Crafting

[TheStrawberryThief]

Update on Mystery Box. I got the Knitting Network Mystery box. It promised 18 balls of yarn, valued at around £45.00

It cost £19.99.

I received

2 x balls of Angora yarn ( very soft, have not used before)
2x White Value yarn ( think something you would make basic baby stuff from)

4 x balls of Emu DK in green and blue. This is a new brand for me, I am happy to try and will easily find a use for it.

2 x a colour change Yarn from a brand called Sunflower. 50gs each. Not sure what to do, but it is pretty.

The rest are balls of colour changing cotton yarns. They aren't colours I would pick, but I haven't had much experience with cotton so I am happy to try it out and not worry about ruining the yarn.

I am satisfied with my box, as I have got a few yarn types I have not used before, so I have a small amount to try out without committing to spending a lot of money

 

[JoeBloggs]

I do a wide variety of crafts (glass, pottery, sewing, knitting, silversmithing) bit of a Jack of all trades master of none

I really want to get in to crochet but I’m just struggling to really get much further than granny squares.

Im trying to compile a list of 2021 craft projects but there are so many I want to do.

 

[Jenna_Maroney]

Hello all! So pleased to see this thread

I’m dreadful at crafting, I have neither the talent nor patience but I’m determined to crack one. I had a baby 5 months ago and for my own sanity I need to do an activity for me. I’ve got a cheap sewing machine, I’ve been trying YouTube beginner videos (I’m so basic, I’m still struggling with the bobbin!) but after seeing a few mentions of Tilly & the Buttons on here I’ll check out what they may have to help.

Looking forward to chatting about all things crafts with you all!

 

[GiggleBee]

What is diamond art?
I would love to see more pictures of all your crafting skills.

So it's little plastic circles or squares and you stick them down following a pattern and they make a picture. You can get generic ones like this or you can order personalised ones.

 

[Heybooboo]

The little red baseball jacket with cream sleeved I posted was the first thing I knit after making a square blanket, it was relatively easy. I use lovecrafts.com and I just searched for free patterns to begin with so I could download them and read them to see if I could follow them. Lovecrafts tells you what wool to use and needles and how many balls of yarn for which size. So I just ordered it all from them and off I went. Any stitches or instructions I didn’t understand I googled and there was always a helpful YouTube video Which i would watch a few times! But I just filtered the patterns to ‘beginner’ on lovecrafts to start off with. They have loads of baby blanket patterns on there too.
I’m only a year in and I still struggle with some patterns and instructions but I just love the challenge and find it so rewarding. My mental health has really taken a knock with being furloughed and not seeing my family, especially my young nephews and niece, my mum looks after my dad who has Alzheimer’s and she got diagnosed with cancer in September thankfully it’s been removed and no further treatment is necessary but it was a rough ride for a while with dad not remembering and having to retell him and also not understanding that she couldn’t do stuff for him after the op, she still can’t drive for another few weeks, but anyway things are better now but it’s been a good way to keep my mind occupied!

to crocheters you can also get crochet patterns on lovecrafts and some of the women’s jumpers are gorgeous is crocheting hard to pick up from scratch because there’s some patterns I would love to make!

Thank you so much I’m going to have a look tonight and find one I think I can manage! This has really spurred me on to start! The baseball jacket is amazing

My mum is going through chemo so I’ve got her knitting booties and hats to keep her busy and occupied. She’s about to start a cross stitch pattern of Cornwall she’s put off for years it’s amazing what crafting can do. I think it’s underrated

 

[colouredlines]

It's often really hard to recognise where the problem is. Almost everyone has to make some fit adjustments, which is normal. But bad drafting is another thing altogether.

Then you see all the gushing reviews online and naturally you blame yourself for getting it wrong...

@PortiaControl socks are easy to knit but quite tedious - second sock syndrome is very real! The back issues of Knitty have loads of great free sock patterns. I'd recommend top-down patterns at first, toe-up can be a bit harder. I like to use the magic loop method with a long circular needle because I find DPNs annoying. I have a drawer full of handknit socks and I only wear them about four months a year because of the climate here...

