Crafting

[WeepingCassandra]

I picked up my watercolours again yesterday and am now trying to do this beautiful picture justice - https://images.pexels.com/photos/235894/pexels-photo-235894.jpeg

Possibly a long shot but does anyone use a portable photo printer to do memory keeping? I'm stuck for Christmas present ideas and I've landed on a HP Sprocket so I could stick some photos in my 5 year diary but it looks like it's really hard to get the refill packs of paper?

 

[Kikini Bamalam]

I am an avid cross stitcher. I first started when my eldest was a baby and he was 28 in October.

This is what I am currently working on. It is a sampler from The Victoria Sampler called I love my dog. It is a mix of cross stitch, embroidery and hardanger and i love it. I have stitched a few of their big samplers including my wedding sampler.
The cut work can be a little intimidating at first but once you have done it a couple of times it gets easier.

 

[emmer_moans]

I loved crochet but sewing caught my attention the past few years, I really ought to pick up a crochet hook again.

 

[Heidi88]

I crochet but recently learned to knit but I am sucha slow knitter. I am hoping to start an embroidery class in the New Year.

 

[Piff paff puff]

Finally got round to making this Victorian gothic style fascinator I had in my mind. Feathers left by local birds

 

[pixxyy]

My little Cousin loves Frozen so my new love of Diamond Painting helped with 2 prezzies

 

[Moongirl69]

@Miss Begotten I had no idea you were a fellow crocheter! I used to knit but since I started to crochet I find 2 needles fiddly. I found an easy pattern on YouTube for a baby blanket which Im going to try.
For all the crocheters/knitters/sewers...these crafts have the same impact on your brain as mindfulness, rewiring the neural pathways. Amazing

 

[knivesnflowers]

have some yarn and no knitting skill so made these today while putting off uni work - really easy to do. honestly not 100% sure on them but they’re only to go w some chocs as an xmas gift, think i’ll monogram with a letter bead too!

 

[Millie2023]

ooh didn't know this thread existed - i'm one of those people who jumps between crafts so don't really have a 'niche' per se but do love craftng in general, some of my best childhood memories are making things from the recycling pile! at the moment i'm beading some xmas ornaments as gifts for the first time so will post those when finished (hopefully this weekend). i'm thinking of starting an etsy shop so if i get good feedback then i might make some up over the year. using felt so far but i do have decent access to fabric samples (interior design student) so might use any scraps i have to make more general non seasonal items.

talking xmas, i made this wreath about five years ago as a novice and it's still going strong. my mum still loves it so i'm glad it's not fallen apart. love flower arranging too, the bouquet was from xmas last year using an m&s bunch! would love to take a floristry short course or something once i've graduated

View attachment 2612651 View attachment 2612652 View attachment 2612653

They are all stunning, you’re so talented, you should definitely do a floristry course

I am in awe of people who can crochet, I’m a disaster with anything involving needles!

I am well Into woodburning this year, I’ve sold lots of tree decorations I lost my crafty mojo over the past few years (tough family times), but I’m hoping it’s back!

 

[Luce0331]

Hi guys, I just started crocheting today so please try not to judge too much aha, I'm having trouble with curling and apparently it’s because the stitches are too tight? But does anyone have any advice as I’ve tried again and tried to make it looser and used a larger hook but it’s still happening

 

[Miss Begotten]

Hi guys, I just started crocheting today so please try not to judge too much aha, I'm having trouble with curling and apparently it’s because the stitches are too tight? But does anyone have any advice as I’ve tried again and tried to make it looser and used a larger hook but it’s still happening

Considering you just started today that looks pretty good. It could be that your foundation chain is too tight - or you’re pulling the yarn too tightly when you make each stitch. You might need to fiddle around with the way you hold your yarn so that you pull it through evenly.
To be honest as you’ve just started it might be an idea to just crack on with a few more rows and see if it starts to lie flatter, which may well happen as long as you have the same number of stitches per row. It does take a bit of time to get used to keeping your tension even.
And if all else fails you can always block your work ( mist it with a water spray, pin it flat and let it dry )
Keep going though!

 

[Heidi88]

Hi guys, I just started crocheting today so please try not to judge too much aha, I'm having trouble with curling and apparently it’s because the stitches are too tight? But does anyone have any advice as I’ve tried again and tried to make it looser and used a larger hook but it’s still happening

It's been a while since I started to crochet but I think this is caused by tension and this is only something that comes with practice. As you practice more your tension will get better. Does your hand hurt after a while? That was a big sign for me that my tension was too tight when I started.

What are you planning to make? I think a granny square is a great place to start.

 

[knivesnflowers]

finished the beaded ornaments! really happy w them for a first try, got quite a few beads left so will be able to get more practice in. they look a bit better irl but think there’s definitely an improvement between the star and snowflake at least, it did get less stressful and more therapeutic. pls give me beading advice if you have any!!

 

[ElChanguito]

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

 

[veronica71]

Am loving this thread - loving seeing all your creations. I’ve tried a lot of crafts over the years but currently crochet is my obsession and what I have in my Etsy shop. These are for the little ones teachers - my kids are both autistic and have had help from the specialist TA over the years so much so she has quite a collection of my makes

 

[knivesnflowers]

have some yarn and no knitting skill so made these today while putting off uni work - really easy to do. honestly not 100% sure on them but they’re only to go w some chocs as an xmas gift, think i’ll monogram with a letter bead too!

View attachment 2614475

redid these with a slightly fluffier gingerbread yarn, added the letter bead and think it looks better!

 

[TheStrawberryThief]

Thanks for the recommendation for Attic 24, not heard of that one. I follow a group on Facebook for beginners, but they only ever recommend Bella Coco. Nothing wrong with Bella Coco, but variety is nice.

I am currently making 2 things. I am making a c2c blanket using one of the Autumn leaves yarns that aldi had in a few months ago, with yellow stripes to break it up ( mustard yellow is one of the colours flecking in the aldi yarn). I am taking a break for a few days to make a snood for my auntie. I made myself one using a lovely soft yarn I found, and my mum suggested I make auntie one as well. She has asked if could make her something before, but I haven't felt that my creations were good enough before to give away.

I find doing crochet so soothing. It helps me relax and stay calm. 1 day a week in have to man the incoming calls at work, I sometimes crochet between calls if it is quiet enough.

 

[Moongirl69]

@TheStrawberryThief Bella Coco is ok but I'm more a fan of Blossom Crochet. She is on FB and YouTube. I prefer her tutorials.
I started knitting the baby blanket. Circular needles are a game changer!! I'm enjoying it on these dark nights.

 

[Zulkraa]

 

[Miss Begotten]

Well the blanket of doom is finally finished. ( Needs washing!)
I’ve never made anything from a kit using someone else’s colour combination before - obviously being a contrary madam I swapped some colours over and did a completely different border. I’m not massively keen, although the person I made it for absolutely loves it.

---
I also got my paper quilling kit out