Are you looking to start a creative hobby or are you even considering starting your own business or a small business? Whether it's knitting, pottery, sewing, soap making, or weaving, the possibilities are endless. This article provides an overview of the most popular DIY crafts (DIY = do-it-yourself) in Germany, including the entry costs, how much space you need, how difficult they are, and what potential they offer for self-employment. This way, you can quickly find out which (hobby) craft is best for you.
Here is the complete list of the 16 crafts covered in the article:
- Sew
- knitting
- Crochet
- Embroider
- Weave
- Macrame
- felting
- Pottery
- woodwork
- Leatherwork
- Make your own jewelry
- Make your own soap
- Make your own candles
- Paper crafts & bookbinding
- Upcycling
- Model making
If you're interested in weaving, we recommend you take a look at our website - Berliner Webstühle. As a specialized retailer, we offer the largest selection of looms, frames, weaving yarn, and accessories.
1. Sewing (tailoring)
Sewing is ideal if you want to design your own clothing, accessories, or home textiles. With a little practice, you can create custom-fit, one-of-a-kind pieces. It's no wonder sewing is so popular these days. You can start with simple projects like pillowcases or a T-shirt. More advanced sewers can sew entire wardrobes or specialize in items like bags or children's clothing.
- Entry costs: Medium - A basic sewing machine starts at €100, plus fabric and basic accessories (scissors, tape measure, thread) for around €20-50. To get started, you can also sew by hand with a needle and thread (almost free).
- Space requirements: A small table for the sewing machine is sufficient; a dedicated sewing corner for cutting fabric is ideal. Make sure there's enough storage space for fabric stashes-fabrics tend to pile up!
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Straight seams and simple cuts are quick to complete. More complex patterns require practice and precision, but you'll improve with each stitch.
- Self-employment potential: Moderate - Many hobby seamstresses sell unique items like baby clothes or bags online. Tailor-made clothing and individual designs are in demand, but they compete with inexpensive mass-produced items. With a niche and quality approach, you can find clients, but the hourly wage is often low at first.
2. Knitting
Knitting is considered a relaxing hobby for long evenings, and it's not just grandmas who knit! From scarves and socks to sweaters, you can make many things yourself with wool and needles. It's very meditative: stitch by stitch, something useful emerges. Beginners often start with a simple scarf or potholder, while professionals knit elaborate Fair Isle patterns or complex sweaters. Knitting and crocheting are among the most popular handcrafting hobbies and have been experiencing a resurgence in recent years.
- Entry costs: Low - A pair of knitting needles costs around €5-10, a ball of yarn from around €3-8. You can get started with as little as €20 (e.g., knitting a scarf).
- Space required: Minimal - You can knit comfortably on the sofa; yarn and needles fit in any basket. Ideal for those with limited space.
- Difficulty level: Easy to learn – knitting stitches is a breeze. More complicated patterns (e.g., cables or multicolored knitting) require some practice, but there are plenty of tutorials and videos available.
- Potential for self-employment: Rather limited – hand-knitting is time-consuming. A sweater can take many hours to make, which is reflected in the price. Nevertheless, there is a market for high-quality, hand-knitted unique items (e.g., baby clothes, hats made of alpaca wool). Selling your own knitting patterns or offering workshops can also be profitable.
3. Crochet
Crocheting is a great alternative to knitting: instead of two needles, you work with one crochet hook. You can make all sorts of things: from potholders and doilies to modern crocheted blankets, stuffed animals (amigurumi), or clothing. Crochet patterns are often easier to vary, and the results are quick. Small crocheted animals or figures are especially popular and make great gifts or sell.
- Starting costs: Low - You can get a crochet hook for €2-5. Yarn (wool or cotton) costs maybe €5-15, depending on the project. You're ready to go for under €20.
- Space required: Barely any - As with knitting, a spot on the sofa is sufficient. The materials (needles, yarn) fit in a small box.
- Difficulty level: Easy - You'll quickly learn how to cast on stitches and basic stitches (chains, single crochets). More delicate patterns (filet crochet, lace) or round shapes require some practice, but are doable even for beginners with patience.
