Top 15 Essential Craft Supplies to Learn a Relaxing New Hobby With on Weekends
The weekend is calling. After a long week of meetings, deadlines, and digital noise, the idea of two whole days of freedom can feel both exhilarating and a little daunting. How do you make the most of that precious time? While brunch and Netflix have their place, there’s a unique, soul-soothing satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful with your own hands.
Tapping into your creative side is one of the best forms of self-care. It’s a way to disconnect from the hustle, quiet your mind, and engage in a tactile, mindful activity. The problem? The world of arts and crafts is vast. Walking into a craft store can be overwhelming, with aisles of specialized tools and a rainbow of materials all vying for your attention. It’s enough to make anyone retreat back to the safety of their sofa.
But what if you could start with a few simple, versatile supplies? This isn’t about buying an entire studio overnight. It's about curating a small, powerful toolkit that can unlock dozens of relaxing hobbies. This list is your friendly guide to the 15 most essential craft supplies that will help you discover a new passion, one weekend at a time.
1. A Quality Sketchbook & Graphite Pencils
Every great masterpiece, whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, or an embroidered tapestry, often starts with a simple sketch. A sketchbook isn’t just for professional artists; it’s a judgment-free zone for your ideas. It’s a place to doodle, plan, practice, and simply let your mind wander through lines and shapes. Paired with a basic set of graphite pencils (a 2B, an HB, and a 4B will cover most of your needs), you have the foundation for almost any creative endeavor.
Don’t get hung up on creating perfect drawings. Use your sketchbook to plan a layout for a scrapbook page, design a pattern for an embroidery project, or just practice shading a sphere. The goal isn't to create a gallery-worthy piece on every page, but to build a habit of visual thinking. This simple duo is the most fundamental and affordable entry point into the world of art.
2. Beginner's Watercolor Set
There is something inherently calming about watercolor painting. It’s the gentle dance of pigment and water, the way colors bleed into each other, and the beautiful, translucent effects you can achieve. Unlike other paints, watercolor has a mind of its own, which forces you to let go of control and embrace happy accidents. This makes it a perfect hobby for anyone looking to de-stress.
Start with a simple pan set, which contains solid cakes of paint that you activate with a wet brush. They are portable, less messy than tubes, and perfect for beginners. Find a small pad of watercolor paper (it’s thicker and designed to prevent buckling) and spend an afternoon just watching how the colors move. You can paint simple landscapes, floral patterns, or abstract washes of color.
3. Acrylic Paint Starter Set
If watercolor is the gentle poet, acrylic is the versatile workhorse. This fast-drying, water-based paint can be used on nearly any surface—canvas, wood, paper, fabric, and even glass. You can use it thick like oil paint to create texture, or thin it with water to behave more like watercolor. This incredible versatility makes it a must-have for any budding crafter.
A starter set with 10-12 basic colors is all you need. You can mix virtually any color from red, yellow, blue, black, and white. Try your hand at a small canvas painting, decorate a wooden birdhouse, or customize a tote bag. Because it dries quickly, you can layer colors without creating a muddy mess, which is a huge confidence booster for beginners.
4. A Versatile Set of Paint Brushes
You can't do much with paint without a good set of brushes. While it’s tempting to buy the most expensive, artisanal brush you see, a simple variety pack is the best way to start. This allows you to experiment and discover what works for you without a hefty investment. Your goal is to get a mix of shapes and sizes.
Look for a pack that includes a few round brushes for details and lines, a couple of flat brushes for broad strokes and filling in large areas, and maybe an angled or fan brush for interesting textures. A synthetic set is affordable, durable, and works well with both watercolor and acrylics. Remember to wash your brushes with gentle soap and water immediately after use to keep them in great shape.
5. Yarn & A Crochet Hook or Knitting Needles
There’s a reason knitting and crochet have been beloved for centuries. The rhythmic, repetitive motion of looping yarn is incredibly meditative and has been shown to reduce anxiety. Plus, you get to create something cozy and functional, like a scarf, a blanket, or a cute beanie. It’s the perfect hobby for a chilly afternoon with a cup of tea.
For your first project, choose a chunky yarn in a light color, which makes it easier to see your stitches. Pair it with a large crochet hook (size 8mm or higher) or knitting needles (size 10 or higher). This combination allows you to build fabric quickly, giving you that satisfying sense of accomplishment that keeps you motivated to learn more. There are thousands of free tutorials on YouTube for absolute beginners.
6. An All-in-One Embroidery Kit
Embroidery is like painting with thread. This mindful craft has seen a massive resurgence in popularity, and for good reason. It’s portable, relatively inexpensive to start, and the process of slowly filling in a design with colorful stitches is deeply relaxing. An all-in-one kit is the perfect, no-fuss way to dive in.
These kits typically come with everything you need: an embroidery hoop, a piece of fabric with a pre-printed pattern, all the necessary colored floss, a needle, and instructions. You don’t have to worry about choosing colors or transferring a design; you can just open the box and start stitching. It’s a wonderful way to learn basic stitches like the back stitch, satin stitch, and French knot.
7. Air-Dry Clay
Wish you could try pottery without investing in a kiln and a wheel? Air-dry clay is your answer. This magical, pliable material lets you sculpt, shape, and create durable objects right from your kitchen table. Once your creation is finished, you simply let it sit out for a day or two to harden—no baking required.
Use it to make small trinket dishes for your jewelry, decorative ornaments, little figurines, or minimalist pinch pots for tiny succulents. Once dry, you can sand it for a smooth finish and paint it with your acrylic paints. A tip for beginners: keep a small bowl of water nearby. If the clay starts to crack as you work, just dip your finger in water and gently smooth the surface.
