The pandemic is winding down and the world is slowly reopening, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw out that sourdough starter with your stained sweatpants. 

There are plenty of opportunities to pursue – and even perfect – quarantine hobbies as we enter into the aftertimes. Here are just a few ways to get out in the North Texas community and practice your quarantine craft.

 

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Cooking

Whether or not you tried your hand at one of the many TikTok recipes or jumped on the bread bandwagon, cooking has definitely been one of the most popular quarantine habits. 

Central Market Cooking School offers opportunities in Dallas and Fort Worth to take classes with a variety of focuses, so you can finally make that Instagram-worthy focaccia or figure out the trick to the Pinterest Frog cake. 

If quarantine has increased your culinary curiosity, The Cookery is a great chance to travel through your taste buds with classes on a range of international cuisine from streets of New Orleans to the boulevards of Barcelona. With unique classes at both their Dallas and Fort Worth locations, even the most adventurous quarantine cooks can find something new to try. 

 

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Knitting

Of all of the stereotypical old-fashioned hobbies, knitting has had one of the biggest revivals over the pandemic. Luckily for all the new yarn wranglers, there are plenty of ways to improve knitting skills and engage with the community outside of a computer screen.

For the more novice knitter, DMH Fiber and Yarn in Dallas offers classes on top of their community knitting/crocheting times. Knitters in Fort Worth looking to stitch with strangers should check out the North Richards Hills Modern Vintage Knit Crochet Group, which meets regularly at coffee shops. For those conflicted about what to knit next now that it is summer, Dallas Knits For Charity is a resource that connects the Dallas knitting community for a good cause. 

 

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Dancing

If you, like many others, began your quarantine dancing to The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” with your family, you don’t have to leave the enjoyment of dance in the past with the pandemic. 

GIGIL offers family classes and kids classes in TikTok dances, and if you want to graduate from TikTok trends into full blown hip-hop, DivaDance offers dance classes for adults in Dallas, McKinney, and Plano.

 

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DIY Clothing

With a lot of time in the house and nowhere to go, many people began experimenting with  upcycling and making their own clothes during the pandemic.

North Texans who want to take their fashion creation a bit further could join a virtual sewing class at Dallas-based  Petit Atelier, or go in person to one of Urban Spool’s many classes.  Those more interested in the sustainability aspect of upcycling clothes could attend Curate Local’s Slowdown Symposium for mending and dyeing workshops. 

To engage with the community without a class, North Texans should join the DFW Sewing Facebook group. It is a great place to meet and learn from other local sewing enthusiasts.

 

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Inline Skating

While quarantine boredom (and cool TikTok videos) may have reignited the public interest, Inline Skating has been a great way to exercise with a vibrant community long before COVID-19. 

The Dallas-Fort Worth Area has several roller rinks for those looking to stop skating on their streets. To spice up a skating routine and meet some new people, Dallas and Fort Worth Skaters should join the DFW Inline Skating Club’s weekly skating sessions and attend their theme nights where members are encouraged to dress up. For a more competitive atmosphere, the  Dallas Derby Devils have a ten week training session in Roller Derby, and multiple recreation leagues for people of all skill levels. 

While quarantine hobbies might have begun as an effort to pass the time in the midst of unprecedented tragedy, they can connect communities and continue to comfort even when COVID-19 is gone.

Got a tip? Email Elizabeth Kauma at ekauma@kera.org. You can follow her on Twitter @elizabethkauma.

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