- Self-employment potential: Moderate - Crocheted accessories such as hats, blankets, or especially amigurumi animals can find buyers. Production is often a bit faster than knitting, but here, too, the selling price must cover both the material and the time spent. Personalized crocheted items (e.g., baby toys, keychains) are popular.
4. Embroidery
Embroidery is the decoration of fabrics with needle and thread. From cross-stitch patterns to modern hand lettering with embroidery thread, you can personalize tablecloths, pillowcases, or clothing with beautiful motifs. Cross-stitch is a classic entry-level form, but there's also free-stitching (without a counted pattern) or new trends like punch needle (embroidery with a special needle that creates loops). Embroidery promotes patience and concentration and produces elegant, personalized results.
- Starting costs: Very low - embroidery needles cost only a few euros, embroidery thread (e.g., cotton mouliné) about €1 per skein. A small embroidery frame and scrap fabric together cost less than €15. Many starter sets with motifs, thread, and instructions are also available at reasonable prices.
- Space requirement: Minimal - You need little more than a comfortable seat and good lighting. Materials can be stored in a box to save space.
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Basic stitches (cross stitch, backstitch, etc.) are easy to learn. More challenging techniques like shadow stitch or gold embroidery require more skill. Overall, however, embroidery is a relaxing hobby that allows for precise yet relaxed work.
- Self-employment potential : Limited to specialized – Hand-embroidered monograms or pictures are time-consuming and therefore rather expensive. There's a market for personalized gifts (wedding pillows with dates, christening blankets) or artistic wall art. Alternatively, you can design embroidered patches or sell embroidery patterns. Another option is to offer custom machine embroidery (although this requires a professional embroidery machine).
5. Weaving
Weaving is a traditional craft that uses warp and weft to create fabrics or artistic textiles. For beginners, there are small looms available, ideal for scarves, placemats, or decorative tapestries. With a larger loom, you could even weave your own fabrics for clothing. Weaving requires some technique (alternately raising and lowering the thread), but it's a lot of fun if you enjoy working with textiles. Using different yarns and colors creates beautiful patterns.
- Entry Cost: Medium - A small loom for beginners costs around €30-50. You can often make yarn from wool scraps or purchase special weaving yarns (costs vary depending on the material). Larger looms are significantly more expensive, but not necessary for beginners.
- Space requirements: A school loom fits on a table and can be put away after use. A professional loom, on the other hand, requires a dedicated space (and sufficient headroom for floor-standing looms). For initial projects, however, a tabletop is perfectly sufficient.
- Difficulty level: Medium - The basic principle (simple plain weave) is quickly grasped. However, it requires patience until a larger piece is fully woven. Complex patterns (twill, jacquard) require experience and possibly special equipment. For simple weaving projects, however, it is quite doable and very relaxing.
- Potential for self-employment : Existing - Handwoven textiles (scarves, rugs, wall hangings) are valued for their unique look. Since weaving is time-consuming, high-quality pieces, such as artistic tapestries or traditional costumes, are the most salable. The target audience is smaller, but they are willing to pay for genuine handcraft. A vibrant weaving scene has developed, especially in major cities, and aesthetically sophisticated textiles outside of standardized mass-produced goods command high prices.
- Shop tip: Berliner Webstühle - specialist for weaving (looms, spinning fibers, accessories) - ideal for browsing for aspiring weavers.
6. Macrame
Macramé is the art of decoratively knotting yarn or rope. Without needles or glue, you can use various knots to create beautiful boho-inspired decor: wall hangings, hanging baskets, keychains, or even curtains. This '70s trend is making a major comeback. Macramé is modern, minimalist, and perfect for adding a touch of home decor. It's ideal for people who enjoy working with their hands but don't want complex tools.
- Entry costs: Low - A ball of 3-5 mm macramé cord (cotton) starts at around €10-15 and is sufficient for smaller projects. Scissors are usually the only tool required. A clipboard or a rod for securing the knot is also helpful (a clothes rail or doorknob often works).
- Space required: Minimal - You mainly need some space to spread out the cords, e.g., on a table in front of you or hanging from a doorknob. Macrame can be quickly put away after work.