Anyway, a few recent finished garments. The hippie pants are McCall's 7786 in viscose, and I like them a lot more than I thought I would! Worn with Simplicity 1916 top. The knitted dress is a DROPS pattern in DROPS Paris yarn. The teal knitted top is Rosarian from an old issue of Knitty, with a skirt that I made a few years ago and is still a favourite. What can I say, I've had some free time lately!

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

My very sweet boyfriend made me a gift basket of nice things for my birthday, some tea and chocolate I like, a new book, a cute soft toy etc...

He also put in 3 balls of 50g cotten yarn. I thought this was a very sweet thing to do, but he obviously doesn't understand how much yarn things need. He has seen me admiring cotten yarn in stores and then putting it down because it is expensive. I don't make soft toys either, so small balls are of no use to me.

I have decided to use this as an excuse to buy some cotten yarn to add to it and make something. I have picked up some more, and I should have enough for a nice shawl or a baby blanket. I am looking forward to trying it.

 

[pixxyy]

This is my fave of all the pictures i've done. It has metallic thread which drove me crazy

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

I have treated myself to a blocking board and a copy of The Granny Square Card deck, and have slowly started working through the cards.

I feel like it is getting me to really ' level up' my crochet skills. Each card gives you the pattern for a different square. The cards are numbered with the squares becoming more complex as they go. It has helped me slowly build up my confidence about what I can do, and my crochet is getting more and more neat and tidy with each square.

I highly recommend the card deck, and i might get the other decks if I am still enjoying it when I have gone through the entire deck.

Amazon.co.uk

amzn.eu

This is the one I got if anyone is curious. If ordering online check that you are ordering the genuine set with the barcode on. There are a few places selling a bootleg version that looks similar but has cards that are not the same.

 

[PortiaControl]

I've found crochet so much harder to get to grips with than knitting. I'm slowly getting there with it but it definitely doesn't come as naturally to me. I get confused about which hole is which. Which hole is the right one to put the hook in for the next stitch or whatever. I can't read the patterns as easily. I also think it really helps to be shown in person. Which obviously, at the moment is a bit tricky.

 

[Marie Clare]

I learnt to knit when I was pregnant and made a blanket, about to make another for my second baby but need to re learn again as I haven’t made anything since my one and only knitted project would love to make a cardigan too for baby but need to research best wool etc

The little red baseball jacket with cream sleeved I posted was the first thing I knit after making a square blanket, it was relatively easy. I use lovecrafts.com and I just searched for free patterns to begin with so I could download them and read them to see if I could follow them. Lovecrafts tells you what wool to use and needles and how many balls of yarn for which size. So I just ordered it all from them and off I went. Any stitches or instructions I didn’t understand I googled and there was always a helpful YouTube video Which i would watch a few times! But I just filtered the patterns to ‘beginner’ on lovecrafts to start off with. They have loads of baby blanket patterns on there too.
I’m only a year in and I still struggle with some patterns and instructions but I just love the challenge and find it so rewarding. My mental health has really taken a knock with being furloughed and not seeing my family, especially my young nephews and niece, my mum looks after my dad who has Alzheimer’s and she got diagnosed with cancer in September thankfully it’s been removed and no further treatment is necessary but it was a rough ride for a while with dad not remembering and having to retell him and also not understanding that she couldn’t do stuff for him after the op, she still can’t drive for another few weeks, but anyway things are better now but it’s been a good way to keep my mind occupied!

to crocheters you can also get crochet patterns on lovecrafts and some of the women’s jumpers are gorgeous is crocheting hard to pick up from scratch because there’s some patterns I would love to make!

 

[Readingismyhobby]

There is a charity called “Knit for Peace”. I send them hats, children’s jumpers and scarves etc. They send them to refuges in the UK and to refugees abroad. They also support women’s knitting groups in African countries as well.

 

[wastelandbaby]

I'm having a go at a temperature blanket this year - I learnt to knit when I was probably around 8 but I haven't done much at all over the last few years, and I've found it helps with my anxiety. I've ordered some yarn today so hopefully I'll be able to get started soon. It won't be expertly done and probably will be a bit messy but I don't care! For now I'm just knitting without purpose to get back into the swing of it, with a cat trying to play with my yarn!

