Check-In Post August 18th 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]

I ordered some stuffing a week or so ago and that's arrived, so if I get back to trying to make mini ghosties I've got something to stuff them with. My first two aren't entirely satisfactory. I tried two different ideas for the arms and I wasn't happy with either.

Other than that, I've been out cutting back brambles again. Turn my back on them for 5 minutes and they're taking over again *sigh*

[smallhobbit]

That's the way with brambles - you need to keep a firm eye on them at all times!

[badly_knitted]

Oh the plus side, there are huge blackberries! Might pick some tomorrow...

[smallhobbit]

Ah yes, we have some of them!

[badly_knitted]

They're the only good thing about brambles, although I prefer raspberries...

[smallhobbit]

Raspberries are my favourite fruit.

[badly_knitted]

Cherries are my favourite with raspberries a close second.

[sister_raphael]

If only you could do something crafty with the bramble canes, then you'd be excited when they grow! No good for basket weaving?

[badly_knitted]

Ouch! That would be a no *grins*

[darkcedars]

I used to use pipe cleaners in the arms/legs of things like that instead of trying to get stuffing in.

Sounds like you're continuing to accomplish a lot out there!

[badly_knitted]

These aren't stuffed arms, the pattern calls for casting on and then casting off before threading the 'arms' through the body and stitching in place, but that didn't look so good then I did it so I tried a twisted cord instead and that didn't look any better. Pipe cleaners are something I thought of, but the trick would be fixing them so they can't be pulled out. Also, I'd need white which I don't have. Lots of bright colours, but no white. =/

Too bad none of it shows =(

[smallhobbit]

Finished a card for a friend:

[sister_raphael]

That's really lovely!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

[badly_knitted]

That's terrific!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much!

[darkcedars]

These have all been cute. :)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much. I'm delighted you like them.

[wiseheart]

I second that!

[yarnofariadne]

Lovely!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much!

[sister_raphael]

Still 2 buttons to go. I've been distracted in building a two storey kitty house out of cardboard from the box my new armchair came in. I've cut windows, made a gabled roof with windows and shutters and started the picket fence. While I'm at work today I'm going to cut out some little cardboard birds to hang inside it so they turn in the breeze. Gummi loves her cardboard castles and she uses them as scratching posts, and it will probably last until Xmas. It's taking up a huge amount of room but I live alone, so, actually, who cares? That's why I want to make it as pretty as I can. Not going to bother painting it though. Photos when it's finished, possibly tonight.

[smallhobbit]

Your cat is very pampered!

[badly_knitted]

Your kitty is going to be so happy! Boxes that big are hard to come by, but it sounds like you're going all out to make it a very desirable residence. Love the flying cardboard bird idea!

[darkcedars]

That sounds great! I look forward to a picture.

[yarnofariadne]

The kitty house sounds so cute!

[wiseheart]

Your creativity knows no bounders!

[althea_valara]

Yesterday: a few snowflakes.

Yesterday evening and today, I did craft fair-adjacent stuff. I went shopping on Etsy for care instruction cards. I ended up buying this template: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1078942371/im-handmade-printable-care-tags-labels

I had hoped to send it to an online printer such as VistaPrint for printing, but since the file was a PDF with layouts of 10 cards per sheet, it wouldn't work with online printers (tried to print the full sheet on one page.) I ended up sending it to my local FedEx and just have then print 15 sheets on card stock. I have a paper cutter so I can cut them myself.

So I picked them up today and they look nice! I then stopped at the dollar store (well, it's $1.25 store now) and got highlighters, pens, a single hole punch, and twine. Tomorrow I will tackle making the cards out and attaching them to the bigger items. True, most of my stuff is just 100% acrylic but I think this will give my items a nicer look, and folks should know how to care for them even if it's just "you can toss it in the wash/dryer".

This ended up being cheaper than VistaPrint would have been, too - only $3 for the template, $5 for printing and about $6 for the pens and stuff.

Stitch Club was today, and I brought along some yarn to work a motif of the Peppermint Swirl blanket -- I wanted to get a motif done so I could turn it in to Nerdopolis and get points for it this month. I got a lot of ooohs and aaahs over the pattern. I also had a very nice, 40 minute conversation with two ladies. Normally I don't chat much, but I overheard them talking about the back bump/loop in crochet and they were confused so I got up and wandered over to help. It was lovely talking to them.

So I'm still plugging away at getting prepared for the craft fair, but feel I've slacked off just a teensy bit. I'd work on more stuff tonight but I have plans in about a half hour to do something in my MMO with a friend, then after dinner I'll be streaming so crafting is out. Tomorrow I shall work harder.

[darkcedars]

That's a lot you got done!

[badly_knitted]

Those labels are going to look great, very professional compared to the things I used to type for mine on an old manual typewriter - this was pre-computer of course, 30+ years ago. Signs, price tickets or a price list, and labels are important though, so even if you didn't get anything made for sale you were still working on things you'll need.

Glad stitch club was so much fun today, it's good to take a break and do something different. Hopefully you'll get back to the craft fair items tomorrow with more enthusiasm. Have fun with your gaming and streaming!

[darkcedars]

I'm still recovering from getting my tonsils out. I hope to be able to eat something other than ice cream and broth soon!

I finished the basket for my cousin in time (she is visiting this weekend). It's in the wash right now.

[badly_knitted]

What a brilliant basket! I'm sure it's going to prove very useful!

Glad you're recovering, and I hope you'll soon be able to enjoy solid food again. In the meantime, revel in the ice cream ;)

[darkcedars]

It came through the wash perfectly too.

[badly_knitted]

Yay for that! It can be nerve-racking washing something for the first time.

[ripplestitch]

Wow! That's so cheerful looking. Is it crochet?

[darkcedars]

Yes, its' 3 strands of yarn held together to make it firm.

[yarnofariadne]

I love the basket!

[smallhobbit]

Best wishes for a rapid recovery. That basket is lovely, so pretty.

[wiseheart]

The basket is lovely!

I wish you a speedy recovery. I had my tonsils removed at the age of 16, so I know what you are enduring right now, although I hope your process isn't quite that painful as mine was.

[m_findlow]

That is absolutely fabulous. Great combination of colours, perfect for a summery day or a pop of colour in winter. I'm sure she'll love it.

[yarnofariadne]

It's finally cooled down again so I'm back at the scarf with a couple more rows down!

[badly_knitted]

Glad you're getting some cooler weather! Knitting in hot weather is torture.

[smallhobbit]

Hooray for being able to make progress :)

[wiseheart]

Late check-in because DW refused to accept my saved password on the iPad mini. *grrr* Let's see if I can comment now.

I've cut out some parts for the new project and for the additional penguins, stitched a tiny bit on the new project while vegetating in front of the telly

[badly_knitted]

Oooh, more penguins AND a new project! WOOHOO!

[wiseheart]

The penguins are multiplying like your meeces did. *g*

[badly_knitted]

Watch out, you'll soon be overrun with them... o_O