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verything old has become new again. Hobbies that were popular in the past have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity throughout the pandemic. Odessa Reichel, co-owner of Wolseley Wool, has noticed an uptick in interest in hands-on hobbies. "With being at home more, we've had a lot of people contact us who either want to start kni ing or crocheting or haven't in many years and want to get back into it," she said. "Simple projects like scarves have been popular, as well as macramé. They don't require too much concentration and can be quite relaxing to work on." For beginners, she encourages them to simply give it a try. "I recommend watching a few videos online to help start — just try a few different ones that look good to you and see if any of them click. If you can, use a wool to start. If you find wool itchy, I recommend a superwash wool as they are a lot smoother," she said. "Wool has a lot more give than most other yarns so it's easier to work with, especially for beginners. Don't give up if it doesn't look perfect at first. It will get be er quicker than you think." Wolseley Wool, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in the fall, usually offers classes but they're currently on hold due to pandemic restrictions. But that's not stopping folks from tackling projects at home to create everything from socks to shawls to sweaters. "I think crafting with your hands is just so satisfying. There's a lot more time at home, so it's nice to fill it with something that's a bit more slow and relaxing," Reichel said. "Personally, I like that it's something I can do while watching TV or a movie at home. I'm not good at just si ing still. It also keeps me from endlessly scrolling on my phone." Puzzles are proving to be another popular pastime that's helping people whi le away the hours. Kari England, second-generation family owner of Toad Hall Toys, said puzzle sales have been on the rise for a number of years but the pandemic brought an increase in interest beyond all expectations. "Many suppliers were unable to keep up, and extreme delays in manufacturing, shipping and warehousing created many out-of-stock situations for certain lines," she said. "Luckily, we have been at this a long time and had other sources we could pull from. As to popularity, I think it is a desire to slow down and unplug. Social media and news is nothing but stress these days. Puzzles don't demand anything but time and patience — something we are all having to get be er at." Smaller scale miniatures and building kits are also hot commodities these days, England added. For model building enthusiast Laurie Taite, the last few years have been like a golden age for the hobby. "The incredible engineering that has gone into the new kit moulds is astounding. The detail of parts in these kits is light years ahead of the kits I built as a kid. Because of movies like Star Trek, Star Wars and the myriad of sci-fi superhero movies, you can pre y much build any of your favourite characters or vehicles," he said. "The paints, weathering materials, masks, glues, E Old is new again By Jennifer McFee 6 | W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S LAUNCH PHOTOS BY JAMES CAREY LAUDER

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