 

[PortiaControl]

Bobbles are easy - just working increases and decreases into the same stitch - but tedious. You'll get the hang of them quickly, then swear off them for a looooong time when you finish the project.

Here are some pics from 2 or 3 years ago...I was sewing a lot, mostly cotton dresses in various New Look patterns, and also knitting a lot of cropped cardigans. I still have these, but my style's changed a bit (maybe another reason why I haven't been crafting much lately?). I have a jacket that I started a year ago and is about 80% done, I'll try to finish it this week to give myself a kick up the ass!

PS I had fallen over running not long before these photos were taken, hence the scabby knee!

Oh I love those particularly that first one! I think everyone tends to start out sewing similar things and just getting to grips with everything. I've tried to be really conscious the last year and a half about patterns and fabric choices so that I'm actually sewing stuff I will wear. Also, circumstances change, tastes change. It's cool when you can harness that and adapt. I've certainly sewn a lot more loungewear in the last year!

I've been sewing up some active wear this evening in the hope it might inspire me to actually do some exercise!

 

[colouredlines]

View attachment 385857

This is January Hat by Courtney Kelley in DROPS Nepal (I love DROPS yarn so much!). I hadn't made a pompom since I was a kid, so that was fun. Bobbles got a bit tedious, but still, a quick little project!

 

[EllenDeGenerate]

Crochet made me cry today.
I recently purchased yarn and a pattern from the only craft supply store in my town. I really don't like the store. The owner has a horrible energy, and I sense thar she cant stand me, to be honest. I'm full of nerves going in but had no other option. Anyway, I just could not get the project ( a blanket) underway. Despite meticulous attention to the instructions, the pattern just would not work out for me - and I'm an experienced crocheter! It was frustrating and perplexing. I ended up abandoning it, and restarted it using my own idea - and its working out beautifully. So, im convinced the negative energy from the store-owner jinxed my first attempt, to be honest.
Just had to share. Thanks for 'listening'!

 

[PortiaControl]

Hello! All around craft slut here I do 'em all, just try and stop me! Although garment sewing is my main hobby. I did a lot of cross stitch gifts for Christmas so sewing was on the back burner but now I'm ready to sew up a storm in January.

I also treated myself to a Cricut Maker just before Christmas but so far have only done a test cut to check it was working. Bit scared of it to be honest

 

[Heidi88]

I have finally finished all 120 of my granny squares but I am losing the will to live having to sew them all together. I have around 20 sewn together but my back is broken from it so I am taking a break

The friend who taught me how to crochet just told me she is pregnant so i am starting a blanket for her. I have decided to do the Attic24 neat ripple in a rainbow of colours as her only ask is that it is bold and colourful. Her 1st pregnancy I told her to pick the pattern and we chose the colours together but this time she is giving me free rein. She told me she doesnt expect another one but I know how much she treasures them so it is a pleasure to make one for her.

 

[SpiceWeasel]

This is my kinda thread I’m addicted to sewing. I love dressmaking and patchwork/quilting as well as bag making. I’m just learning to crochet too. Oh and I’ve cross stitched since I was really little! Got a couple of big ones on the go. I like Caterpillar Cross Stitch patterns really fun and modern.

Been sewing about 3 years now but the dressmaking really took off last year when I got an overlocker for my birthday.

I love Tilly and the Buttons patterns and her books! Got the Billie dress pattern and some nice knit fabric arriving this week so that should keep me occupied!

I also love Friday Pattern Company patterns and I want to try out some Merchant and Mills ones and Closet Core. I must also add I am absolutely addicted to buying fabric

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

I was prompted to make this cover for my wicker basket after losing items from it on windy days also to put off any potential thieves grabbing my purse.
I found this pretty cotton offcut in a charity shop and I've got enough left to make something else
How to make:
Take measurements from top of basket
cut a square
round of the corners
pin the hem
sew the hem
thread through elastic

View attachment 2753022

That is really good idea. I have not seen one of those before. It is really cute

I had some left over wall paper so I covered this shoe box using some spray glue to match the walls. Easy to do and costs nothing in these economic times, win!
View attachment 2761809

This looks gorgeous. It looks like something you would pay for.


-----

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.