbies! Dang!
I used to collect comic books (until they became obscenely expensive). Same with stamps. Sometimes our memory of the obscure and odd helps with these hobbies. Same with trivia games we seem to be terribly good at them.
I like sewing. So far, I only have one unfinished project (a quilt). I have tried both knitting and crochet. With knitting, I never finished the projects. I was never able to understand crochet, even though several people tried to teach me. I have tried embroidery in the past, but it was too slow moving for me.
My ADD husband plays computer games. All kinds of computer games. In fact he is in the basement yelling at the TV right now. He likes war games, and poker games with high-stakes betting (thank god not for real), and strategy games, but not so much the fantasy games or driving games. He used to play SimCity for HOURS and hours on end. Buidling cities. He has mentioned a few times that he wants to try making jewelry or doing metal work. I wonder if this would be a good idea. Certainly it's highly creative...
I do not have ADD, but have been working on one cross-stitch piece for over 5 years. Those suckers take forever, and sometimes you just get bored of a project. 
120,000 plus and counting.
One weekend I took over 5,000 photos.
I cross stich. It keeps my hands busy. It is cheap enough that I have trhee or four diffent projects going on at once. I keep one in car, one in desk, bedroom, tv room... That way it is there and I can pick it up and put it away quick. The one in the car gets the most use because I take it to help me sit still at functions. Use to knit for this reason to. It is fidgeting with porpose.