The 10 Best Pumpkin Beers of 2026

I think fall is the best season of the year. There’s something magical about the crispness in the air, the magical colors of the leaves changing, and the incredible flavors that come with it. Pumpkin is one of my favorite things to enjoy throughout fall, and I’ll eat it in pie, cookies, rolls, coffee drinks, and even soups, but one of my favorite ways to enjoy it is in beer.

Wikipedia says that the first mention of pumpkin beer being brewed in the United States was in 1771, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that it was commercially brewed when Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in California did so. Since then, pumpkin beer has skyrocketed in popularity, and Magz and I were in college during the 2010s when it felt like every independent brewery was releasing a pumpkin beer at a time when craft breweries were all the rage. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it felt like the popularity of pumpkin beers lessened toward the end of the 2010s and the start of the 2020s, but it appears to be back now. Go into any reputable distributor in early September when I’m writing this, and you can find more than a dozen different pumpkin beers to try. Here are the 10 best pumpkins beers for 2026 that I’ve drunk this year.

Top 10 Pumpkin Beers for 2026

10.) Pumpkinville Latte

Brewery: Ellicottville Brewing Company – Ellicottville, NY
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 17

Ellicottville is located in the Southern Tier of New York about 30 miles east of Jamestown and directly north of Bradford, Pennsylvania. When you picture a beautiful fall day, the Southern Tier is the kind of place that comes to mind. Close to Ellicottville is the tiny hamlet (that’s what they’re called in NY) of Great Valley, where each fall the spectacle that is Pumpkinville comes alive and everything that is fall is celebrated. It’s this Pumpkinville attraction that the beer gets its name. Pumpkinville Latte is a smooth beer that builds upon its regular Pumpkinville beer by combining it with elements reminiscent of a pumpkin-spiced latte. I’m not sure how accurate this is, but it tastes like the regular Pumpkinville beer was mixed with a milk stout to give it a creamy mouth feel that is often associated with lactose being present. It’s certainly a unique beer, and I recommend it to anyone who likes quality beer, pumpkin, and lattes, but I don’t think it’s an improvement over the original Pumpkinville. It can also be a bit pricey at upwards of $12 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans.

Score: 5.5/10

9.) Jack-O

Brewery: Samuel Adams, Boston Beer Company – Boston, MA
ABV: 4.4%
IBU: 8

Prior to about two weeks ago, neither of us knew this beer existed. In the past, I haven’t been the biggest fan of Sam Adams beer apart from the Boston Beer Company’s partnership with Dogfish Head, so I wasn’t researching their fall beer offerings. We saw a six-pack of this in the grocery store; the description was intriguing and the price was right at less than $10, so we picked it up. I think it’s safe to say that it’s the most unique pumpkin beer I’ve ever had because it’s heavy on the nutmeg. Most spiced pumpkin beers are heavy on the cinnamon to replicate a pumpkin pie, but nutmeg gives it a different flavor profile. I really enjoyed it and think it’s worth trying or even buying a six-pack, but it isn’t a flavor I could have all the time.

Score: 6/10

8.) Pumpkin Ale

Brewery: Block House Brewing, Pittsburgh Brewing Company – Pittsburgh, PA
ABV: 7%
IBU: N/A

Magz and I differ a bit on our opinions of Block House’s Pumpkin Ale. She likes it a bit more than I do, but I still think it’s a quality beer. It’s definitely on the sweeter end of things, but you get all the notes of pumpkin pie, which is clearly what Block House is trying to offer given the artwork. Even the beer’s phrase “spice & everything nice” indicates what you’re in for with this beer. I personally think it’s a bit too sweet, but the spice blend works really well. My biggest complaint with the beer is its price. At $21 for an 18-pack of cans or $11.99 for a six-pack of bottles, it’s not too expensive until you learn that Block House is the “craft” division of Pittsburgh Brewing Company, the same brewery that makes Iron City. That price point is on par with some higher-end imports, and I’m not convinced this belongs there. Regardless, it’s worth trying if you live near Pittsburgh.

Score: 6.25/10

7.) Double Zombies

Brewery: New Trail Brewing Company – Williamsport, PA
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 4

I think this may have been the first pumpkin beer we had this year, as our local distributor had some leftover four-packs from last year. I think it was also our introduction to New Trail Brewing Company. This beer hits hard at 8.5%, plus it’s only sold in 16-ounce cans, so it’s not what you would call sessionable. Still, in spite of the fairly high ABV, it’s easy to drink and is smooth. In addition to the standard pumpkin flavors, Double Zombies also has maple syrup in it, adding an extra bit of sweetness and another flavor. Like other New Trail beers that are only available in four-packs, it’s a bit pricey. I’m not sure of the exact cost, but I would guess anywhere between $12 and $16 for the four-pack. But if you can find it in singles or have someone to split it with, it’s still worth trying.

Score: 6.5/10

6.) Pumpkinhead

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Company – Portland, ME
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 17

This beer has some of the coolest artwork of any pumpkin beer, depicting the headless horseman from Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; however, this horseman does have a head, but it’s a pumpkin. I first saw the artwork when a distributor we like shared pictures of it on social media. I read about it and had to find it. Interestingly enough, our local distributor (the same place we bought Double Zombies) had a case of last year’s Pumpkinhead and sold it to us for $15. This is one of my favorite things about trying new beers. Sometimes, it’s the artwork or design that entices you, just like the cover of a book. Pumpkinhead lives up to its design with a flavorful beer that is light and refreshing. It actually tastes like beer, which isn’t always a given with pumpkin beers that are often full of spices. Pumpkinhead isn’t too sweet with a subtle pumpkin flavor, making it easy to drink, and at 4.5% ABV, it’s very sessionable. And even though we got our case really cheap, it’s still an affordable beer full price, at around $9 or $10 for a six-pack of bottles.

Score: 7/10

5.) Pumpkin Ale

Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company – Hampton, NH
ABV: 5%
IBU: 25

We became big fans of Smuttynose beers earlier in the summer when we found a discounted fall variety pack that was outdated. The pack had four great beers, including their Pumpkin Ale. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve had their Pumpkin Ale, but how smooth and easy to drink it is stood out. It’s a beer that reflects the earliest versions of pumpkin beer, so its flavor has more pumpkin than spice notes. It put Smuttynose on the map for us, and now we know that we’re likely to enjoy any of their beers. It’s also an affordable brewery to buy from, so it’s possible to find a six-pack of it for around $10.

Score: 7.5/10

4.) Pumpkin Ale

Brewery: Saranac Brewery – Utica, NY
ABV: 5.3%
IBU: 15

Let me start by saying that Saranac makes some unbelievably good and affordable beers. Their Pumpkin Ale was our introduction to them, but we’ve since had the rest of their fall beers and their 12 Beers of Summer variety pack. It’s all delicious. Their pumpkin is darker in color than many of the others on this list, but it’s lighter in flavor, making it really easy to drink even at 5.3%. You get a nice pumpkin flavor with hints of the typical spices – cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and clove. It’s simply great and is comparable in quality and flavor to the three above it. For around $10 for a six-pack of bottles or $15 for their summer variety pack, you can’t go wrong.

