Crafting

[dorydaryl]

Hi. I'm new/ late to the thread and it's very interesting reading about what others are into. I'm a papercrafter and found it thoroughly therapeutic during lockdown- probably saved my sanity. My main thing has been card making and stuff but am wanting to move on into more complex projects, time allowing. Am so envious of those of you who can sew (properly), knit and crochet. I bought a sewing machine years ago but gave it away to someone who needed it as it was gathering dust.

Another thing I've been up to in recent years is doing some creative stuff for mum's care home. We have a couple of 'seasonal' bare (artificial) trees, which I do up according to seasons and upcoming events, amongst other things.

With the card making, I've kind of moved away from the more formulaic stuff/ die cutting and am trying to come up with more original stuff, which is hard as there's so much out there. I think card making projects for men are so lagging behind other themes, so that's what I want to do more with, especially humorous cards. Humour is so much more difficult to gauge, when coming up with ideas.

Love vintage and steampunk styles. Am also quite into nautical themes. I am not so good at using bright colours but love working with earthtones as well as blue/ green shades. At the moment, I'm on a roll with Autumnal themes and colours, which I absolutely love and have also developed something of an obsession with gonks. My technique is a bit cluttery/ busy but it sometimes 'works'. I have friends who are much more 'minimalistic' in their styles, which look fantastic but my technique probably reflects my personality, as it will with everyone, in some way.

Speaking of clutter, I have acquired so much stuff over the years, it's beyond ridiculous but I love looking at all the materials, lol! I live in a small flat and have limited capacity so it's amazing what I've managed to squash into it! Sometimes, just 'enjoying the stash' is pleasure in itself but a nightmare when trying to find stuff, even though it's all boxed and labelled. I have stacks almost to the ceiling! Oh, for more space- to work in, let alone store things. I always seem to end up on the living room floor and cursing myself because I am always fighting to keep dog hairs off my 'creations'. (daft as I am, I wouldn't incorporate them willingly into any 'art'!)

Might put some examples on when I have a bit more confidence and time. x

 

[Moongirl69]

What heat? I'm in Scotland where it's raining and cold. The blanket I'm crocheting is keeping me warm in the evening!

 

[GothPrincess]

I colour in if that counts

View attachment 367074

Me too.

 

[Blurp]

I would second any recommendation for Attic24's blog for a beginning crocheter. Some lovely free patterns and tremendous photo tutorials. Her blankets are relatively easy once you've mastered a stitch as it's mainly the colours that change rather than the stitches. Coastal Crochet also does fabulous blankets and photo tutorials but her stitches are more complicated. I mainly do blankets, some lace shawls and mandalas.

I learned to knit as a small child and prefer it for garments and socks, as well as most shawls. For socks, I love Coopknits's two books. I know that around 64 stitches will fit my feet perfectly and use her plain pattern all the time for patterned yarn. I only wear my own socks now and they're so much warmer than bought.

I also learned to sew as a small child, largely due to tradition in both families as well as being unable to buy western clothes. My special treat was to walk through the fabric suq with Mum even if we didn't buy. Having grown up with standard paper patterns, I don't have any problems with them but it would like to learn to adjust and fit them better though I gave too many hangups and too much embarrassment about my body. I have done a few evenings classes in patchwork as well as one where I had a properly fitted Victorian set of stays to wear as evening dress with skirts.

I learned the basics of embroidery as a child and was a member of the Embroiderers' Guild for a while but I'm a bit cackhanded, being dyspraxic. I used to do a lot of cross-stitch and have a few Lavender & Lace angels done with more of the patterns waiting. Having done last year's "We All Stayed At Home 2020" hoop, I'm currently doing Cotton Clara's "Adventure Awaits 2021" hoop in backstitch to join it. I also get the Craftpod boxes every quarter with two projects in which are mostly embroidered with some other craft occasionally thrown into the mix.

 

[nothanksbabes]

I recently started to learn crochet and want to give knitting a go soon.

The simple stitches with crochet don't seem too hard, but I'm still getting myself in a horrible muddle when trying to work into the chain. I'll keep having a go at it in the hope it will eventually click

Working into the chain is so annoying even as an experienced crocheter. My advice would be it doesn't make a huge amount of difference how you get your hook into the chain as long as you do it consistently all the way along - try not to let the chain twist.

It can also sometimes be easier to use a larger hook size for the chain, if your pattern calls for a 4mm hook, use 4.5mm or even 5mm for the chain to give you a bit more room, then do the rest of your rows with the 4mm hook.

 

[WeepingCassandra]

I would really love to get into painting by numbers it looks so relaxing

My brain had the audacity to suggest I try a paint by numbers for the first time in years the other week, I bought it and opened it, painted for about an hour, realised I didn't like the colours, the design or the paintbrushes supplied and have ignored it ever since.

I'm currently embroidering a monogram Christmas themed letter for my LO, similar to this but of my own design. I haven't embroidered in years but it seems to be going ok... except my satin stitches are all over the place, I'm going to have to unpick a lot of them and I didn't secure a few of the threads properly so it's starting to unravel a bit

 

[Islawight]

I like it.

I do too! Wish I hadn’t shown my mum now. I’ve just found a pic of it in a light solid colour so I might just do this without the ribbon to tone it down. It’s so difficult to choose when it’s for someone else.

 

[NitrousOxide]

These are beautiful




Pic!!! That sounds amazing


View attachment 2787384

I went to Aldi this morning and I know what I said….but these will be used.

As requested, here's the crocheted basket made of scrap/leftover yarns! It's not QUITE as sturdy as I wanted it to be but stands up in a wobbly fashion...