8. A Curated Set of Washi Tape
Washi tape is pure, distilled joy in a roll. This decorative paper tape, which originated in Japan, is the ultimate low-stakes craft supply. It’s repositionable, easy to tear by hand, and comes in an endless variety of colors and patterns. It adds a pop of personality to literally anything, with zero commitment.
Use washi tape to decorate your journal or planner, create borders on homemade cards, seal gift wrap, or even decorate your phone charger. You can use it to create geometric art on a piece of cardstock or to label your pantry jars in a stylish way. It's an instant gratification craft supply that requires no special skills, only your imagination.
9. Brush Pens for Modern Calligraphy
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful lettering, and it’s an incredibly zen-like practice that focuses on deliberate, graceful strokes. While traditional calligraphy uses a dip pen and ink, modern calligraphy with brush pens is far more accessible for beginners. These pens have a flexible tip that allows you to create thick and thin lines based on the pressure you apply.
The fundamental principle is simple: light pressure on upstrokes (thin lines) and heavy pressure on downstrokes (thick lines). Grab a set of black brush pens in a few different sizes and a pad of smooth paper (like Rhodia or HP Premium). Spend time just practicing the basic strokes, then move on to letters and words. It’s a skill that combines mindfulness with a beautiful, practical outcome.
10. Assorted Craft Paper & Cardstock
Never underestimate the power of good paper. A pack of high-quality, multicolored cardstock is the foundation for a huge range of hobbies, from card making and scrapbooking to origami and 3D paper sculptures. Paper is an approachable and forgiving medium that invites experimentation.
Look for a variety pack that includes different colors, textures, and weights (measured in GSM). You can use it to make beautiful, personalized greeting cards for any occasion, create layered art for a shadow box, or try your hand at the ancient art of paper folding. As the team at the Goh Ling Yong blog often emphasizes, starting with quality base materials can make all the difference in your finished project.
11. Craft Knife & Self-Healing Cutting Mat
For any craft that involves paper, felt, or foam, a craft knife and cutting mat are a non-negotiable duo. A craft knife (like an X-Acto knife) gives you a level of precision that scissors simply can’t match, allowing you to cut intricate shapes, straight lines, and sharp corners with ease.
The self-healing cutting mat is its essential partner. It protects your table from scratches, and its "self-healing" surface closes up over cuts, extending the life of both the mat and your knife blade. The printed grid on most mats is also a huge help for measuring and making perfectly straight cuts. Always remember to practice safety: cut away from your body and replace your blade as soon as it feels dull.
12. A Low-Temp Hot Glue Gun
A hot glue gun is the MVP of 3D crafting and quick assembly. It’s the tool that brings your projects together, whether you’re building a model, making a wreath, or attaching embellishments to a surface. For beginners, a low-temperature model is a smart choice as it reduces the risk of serious burns while still providing a strong bond.
Use it to assemble paper sculptures, attach decorations to a seasonal wreath, or create non-slip bottoms on kid's socks. It’s an incredibly useful tool for quick repairs around the house, too. It bridges the gap between simple flat crafts and projects with dimension and structure.
13. Jewelry Pliers & Basic Findings
Have you ever wanted to design your own earrings or fix a broken necklace? A basic jewelry-making kit opens up a world of wearable art. You don't need much to start: a set of small pliers (including round-nose, chain-nose, and flat-nose) is the most important part. These allow you to bend wire, open and close loops, and grip small components.
Pair your pliers with a starter pack of "findings"—the little metal bits like earring hooks, clasps, and jump rings. Then, pick out some beads that catch your eye. You can start by simply assembling pre-made charms and beads into a new pair of earrings or a bracelet. It's a quick, satisfying craft that results in something you can proudly wear or give as a thoughtful, handmade gift.
14. Assorted Felt Sheets
Felt is one of the most forgiving and fun fabrics to work with. It doesn’t fray when you cut it, so there’s no need for hemming or complicated sewing. It’s soft, sturdy, and comes in every color imaginable, making it perfect for a wide range of no-sew or simple-sew projects.
Use felt sheets to create adorable plushies, holiday ornaments, colorful garlands, or educational toys for children. You can cut out shapes and glue them together with craft glue or a hot glue gun, or use your embroidery floss to add simple, decorative stitches around the edges. It's an ideal material for anyone who wants to dabble in fabric crafts without the intimidation of a sewing machine.
15. Mod Podge (Matte or Gloss)
If there is one magical elixir in the craft world, it’s Mod Podge. This iconic product is a glue, sealer, and finish all in one. It’s the key to decoupage—the art of decorating surfaces with paper cutouts—but its uses extend far beyond that. It’s an indispensable, multi-purpose tool that belongs in every crafter's kit.
Use it to adhere decorative paper or napkins to a wooden box, a glass jar, or a piece of furniture. You can also use it to seal your acrylic paintings, giving them a protective, uniform finish (choose matte for a flat look or gloss for a shiny one). Some crafters I know, including Goh Ling Yong, even use it to add rigidity and a protective coat to delicate paper craft projects.
The journey into a new hobby isn't about mastering a skill overnight. It's about the simple, quiet joy of the process—the feel of the yarn, the smell of the paint, the focus required to place a single stitch. It's about giving yourself permission to be a beginner and to create something just for the fun of it.
Don't feel like you need to buy everything on this list at once. Pick one or two items that truly spark your curiosity. Maybe it’s the fluid grace of watercolors or the cozy promise of a knitted scarf. Whatever you choose, you're not just buying a craft supply; you're investing in moments of peace, creativity, and pure, screen-free relaxation for your weekends.
So, what are you waiting for? What new hobby are you most excited to try? Share your creative plans and any questions you have in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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