Score: 8/10

3.) Punkin Ale

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – Milton, DE
ABV: 7%
IBU: 28

Punkin Ale was one of the first pumpkin beers I tried in college, and it’s because I love all things Dogfish Head. It’s been brewed since 1994 before the brewery started, and the story behind it is great. Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione brewed the first batch of Punkin Ale to enter it in the annual Punkin Chunkin contest in Delaware, putting it up against pumpkin baked goods and other homemade items. He won the contest, and it’s been brewed every year for a fall release since. Using all natural ingredients, you can taste authentic pumpkin, brown sugar, and pie spices. At 7%, it’s a bit heavy, but it drinks lighter than the ABV suggests. It’s a staple in our rotation of pumpkin beers. However, beware, because, like other Dogfish beers, it’s not cheap at nearly $14 for a six-pack of cans.

Score: 8.5/10

2.) Johnny Rails

Brewery: Erie Brewing Company – Erie, PA
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 12

We looked for Johnny Rails for weeks before eventually finding it in our grocery store. I think Erie Brewing Company may release it later than other breweries release their pumpkin beers, and despite living just an hour away from Erie, we couldn’t find it at any of the distributors. We first had it years ago, but it had been since at least 2019 that we drank it, so the first sip this year felt like the first one. As a blonde ale, it’s really crisp and refreshing, and with an ABV of 6.5%, I think it’s the perfect balance of refreshing and heavy. It’s flavorful but not overpowering, establishing a great balance. It was worth waiting for, and I also think it’s worth the high price tag of $15 for a six-pack of bottles.

Score: 9/10

1.) Pumpkinville

Brewery: Ellicottville Brewing Company – Ellicottville, NY
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 17

I referenced Ellicottville’s original Pumpkinville earlier, and here it is. I think it’s the best pumpkin beer I’ve ever had, and I don’t think it’s that much of a debate. At 6.5%, it’s right in the sweet spot of being heavy enough to notice the alcohol without being overpowering. You get plenty of pumpkin flavor, and the spice adds a nice touch to complete the tasting notes. It’s one of several reasons that Ellicottville has become my favorite brewery. Pumpkinville is also pretty affordable at $12 or $13 for a six-pack of 12-ounce cans. If you can find this in your area, you should give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Score: 9.5/10

Pumpkin Beers Left Off the List

If you’re an experienced pumpkin beer drinker, you’ll likely notice that some popular ones are missing. I’ll address those here. I’ve had Southern Tier’s Pumking and Maple Warlock, but I think both are too heavy at 8.6%. I like pumpkin beer to be smooth and easy to drink, and anytime a beer gets above 8%, it gets into a range that I don’t find enjoyable. Both are also crazy expensive at nearly $4 a bottle. I also had a pumpkin cider from Penn Brewery that was a collaboration with a local orchard and didn’t enjoy it at all. I didn’t think the pumpkin flavor worked well with the cider and will avoid those moving forward.

There are also plenty of pumpkin beers that I want to try but have yet to find. I’d really like to try the pumpkin beers from Elysian, especially the Night Owl and Punkoccino, but I’ve yet to find them in singles to try. I’ve seen them in six-packs and variety packs, but at their price point, I’d really like to try one before committing to multiple of them. Good Gourd from Cigar City is another popular pumpkin beer that I have yet to see in stores.

Do you enjoy pumpkin beers? If so, what do you think of my list, and are there any that I need to try? I’m always interested in trying new beers and like to expand my horizons each fall.

A Procrastinator’s Temperature Blanket Guide

Did you know that you can find daily highs and lows in a database to use for temperature blankets? I didn’t either until a year ago. (Yes, this project post is long overdue.)

I learned this from the lovely Toni Lipsey of TLYarnCrafts, which saved me when I spontaneously decided to make a temperature project last year for Christmas…after Thanksgiving.

I am a last-minute Christmas gift maker, along with many people out there. I am not special or organized, but I’d like to change the second one. Anyways!

What is a temperature blanket?

It is a fiber-based project, knit or crocheted, whose color palette and sometimes its pattern are determined by the daily weather of a specific location over a certain time span. I thought you had to track every day, but you do not, which is amazing because you can make this project on a whim. Although the actual work time will be longer than you may expect, it was for me.

It’s a fantastic stash-busting project or a way to use colorful yarn you may not put together in the same project. You can do whatever you want, and that is what makes this project such a special one. Your color changes will be different depending on what date range you choose and where you live.

It’s like a fiber fingerprint of a certain time, a memory, crafted into fabric.

The traditional date range is a year of weather, usually highs, which is what I did with my first project, but you can do whatever you want, and isn’t that amazing? You can do lows, weather patterns, etc. I had the idea of honoring a family member’s birthday by researching the temperature on their birthday every year since they were born. It truly is a free-form, fascinating way to engage with crafting and nature!

Materials, Temperatures Recorded, and Yardage

I chose to stash-bust my backlog of half-used acrylic skeins for a random color palette, but it can be whatever you like. You can use wool, cotton, or alpaca. You can plan an entire color palette that is unique to your design sensibility. I think an ombre in the same color family would be lovely if you can find the yarn swatches to do this. I think that with the right design eye, this usually random-looking project can look exquisitely planned out.

I believe the most important part of the project is getting the data recorded down into a spreadsheet or notebook, whatever fits your crafting style, so that you can see what temperature ranges are the most common and therefore which ranges will be the most common through the piece. I had a really tough time deciding this, and in hindsight, I wish I had tallied how many of each I had before knitting, because for one color, I almost ran out! It would have been so much easier to have swapped the colors I was using according to the yardage I had instead of choosing at random. I think that is why crafting practice and crafting community are so vital to this work, because sometimes you don’t know until you try, and sharing our experiences informs the greater knowledge for us all.

For my temperature data, I am an analog gal, so I recorded my temperature highs in a notebook and checked off each day as I went to keep track of my progress. I highly suggest doing this in some capacity because otherwise, you are going to have to count rows, and checking off progress in a spreadsheet or notebook is just quicker.

If you are a beginner knitter or crocheter, might I also recommend Caron or Big Twist acrylic yarn for this project? The value for yardage and lack of splitting of these yarns make a huge difference for a first crafting experience, so that this project easily transforms from a skein of yarn to a lovely blanket made with your own hands.

Would you make a temperature blanket? Have you ever tried to make one before? Did you enjoy your experience?

#73 – Welcome, Again!

A lot has changed in the 2 years since this blog was launched, and I thought, it might be time to update my introduction.

In 2023, my plan was to finding a new landing place for me to explore writing again, after Muirin Project, my blog from 2016-2019. I wanted to showcase my novel, catalog my knitting and sewing journey, journal my bible study, and share my love for creative expression in many artistic mediums.

