Hollywood heartthrob RYAN GOSLING has an unusual way of unwinding after a long day on set - he likes to knit.

The actor picked up a pair of needles for his role in the 2007 drama Lars and the Real Girl and admits making "oddly shaped scarves" has since become a hobby.

He tells Australia's GQ magazine, "I did this scene in Lars and the Real Girl where I was in a room full of old ladies who were knitting, and it was an all-day scene, so they showed me how. It was one of the most relaxing days of my life.

"If I had to design my perfect day, that would be it. And you get something out of it at the end. You get a nice present. For someone who wants an oddly shaped, off-putting scarf."