Have you ever heard the name Max Alexander?

Perhaps he's popped up on your IG reels or maybe not yet. He is, after all, only 7. But at just seven years old, Max has gained a lot of fame on Instagram as a seven year old couture designer (@couture.to.the.max). He began making dresses at only four years old! He picks out his own fabrics, designs everything, does the measurements, and uses a sewing machine. From start to finish, he does it all. 

Now, not every kid may have an eye and/or passion for fashion like Max but learning some skills like sewing or crochet can be a fun and useful hobby!

When I was growing up, learning these types of helpful hobbies was one of the many ways my parents helped me channel my creative energy into something I could show off, wear, gift, and be proud of. In first grade, I attended an after school program where one of the clubs was a knitting club. I started crocheting at about eight or nine when my aunt first taught me. My dad then taught me to sew somewhere around the age ten or eleven which ended up being a useful skill around the house as well as later in my dance career when I got my pointe shoes.

I consider these to be helpful hobbies because they're not only fun and engaging ways to spend time, but they have an end product and the skills they develop can be used elsewhere. We've all heard about the issues with overproduction of clothing and fast fashion these days. One way to help is to keep your clothes until the end of their time rather than throwing them out early because of a small problem. Learning to sew up holes or sew back on buttons can be a lifesaver. You can also bring new life to old clothes with fabric paint, iron-on/sew-on patches, or embroidery.

Learning to crochet and/or to knit can allow you to create one of a kind pieces in whatever colors you want. Both of these skills can also turn into businesses. So can upcycling which is taking old clothes and changing them into something new by cutting, tying, dying, or painting them. There are hundreds of step by step guides for all of these skills on YouTube so even if you don't know where to start, there's help out there!

Here's a list of a few helpful hobbies you might want to try out this summer:

• Sewing
• Knitting
• Crochet
• Embroidery
• Bracelet Making
• Weaving
• Pottery
• Upcycling

I will admit that none of these hobbies are cheap. And if your kid (or yourself) gets hooked on one, you can expect to spend quite a bit of money at craft stores. My suggestion for mitigating those costs is to keep an eye out for sales, clearance sections, and check places like Goodwill. Not every Goodwill or secondhand store has a yarn section or yarn bag, but it's always good to check. You can also get cheaper fabric from the curtain sections.

Some companies like Jazwares also sell kits like Big Fat Yarn that can help get you started. So, get out there and learn a new skill. You never know what it could lead to.

Happy Crafting!