There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting with an embroidery hoop doodling away at some stitching. If you haven’t tried embroidery before, or haven’t done any for a long time, join a beginners’ workshop and learn some of the basic stitches. You can come for half a day and make a sampler for your own reference, then go home and start a new project, or come for a whole day and start on a new project in the afternoon, working on a design printed onto cotton or linen. Below is an example of a Swedish design using only 4 different stitches, all of which you will learn in the morning session. Other designs will be available if this one doesn’t float your boat.