Check-In Post April 25th 2022

[badly_knitted]

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


Today's Question: No question today.


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Comments

[badly_knitted]

Finished the owl's first wing, and I'm about halfway through the second, maybe a little less. Happy with that progress, because it's very bitty with a bunch of different colours, seldom more than 3 stitches of one colour in a row.

After I finish this one, I have three smaller owl motifs to do, then a couple around the size of the one I'm working on. Next up will be a snowy owlet, but as it's mostly white and cream I'll be stitching in on light pink aida.

[wiseheart]

Oh, dear! You'll need a magnifying glass, soon!

[badly_knitted]

I already need one, lol! Got to dig it out and start using it again.

[yarnofariadne]

Owls!! ♥

[badly_knitted]

I love owls, I've already stitched several of the motifs from this set, I think there are 12 altogether.

[sister_raphael]

Ooooo owls now! That sounds very cute! Later today I hope to read back and catch up.

[badly_knitted]

I think there are a dozen different owl motifs altogether and I've already stitched half of them a few years back, so I'm trying to get the rest done. They should be ideal for small greetings cards, and the really little ones might make gift tags. I'm a big fan of owls so I really wanted to stitch this set.

[peaceful_sands]

It sounds very intricate but I'm sure it'll look lovely when complete

[badly_knitted]

I'll be satisfied if it looks okay, lol! My stitching with two strands can be a bit messy because I'm too impatient and the threads get twisted.

[wiseheart]

Had a busy day, craft-wise. The back covers of the twin quiet books are finished, and Eeyore now can move across his grassy patch with the help of a string. Next I'll have to stitch the covers together with the corresponding castle puzzle pages and frame them, which will be long and boring, but I hope to finish it somewhen during this week. Then I'll attack the deep sea page. Or the Velcro-heavy outline-recognition page. These two are the ones still left, before I'll have to face the gargantuan task of binding the books.

[badly_knitted]

Well done, sounds like you're making great progress. Maybe you can do the velcro a bit at a time while working on the other parts so your fingers don't suffer quite so much.

[wiseheart]

We'll see. I have to do the seaming first.

[badly_knitted]

That does sound quite a big job.

[sister_raphael]

Wow that sounds just so cute! I loved those books where I could move the pictures with a pull slide as a kid!

[wiseheart]

So did I. I had a couple of Grimm's fairy tales as such books.

[peaceful_sands]

Great work.

[wiseheart]

Thanks. :)

[sister_raphael]

I'm still covid-recovering and been off work for a few weeks now and have this week off, so I've got a bit of sewing done in between naps. The blue wool surcote is finished and the painted roses walls are sewn together. I've finished sewing the outer of a matching blue, wool hood (the lining was already done) and am starting the sew the lining to the outer. I'll post up some pictures later when I do a post.

[peaceful_sands]

Hope you are beginning to feel better. Well done on your progress.

[sister_raphael]

Getting there on both counts! Some new wool cloth just arrived and it's so gorgeous. I can't wait to make my mantle/cloak with it!

[badly_knitted]

So sorry you're not recovered yet, but very glad you haven't had to go back to work. I was worried you'd be forced back too soon.

Yay for progress on so many projects! I've seen some of your posts on your journal and everything looks amazing!

[medievalrosalie]

I actually was made to come back... twice but sent home both times for upsetting everyone. It was my idea for another week off but after talking on the phone, my boss agreed there was no way I was well enough.

[badly_knitted]

Well, I'm glad your boss saw sense.

[wiseheart]

Wishing you fun and a full recovery!

[kneesntoess]

-peeks in- hello! this is my first check in!

I am currently trying to get my crafting momentum back after crocheting non-stop for a couple weeks preparing for a craft fayre. Especially since I only made three sales ): it was only for fun, but still a little disheartening.

Right now I've pulled out a few old projects I've been procrastinating on, and just need to finish putting the last row of single crochet on a gorgeous virus shawl that I am going to have to give away because my skin doesn't like the particular wool blend ):

[peaceful_sands]

Sorry to hear the craft fair didn't go well. I've had a similar experience in the past. It's great that you've found a few projects to work on now.

[kneesntoess]

Ah well! It was worth the experience, and I definitely wouldn't have done as much crochet without it as a motivator.