Now I have added some new things to the mix – Japanese learning, Kpop, garment workers/conscious consumption, and most excitingly: gardening! Which welcomed my husband to the site to share his experiences with gardening and bring awareness to why natural ecosystems, seed saving, and eating local matter. He is also preparing to share his other favorite hobby – woodworking.

Now, for something I question – should I change the site name? I am uncertain for SEO purposes and the likelihood of broken links. I don’t think it is wise. But this site is so much more than just my work, it is the harmonizing voices of myself and Kyle which is how I think the world becomes a better place – working together. Let’s keep the honmoon sealed. ❤

Growing Peppers in Containers Is the Way to Go

I love eating peppers but in general have hated growing them. They have fairly specific weather and temperature requirements, seem to be picky about soil quality, and hate weeds. And when you’re still early into the process of converting your yard into a garden, growing peppers in the ground can be a real struggle.

In 2022, when we had an all-container garden, we grew jalapenos and bell peppers in five-gallon buckets. The jalapenos grew very well, and we had enough to can Cowboy Candy with them. Meanwhile, the bell peppers were less successful, but we still harvested a few of them. Last year, when we had our first in-ground garden at our house, we started and transplanted bell peppers and Scotch Bonnet peppers. The seeds started well but began to struggle not long after being transplanted into the garden, and ultimately, we may have harvested a single bell pepper and no Scotch Bonnets. I chalked it up to inconsistent temperatures, poor soil, and weeds.

For this year’s garden, I wanted to try growing peppers in the ground again, thinking that we had addressed some of the issues. That didn’t happen. We started seeds for bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, habanero peppers, and gochugaru peppers. They did well after being started, but we once again ran into issues when they were transplanted. Another year of inconsistent temperatures and struggles with weeds led to the plants never reaching full height. In some cases, they died off fully. One habanero and one bell pepper plant grew enough to produce fruit, with the habaneros even producing enough to pick three of them, but it was still largely a failure. And this is where I’ll bring up growing peppers in containers.

Success With Container Growing Peppers

The pepper plants we grew in the five-gallon buckets were successful but imperfect. Due to the solid plastic of a bucket, drainage is always a problem with that style of container growing. This led to issues of overwatering if we went through a period of excess rainfall. And when we weren’t consistently getting rain, it was difficult to judge if the soil and roots had enough moisture without going overboard and causing root rot.

In May of this year, I decided to restart some gochugaru seeds inside. I could see from the beginning that the initial batch of gochugarus wasn’t doing well and wanted to have success with them. With the new batch, I focused on starting them in containers that were larger than they needed, ensured they had the right amount of water without overwatering them, and kept the grow light at the right height the entire time. By the time they were ready to be moved outside in late June, they were more than 12 inches tall and weren’t root-bound or leggy.

At the time of transplanting, we had a batch of potatoes die, so we took that grow bag, refreshed the soil, and planted the four gochugaru peppers in the bag. They immediately took off. Because it was July, the temperature was perfect for growing peppers, and we were able to ensure they had appropriate watering. Before long, the plants reached two feet in height, had dozens of blossoms, and were growing small fruit.

The bag was a great container for growing peppers compared to the bucket. The fabric material of the bag allowed for adequate drainage and airflow, ensuring that the roots stayed healthy. The soil also remained free of weeds and grass, and pests didn’t seem to be an issue either. So, did we successfully grow gochugaru peppers? Yes and no.

The peppers grew amazingly well, with dozens of fruit on the plants, including some that were three and four inches long. However, time wasn’t our friend. We begin to have overnight lows in the upper 40s as early as mid-September, and by early October, we’ve usually had our first frost. Those temperatures are not conducive to growing peppers, and since I didn’t transplant them until late July, there wasn’t enough time to ripen on the plants.

This past Sunday the overnight low was forecast to be 36, which is far too close to a frost for my liking when it comes to keeping plants alive. We made the decision to pick the full-size peppers early even though they hadn’t ripened. We did this because we want a shot at ripening them inside if possible. Apparently, this is a pretty common occurrence for growers of this type of peppers, and I learned that people will often wrap their unripe peppers in a towel or paper bag, placing a banana or apple with the peppers. As the apple or banana ripens, it releases ethylene, which will help the peppers ripen too. We’re still early in the process and don’t know if it’s going to work yet, but we’re feeling confident that we’ll be able to use these peppers, which we were so excited to grow.

Regardless of the success we have ripening them inside, we’re confident in our ability to grow peppers in bags now. We’re always excited to grow peppers but have become discouraged seeing them fail each year. Successfully taking the peppers from seed to harvest is a big boost moving forward, and we’re going to continue growing them in bags, at least for the time-being. Have you ever grown peppers in containers or bags? If so, did you have success?

October 8, 2026 0

Peachtober 2026 Week One

October 7, 2026 0

What’s the Best Brewery?

What’s the best brewery? It’s a question that I’m sure has thousands of answers. Location and access to beers, a person’s style preferences, and pricepoint can all lead to different answers. Plus, there’s the question of what it means to be the best brewery.

Is the best brewery the one that produces the best single beer or the one that produces the most high-quality beers? Because there is certainly a difference. I want to take a shot at answering this question.

My Beer Preferences

I turned 21 during one of the peak craft beer time periods: the 2010s. I was in college from 2010 to 2014, when the number of craft breweries and the amount of craft beer drank exploded. Some numbers to back it up, all from the Brewers Association:

Number of barrels produced:

2010	2014
Regional Breweries – 8,034,796 Microbreweries – 1,141,118 Brewpubs – 727,427	Regional Breweries – 17,412,333 Microbreweries – 3,161,365 Brewpubs – 1,167,164

Number of breweries:

2010	2014
1,813	4,014

Number of craft breweries:

2010	2014
Brewpubs – 1,057 Microbreweries – 620 Regional Breweries – 81	Brewpubs – 1,717 Microbreweries – 2,116 Regional Breweries – 135

Some quick definitions to help with the above numbers:

Microbrewery – Produces less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year and sells at least 75% of its beer off-site.
Brewpub – Restaurant/brewery that sells at least 25% of its beer on-site and operates a significant food service.
Regional Brewery – Annual beer production between 15,000 and 6,000,000 barrels.

These stats help convey the environment that existed when I started drinking beer. Whereas most college students typically drink low-cost domestics in kegs or cases, my friends and I usually went to a great local bar that had a massive list of craft beers. Granted, this decision was probably aided by the fact that our college was a dry campus, so buying cases or kegs of beer would have been pointless. And sure, I would still split a pitcher of Yuengling if we went to another bar, but my preference quickly became craft beers that were full of flavor and complexity.

