# Tell me about your expensive hobby. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059 "2007-06-07T00:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/61 "2007-06-07T17:37:36Z")
[QUOTE=Sattua] Another knitter checking in. I have a weak spot for hand-dyed sock yarn. At $12 a skein and two skeins for a pair of socks, well, it adds up. I seem to have reached a saturation point, though–I have such a ridiculous amount of yarn stored away, that I don’t even look at the sock yarn websites any more. I have every sock yarn my heart desires. Momentarily. I also have the yarn for about a dozen sweaters stashed… not KnitPicks, either. Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Noro… sigh. [/QUOTE] It gets worse. I’ve started spinning. I blame my enabler mother who bought me a wheel. I want to spin everything in sight, then knit it! No time now with the new house. [QUOTE=ArmenE] Wouldn’t this argument apply equally well to expensive clothing? I have a need for clothes, but surely that’s not enough, in and of itself, to justify a “collection” of $5000 bespoke suits, or $500 Italian shoes. Similarly, I have a need to quench my thirst, but I don’t have to do it with 80 year old bottles of Chateau Lafite. [/QUOTE] Yes! The key is to have expensive hobbies that you can justify in your own mind. If you’re married or otherwise attached, it is even more helpful if you can justify these things to your significant other. Or, as previously noted, if your partner has an even \*more \* expensive hobby. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/62 "2007-06-07T18:18:14Z")
I guess for me it would have to be clothes and books. I don’t really spend that much on either, because I’m a bargain hunter, but I have lots of clothes and old books. I rarely buy clothes at retail price and I mostly pick up my books at garage sales, Goodwill, and antique shops. None of my hobbies even touch my husband’s when it comes to cost. Not only is he an avid hunter/shooter, he also has a 125-gallon saltwater aquarium that we lovingly refer to as “the money pit.” He has more collections than you can shake a stick at … coins, stamps, baseball cards, you name it. I think the ADD has something to do with it. He needs to stay busy at all times. Me, I can sit with a book for hours. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/63 "2007-06-07T18:20:57Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] For me, it’s the electric guitar. If you want top-notch equipment, the price to get in is pretty high - my main guitar went for close to $3000 new, and I’ve had several amplifiers that were close to that - but once you’re in, the maintenance costs (strings, picks, tubes) are pretty reasonable. [/QUOTE] What kind of guitar? What amp are you using now? ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/64 "2007-06-07T18:21:19Z")
[QUOTE=Solfy] It gets worse. I’ve started spinning. I blame my enabler mother who bought me a wheel. I want to spin everything in sight, then knit it! No time now with the new house. [/QUOTE] I want to spin. I want to take lessons and get a spindle and I may ask Nana for the spinning wheel. The one her Great-grandma used that she still has. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/65 "2007-06-07T18:29:41Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] What kind of guitar? What amp are you using now? [/QUOTE] My main guitar is a 1999 Les Paul Custom, black, lefty, with Seymour Duncan pickups. It’s been my main guitar since it was new. I usually have at least one other guitar (actually, right now my “other guitar” is a Danelectro bass), but I go through those frequently, buying and selling as the mood strikes. I actually just sold my big amp recently - Mesa/Boogie Mark III with matching Boogie 4 x 12" cabinet. I’m using the ol’ headphone amp for the time being while I shop for another one. No rush; I’m not in any bands right now. How about you? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/66 "2007-06-07T18:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] My main guitar is a 1999 Les Paul Custom, black, lefty, with Seymour Duncan pickups. It’s been my main guitar since it was new. I usually have at least one other guitar (actually, right now my “other guitar” is a Danelectro bass), but I go through those frequently, buying and selling as the mood strikes. I actually just sold my big amp recently - Mesa/Boogie Mark III with matching Boogie 4 x 12" cabinet. I’m using the ol’ headphone amp for the time being while I shop for another one. No rush; I’m not in any bands right now. How about you? [/QUOTE] My main git is also a Les Paul Custom - but it’s a 1973 Reissue of the old '54 Black Beauty, with a P-90 pickup at the bridge and an Alnico “staple” pickup at the neck. These 70’s reissues are starting to really climb in value, which frankly is unfortunate, because they are amazing players. I also have, as mentioned above, the '57 Les Paul Special. just a beautiful, simple guitar that sounds, well, special. Then I have Japanese Les Paul replica for a humbucker guitar and a new Parts-o-Tele I built to have a Fender-type guitar in the arsenal. A couple of others, like a nice Taylor acoustic - but I don’t play them nearly as much… As for amps, I have a [Cornford Hellcat](http://www.cornfordamps.com/launch.html) (link to main Cornford site - it is a handmade, two channel amp from the UK) and a [Bruno Tweedy 18](http://www.brunoamps.com/tweedypie18.html) (link to website - it’s a handmade replica of the old Fender Tweed Deluxe). Both are truly wonderful amps. “Expensive Hobby” - oh yeah… ---
**Author:** ![Vimp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vimp/32/4186_2.png) [@Vimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vimp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/67 "2007-06-07T19:00:51Z")
Beading. As others up-thread have noted for other hobbies, it doesn’t HAVE to be expensive, but if you want to use the best materials (Swarovski crystals in my case), it rapidly becomes so. Also knitting. I, too, like to use expensive yarns - my husband’s nephew convinced me to try knitting socks - you can use expensive yarn, but you don’t need so much of it. Also the Addi Turbo needles - but once you’ve bought them, you have them forever. What I want to learn is to weave, using a loom. That will unfortunately have to wait until I have more time, money, and space. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/68 "2007-06-07T19:07:33Z")
[QUOTE=Solfy] It gets worse. I’ve started spinning. I blame my enabler mother who bought me a wheel. I want to spin everything in sight, then knit it! No time now with the new house. [/QUOTE] Yeah. The first time I read a knitblog entry about spinning, I made a firm decision that I _wouldn’t go there_. There’s already more beautiful yarn than I can ever knit up; why on earth would I make _more_…? Now I’ve got an itchin’ to knit a Shetland Triangle out of one of the gorgeous silk-blend, worsted-weight yarns Rowan and Debbie Bliss have out right now. Like the one BrooklynTweed did. Except I’d have to buy that yarn. Waitaminute. Didn’t I buy that yarn already… (scampers off to stash-dive) ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/69 "2007-06-07T19:12:34Z")
Oh, I should mention that the knitting and yarn is not so expensive as the bags. I don’t _need_ all those bags that they have out to store my knitting, in fact I have some rather cute (and cheap!) totes I picked up or was given to stuff small projects in. But I find myself wanting the _bags_ to carry it in. I was reminded of this when I glanced at my LYS blog and they mention they just got in a shipment of [these](http://www.lexiebarnes.com/collection/TMEZ.htm) totes. It doesn’t help that I can justify them as purses and everyday use. When did I get girly? I love the silk too. I bought a beautiful skein of seasilk by Handmaiden awhile ago and only now found a pattern I like to knit out of it… It was kinda neat to stash dive instead of go out and buy the yarn for the pattern. Books are another one. I go to the library a lot, but as my income has grown so has my book buying. I’ve already been pruning, now I just need to go to the bookstore (to trade in 😉 ). ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/70 "2007-06-07T19:13:53Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] As for amps, I have a [Cornford Hellcat](http://www.cornfordamps.com/launch.html) (link to main Cornford site - it is a handmade, two channel amp from the UK) and a [Bruno Tweedy 18](http://www.brunoamps.com/tweedypie18.html) (link to website - it’s a handmade replica of the old Fender Tweed Deluxe). Both are truly wonderful amps. “Expensive Hobby” - oh yeah… [/QUOTE] So…can I drop by and play through your amps? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/71 "2007-06-07T19:17:29Z")
