Women's Crafts
Handcrafts passed down from mother to daughter were a popular recreational activity in the 1920's, especially when the introduction of electric lighting meant the dark hours of winter
and evenings could be gainfully employed.
Most girls were trained by their mothers, and at school, in household skills. A pattern that had been followed for generations. Embroidery, which had been used for decades to decorate dresses, handbags, towels, handkerchiefs, and various other items began to decline in popularity as store bought items began to take over. Consequently girls were less interested in gaining and using embroidery skills. The same could be said for crocheting and similar crafts, like tatting.
As well as the traditional crafts of sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, millinery and embroidery, there were also popular activities like pyrography, beading and window transparencies.
Mens and Boys Hobbies
Male oriented hobbies were often centered around woodwork and metalwork and there was strong interest in the emergence of radio. From building radios to creating mission style furniture, the diversity of after hours tinkering knew no bounds.Publications like Popular Mechanics and Popular Science stirred people's imaginations and everyone wanted to be an inventor like Thomas Edison. Magazines published do-it-yourself books on every topic imaginable and back-yard sheds were full of busy boys and men creating home-made items from published plans and instructions.
Fishing, hunting and camping with their associated crafts were also very popular.