I always have projects on the back burner - I go through phases with crafts, since I'm interested in so many. After the shawl I have a half finished blanket & plans to make clothes for a doll I made last year

[peaceful_sands]

Like you I have multiple projects on the go - I'm currently on a mission to try to finish a few (mostly so that to look like I have will power before I start any more!)

[kneesntoess]

Good luck! I've told myself I have to finish a couple of projects before I'm allowed to buy any more yarn, but we'll see if I can stick to it! /o\

[badly_knitted]

It's always good to have a variety of projects to work on. Hope to see some pictures at some point.

[sister_raphael]

That's pretty annoying when hobbies and allergies collide. Glad to see you here! Welcome!

[kneesntoess]

Being a fibre artist who has an occassion reaction to wool is very annoying! Thank you for the welcome!

[badly_knitted]

Hello and welcome, lovely to have you join us!

Ouch, I feel for you. I've done a few craft fairs in the past and it's really disheartening when things just don't sell. Better luck next time?

I'm sure whoever you gift the shawl to will appreciate it. Sucks that the yarn irritates your skin, that must make working with it uncomfortable too.

Good luck with finishing your old projects, You can do it!

[kneesntoess]

Hopefully! It was the weekend before the new energy prices in the UK were announced, so I think that contributed to it - people had no idea how much their bills were going to go up literally the next day.

Thank you! It's an absolutely beautiful colourway in 4ply - funnily enough I didn't notice it irritating my hands particularly, I was hoping it would be alright, but I am prone to dry/sensitive skin around my neck so maybe that's why. Wool is always a little hit and miss for me, alas

[badly_knitted]

I can understand that, all of us here in the UK were stressed over that.


It sounds gorgeous, it's just unfortunate that sensitive skin can react to wool and wool blends. It';s one reason I stick mostly to acrylic yarn (sacrilege, I know, but I've never known anyone be allergic to that, and the moths leave it alone too).

[kneesntoess]

I mostly work in acrylic for the the same reason (and also it's much cheaper, usually!). Much less chance of my skin reacting badly, and I also stress less about washing it!

[badly_knitted]

Yeah, that's another advantage of acrylic - it's not prone to shrinkage. I shrank a sweater I made for my mum, the detergent said it was non-bio, but the mohair sweater still ended up half the size. It doesn't even fit me and I'm tiny.

[peaceful_sands]

I did a little more work on the current cross-stitch - I finished a tail and did part of a mane and some grass

[sister_raphael]

Yay for more progress!

[badly_knitted]

That sounds like good progress to me!

[sister_raphael]

Hood in progress. Wool outer and linen lining. The wool matches the surcote I've just finished. Still to finish sewing in the lining, buttonholes and making the buttons, then sewing them on. I'd like to have it done for the weekend, but I'm not terribly hopeful.

[badly_knitted]

Looking brilliant! I have to ask though... how do you make the buttons and what are they made from? For authenticity you obviously can't use modern plastic buttons so what were medieval buttons made from? I'm thinking wood, maybe cast metal, even possibly carved shell or bone... Me being curious.

[medievalrosalie]

Some are cast metal, and usually they're ball shaped on a long shank, but often made of matching material. For this, I'm making the buttons (I'll be posting a pic up today.) They are sewn on the very edge of the hood and round. I do button making workshops at shows and they're so much fun because they really finish off an outfit which can have 60 or so buttons.

[badly_knitted]

I saw the picture! Little fabric blobs!

[sister_raphael]

Also another project completed the day before yesterday (I haven't been online much and still need to catch up with everyone's journals)- cut up a new flanelette pyjama top made from cute forest animals into a bunch of things- the body became a bed cushion with button front, one sleeve became a pillow for my kitty couch, the top pocket got sewn onto my pj bottoms (because why don't women have pockets in their pjs like men do?) and a kitty bandana is planned for the inner yoke lining. That still gives me a little fabric left over. The pj bottoms I usually wear with a long sleeve Tee but the top fabric was so cute and I didn't want to waste it.

[badly_knitted]

Wow! Repurposed into a multitude of cute and useful items!

It drives me mad that women's clothes are so seldom blessed with pockets. Why aren't women designers doing something about that! We should all be demanding pockets in our clothes!

[medievalrosalie]

My sister sews cute 50's dresses for herself and her girls and they are thrilled with added pockets.

[badly_knitted]

I'll bet! Whoever decided women don't need pockets was a moron, and probably a man.