Another aspect of the time period was the rise of India Pale Ales (IPAs). Although IPAs have been around for more than 150 years, they didn’t start to really take off in the United States until the latter half of the 20th century, and by the 2010s, American IPAs were everywhere. Essentially, every craft brewery was producing at least one IPA, with some of the most popular ones being Russian River’s Pliney the Elder, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, and Dogfish Head’s 60-Minute and 90-Minute IPAs.

In fact, I was such a fan of Dogfish Head and its founder, Sam Calagione, that my first beer was a 60-Minute IPA. It’s a weird first beer to purchase, but I was so enamored with Dogfish’s approach to brewing that I wanted to participate in it. I loved it, and it kicked off my love of craft beer and trying as many different beers as possible.

The bar I first mentioned used to allow its patrons to keep beer lists, which I participated in. I think the list had 100 or so craft beers on it, and you would keep track of what beers you drank. I don’t remember if you got something for completing the list, but I do remember some of the beers on the list. Some notables included Magic Hat #9, Wells Banana Bread, Founders Breakfast Stout, and Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch. There were so many beers on that list that I still think about (RIP #9).

I have a pretty broad and eclectic beer taste as a result of trying all these beers. I love fruit beers like Ellicotville’s Blueberry Wheat, high-ABV IPAs like 90-Minute, dark imperial stouts like Sierra Nevada’s Narwhal, pumpkin beers, and Belgian and German imports. Like I said, it’s all over the place. These preferences will certainly influence my decisions as I attempt to find the best brewery.

What Do I Mean by ‘Best Brewery?’

Back to the question I reference at the beginning: what does it mean to be the best brewery? I’m going to take a page from Top Gear’s playbook when they attempted to find the carmaker that has produced the greatest number of excellent cars. So for me in this context, it means the brewery that has produced (and hopefully still produces) the greatest number of excellent beers. A brewery can produce the best beer in the world, but if the rest of the beers it brews are mediocre, I think it lowers the overall quality of the brewery. Similarly, a brewery can produce a single excellent beer and nothing else. To me, that still doesn’t compare to a brewery that produces a dozen elite beers even if no single one is the very best.

So, I am looking for a brewery that has a very high average instead of sharp peaks and valleys. Although I don’t know all of the breweries I’m going to consider, I can safely say that some of the ones I will consider include Dogfish Head, Ellicotville Brewing Company, Erie Brewing Company, New Belgium, Southern Tier, Troegs, and Sierra Nevada. My goal is to try as many beers from as many different breweries as I can, so this is certainly going to be a long-term project. I think as we buy beer at our local distributors, I’ll look for ones from the above breweries to ensure I get a solid understanding of their portfolios. If you have any breweries or brews that you think I have to try, please let me know in the comments. I will try my best to find it. One limitation I know I’ll run into is location and how far breweries ship their beers. For example, I’ve never tried Pliny the Elder because Russian River isn’t sold anywhere within 100 miles of our town. I also never tried it when I had a chance in the past. Beyond that, though, I’ll look for just about anything.

October 6, 2026 0

Building a Mini Easel for a Phone Stand

I’m sure most have experienced the frustration of trying to watch something on a phone and either struggling to find something to prop it against or having that item not work, causing your phone to fall over. Magz and I often watch things on our phones during the day and used to experience the annoyance described above. Back in 2022 or 2023, Magz was using her sewing machine a lot, and it would cause the table she would use to bounce, toppling her phone. She knew she wanted something stable enough to withstand the sewing machine’s bounce but compact enough to be easily stowed away when not in use.

My solution? A mini easel, which fit all her needs. With a triangular base, an easel is sturdy even when the surface it’s on is jostled or the easel is bumped into. Easels are also compact. The pivot point at the top allows it to be folded flat and put away.

I spent time studying large easels that hold canvases to figure out the general design. I then took measurements of her phone and scaled everything down from the large easel to ensure that the scale remains intact. Here’s what I came up with.

It was really easy to make. I used scrap wood I had, ripped everything down to a half-inch wide, and then cut everything to length. The two front legs are the same length, and the back one is a half-inch shorter. The horizontal brace is about an inch longer than her phone is. I also added two spacers between the legs to help with opening and closing. Finally, I bought a section of threaded quarter-inch stainless steel rod and two wing nuts. The wing nuts are nice because you can loosen and tighten them to hold the easel in place. I’m really proud of this design, and it’s worked perfectly for Magz’s needs. The biggest issue is that I never built a second one for myself. I can’t remember if I didn’t think I’d use one or if there was another reason, but I didn’t make another.

Building a Second (Different) Easel

After three or four years of having my phone fall or be in the way of my monitor, I decided to finally build myself a phone easel. Even though I didn’t remember all the details of building Magz’s easel, it was easy to take the measurements off hers and build mine the same way. I once again used scrap wood and cut everything to the same length and width. However, a problem arose when I started to assemble everything: I didn’t have anymore wing nuts for the threaded rod that holds everything together. I also didn’t want to go to the local hardware store to buy them, so I quickly pivoted and came up with an alternative.

This spring, I took two Ikea chairs apart and built gardening trellises with them. On those chairs, the arms are attached to the main frame with bolts that are threaded for about an inch and twist into a female version, and everything is tightened with allen wrenches. They were a bit longer than I needed, and because the threads didn’t run the full length of the bolt, I couldn’t cut them down. Instead, I cut additional spacers for the easel. That fixed one issue. The other issue was that the bolt was thicker than the rod, so I had to use a larger drill bit. Plus, because the female end was wider still, I used an even larger bit but only drilled into the right leg a length equal to the female end. In the end, everything went together and works well. Here’s the final product:

I’m not as happy with this one. Having to think on my feet to address the lack of wing nuts changed the aesthetics of the easel in a way that I’m not that happy with. Even though it looks artistic, it doesn’t have the refined look of Magz’s easel. I do think that the extra spacers on the outside of the legs are pretty cool because it was wood that I joined together, but I may still change it in the future. Ultimately, though, it works and does its job, so I can’t be too frustrated with it.

I really enjoy working on these small woodworking projects. They’re quick and generally have a lot of room for error. This is also a project I’d probably consider making as presents or selling in the future if that happens. If you’re a woodworker and are interested in more details about these and how I made them, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

October 3, 2026 0

Time to Switch My Clothes Around

Every Spring and every Autumn, I would hear this phrase, from my mom, and my grandparents. It would follow with a flurry of activity. Sweaters unpacked from the “chifferobe” and piled onto the bed. Shorts and short sleeve shirts, carried from the drawers, to their cold weather slumber. Uno reverse, and the opposite dance began when the breezy warmth breathed life back through the open windows. As a kid, I enjoyed seeing all the clothes out of their drawers where I could look with curiosity at their clothes so different from my own. I didn’t understand the practicality, honesty, until this year, many, many years later.

Since we moved to Georgia almost a decade ago, we have been without proper dressers which sounds insane, I know. We’ve lived in some places with nice closets, that made storage simple. But we have lived in others where the closets were downright unusable. We’ve used moving totes, fabric dressers from Amazon, cube storage, and zipper totes for comforters. It’s an imperfect system, requiring a lot of digging through bins to find what you are looking for.