- Difficulty: Easy - There are only a few basic knots (like the reef knot and the half hitch) that are easy to learn. These lead to countless patterns. Even beginners can achieve great results with simple knot sequences. It becomes more challenging with very complex patterns or large pieces, but step-by-step instructions are helpful.
- Potential for independence : Good for decoration - Hand-knotted macramé is popular, especially in the interior design sector (wall decor, curtains, lampshades). Many people are willing to pay a little more for larger macramé pieces because the material and labor are visible. Macramé decorations sell well at craft markets or online platforms, as long as the designs are attractive and of high quality.
7. Felting
Felting involves transforming loose wool into solid shapes, either by dry felting with a special needle or wet felting with soap and water. You can felt small animal figures, beads, slippers, or hats, for example. Dry felting (needle felting) is good for detailed figures and is quite simple: You repeatedly poke the wool with a barbed needle until it thickens. Wet felting is great for flat items like scarves or balls, where the wool felts together due to warm soapy water and friction.
- Entry costs: Low - You can get a set of felting needles and some wool fleece for under €20. For wet felting, you only need soap and water (so practically nothing extra).
- Space required: Small - a table or lap is sufficient. Caution when needle felting: The needles are very sharp, so it's best to felt on a foam mat. Wet felting can cause some dripping, so place a towel underneath. Otherwise, a large workspace isn't necessary.
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Felting is fundamentally simple and forgiving: you can always add or reshape the wool. For more refined results (even surfaces, detailed figures), some practice and patience are required. Overall, however, it's a very beginner-friendly craft, even easy to do with children (with supervision when using needles!).
- Potential for self-employment : Special - Hand-felted decorative items and toys (e.g., felt animals, mobiles, wool felt slippers) are popular. These often fetch low prices due to fierce competition from industrial felt products. Unique items with artistic appeal (e.g., felt-embroidered clothing, unusual felt jewelry) or practical products like sturdy felt slippers made from regional wool, where the story behind them appeals to customers, are more successful.
8. Pottery (ceramics)
Pottery means working with clay or ceramic masses: an ancient craft that is currently experiencing a real revival. You can create tableware, vases, sculptures, or decorations from clay. Beginners can use hand-building techniques (e.g., forming bowls from beads or sculpting figures). A potter's wheel is great for round vessels, but not absolutely necessary for beginners. Important: Fired clay only becomes permanently hard and waterproof - i.e., a true ceramic piece - after it has been fired in a kiln. For home use, there is also air-drying clay as an alternative (it hardens without firing, but is not waterproof).
- Entry costs: Medium - A 10 kg block of pottery clay costs approximately €10-20. Some simple tools (wooden sticks, cutting wire) add another €20. You may have to pay local pottery shops for firing (often by the kilogram, e.g., €5-10 per kg for bisque firing). Air-drying clay is slightly more expensive per kilo, but doesn't require a kiln. . Owning your own potter's wheel or kiln is a major investment (several hundred euros each), but not necessary for beginners; courses or kiln services are cheaper.
- Space required: Depends on the technique. For hand-sculpting, a kitchen table is sufficient. Clay work can be a bit messy (clay tends to slurry), so it's best to set up a wipe-clean work area. If you're working with a potter's wheel, you'll need more space and water nearby; and a kiln requires a well-ventilated, secure location.
- Difficulty level: Variable - Simple clay figures or bowls made from clay sausages are quick to make. Pottery on a wheel, on the other hand, requires practice and skill, but is fun once you get the hang of it. Glazing (the application of the glaze, which is then fired) is a whole other chapter in itself, but there are ready-made glazes that can be easily brushed on. With patience, anyone can learn to potter - many swear by the relaxing effect of working with clay.
- Self-employment potential : Relatively high - Handmade ceramics are trendy, and well-made pieces (beautiful cups, bowls, plant pots) can be sold at reasonable prices, as ceramics are something you use and collect. If you increase the quality and quantity (and ideally have your own kiln), you can be successful at markets or via online shops. However, be aware of the regulations: When selling ceramics that come into contact with food, certain glazes are required (food-safe, for example).
