Pumpkin carving, monster makeup, gluing stuffed animals to empty bottles of Wild Berry Gin. These are just the gateway drugs of the annual DIY binge that escalates predictably with holiday tablescapes, handmade gifts, and ornaments.

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As the nights grow longer, life moves indoors. It’s the perfect time to pick up a craft project that can keep your hands off the doomscroll for a few hours, or provide an excuse to gather with friends to share tools and materials.

When your candy-fueled ambitions kick in, proceed directly to Inman Square and hit Gather Here. Novice or expert, you’ll find inspiration, materials, and community to help move your project to the next level.

Want to unwind after a busy day? Felt, carve, and collage with curated materials and make intergenerational connections at free crafting opportunities by Alex Makes Art. Craft n’ Chill on Tuesdays throughout the season at Kendall Center or stop by for weekend crafts at the Canal District Kendall Winter Market in December.

Tags Hardware in Porter Square sits demurely above a big chain craft store named after every man living on Long Island, NY. When you discover you need something so specific you don’t even know what it’s called, Tags is the place to go. Who knew that a cotterless lynch pin would solve everything?!

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If you aspire to be someone who sends beautiful handwritten notes, remembers everyone’s birthday, and wraps presents that are almost too pretty to open, head back to Inman Square and visit Albertine Press. You can also find something already lovingly made among their irresistible collection of small gifts.

If you just don’t have the bandwidth, or enough room on your kitchen table for a full-blown crafting project, even a handwritten letter can feel extravagant in an age when we often communicate in emojis. Bob Slate is a fabulous place to find high-quality stationery, and their pen section lets you try out the merchandise until you find your perfect match.

Crafting shouldn’t feel like a test of your ability to reproduce a picture or a ten-second time-lapse video. Who wants more of the same anyway? Invite a friend, pour something seasonal, and find out what you can make together. Your local shops have the supplies and the know-how. The rest is up to you.

Kari Kuelzer is the Board Chair of Cambridge Local First and owns Grendel’s Den and The Sea Hag Restaurant and Bar in Harvard Square

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