I think I have been so pre-occupied with simply organizing these bins, I didn’t think about moving my clothes around seasonally. That was until we bought our house and faced another closet that was challenging. I had hoped our house would have good storage, but that is something, I am learning, that you have to customize to your taste. This place has okay storage in the bedroom, but the problem remains that we need needed more storage like those proper dressers. Of course those are expensive and time consuming to make, the closet being bigger would have let us kick the can farther down the road, instead, God provided a really neat solution.

Our neighbors offered us a chest, a large cabinet really that can either be upright or laid down longways like a trunk. It’s an older piece, that with the dark stain patina, I think looks like a vampire coffin. This chest fits six of these large quilt storage totes! Which means I finally have my “chifferobe” storage piece. The chifferobe name makes me smile because this was not a wardrobe, this was a long trunk that sat at the foot of my grandparents bed, now it lives in my old bedroom at the foot of the bed I sleep in. My mom and grandparents also used trunks to do this. Steamer trunks to be specific, that my great, great grandparents used to immigrate from Ireland to America. Restored to the former glory and it such a convenient way to store clothing for the season.

On the left and in the featured image are the steamer trunks, and to the right, blocked by a suitcase is the cedar chest at the foot of the bed, that Kyle is using as a desk.

Maybe you don’t need to declutter so often, as often as influencers do. Perhaps, you just need a organizing system that makes your closet smaller and manageable for the season you are in, either in a four season climate, or in a state of mind. Putting things into a longer term storage, sort of like moving items out of your backpack in Stardew Valley, into a chest, takes those items out of your daily mental load, without getting rid of them. It’s very clever. Do you store things seasonally? Would you give this a try?

October 2, 2026

The Lizzie Halter Top

Happy October! I think this is the best time of the year. From August and beyond to December, it feels like a dance to the finish line. I’ve been busy, working to get my sewjo and knitjo back this year. One way I did that this spring and summer was to use new materials and techniques. This top I dubbed the Lizzie Halter Top, for my love of Lizzie McGuire, was an exploration of past muses.

The 2000s nostalgia is calling to me, as I have mentioned before, but there has been a pull for authenticity in these throwbacks. It’s becoming more than a trend for me, instead a way to explore style muses of the past, that felt like they passed me by as a kid, that with fiber arts. Making takes us out of that loop, if you like the thing, you can make it and then wear it. No fomo. No trends to chase. You’re free. This top is one of those throwback pieces for me.

I knit the front panel using 3.5 mm (US 4) needles using two new materials for me. And the best part? They were both purchased at local to me yarn stores. I had never used Knitting for Olive before, although the brand is quite popular. I hope they stay this way moving forward because I loved working with their Pure Silk. This Pure Silk is in the color Blood Orange. I used one skein for this top, which equals 273 yards of fingering weight yarn for 12 USD, which I think is fantastic value for silk yarn. To pad out this top, I used leftover Uneek Sock Yarn from Urth Yarn, another fingering weight yarn that is a mix of super wash merino and nylon.

Although, I was excited to work with such a bright color, I don’t wear a lot of orange though, so as I sat with this yarn, I began to worry that I made too bold of a choice. But there is something about the self-striping Uneek in the contrasting cool tones that balanced all my concerns. When I pair this piece with a cool tone tank underneath, this effect grows stronger.

My second concern, although wool is recommended for its breath-ablity, was the wool in this project. Was it insane to include wool in a summer top? To counteract any breath-ability issues in the finished fabric, I chose to crochet the back panel and chain the halter straps. I was very comfortable this summer, even on hot days, wearing this piece. With wool! It’s wild to me but it works. The silk does the heavy lifting though. I like working with cotton, but silk may be my new favorite warm weather fiber.

October 2, 2026

The Internet Is Ruining Hobbies

I write a lot about hobbies on the blog. So far, I’ve written posts about gardening, woodworking, and bowling, but I also enjoy playing guitar, model making, card making, cross-stitching, reading, and video games. Plus, I recently bought a pair of binoculars for bird and sky watching. I really like hobbies because they’re a great way of passing the time while keeping your hands busy and learning a new skill. I think my love of hobbies comes naturally.

My dad and grandparents all participated in their hobbies when I was growing up and showed how important they can be to a balanced life. Hobbies were a form of relaxation for them as well as a way to keep the mind engaged. Hobbies were never supposed to be something that cost a lot of money, and it was okay to do things as frugally as needed to make it work.

Recently, I’ve started to notice a shift in how people approach hobbies. Perhaps it’s not how the majority of people approach them, but it is what is conveyed on social media, YouTube, and forums, including Reddit. This shift has been both frustrating and saddening, and it’s what I’m writing about in this post.

Internet Is Making Hobbies Elitist

Before diving in, I don’t mean that the hobbies themselves are elitist or for people we consider to be elite. There have always been some hobbies that are associated with the wealthy and upper class: fox hunting, motorsports, sailing, polo, etc. Those haven’t changed. It still takes a lot of money, time, and connections to gain entry into these clubs and hobbies.

The ones I’m thinking about are those that have always been approachable by the vast majority of people. The ones that don’t need to cost a lot of money to start in, and your investment can increase the more interested you become. The hobbies I listed above largely fall into this category. These are the hobbies that I feel are under attack. It still doesn’t need to cost a lot of money to get started in some of these hobbies, but the narratives around them, and therefore the barrier to access them, have changed. It’s not necessarily a financial element, either. In some cases, it’s actually cheaper to get started in hobbies than it used to be. Yet, if you buy into the narrative, you come out of it feeling that hobbies aren’t for everyone. It’s my belief that the internet has played a key role in establishing this barrier, and nowhere is it more evident than on social media and YouTube.

Social Media & YouTube’s Role

If you have watched YouTube or used social media for any amount of time, you’ve seen the explosive growth of influencer culture. People are selling and promoting every item, activity, and lifestyle that you can imagine. Creating content on YouTube and social media has become a full-time job for some people, with much of that income stemming from brand ambassadorships. Companies will pay these creators to test (not in an objective manner) and promote these products, and oftentimes, these products typically aren’t that cheap. From there, successful marketing takes place: viewers and consumers feel that they need to buy the product that their favorite creator is peddling even if a more cost-effective option would better serve their needs.

The second aspect of YouTube and social media that I hate is the presentation of perfection. Both platforms are designed to share a skewed version of life that doesn’t show the struggles and failures. My favorite YouTube channels are the authentic ones that either include the struggles and failures they encounter or who acknowledge that the channel is only sharing a curated version of reality. I’ve encountered a lot of woodworking YouTube channels that only share the perfected final product and cut any of the mistakes that naturally occur when working on a project. I can’t tell you how many times during a woodworking project that I have to redo a cut or alter a design because the original one was going to fail. An internet creator choosing to leave these elements out of the final video or post creates a false expectation for the viewer that if they don’t achieve the same level of perfection, they’re a failure. In reality, woodworking and any other hobby are difficult, especially at the beginning. There will be failures as you learn and grow, but the failures refine and hone you into someone who is better at that hobby. But when we see creators that skip over the growth portion of a hobby and only show the success, it creates false expectations and disappointment.