9. Woodwork
Wood is a wonderful material for DIY enthusiasts. Woodwork encompasses many hobbies: from furniture building to wood carving to modeling decorative items. As a beginner, you can build a simple shelf, birdhouse, or cutting board, for example. With the right tools, larger DIY furniture is also possible (side tables, wine racks, etc.). Or you can try your hand at Small-scale wood carving (e.g., spoon carving, figurines). Woodwork combines craftsmanship with creative design, and in the end, you'll have created something robust that will last.
- Entry costs: Medium to high - For simple projects, a handsaw, hammer, a cordless screwdriver, and possibly a file/sandpaper are sufficient. You should budget around €100-200 for this (purchasing tools is a one-time investment). You can get wood cheaply at a hardware store or for free from scraps. For carving, a good carving knife (approximately €30) is often sufficient. Larger tools (jigsaw, drill, plane) cost from €50-100 each, but are optional for beginners.
- Space required: Depends on the project - smaller crafts can be done on the balcony or in a corner of the apartment. For furniture construction, a workshop or at least a basement/garage is ideal, as this can be dusty and noisy. Make sure you have a solid surface (workbench or sturdy table) for sawing and drilling.
- Difficulty Level: Medium - You have to learn how to use tools, but simple constructions like assembling a board with angles or making straight cuts are quickly mastered. Accuracy in measuring and marking is important. Advanced woodworkers deal with wood joints (dowels, tenons) and fine carving details - this takes practice. Safety awareness (e.g., wearing safety goggles when sawing) is also important. You can improve your skills step by step.
- Self-employment potential : Good in niches - Handcrafted wooden products are in demand, such as rustic cutting boards, hand-carved decorations, or custom-made small furniture. If you use high-quality materials (e.g., oak, walnut) and work cleanly, customers will gladly pay for unique pieces. Sustainable, solid wood products or customized furniture are particularly trendy. Note that shipping/transportation must be organized for larger items. Many start part-time with smaller items (shelves, toys, decorations) at markets or online platforms.
10. Leatherwork
Leather is a great, durable material that can be used to make belts, bags, wallets, knife sheaths, or jewelry. Leatherworking involves cutting, punching, sewing (usually by hand using a special stitch), and possibly embossing or dyeing. With a few basic tools, you can create beautiful projects, such as a simple card case or keychain. Those who enjoy it can work their way up to elaborately crafted leather bags or medieval armor, depending on their interests! Leathercraft requires care and some strength, but it is very fulfilling.
- Entry costs: Medium - A starter kit with the essential tools (cutting knife, awl/scourer, punch, sewing needles, and waxed thread) costs approximately €50-100. You can get genuine leather as offcuts starting at €20 (leather scraps are often sufficient for small projects). Faux leather is cheaper but can be processed differently. You can start with approximately €70 in total.
- Space required: Small - A stable surface for cutting and punching is essential (e.g., a cutting mat or wooden board on the table). Otherwise, it doesn't require much space unless you're making very large objects. Just be aware that punching/tapping can be noisy -working on weekdays or in the basement is better.
- Difficulty Level: Medium - Basics like trimming edges, punching holes, and the classic saddle stitch (hand sewing) can be mastered with a little practice. Leather isn't very forgiving (for example, holes remain visible), so you need to measure and work precisely. More complicated projects (e.g., sewing shoes, embossing patterns) require some experience. However, a motivated beginner can certainly make a simple card case or bracelet in a weekend.
- Self-employment potential : Good for a special brand - Handmade leather goods can be very valuable. Many people appreciate hand-stitched leather belts, custom bags, or leather accessories, for example, because they are robust and customizable. With increasing skill and attractive design, a lucrative side income can be earned. It's important to differentiate yourself from cheap, mass-produced faux leather products - quality leather and impeccable craftsmanship appeal to customers. Niches such as historical reproductions (medieval market) or custom-made knife cases are also interesting.
11. Make your own jewelry
Jewelry design as a hobby offers countless possibilities. Whether threading pearl necklaces, crafting earrings, knotting bracelets, or even forging rings and pendants from precious metals, you can let your creativity run wild depending on your interests and budget. Many people start with fashionable jewelry made of glass or wooden beads, created with jewelry wire or elastic cord. Semiprecious stones and silver pieces are also popular. Those who delve deeper can bend metal wire, solder it, or create resin jewelry. This creates unique jewelry that no one else has.
