14 Best Gifts for Your Friend Who’s Always Starting a New Hobby

Watercoloring feels like a hobby everyone tries at some point, but if your friend somehow has never tried it yet, gift them this kit. The workbook has pre-drawn images, instructions, and an example of the finished painting. It helps beginners understand color theory, shading, and how watercolor works, and those who cannot sketch won’t need to draw an outline for painting. Plus, the palette has tons of colors, so there’s no need to worry about mixing the perfect pigments for the exact shade of green you need for trees.

Birdwatching is a relaxing activity that is not just for post-retirement (it’s fun for all ages!). My friend loves to birdwatch and even has a smart birdhouse in her backyard, so I brought these binoculars with me on a hiking trip. They’re compact, lightweight, colorful, and easy to use while spotting wildlife in nature. Gift it to a friend who loves hiking, camping, and walking in parks, and pair it with a pamphlet of identifiable birds in the area to get them started with birdwatching.

Knitting is one of the best grandma hobbies, and it’s on my list of 2027 New Year’s resolutions. I’ve been eyeing this learn-to-knit kit from Knit Picks, a brand my knitting friend recommended, because it includes all the yarn, needles, clips, and the instructions you need to knit your first project: cozy socks. Choose between six colors, and you’ll be knitting scarves and sweaters in no time.

Whether your friend always has a book on hand or they want to start reading more, a journal to track the books they’ve read makes for a cute gift. Your friend can rate each book they’ve read, add a mini summary, and jot down some thoughts on the novel.

It’s the perfect way for someone to remember their favorite (and least favorite) books of the year, and the cover can even be personalized with their initials and comes in multiple patterns.

Embroidery is a quick hobby to pick up, but the end result looks complex and beautiful. I got started with this kit, which includes three printed templates with instructions, an embroidery hoop, tons of string, scissors, needles, and a threader. The instructions include QR codes to guided videos, which makes this kit great for visual learners like myself.

It’s also a great gift for someone who loves making DIY gifts, because once they learn how to embroider, they can customize any T-shirt, tote bag, or piece of fabric (so, this kit is the gift that keeps on giving!).

Your friend with trinkets all over their room (a.k.a., me) will love adding to their collection by creating their own wooden figurines with this whittling kit. It includes three whittling tools, a tool case, gloves to protect hands from cuts, wooden blocks, a knife sharpener, and a leather strop. With six pieces of wood, there’s room for trial and error, and by the sixth piece, your friend will be a whiz at whittling.

Hear me out (ha, see what I did there): A harmonica seems a bit random, but it’s a great gift for a friend who loves music, learning new instruments, and especially one who’s always the life of the party. Imagine them mastering the harmonica and whipping it out for everyone? It’s a cool trick to pull out of your hat, and it's right up a hobby-hopper’s alley. Say goodbye to guitar around the campfire and hello to harmonicas around a game of cards this winter.

Choose from 27 different animals for your friend to cross-stitch with this beginner-friendly kit. I was given this highland cow kit (cows are my favorite animal!) after surgery as a get-well-soon gift, and it was the perfect gift for low-energy days when I wanted to do a craft but not move or use too much brain power. The kit has a printed template on the fabric with all the yarn you need, a cross-stitching needle, and a hoop.

This cross-stitching pattern was easier than embroidery since you don’t need to learn certain stitches; you’re mostly just poking the fabric, making it a great gift for your crafty friend who needs to chill out and relax, or a friend who hasn’t tried any artsy hobby yet.

If your friend is inspired by all the recent fall marathons or they just signed up for their first 5K, a good running belt is an accessory that they may not have yet. My phone, gels, keys, and ID all fit into the zipped pockets, so I can run hands-free and without items in my pockets weighing my pants down. I don’t even notice this belt around my waist—it just feels like my shorts around my hips. I ran for a long time without a belt, but it honestly was a game changer for long runs, so it’s a gift the new runner in your life will appreciate.

Wheeled pottery classes can be expensive and are often a multi-week commitment. Before signing up for a beginner’s course, gift your friend this mini pottery wheel to test out the hobby and make small ceramics. If they love the craft, they can sign up for a course and fully learn how to create bowls, vases, and mugs. For now, they can test-drive some mini figurines with this at-home kit that includes clay, paint, tools, the wheel, an apron, and more.

As someone who struggled in a wheel pottery class, I’d also appreciate this airclay kit that comes with clay, tools, paint, and everything you need to make hand-sculpted pieces.

There’s always a friend in the group who’s the unofficial photographer, and this camera is a fun way to upgrade from a cell phone without totally breaking the bank. The camera works like a film camera where you don’t see the photo taken until developing it, but you can plug it into a computer or phone and easily download all the photos—no printing or developing necessary. It’s a small, compact camera that I love bringing on trips and to parties because I love the look of the photos.

If your friend is the sporty, outdoorsy type who dreads winter, consider gifting them a rock climbing gym membership and this climbing chalk bag. Rock climbing gyms are the new social spots, and it makes sense why it’s such a popular hobby: You get to strengthen your muscles while talking to friends or new people all while playing on a giant, adult-friendly jungle gym. The chalk bag isn’t a necessity, but my hands were very sweaty and slippery when I tried climbing without the chalk.