These same creators are also usually the ones who only use the most expensive tools. A lot of woodworking YouTubers have shops full of SawStop and Festool tools, which are incredibly expensive. For example, the collapsible SawStop table saw is $1,700, and the cordless Festool table saw is $1,500. Meanwhile, my Ridgid collapsible table saw is $549, and I paid less for it when I bought it. My table saw isn’t perfect, and I’d eventually like to upgrade it, but it makes all the same cuts that the more expensive models do. My dad and grandfather built some amazing furniture on affordable tools and never needed the highest-price versions. It used to be a widely accepted belief that you would start a hobby with entry-level or used equipment, but a lot of people have abandoned that idea. The combination of creators only showing a perfect finished product that they built with top-of-the-line equipment yields a mentality that tells you that you must have that equipment to achieve those results. And even though we may be able to rationalize that it’s not true, when we’re struggling with something, it’s easy to convince ourselves that our tools and equipment are the culprits. If we don’t have the budget to buy the equipment that the creators use, it is easy to reach the point of abandoning a hobby we once were passionate about.

This brings me to my final point about social media and YouTube: obsession with luxury goods. As a society, we seem to be obsessed with luxury goods. People love to walk around with a brand label on their clothing or bag and will pay obscene amounts of money for a name regardless of the quality. I’ve been guilty of this in the past when I became driven to buy clothing at Polo by Ralph Lauren. I bought a pair of jeans that I had high expectations of, and while they’re comfortable and have lasted more than two years, the denim is thin, and I don’t think the quality is better than some Wranglers I own. Magz has shown me these incredible videos that analyze other creators sharing their shopping “hauls” at luxury stores. They’ll spend thousands of dollars on one trip as though it were $10. As I mentioned in the paragraph above, woodworking isn’t exempt from this. People only want to be seen using the most expensive tools even though it rarely has any impact on how good of a woodworker the person is.

I used woodworking as the main hobby in this section, but I think it rings true with other hobbies. Guitar players only want to be seen playing a premium model, usually a Gibson or Fender. Gamers need the newest and most powerful systems. Regardless of the subject, social media and YouTube only present the best and often most expensive versions of things, and unfortunately, it has an impact.

Take Back Your Hobby

If there’s a hobby you used to enjoy but have stopped because you don’t feel like you belong anymore, please put those thoughts out of your mind. The internet can be an awesome tool, but it can also be a horrible place. Online creators usually publish content with some sort of an agenda in mind and are rarely unbiased. They’re paid by brands to promote products, not to perform objective testing. And it’s always worth keeping in mind that what you see on the internet, especially visual media, is often the edited version that is curated to tell the intended story. It’s usually unpopular to tell truthful stories that highlight struggles, so the creators omit those parts. Likewise, showing themselves using the most expensive or perceived “best” products connotes wealth even if it’s artificial. You don’t need those same expensive tools to achieve wonderful results. You only need enough to accomplish your goal and to get interested in the hobby. Take it back, and don’t let the internet steal your fun and joy.

September 25, 2026 0

Ryobi 9-Inch Band Saw Review

Two posts ago, I wrote about a series of woodworking projects that allowed me to use my new band saw. Prior to working on those projects, I had never used a band saw, and they gave me the opportunity to gain familiarity with the saw and make all the cuts you can on a band saw. After having the saw for nearly a month now, I want to give a review of the saw.

In this review, I will go over the pros and cons of the saw as well as if I recommend buying it. Something I won’t include in my list of pros and cons is anything I knew about the saw before buying it, including the size.

Ryobi Band Saw Specs

The band saw I bought is, to my knowledge, the only woodworking band saw that Ryobi makes. Here’s the link on Ryobi’s site. It’s a 9-inch band saw with a 2.5 amp motor. It’s a benchtop model and uses a 62-inch saw blade, which can be turned at a speed of up to 3,000 RPMs. It has a 6-foot power cord and has a table that is 14.75″ x 11.75″.

Pros

Portability & Weight

When considering tools, size and weight are two important aspects. I tend to buy benchtop versions because I don’t have the floor space in my shop to have floor versions of every tool. Currently, the only tools I have that are floor versions are my table saw, which collapses down and is on wheels, and my jointer, which is huge and takes up too much space. My drill press, planer, and band saw are all bench versions. Benchtop tools are small enough to be stored when not in use, which is a big convenience, especially if you don’t need the larger, floor version. Weight is a big factor in how portable these benchtop tools actually are. For example, my planer weighs 73 pounds. It’s movable, but it isn’t fun to lift on top of my table. Thankfully, the band saw is much lighter at 44 pounds, and it’s not awkward to lift and carry around.

Cost

A tool’s cost is indirectly connected to whether it is a floor or bench version. Because bench versions are smaller and often considered more entry-level, they’re typically more affordable than a floor version. My tactic when buying a tool is to buy the best I can find within my budget. It’s why I often look at our outlet’s tool store or Harbor Freight. Both make it easy to find quality tools at a fraction of the cost of the yellow, blue, or red brands. I’ve had great luck with Ryobi and Ridgid, which I can buy as refurbished or blemished from the outlet store, as well as Harbor Freight.

For example, my band saw at full price is $220 at Home Depot. At the outlet store, it was around $200 before their 40% off sale made it just over $100. Without the sale, the price would have been comparable to Harbor Freight’s bench band saw, which sells for $200. Grizzly makes one that is $325, and the prices go up from there. You can find cheaper versions on Amazon, but it’s wise to be careful of brands. Simply put, a $200 band saw that works very well is a great find. I will easily get $200 worth of use and fun from it.

Ease of Use

Band saws are one of the safest tools in a woodshop. You need to be careful of where your hands and fingers are in relation to the blade, but it’s not uncommon to have your hand within an inch of the blade. Cutting curves on it is a breeze. You simply turn the wood through the blade, and as long as you make relief cuts when trying to make tight turns, you will be successful. The ergonomics contribute to this. I really enjoy the height of everything. When it’s on my table, the saw’s work surface is close to chest level, putting me in a very safe position to make cuts. I also like where the power switch is, which is located to the left of the work surface. It’s easy to turn on and off with one hand, giving you the chance to kill the power if a problem arises.

Finally, it’s easy to make adjustments. Raising and lowering the clearance around the blade only requires the turn of a dial. Tilting the surface is only a two-step process, and replacing the blade looks to be fairly painless. You don’t have to be an experienced woodworker to use this band saw, making it a great tool for beginners and veterans alike.

