Stained glass as a hobby can be an intimidating craft to get started in. All the different stained glass supplies, glass grinders, and saws that its hard to know where to get started and which equipment that you need to buy in order to make a go at your first project.
The good news is that getting started with your first piece is actually a lot easier than most people would think. When most people think of stained glass, they think of the big windows that grace the biggest churches across the world. You can get started with something that will look good in your kitchen window. As long as you get a good stained glass cutter, you can learn the basics of cutting and construction in just a few hours. There are also plenty of retailers that offer local classes in case you need some hand holding.
Most people worry that you need to spend a lot of money on stained glass tools. The answer is no. Sure, cutting glass would be easier with a high powered stained glass saw, but a basic cutting tool will work fine. if you are just getting started, then you will need to get a few of the basics. Some of the essentials are safety glasses, glass cutter, breaking pliers, glass grinder, solder, flux, a stained glass pattern, and some stained glass. Don't let the length of the list fool you though, its easy to find deals on all of these items so they're typically low cost.
As your skills develop with time, it might be a good idea to invest into higher end Glastar, inland, or gryphon stained glass grinders which will make shaping your stained glass a much easier job. Until then, just tough it out with a simple grinder tool like the cutter mate. A quality grinder will make things a little faster for you by smoothing out rough edges, but its ok to stick wtih the basics while you're learning.
Stained glass art is one of the most rewarding experiences in the crafts. There are always new projects out there to test your skills and it's something that you can enjoy with the whole family. Don't let a salesperson talk you into every Morton Glass products available (there are a lot!), just stick with the fundementals and you can get started in stained glass with little expense!