Check-In Post June 22nd 2023

[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: At the request of new member cora... In light of new members, where are we all in the world? No need for exact locations, just general country is fine! Leaving this question open for a few more days so anyone who hasn't answered it yet still can.


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]

Five more spiders assembled, and I've cut lots of felt bases for the new bodies. Still a lot of those left to do though. Hoping to make some legs while I watch TV after dinner...


I went searching in mum's old sewing box, but sadly there wasn't any white thread. I did find another reel of black though, which I don't ned right now bit will be useful if I decide to make felt moles at some point. I've made them before, years ago, and they're fun but I'd like to scale the pattern down to half size because they use up a lot of stuffing.

[wiseheart]

Yay, moles! I'd love to make some one day in the distant future. Where did you find the pattern?

[badly_knitted]

I think it was in one of my mum's old soft toy books, but foolishly I got rid of most of them after she passed, figuring I'd already copied the patterns out that I wanted. My moles are quite basic but cute.

[wiseheart]

You don't happen to have a picture of that pattern? Just asking...

[badly_knitted]

Not at the moment, but I have been trying to downsize it this afternoon. I think it might take some work because it has a gusset and I don't think it's going to fit with the two sides =(

I'll try to take mole photos if I still have one I made, so you can get some idea of what it should look like, but the pattern itself is a work in progress. The original mole is 6 inches long and requires a lot of stuffing. I'll let you know if I manage to sort out a usable pattern.

[wiseheart]

6 inches roughly equal 15 cms, right? That is indeed a bit large - unless one wants to make a plushie. Thanks for the offer of the pattern, I always need new ideas for the charity fair.

[badly_knitted]

Yes, about that. They're cute and squishy, but they really need to be smaller to be cost effective.

I have a great ladybird pattern that might work for you though. I plan to make some after I get the spiders done. They're only about three inches, maybe a little more.

[wiseheart]

That would be grand! I'm planning to make little surprise boxes out of toilet rolls, so I'd need lots of tiny items to put into them. These boxes are always the cheep things for kiddies with very little pocket money and are usually gone withing the hour.

I was also thinking of painting dried apricot kernels, making them into all kinds of fantasy bugs. I'm planning to make apricot jam anyway, and the idea of use the kernels, too, is exciting - if it works!

[badly_knitted]

The ladybirds would be a bit big for those, I think, 3 inches is almost 8cm, but the pattern would be easier to make smaller still than the mole one is. I also plan on posting a spider-making tutorial, because they're fairly easy to make and my owen design, so if other people want to have a go they'll be able to.

[celli]

Moles sound like a fascinating project!

[badly_knitted]

It is many MANY years since I last made a mole, but if I can half-scale the pattern I might make some once the spiders are done.

[matsushima]

Maybe some moles, in case there are children who don't like spiders?

[badly_knitted]

I already have meeces (knitted mice), bookmarks, pendants, and knitted pumpkins, so maybe there will be moles next year if I can make the pattern smaller. I had a bash at it today, but it wasn't terribly successful, I don't think the pieces are going to fit together =(

[wiseheart]

I did a lot of work on my songbooks, making nice progress. Basically, I started sewing on the large background elements - the same ones I had taped on at the end of last week. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's a lot of work; and important, too. I need them firmly in their places before I can start adding the details.

[badly_knitted]

Well done, that's good progress. Hope your fingers aren't getting too sore with all the layers.

[wiseheart]

They did complain a bit around the end, but I couldn't be too considerate. Deadlines are deadlines. Unfortunately. Or fortunately, or else we'd never finish a project.

[badly_knitted]

Well, just be careful. You need your fingers.

[celli]

That sounds like a ton of work!

[wiseheart]

It is! Fortunately, it is also fun work. :)

[cora]

I started a thing:


Pattern is Suska Socks by Andrea Lowry

And then my brain nope'd out, so I continued a thing:

A miter square blanket of leftover sock yarn. Started in 2018, I think.



I have been working on this red square for ~2 days now. My brain is not big into knitting much at the moment.

[badly_knitted]

That sock is going to be all soft and fuzzy!

The blanket is amazing, especially as it looks like you're knitting the squares onto the blanket instead of joining them together afterwards. It's not a technique I would ever have thought of, although I can see how it's done. Very clever =)

[cora]

Thank you! I believe it is this Ravelry pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-coziest-memory

I put a ton of effort into trying to get all of the squares to go the one way. I started a similar blanket for worsted weight once I started using worsted (will probably try to add aryan weight to fuck around and find out. I was not as diligent about ensuring the squares all went the same way, so I am working on coming to terms with that (I am not frogging and restarting a "use up scrap yarn" project just to make my brain happier 😅I know I should, but that's far more work & effort than I want to go to).

[badly_knitted]

There's a lot to be said for just being random, especially if you have a brain that wants perfection all the time. Sometimes you just have to overrule it and do whatever.

Projects that use up scrap yarn are always handy.

[celli]

Ooh, it's so cool looking!

[wiseheart]

I like your "things". :))

[cora]

Oooh, I have so many WIPs 🫣

[badly_knitted]

All dedicated crafters do!

[matsushima]

Oooh, your blanket is beautiful! It looks so cozy, too.

[alexcat]

I made a floppy bucket hat with cotton yarn. I'll put up photo or two when I get Larry's afghan done--- 8 rows to go.

[badly_knitted]

That sounds so cool! Looking forward to seeing both the hat and the afghan - so nearly there!

[celli]

A bucket hat sounds super cool!

[myrtaceaae]

Well number 1, I live in Boorloo/Perth, in Australia.
This weeks knitting has been frustrating... I went into respite, but because my usual support worker wasn't able to help me pack.... everything fell apart and I didn't get the DPNs I need to finish the sleeves of my mesh t-shirt :/

But on the exciting side, I've got the yarn I need to start the short rows/shawl scarf that I wanted to do. However based on project notes from other people, I think I want to adjust it a bit.... So if anybody has experience knitting half circle/semi circle shawls, let me know, I'd love to pick your brains a bit!

[badly_knitted]

Yay, another in Australia! Other side of the world from me *grins*

Bad luck on the DPNs, finding the right size and length can be frustrating.

Good luck with the shawl and I hope you find the advice you need!

[celli]

Ooh, a shawl scarf sounds great!

[celli]

I come out of hibernation to say that I i made an amigurumi penguin named Borapingu from a Wobbles kit and also that I am from the US! I live in Connecticut, not far from NYC.

[badly_knitted]

Borapingu is adorable!

*waves from across the ocean*

[wiseheart]

A cool name for a cool penguin!

[matsushima]

Borapingu is so cute!