Setup

From opening the box to making cuts, it only took about 15 minutes. The saw already had the blade installed, which made things very easy. The only parts that had to be installed were the table and the tilt wheel. The instructions were easy to follow and included clear pictures. You do need to make sure that the table is level and square to the blade, but patience and trial and error helped with this.

Power

Woodworking forums and Reddit are awful for “advice” when it comes to tools. The vast majority of the commenters are negative people who try to talk prospective woodworkers out of staying within their budget. To them, buying a band saw for less than $500 would be unthinkable. I bring that up to say that those threads will have you believe that a bench top band saw is going to be too underpowered to do anything productive. And I’m here to say that they’re wrong. Perhaps at one time, bench top saws were underpowered, but the modern versions seem to do very well. Like any saw, you need to be careful not to rush when making cuts, and the sharpness and quality of the blade will impact the cut’s success, but I’ve already worked with red oak, cherry, pine, and more and haven’t had any issues with the saw’s power.

Easy to Clean

This category is one that I didn’t think about when I first began buying woodworking tools. I have a Metabo miter saw that I love; however, the dust collection system is underwhelming. Similarly, I have a Ridgid table saw, and it’s the same story. I connect a vacuum to it when making cuts, but it only collects about 75% of the sawdust. After I finish using it, I go through and vacuum the sawdust from nooks and crannies, but I still have to take it outside once every few months and run compressed air through everything.

To contrast those saws, the Ryobi band saw has been really easy to clean. It has a dust port that can connect to a vacuum, although my shop vac’s hose is too narrow. Still, everything is open and easy to access with the vacuum. There are two doors to open to access the blade, and some saw dust will collect in there, but a quick pass of the vacuum cleans everything. I’ve never owned another band saw, so I don’t know if this is common among all band saws, but the Ryobi one is a breeze to keep clean.

Cons

Lack of a Work Light

I knew that this saw didn’t have a work light when I bought it, but what I didn’t know is how much of a detriment it would be. It may only be an issue because of how my shop’s lighting is, but depending on where I have the saw positioned in my shop and what the exterior lighting is (cloudy versus sunny), it can be difficult to see when making cuts. The shape of the saw’s frame can create a shadow across the work surface, making it tough to see where the blade is in relation to the line. A quick remedy of a portable shop light or a headlamp will address this, but a built-in light would have been really nice. My Ryobi drill press has one, and the same light on the band saw would make cutting easier.

No Fence

Again, I knew that the saw didn’t come with a fence, but because I hadn’t used a band saw before, I didn’t realize how helpful a fence would be. A fence would help with making straight cuts or replicating cuts across multiple pieces. I know that I can make a fence for the saw, but other bench top band saws, including Harbor Freight’s Bauer saw, come with one.

Miter Gauge Flimsiness

I’ve only used the miter gauge once so far, but I wasn’t impressed with it. A widely held opinion is that most miter gauges that come with saws are junk. The one that came with my table saw is okay, but it certainly isn’t perfect. The band saw’s miter gauge is pretty flimsy. There is more plastic than I would prefer, and it’s pretty narrow. I don’t think I’ll use it often, so it’s not a huge deal, but there is room for improvement with it.

Would I Recommend the Ryobi Band Saw?

Absolutely. I know that I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I love this saw. Its affordability, power, and maneuverability make it a no-brainer. It has made all the cuts I’ve needed it to, and I love the freedom it has provided me compared to using a jigsaw. Granted, I know that I won’t be able to resaw boards wider than 3 1/2 inches, but I’m okay with that. I have a table saw for that. If you or someone you know has been interested in expanding their woodworking tools with a band saw but doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on one, you should consider the Ryobi. It gets the job done and at a very reasonable price.

September 22, 2026 0

Lessons from Tailoring: The Shoulder

Over the summer, I went through my cool weather clothes and pulled pieces that I didn’t like to alter into garments I would wear more often. Two of these garments I chose to upcycle were a pair of men’s henley raglan long sleeve shirts from Bass Pro Shops. These were from a Black Friday sale last fall, to bring more henley style shirts and raglan baseball tees into my closet. They are great shirts. Soft and sturdy fabric, comfortable, but not the right fit for my body or style. Since this shirt was designed for masculine style, it was not as cute on as I hoped. The button placket is set higher on the chest, near the collar bone, instead of lower near the chest in feminine styles. The second issue was the shoulder, it had room for even broader shoulders than I have, accentuating my shoulders in all the wrong ways. Now, I could have re-homed these pieces but I’d like to keep the baseball tee shirts and enjoy wearing them. I bought them with the intention of keeping the a long time.

The neckline had to be fixed. That high collar was the biggest obstacle to styling the shirt for me, but how does one change a neckline from a from a crew neck button placket to a v-neck or scoop? I first removed the ribbed collar, and focused my efforts on the shape my open neckline would create. From previous alterations and pattern cutting, I knew that v-neck and scoop necklines can get you quick. The open shape can quickly shift from good to gaping, to sliding constantly off the shoulders. Once it is cut, you can’t go back – so you better have a plan.

I did have a plan this time. I would continue my cut in a key shape. I followed the line of the button placket, in a narrow scoop down until the end of the buttons. With those pieces removed it was time to taper and shape the final cuts. I matched each side for a tapered scoop, paying attention to the depth and at the bottom of the curve. Too low, and this shirt would be too revealing for casual wear. Too wide as we work our way up to the shoulder, and would slip off. I kept my line narrow, remembering to account for the rolled hem, that would eat up some width. I tried this on and was pleased with the scoop so I moved this project forward to hemming.

This is where my upcycling hit a snag. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to fitting garments, and my green tailoring skills showed when it came to finish the neckline. The neckline had excess at the bottom of the scoop, more gaping than I wanted, which left me with a fork in the road. Do I gather it? Do I add darts? Do I cut more? I decided to gather it at the bottom and live with it for a bit. I put it back in my closet and let it be until the cool weather returned.

Fast forward to this past weekend, and the first cool days of September. I wore the golden tan version with the gathered scoop, and it was not it. The shirt was close but no cigar, and I found myself tugging and adjusting this odd neckline. What I noticed as the day went on, is that the shoulder was fitting strange too. There was a bunching of fabric at the top of the neckline and back, not what I was looking for. Finally, last night I stood before my mirror and started adjusting. I tried the shirt on backwards, normal and off the shoulder. I folded the bottom hem to see if I needed to crop it. I thought about changing the neckline. Would a binding the neck opening in a collar solve the bunching? I took out the gathers and tried it on again, how do I make this sit flat?

The shoulders. I needed to take in the shoulders. I tried raising the neckline in the mirror by gathering some excess in the scoop, but then I pinched some fabric with my fingers at the shoulder and huzzah! We found our solution. (I also removed the cuffs to shorten the sleeve for a better fit for my arm length.)

