If you, like us, are seeking solitary amusements to keep you entertained (ideally ones that don’t involve doomscrolling or binge-watching six seasons of a show in a week), might we recommend a revival of some Victorian hobbies? For all their faults, the Victorians were avid hobbyists who loved a craft, party game, or method of calling upon the spirits.
Fancy Work
Needlepoint is a classic hobby that the Victorians partook in with gusto, referring to it as “fancy work” because it added decorative flourishes to household linens and clothing.
Some of the more complicated patterns may be intimidating, but it’s easy to get started with a beginners kit.
Here are some options: cat in a box, cursing with florals, and some bathroom art.
Cycling
The bicycle was all the rage in the Victorian era, despite the fact that many believed it to be a most unladylike contraption, with articles even dissuading women from its use because of the “health consequences.”
Many women chose to ignore this nonsense and took up their bicycles, which provided a relatively inexpensive way to get around that didn’t require the care and feeding of a horse. With the right gear (like a solid raincoat or this waterproof bag), it remains a great way to get some exercise in even when the weather is poor.
Scrapbooking and Autograph Books
Victorians also took up scrapbooking as a hobby and often created autograph books where they collected signatures from their friends or the celebrities of the day. To take up the hobby now, all you need is a notebook, a stack of old magazines/newspapers/junk mail, and some scissors and glue. Start clipping whatever sparks your interest and creating layouts that intrigue.
You could also go the autograph route and ask your friends to write you a message as though they’re signing your high school yearbook.
Crystal Gazing
Who needs a meditation class when you could simply crystal gaze? In the late 19th century, people would spend their free time staring into glass orbs, mirrors, or gemstones so that they could enter a trance and learn the secrets of the universe.
We can’t tell you whether or not it works, but hey, there are worse things we can think of doing than staring at some pretty crystals and working through some mindfulness exercises.
Trade Cards
Before there were Pokemon cards, the Victorians were gaga for trade cards, which were advertisements on postcards. These often depicted cheerful and sometimes downright bizarre imagery. To be honest, if businesses were still handing out cards with art that depicted humans as vegetables, we’d be collecting them too.
The next time you’re at an antique store or garage sale, remember to dig through the piles of old postcards and photographs. You might find some treasures to keep or trade with friends.
Do any of these Victorian era hobbies inspire or appeal to you? Let us know in the comments!
