Crafting

[anniemouse]

Stylecraft have some crochet cardigan/jumper patterns, which are also fairly easy to follow.

you’re a genius. I quite like this.

 

[ElectricDreams]

Anyone else have those days where you feel like you've achieved nothing with your crafting despite having some great ideas and plenty of time and space to do it? I'm so frustrated, everything I try to do feels like it's taking me ages and I'm not achieving what I'm hoping to

 

[WeepingCassandra]

That is really good idea. I have not seen one of those before. It is really cute
This looks gorgeous. It looks like something you would pay for.


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The Aldi Yarn Wars are back. It was the craft event and I don't like what it brings out in people. Saw one person in my group posting a haul picture that took up their entire bed, and then saying that they had 13 storage boxes of yarn already so it would just be put away until they need it.

Lots of people bragging about how much they have bought, but then also asking for help as they don't know what to do with it.

This morning I saw someone asking about how often the events happen and mentioning that they were not ' allowed ' to go again, the comments were all really nasty and saying things like 'are you a child?' And ' please sir, can I go to Aldi', as if some people are not on a budget.

I really dislike how craft communities encourage over consumption and hoarding of supplies, and people try and one up each other.

I have to much, mostly because when I started crochet I didn't understand how much yarn I needed for things, so I have to much or to little of some things. I am making an effort to get through it all this year. I know it is a very easy hobby to over buy for, and sometimes you do buy something because price is good and you put it away for later. But I have seen people hoarding entire rooms full of yarn they will never use in a million years.

I think I get so annoyed about this as I know I struggle from impulse control with buying, and I really have to fight the urge to binge shop when I am stressed or down, so it really gets to me seeing people encouraging each other to do it.

The Aldi wooden toy event was similar. I think honestly some people do need to sit down, think and really consider whether they actually do need to take all 10 of one item when there's only 10 in the shop and it's not coming back, especially when those items are much more affordable than they would be in a 'permanent' store (that was the thing with the wooden toys, a lot of people were comparing with brands like Jo Jo Maman Bebe or Mamas and Papas and their toys are double if not triple the price). It's sad, isn't it.

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Photos attached, one is a close up. It’s a thick cotton. I’ve also made 2 Camber set dresses in Linen. The dress I had to alter was the shirt dress (linen as well).

Omg that’s gorgeous thanks for sharing!

*Gets laptop out to order pattern and some fabric*

I’m doing dry January so figured my savings from that can justify fabric purchases

 

[Zulkraa]

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

Does anyone else find crafting to be incredibly calming? When I feel down or anxious I find doing simple repetitive stitches so relaxing

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

I finished my giant square. Now starting my January project.... make a scrap blanket. Just doing some tests to see what stitch I want to use.

I have so much on at moment, it is nice just to relax and craft for a bit.

 

[PumpkinKing]

Ok my second attempt at knitting has gone better but can anyone tell me why the bottom left is not a corner? I didn’t think I’d gone wrong anywhere. And the end bit circled is always really loose, not sure why. Need to learn some more stitches soon.

 

[Girty Drifter]

I honestly don’t know how long it’s been there, long enough to dry at least. I haven’t really done anything since before the summer holiday, so best case scenario it’s about 3 months. I wish whoever had done it had told me, but it is what it is . It’s proper soaked in and dried. I managed to take the outside off some of the less damaged yarn and sent it to the after school club, but some was beyond saving. I did consider throwing it in an organza bag and trying to wash it. It’s in a bag in the summer house at the moment so I might look again.

Good excuse to yarn shop though

 

[ElectricDreams]

My main craft is cross stitch though I have a habit of rarely finishing pics for myself, as I always get distracted doing them for gifts( including this Lion King).
My New Years resolution though is to finish my started ones & not start any new ones.
I'm also getting into Diamond Painting i've done 4 since Christmas.
View attachment 1980281

I'm in the middle of moving house and found loads of Cross stitches under my bed that I've done over the years. I don't really know what to do with them, I won't display them but can't bring myself to throw them away.

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

Thanks folks.. I have aced the chain.. i just sit here crocheting chains several feet long !!!!!! and then unravelling and starting again its v therapeutic, I dont think I will ever be able to do stuff like jumpers etc. I don;t think there's enough time in my life to be able to get that down at this rate lOL
my v low ambition is just to be able to do squares that can become throws/blankets. scarves etc.. we did a brief basic intro at work and one of the girls got it so fast by the end of the session she had something that looked like it could have been a knitted bookmark! That was cute.. I'd do those.

it's moving onto stitches i cant seem to get. I am not very good at learning from videos//books etc.. I think I am a person who has to be shown in person...