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

Sorry , didn't realise anyone wanted to see. This is hat 2. It is different colours as I was using up scrap chunky yarn and I didn't have enough red to get all the way around.

I have some more scrap chunky yarn left, so may try another one to get it used up.

My first hat didn't cinch together enough at top, so I had to sew the top closed and I ended up with 2 accidental ' pointy ears'. I think the yarn I used was a bit to stiff for it to want to cinch. Hat 2 was made from Stylecraft chunky.

I have set my phone to screen to go black and white after 10pm, so not sure what colour I have scribbled over my face. Will find out tomorrow.

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

Love this, thank you for setting up! Not mega crafty but am attempting to embroider some baby sleepsuits with my daughter’s name some point this / next week so will be reading for tips! xx

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

I recently started to learn crochet and want to give knitting a go soon.

The simple stitches with crochet don't seem too hard, but I'm still getting myself in a horrible muddle when trying to work into the chain. I'll keep having a go at it in the hope it will eventually click

feeling you. I have the chain aced.. but can't seem to get any further.. STILL

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

Love that this thread has come active!

Years ago at school we got to knit a square to go into a big blanket (apparently it was for charity? But feels like a time intensive means to the end lol) and LOVED it. I’ve just bought one of those knitting kits to attempt a scarf, not sure if it’s too much for a beginner but will report back here!

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

I have been really enjoying making my scarp blanket so far. It is so colourful and fun. It changes colours, yarn type and yarn quality at irregular intervals all over the place. It somehow looks just as nice as something I have planned properly.


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DAE get surprised at how much drama some small hobby groups can generate?

I am in a Facebook group for crochet beginners. Within the last few weeks the following arguments/drama/general stupidity have happened.

People who buy online for price/ease/no local shops V people who only buy from local independent stores and like to rub it in people's faces if something goes wrong with an order.

People who accuse others of being unethical as they buy yarn from Aldi and pound shop.

People complaining that some people are not beginners and should not be allowed in group, but failing to understand that without a mix of abilities it would be the blind leading the blind.

People who last minute decided to make a temperature blanket and panic bought yarn without planning....and then got upset because of the cost, the fact they bought to much or to little in one colour, they didn't check the weight of the yarn when buying in and have spent lots of money on 10 50g balls.

Someone saw a handmade blanket in a charity shop and had a rant over how cheap the charity shop was selling it for as it ' devalued' the work.

People who say ' I have never done crochet or knitting, but I want to start making and selling as a buisness, what is the easiest way to do it, also I do not want to have to deal with making basic items yo practice as these take up space'.

Someone made 'dragon scale' gloves and another user laughed at them and said it made her hands look like they were covered in tumours.

People posting AI crochet and passing it off as their own work.

I just crochet as it is a relaxing thing to do when I watch TV or listen to podcasts. I don't understand how people get so wound up over yarn twiddling.

 

[Readingismyhobby]

Just overcome a mental block and re-threaded the needles on my overlocker.
Now starting to make a Billie sweatshirt (Tilly and the buttons pattern). First ever sweatshirt.

 

[pixxyy]

The bottom is wonky but the plus side they stuck down well & i'm still not the best at cutting background papers.
I had to have a hunt for anything Wedding related as I wasn't sure what I had. The paper was from a Beatrix Potter collection, topper I think the characters called Tulip? The I Do is actually a free gift from a Wedding magazine and meant to be Shoe Stickers. Then top/bottom I bought some sparkly tape from Temu in Rose Gold.

 

[What's your point]

Decided I hate knitting I have made a mistake twice now on the colourwork jumper, had to rip back rows and rows of knitting a couple of days back and just realised tonight I've made another mistake ffs....

I'm not confident enough to try and correct my mistakes either so gonna have to rip back rows AGAIN.

It's not even difficult stitches I'm doing, I'm obviously just not concentrating.

 

[Girty Drifter]

As part of the post-summer holiday, back-to-school, gut-and-clean of my house, I discovered that someone had spilt coke or coffee on my massive yarn basket and it had seeped through, so I had to bin loads

Obviously, today I have had to spend £££ buying more

Faded painted roses by Cherry Heart, here I come (and a couple of other projects we won’t tell my husband about!)

 

[Pinkblush]

Very impressed at all the pictures of work. I can just about manage to sew a button back on something

 

[Readingismyhobby]

Hello all! I cross stitch and knit ( to a fashion) bit have decided I might quite like to get into sewing and have bought myself a Tilly and the buttons book so fingers crossed it all makes sense and I haven’t just spent £100 on a sewing machine for no reason! So if anyone has any recommendations for getting started please let me know. I’m looking forward to seeing what you all create this year

I started by making things from the Cath Kidson Sew book. Easy things like oven gloves to practice using the machine.

I enjoy sewing and have just bought an overlocker and a Tilly and the buttons course on how to use it.
I also knit, have a jumper which I need to finish. I also cross-stitch, I have a big cross-stitch to finish.
I have a subscription to Sew Hayley Jane sewing box, so I have a surprise of different fabric each month. Sewing and Tattle have kept me sane in 2020!

 

[Aquamarina]

@Professor Slop Those are absolutely incredible as well as that watercolour style one being beautiful! I’m new to cross stitch as an adult, not having done any since primary school around 1980 when we did embroidery. I’m slowly working my way through quite a complex floral pattern, but it’s nothing compared to what you have shown. It’ll probably take me six months to finish it as I’m so slow.
Cross stitch definitely helps to pass the time during lockdown though.