9 beginner-friendly craft kits that double as stress-relief (and are a great alternative to doom-scrolling)

I’ve got to admit, this all ages clay kit from Tangerine is kind of addicting. First of all, there’s something completely irresistible about mini foods. Secondly, creating tiny things means you can quickly amass an impressive body of work which keeps up morale, doesn’t it? This polymer clay kit comes with everything you’ll need to create a tiny feast, including 10 colors of clay, varnish, super glue and two clay tools which is more than enough supplies to keep you busy for quite awhile. Follow the video directions provided or go rogue, and create anything you can dream up. When your creations have baked, mount them to the included magnets for the whole family to enjoy.

Honestly, building miniatures originally sounded like something I’d have zero patience for–but this super sweet garden house changed my mind. For starters, it’s almost meditative to put together. Just pop out the pre-cut pieces and follow the steps which are pretty straightforward. Occasionally you’ll need a spot of glue to make sure things are secure and there’s a tiny bit of electrical work which is super simple but earns you bragging rights regardless. The materials are high quality so you don’t get frustrated with pieces that don’t fit and the finished product is just too cute for words. Now if only we could find a way to shrink ourselves and live inside.

Working with clay is a common practice in art therapy and as a study of one, I’ll attest to the fact it does help with stress. (Like punching things or primal screaming in your car, squeezing wet clay works wonders for releasing tension.) Of course you can pick up a bag of air dry clay and just go to town, but the well-stocked pottery kit from Sculpd is even better. It comes with a super profesh set of tools, paint, varnish, a sponge and beginners guide as well as 4.4 pounds of their premium air dry clay which is actually better than others we’ve tried. (That’s enough for up to about six creations depending on the size.) It’s a great kit for a kind of cheesy date night, too!

The adorable crochet kits from The Woobles are made with complete novices in mind. Even if you’ve never touched a crochet hook or your eyes cross at the thought of following printed instructions, you’ll knock this out of the park. The project comes pre-started (because casting on is a real PITA) and the video tutorials are a slam dunk for visual learners like myself. They even offer unlimited help via email and can help in real time with virtual crochet office hours. Completing the project only takes a few hours and once you’ve got the skills, goes even faster the next time. There are ton of characters to choose from including some that would make the most special Easter basket treat!

If you’d rather go the traditional route with your crochet journey, the blanket making kit from Wool and The Gang is great. The design is about as simple as it gets and it comes with everything you need to get the job done–including really nice Pima cotton yarn.  After all, who wants to sink hours into making something that’s itchy and useless?

After all the time you put into a project, it may as well be something you want to display (and by display I mean brag about to everyone who ever enters your home). With their bold and classic style, that’s the reason the two-color Nordic-inspired embroidery kits from Hook Line & Tinker instantly caught my eye. But the reason they made this list is because they’re also reasonably easy to accomplish. The pattern is pre-printed on the fabric and there’s printed color instructions to follow. Since it involves a variety of sampler stitches that you may be learning for the first time, you’ll want to download their PDF of stitches as well. It might not come out perfect, but it’s all part of the learning process!

Speaking of stitches, the samplers from Dropcloth Embroidery are like a doodle pad for learning the basics and beyond. I love the freedom of practicing on something that’s not an actual pattern. And even though it’s a mish-mash of colorful thread, the finished product is still super displayable.

Embroidery is also a fun way to punch up everything from jeans to sneakers. (It also means more opportunity to show off the fruits of your labor.) This kit from Wool and The Gang utilizes two basic stitches to craft 19 simple designs which are printed on magic paper. (After you’ve completed the design, you wet the paper to dissolve it.) They also include six skeins of thread, a needle and an easy-to-follow guide.

NYC’s Purl Soho has been in the business of teaching people to knit for over 20 years. Clearly they know a thing or two about the process and the materials and it shows in their Learn to Knit Kit. Their instruction book is incredibly detailed taking you through every single step–including how to wind a ball of yarn on your hands–and lets you choose one of three scarf patterns which are all beginner-friendly. The cherry on top? The kit comes with two skeins of their gorgeous merino wool (in any colors you choose) ensuring your finished product is cozy AF.