If anyone is in the market I can do you some ace chain bunting LMAO

 

[panda_eyes]

That is amazing, you are so talented.
I’m genuinely baffled that anyone who can do something as unbelievably complicated as that can’t crochet!

Honestly, it's only two colours per row, I can't be fiddling about with more than that at once without getting in a terrible tangle. It's all the same knit stitch throughout as it's in a circle too. I can't get my head around cables either as well as crochet.

I understand knitting because it's from one needle to the other, but crochet is some sort of witchcraftery wiggling a hook in the air at some yarn and counting - I don't get it at all

 

[BabeTakeTwo]

Thank you All so much for the recommendations - I'll have a search around and see what I can best get on with.

@ElectricDreams hello

@pixxyy your waffle blanket is beautiful, love the colours too. My sister has made us crochet blankets for home - not the granny squares, but a continual square - they are warm but light.

I found a company called Craft Buddy - have bought from them but also had some good finds through Vinted. I really must get my cross stitching completed.

 

[Readingismyhobby]

Ooooh what fabric are you using? I’ve barely used my sewing machine throughout lockdown. Two small kids and half the house is an office!

It has a teal background with pink and red flamingos, toucans and cacti! I bought it from my local shop. Sent an email and they replied with photos of their sweatshirt fabric, then delivered it to my house .
It’s the second time they have had to close, so I buy as much as I can from them.

You've jogged my memory, I vowed that I'd learn to use my sewing machine during lockdown! I haven't used a machine since school and it's such a great skill to have.

Tilly and the buttons have an online workshop to teach how to use a sewing machine.

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

Is anyone crafting any Christmas gifts?

I am making some crochet beanie hats. 3 people have specifically asked if I could make them a hat and told me what sort of colours they like. I have been able to use yarn from my stash for 2 of them. I have finished one, and have started on 2nd.

 

[ElChanguito]

I collected some whippy bits of willow in late summer and made a wreath this afternoon, added holly and ribbons, bobsyeruncle, easy.

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

A good tip someone told me, is use a larger hook ( next size up) than needed on foundation chain and then switch to required size after that. This stops your foundation chain getting really tight and difficult to stitch into.

I agree that different colour yarns look better with different stitch types. Even colours make a big difference. Some colour changing yarns look messy with some stitches but fantastic in others. You just have to play around.

I have a few balls of James Brett Shhh DK as I found it being sold off in Boyes. I think they had marked down some stock that they didn't have a lot of left in the same colour batch. It is a lovely rainbow colour but I am scared to use it as it is very light and the reviews say that it is prone to tangle and split.

I also got 5 balls of of another james brett brand that is a sort of variated purple and some that are called Blackberry. Again I am scared of them as look so lovely and I don't know what to do with th now.

I am being more strict with myself now. Trying to only buy stuff that has plans , not just pretty stuff.

This is a really over long ramble, but I am still working on what started off as Attic 24s Stripey-As-We- Go blanket. I stopped following her pattern at some point because I couldn't work out the 'Catherine Wheel' of the ' Zig Zag' section. I could do the bottom half fine, but I couldn't do the top half without it looking messy.

The blankets is now a giant sample stitch blanket. I have still stuck to rule of change colour every row. It contains every single stitch I have learnt at this point, single, double , half double, granny row, suzette, waffle and bobble. It is getting really big and is using up lots of random single balls I wanted rid off. It is currently single bed size.

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

That is lovely , I love when people share papercrafts.

 

[Officedoor123]

I always feel like knitting when September rolls around. I'm thinking I'd like to knit myself a jumper. I usually knit little "things" hats, mittens, etc but I would like a plus size jumper in a light yarn. I'm thinking back to black, baggy, mohair jumper I had when I was about 20 in 1985 lol. Any ideas please?

 

[veronica71]

Another one agreeing about it clicking. It’s like another language to start with and for a while and then it’s suddenly like ohhhhhhhhh

annoyingly as I’ve based my craft fairs and Etsy shop on it I’ve suddenly got the ick with crochet I’m hoping if I take a break the love will come back!