- Entry costs: Low - For simple costume jewelry, a few pliers (side cutters, round-nose pliers, flat-nose pliers - sets often cost around €15-20) and consumables such as beads, wires, clasps, etc. are sufficient. Starter kits with mixed beads and tools are available starting at around €30. Precious metal jewelry making is more expensive, as silver/gold and special tools (e.g., a soldering kit) are required – this can be addressed later.
- Space required: Small - a desk or kitchen table is sufficient. The materials are small and can be stored in sorting boxes. Just be careful not to lose beads - it's best to work on a surface.
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Threading a simple necklace or attaching earwires is quickly learned. More challenging techniques such as wire wrapping (artfully twisting wire), silversmithing, or casting resin jewelry require some practice and sometimes additional equipment. Overall, however, anyone can create beautiful jewelry with a little patience, even without prior experience.
- Potential for self-employment : Good – jewelry always works! Homemade earrings, necklaces, or bracelets sell very well at markets or online, provided the design is appealing. However, competition is fierce, so originality is key. Personalized pieces (with names, birthstones, etc.) or special materials can give you an advantage. Note: For precious metal jewelry, legal regulations regarding hallmarking, etc., must be observed, but for simple costume jewelry, this is unproblematic.
12. Make your own soap
Soap making or soap casting is a fragrant hobby where you can create your own soaps and cosmetics. There are two main types: Soap casting involves melting ready-made glycerin soap and pouring it into molds; ideal for quick, colorful decorative soaps (also great with children). Soap making involves making soap from scratch through a chemical reaction of oils with lye (NaOH). It's a bit more challenging, but you can completely customize the recipe, care properties, and fragrance. Regardless of the method, the result is wonderful handmade soaps that are also beautifully packaged and perfect as gifts.
- Entry costs: Low to medium - a pouring soap starter kit (1 kg of raw soap, colors, fragrances, molds) starts at around €30–40. For cold-pressed soap, you'll need fats/oils (you may have plenty in your kitchen), caustic soda (cheap at a pharmacy or online), a container, and safety goggles/gloves - a total of around €30 for the first batch. Many tools (pot, spoon) are already available. So, with around €50, you can make several batches of soap.
- Space required: Small - The kitchen is usually the workspace. You'll need a heat-resistant bowl or pot and space to place the soap molds. Important: When working with lye, always keep the area child-proof and properly ventilated. Otherwise, this hobby requires little space - soaps are best stored in an airy place (on a shelf or similar) to dry.
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Soapmaking is very simple: melt, mix, pour – done. Soapmaking requires precision in weighing and handling caustic lye (be sure to use protective clothing!), but with good instructions, it's easily doable. Production takes about 1-2 hours, but the soap then needs to mature for 4-6 weeks. For beginners, there are numerous recipes and even soap calculators to help you devise your own creations.
- Self-employment potential : Good - Handmade natural soaps are in demand, as many people appreciate sustainable, palm oil-free, or individually scented soaps. If you produce in larger quantities (and meet the legal requirements, e.g., safety assessment for cosmetic products in the EU), you can sell soaps at markets or in your own shop. Beautifully designed soaps (with flowers, marbling, etc.) or special recipes (e.g., shampoo bars, salt soaps) set you apart from industrial products. Many soap makers start small and gain loyal customers through quality and creative scents.
13. Make your own candles
Making your own candles is a cozy hobby, especially suitable during the wintertime. There are two main methods: pouring candles and candle pulling. In pouring, you melt wax (e.g., paraffin or the remains of old candles) and pour it into a mold with a wick – this creates colorful pillar candles or candles in unusual silicone molds, for example. In traditional candle pulling, you repeatedly dip a wick into hot, liquid wax (e.g., beeswax) until a long candle forms. This requires some patience but is very relaxing. Both methods allow you to customize colors, shapes, and scents.
- Starting costs: Low - A kilo of candle wax (e.g., paraffin or stearin) costs around €5-10, while wicks and possibly colored wax or fragrance oil cost a few euros each. Recycling old candle remnants is also an option. Metal or silicone candle molds start at around €5-15 each - you can also use empty yogurt cups or similar materials as molds to get started. A total of €20-30 is enough to get started.
