Best craft kits for adults: get crafty at home

Crafting does not get much cuter than this. The perfect introduction to needle felting, the kit gives you step-by-step instructions on how to create a small penguin from felt.

It's definitely one for beginners. It'll only take about two or three hours to complete – so if you're more experienced you may want to look for something a bit more challenging. But if you're looking for an intro, you're not going to do much better (or sweeter) than this.

Painting can be an incredibly calming activity and this learn to paint set is a great place to start your journey as an amateur artist.

The set contains 59 different items – paintbrushes, of course, as well as acrylic paint, oil pastels, watercolour cakes and more. It also comes with an easel for you to work on, and a guide book on how to use your paints.

Perfect for intermediate stitchers, this beautiful floral embroidery kit is sure to brighten your day. A wreath design made up of sunflowers and other floral details, it's a great way to improve your technique. And if you're a total beginner? The design uses just six different stitches, so it's not beyond your reach either. As the embroidery's designer says, just take your time.

If you have an expensive scented candle habit you want to cut down on, why not make your own? It's simple, fun, and you end up with something really lovely and practical you can use in your home.

If you've never done it before, we recommend this introductory kit from Hobbycraft. It has everything you need to get started – wax pellets, glass votives, wick holders and a beautiful cherry blossom fragrance. You'll make two candles from the set, so it's also great to create your own gifts at home.

Once you've learned the basics, you may want to buy your own supplies. But this kit is a great start.

Leatherwork is a fantastic crafty activity, and not as difficult as you might think. This kit provides all the leather, thread and decorations you'll need to create a wallet. And don't worry, there are holes already punched in the leather so you know where to sew. This is definitely one to keep away from the kids. Leather can be really hard to work with, so the needles and tacks are incredibly sharp.

You may have heard of kintsugi: the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold.

Probably unsurprisingly (and reassuringly for your wallet), this set doesn't actually provide you with real gold with which to do your repairs. But you can fix broken plates, glasses, plant pots and more with this set – and you may end up making something even nicer than what you started with.

Crocheting, like knitting, is a fantastic skill to learn. Once you've mastered it, you can make your own unique clothes, accessories and homewares. This mandala blanket kit is a great place to start.

Containing the pattern and several colours of wool, this intermediate set will help you create a beautiful coloured blanket. You will need your own crochet hooks, though, so add them to your basket when you buy if you don't already have some.

Another fantastic way to get crafty and make something lovely for your home, this loom kit shows you the basics of weaving. One version comes with a loom, but if you already have one, there's an option for you too.

Both kits come with thread, colourful yarns and wool and a tapestry needle. And, for the complete beginner, an introduction to weaving booklet, which teaches you everything you need to know about different techniques.

Who doesn't love LEGO? The classic-for-a-reason building set is always fun, whether you're putting together intricate models like this or just bashing bricks together to make your own creations.

This set lets you build a detailed model about the US Capitol building. And when they say detailed, they mean it. There are over 1000 pieces in the set, which also contains information about the design, architecture and history of the building. Suitable for ages 12 up, so it's also a good project for families with older kids.

If you've ever fancied yourself as a wine connoisseur, this is the kit for you. With instructions on how to make a variety of fruit wines – including apple, apricot, blackcurrant, cherry, pear and many more – it contains everything you need to make your own wine.

You will need to keep your wine in a warm place, however – so maybe a project for the summer!