Oh my gosh, I touched the silk yarn and had to back away slowly. $8-$10 for a teeny little skein, in a weight that was all wrong, in a color I would never wear. But I just wanted to cuddle it, it was so soft. Of course, the mohair is good for that too. I’ve been going places with my project and inviting my friends to “touch my fuzzy balls.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/72 "2007-06-07T19:44:26Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] So…can I drop by and play through your amps? 😃 [/QUOTE] Sure! You have no idea how great your Les Paul would sound through the Hellcat - oh man, tone for _days_… ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/73 "2007-06-07T19:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=MerryMagdalen] Oh my gosh, I touched the silk yarn and had to back away slowly. [/QUOTE] I couldn’t back away. Or rather I did, I left.. and went back as soon as I could the following day. I got [this yarn](http://handmaiden.ca/yarn_seasilk.html) in the [ocean](http://handmaiden.ca/yarn_subtleseries.html) colourway (scroll sideways). I bought the small skein, not the large (a large makes a shawl, a small makes a scarf) and I started making the pattern on the label but it never got far as I didn’t quite like it. So when I saw the Montego Scarf from the latest Interweave Knits, I practically dove for my stash. So I’ve been knitting the scarf, and it’s not going so fast because I keep getting sidetracked by spreading it over my thigh and stroking it. It cost me $40, but I love it. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/74 "2007-06-07T19:54:14Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Sure! You have no idea how great your Les Paul would sound through the Hellcat - oh man, tone for _days_… [/QUOTE] Heh…if I were to plug in, it might literally _be_ days before you could get me to leave… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/75 "2007-06-07T19:58:05Z")
Second on the scuba diving. Compressed air was a pretty basic computer. But, go to nitrox, and it’s a new computer. And reg setup. Then, you want redundancy. And your own tanks, which have to be serviced just like your regulator and inflator/airII. Then you’ll want better, lighter equipment. Or new fins. Or you lost a glove AGAIN. Or your knife is rusty. Or your hose bust at $40 a pop… ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/76 "2007-06-07T19:58:55Z")
[QUOTE=Flutterby] I got this yarn in the ocean colourway (scroll sideways). [/QUOTE] Purty. You know, it’s probably best if no-one gives me the names of any places to buy yarn online. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/77 "2007-06-07T20:02:06Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] Good work! [Here’s some of mine](http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/Paintergeist/Miniatures/) [/QUOTE] Wow. I have a few 25mm figures, but I’ve shied away from painting them–they’re so tiny! 1/8th or so is much easier for me to do, only because I can see them (and because my shaky degenerate hands don’t matter so much…). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/78 "2007-06-07T20:04:49Z")
[QUOTE=katie1341] Vintage watches, mainly Hamilton. [/QUOTE] We were just cleaning out grandma’s apartment and she had a delicate Hamilton with a wee face with little diamonds. Pop decided to keep it for now even though the guy was willing to buy everything. I quilt and occasionally cross-stitch and it’s not so bad because I don’t have a huge stash. But I do have fabric I liked at the time but now am not as excited about. I should just shop for today’s project today and then I know I’ll like the fabric. So there’s definitely some overspending there. Anyhoo, good cross-stitch and needlepoint kits are $40 but they last a month or two. And the materials for a good-size quilt are less than $100. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/79 "2007-06-07T20:12:44Z")
[QUOTE=MerryMagdalen] Purty. You know, it’s probably best if no-one gives me the names of any places to buy yarn online. [/QUOTE] I don’t buy yarn online, precisely because I’d spend so much. Heck, I buy notions online (see bags above, I got one of the Namaste bags) and I have a shopping cart full of items saved and have just barely stopped myself from buying them by the skin of my teeth (though I really need those locking stitch markers, I can’t seem to find them here).. It saves my money so I can do a big splurge when I actually get to the store, since I can’t walk out without at least some sock yarn and since I’m going on a retreat (with people from my LYS) and paying in installments at the store.. I have more excuses to wander in and see what’s new before they put it up on the blog. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059/80 "2007-06-07T20:40:06Z")
Quilting. And if I would stick with the materials I need for one quilt at a time, it wouldn’t be that bad - maybe $50-60 per quilt. However, it’s all of that material that I get for my stash ‘because I want it for the future’ that’s gotten me. Right now, I am trying not to dash madly back to the quilt store for some gorgeous Asian material that’s roughly $5.99 a 1/2 yard because I _might_ want to do an Asian-themed quilt in the future. Because I’d want a bunch of 'em. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-expensive-hobby/407059.md?page=5)