- Space required: Small - In the kitchen, you can melt the wax in a double boiler on the stovetop. Just make sure you have a surface to stand on in case any wax spills. You need a flat surface to cool the candles. Candle making requires a tall container for the melted wax and some space to hang the candles to dry. But overall, this fits well in a normal kitchen.
- Difficulty Level: Easy - Candle making is simple and ideal for beginners: Melt wax, stir in color/fragrance, pour into mold, let it set - done. Candle making isn't exactly a high art either, but it does require steady, patient work. You'll learn subtleties like multicolored layered candles or molded-in decorations over time.
- Self-employment potential : Moderate - Homemade candles (e.g., made from organic soy wax or beeswax) can sell well, especially during the Christmas season. Special features such as carved candles, scented candles in stylish jars, or individually inscribed candles (e.g., christening candles) add value. However, the market is quite crowded, and prices are driven down by mass-produced products. You can still win over customers with quality (long burn time, low-soot wax) and an appealing appearance. Beeswax candles, for example, are always popular at markets.
14. Paper crafts & bookbinding
Paper is an incredibly versatile material for crafting. Paper crafts include things like designing greeting cards, folding origami, scrapbooking (creatively decorating photo albums), or quilling (rolling paper strips into motifs). If you enjoy playing with graphics and design, this is ideal. Bookbinding is a special discipline: You can make your own notebooks, sketchbooks, or photo albums; from simple saddle-stitched booklets to elegant leather bindings with glue and thread. This hobby combines artistic design with practical use, as the results (books, cards, etc.) can be used daily or given as gifts.
- Entry costs: Low - For cards and scrapbooking, colored paper, cardboard, glue, scissors, and possibly stickers or stamps are sufficient (all together maybe €20-30 depending on the amount). Many materials can also be found around the house (old magazines for collages, scraps of wrapping paper). Basic bookbinding kits (awl, bookbinding glue, needle & thread) and paper start at around €30. You can also improvise; for example, white glue from a hardware store often works.
- Space requirements: Moderate - You need a clean, flat surface for cutting and gluing. Paperwork requires precision, so good light and a bit of quiet time are essential. The material can be stored flat in drawers. For book pressing, a heavy stack of books is helpful as a weight, or a simple, but small, book press.
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Making a greeting card or folding a simple zine is easy and fun. More challenging are complex scrapbook layouts or elaborate pop-up cards; inspiration from craft books can help here. Bookbinding has a learning curve: You can make a simple notebook quickly, but a thread-bound book with a hard cover requires step-by-step work and precision, but is easily manageable with instructions. Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to precise cutting and gluing.
- Potential for self-employment : Particularly present - Handmade cards or albums sell primarily at craft markets and on commission (e.g., personalized wedding invitations, handmade diaries). Since a lot of time is invested in individual pieces, higher prices are necessary. Many make relatively small profits per piece, but build up a reputation through regular customers. Bookbinding offers the opportunity to sell high-quality journals or sketchbooks, especially with personalized covers or in leather - this appeals to enthusiasts, but is a small market. You can also offer repairs for old books if you have the skills.
15. Upcycling
Upcycling means creating something new and valuable from old or seemingly useless items. This can involve all kinds of materials: restoring or repainting furniture, building a sofa from pallets, sewing old jeans into a bag, transforming cans into lampshades, and much more. This "hobby" is more of an attitude; sustainability and creativity combine. It's exciting to conjure up beautiful, unique pieces with little money and surplus materials. Upcycling also often creates highly individual home accessories that no one can find in a furniture store.
- Entry costs: Very low - The key to upcycling is using existing materials. Often, you start with a free starting item (a flea market find, your grandma's old furniture, empty jars, etc.). Additional materials like paint, glue, and screws usually cost very little (many projects can cost less than €20). Special cases (e.g., new upholstery fabrics, furniture foil) can cost more, but overall, upcycling is relatively inexpensive.
- Space requirements: Variable - Smaller craft upcycles (decorating a glass as a vase, re-sewing a T-shirt) can be done on a table. Furniture upcycling requires space for sanding/painting; a garage or yard is ideal, or at least a well-ventilated room for painting. However, you can also work on the balcony or, with a tarp, indoors, depending on the project.