My purpose in buying these shirts, was to bring a style back into my wardrobe that I used to own in college. My Gas Monkey Garage spark plug baseball tee and a v-neck baseball tee from Victoria’s Secret. I wore those pieces to death in the early 2010’s. By pinching away the excess at the shoulder line, the scoop rested flat and there was no bunching at the arm’s eye. It continues to amaze me how the most random parts of a garment change the entire fit.

Who knew a loose shoulder can make the neckline wonky? This novice tailor sure didn’t. I hope this little story of tailoring can help you if your stuck fitting a shirt. Or maybe this will inspire to take the plunge on a alteration in your closet.

September 21, 2026

We Accidentally Went String Pin Bowling

In early August, I wrote a post about Magz and me going bowling for the first time in more than a decade. In it, I mentioned that a lot of bowling alleys have started transitioning to string pins instead of traditional pinsetters. The reasoning for this movement has to do with the complexity and costs of maintaining pinsetter machines, which have a lot of moving parts. String pins are very divisive among bowlers.

Since they’re technically approved for some competitions by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), a lot of people are fine with them, while others are casual bowlers and don’t mind the break from traditional. However, the opposite opinion is that string pins destroy the sport of bowling and what makes it fun. The biggest issue is the reduction in pin action because the strings limit how far the pins can move. This has been proven to result in lower scores and fewer strikes. I’m vehemently opposed to string pin bowling; however, a few weeks ago, we accidentally went string pin bowling, and the more I think about it, the more awful it was.

So, how did this even happen if we were so committed to not going string pin bowling? Rewind back to the last time we went bowling with traditional pins. The old-school alley we go to was having some issues with its pinsetter on the lane we were on, and we had to pause three times for things to be reset. After the first two pauses, we resumed bowling; however, after the third one, we called it and left. We were already in the seventh frame of the third game, so we were fine with ending things early. That experience was disappointing, though, and left us unsure if we wanted to play at the same alley again until we were confident things were fixed. This was also the second time we encountered issues at this alley, as once before, all but two lanes were closed until parts arrived.

Fast-forward to early September on a day I was off work. We wanted to go bowling but didn’t want to risk having issues at our usual alley. Instead, we went to our local bowling alley, the one we first tried a few years ago but didn’t like the vibes. This time, we gave it a go because I saw that they do a Tuesday matinee special at only $2 per game. It seemed like it was worth the gamble…it was not. There was nothing on the website, and you couldn’t tell until you started bowling that they used string pins. It wasn’t until we got our shoes on and I threw my first ball that I realized things were off.

What’s It Like String Bowling?

The actual strings holding up the pins were not the first indicator that we were string pin bowling. It was the lack of noise. This goes along with the reduction of pin action, but there was a noticeable noise level drop compared to traditional bowling. When you are traditionally bowling, physics allows the pins to go in all directions, and you hear the resulting crash of the ball and pins hitting each other. It’s an iconic sound that everyone can recognize. String bowling is muted and feels as though all your senses are dulled a bit.

The lack of pin action has a massive impact on results and your score. I’m by no means a great bowler and struggle with consistency, but I can average around 150 over a three-game set. It usually takes me a couple of frames to find my mechanics, but once I do, I can repeat things quite well. I immediately noticed how much more difficult it is to get a strike. When you’re traditionally bowling and in a groove, you can see the strikes happen before the ball hits the pins. You know when the ball is going to hit the pocket and has the right hook. Likewise, you are confident in converting a spare when you throw the ball correctly because you know how the pins should fall. String bowling changes all of that. Hitting the pocket with the right velocity doesn’t always result in a strike. Converting a five- or six-pin spare is much more difficult because you don’t know if the pins are going to crash the way you’re used to. My first two games were awful, and I know I didn’t break 100 points. I began figuring things out a bit in the third game, but I think I only finished with 120 points. I felt like I was questioning everything I was doing the entire time and never felt comfortable.

Others Notice How Awkward Things Are

We went bowling on a Tuesday afternoon when school was back in session, so those bowling in the lanes nearest to us looked to be retirees. They had their own balls and shoes and clearly took it seriously. I don’t know where they were from, but they gave the impression that this was their first time bowling at this alley. And based on the conversations we could overhear, it may have been their first time string bowling. They were expressing the same sentiments that we were: struggling with the lack of pin action and a general disappointment in the strings. In general, they didn’t seem to be having fun.

I Don’t Like This Version of Bowling

I think part of the problem with string pin bowling is that it is rarely the only change that happens at bowling alleys. For example, this bowling alley didn’t have any of the vibes that normally come with bowling. I’m pretty certain that the lanes were synthetic, which probably isn’t a big deal on its own, but it contributed to a less-than-desirable environment. Research shows that synthetic lanes have less friction than wood lanes, so your ball doesn’t hook like you expect it to. Less active lanes and reduced pin action lead to an experience that is less fun.

This alley also had new computers and a new score tracker. It tracked a lot of data, such as the number of balls each of us had thrown, the number of strikes and spares, and more. However, one thing it didn’t track was the ball’s velocity, which would have been useful information. To me, if you’re going to show data, include all of it. Don’t leave off some of the most useful information. I did really like that you could raise and lower the bumpers from the computer instead of having to physically do it. The computers would also remember which bowler needed them so that each person could have an experience that matches their ability and skill level.

This bowling alley also had weird seating. Instead of being around a table or in a u-shape where people could see each other and talk, the seats were in diagonal rows so that you were never looking at the person beside you. But you also weren’t looking directly at the lane to see how others were doing. I’m sure a lot of bowlers would never notice this, but this seating arrangement takes away from the fellowship and conversation that takes place between throws. To me, bowling is as much a social engagement as it is a sport, and removing one aspect of it takes away some of its soul.

Finally, the atmosphere was way off. I hate cool-tone led lighting and believe it has no place in society outside of workshops and box stores. This bowling alley was all cool tones. The synthetic lanes looked like Nordic pine instead of varnished oak, the lights were bright white, and everything had a blue tint to it. It was entirely modern, and I did not enjoy it. It didn’t feel like a place where I could enjoyably spend a couple of hours, and I don’t see it ever becoming a “third” place for me. I loved that the alley had a pro shop and had a wall full of 300 games and 800 series, but none of that was enough to overcome the soullessness that it modern, string bowling.

In the weeks between then and now, we haven’t gone bowling. At first, I thought this alley could be a fallback option if we can’t go bowling at an alley with pinsetters. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I really hated the experience and think I’d rather drive 30 minutes to bowl in a more enjoyable setting than string bowl again. And if all the local alleys switch to string pins, I may make the decision to stop bowling altogether. It probably seems like a weird stand to take, and there’s nothing morally wrong with string bowling, but I don’t like that string bowling is another example of the soul getting sucked out of modern society in the name of efficiency and profit.

If you’re a fan of bowling, have you been string bowling yet? If so, what was your experience with it? Did you hate it? If not, I’d like to hear how you were able to overcome some of the issues I mentioned above.

September 18, 2026 0