- Difficulty level: Easy to medium - Many upcycling ideas are simple (e.g., turning a mason jar into a lamp with some wire, or building a shelf from scrap wood). The challenge often lies more in the idea itself than in the practical implementation. You combine skills: some painting, some screwing, some sewing, depending on the situation. Learning happens project-based: for example, if you want to paint a cabinet, you learn how to sand and varnish wood. This way, you progress from project to project.
- Potential for self-employment : Possible, but depends on the product. Some upcyclers are successful, e.g., with refurbished vintage furniture or stylish accessories made from recycled materials. Customers love the story behind it (sustainable, individual). However, each piece is unique, and the selling price must justify the cost of materials and labor, which can be difficult with furniture, for example. Smaller upcycled products (lampshades made from scrap materials, canvas bags, jewelry made from records) sell well with the right target audience. Many upcycling artists use social media to showcase their work and its creation process, which attracts interested parties.
- Shopping tip: No traditional shops - it's best to get raw materials cheaply or for free: flea markets , secondhand stores , or online classifieds (e.g., eBay classifieds in the "Freebies" section) are treasure troves. Otherwise, hardware stores and craft shops carry paints, glue, and everything you need for refinishing.
16. Model making
Model building as a hobby means creating detailed miniatures. This can be plastic model building (e.g., gluing and painting airplanes, ships, and cars from kits in 1:72 or 1:35 scale), or creating model railway scenery, building RC vehicles, houses and landscapes, and even painting tabletop figures. The classic way to assemble model kits is to assemble them: You receive a kit with many small individual parts that you glue together according to the instructions and then paint to create a realistic little model. Model building requires patience and precision and, for many, is the perfect escape from everyday life.
- Entry costs: Medium - A standard plastic model kit (e.g., an airplane) costs around €20–40. You'll need model glue (€5), a cutter or side cutters, some sandpaper, and paints/brushes. Starter sets with basic paints and tools start at around €50. For specialized areas (RC, railway), costs can be higher, but for a classic entry-level model, around €50-70 is sufficient.
- Space requirements: Small to medium - a desk is often sufficient. Good lighting and organization are important, as the parts can be tiny. If you work with spray paint, a well-ventilated room or balcony is ideal (small spray booths are also available). Models often need to dry in peace, so a shelf is handy for this. An entire model railway layout naturally requires a lot of space, but many people start small.
- Difficulty level: Medium to high - Simpler kits (marked for beginners) can be assembled in a few hours and require only a little care. The smaller the scale or the more complex the model, the more fine-tuning (filing, filling, delicate painting) is required. With practice, the results improve enormously, so don't be discouraged if your first model doesn't look perfect. It's a learning process in terms of technique and patience.
- Potential for self-employment : Limited - Model building itself is usually done for personal enjoyment and as a collection. Selling finished models is rarely profitable, as many hobbyists prefer to build their own. One exception can be contract building: Experienced model builders offer to build difficult models for others or, for example, create architectural dioramas. Painted tabletop miniatures are also sometimes produced for a fee. Overall, however, marketing one's expertise is more likely to be an option (e.g., writing instructions, a YouTube channel, selling 3D model templates). Nevertheless, model building skills can be used to earn money in related fields (prototype construction, artistic miniatures).
Conclusion
As you can see, there's a huge selection of creative crafting hobbies. It's best to consider which materials and activities suit you best: Do you prefer textile work (like sewing, knitting), technically precise crafts (like model making), or shaping natural materials (clay, wood, leather)? Also consider how much space and budget you have. Many hobbies can be tried inexpensively, without making major purchases, so you can experiment with several things. The important thing is that you enjoy what you do.
And who knows: Maybe one day this little hobby will turn into a side income, or even more. But even if not, working creatively with your hands is relaxing and fulfilling, and at the end of it, you'll proudly hold something you've made yourself. Have fun trying it out!
👉 Tip: If you are interested in weaving, have a look at our shop Berlin Webstühle. As a specialized retailer, we offer a wide selection of looms, weaving frames, weaving yarn, and accessories.