Check-In Post April 30th 2024

[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.


This Week's Question: We all make mistakes - what's your most memorable crafting disaster?


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]

Today has gone a lot better than yesterday. I even found some time to work on cutting back the massively overgrown front hedge. Still needs a lot of work, but progress is being made.


On the cross stitch front, I finished the border of the tulip design (I've decided they must be parrot tulips), stitched the single small leaf and the steps, and the tiny frolicking bunny, then started the first of the two flowers. Hoping I can finish this one tomorrow...

[wiseheart]

That little bunny sounds very cute.

[badly_knitted]

It is amazingly cute, and I think I did a good job with it.

[jupiter2932]

Oh, glad it was better :D Sounds like some good work on the cross stitching and the hedge (though I hope you're able to get some rest after cutting it, if you need it :).)

[badly_knitted]

I got to sit down all evening. Haven't touched the hedge today though. Have to get back to that tomorrow if I can. It's not going to be a quick job though.

[jupiter2932]

OOf, well best of luck with it! Gardening/yardwork is always so rough to deal with.

[badly_knitted]

I love gardening, but it rained so much last year that I scarcely got outside and the hedge isn't privet, it's a much faster growing shrub so it's out of control and requires pruning shears instead of a hedge cutter. I really ned to take the top three feet off at least, but I'm still cutting back the front that's encroaching too far over the pavement (sidewalk, to you ;) )

[jupiter2932]

Oh, out of curiosity, how often do you have to prune it? We don't really have hedges here. (And I live in a very pedestrian-unfriendly area, so we usually end up walking on pavement for lack of sidewalks xD)

[badly_knitted]

It probably needs cutting every couple of weeks during the growing season, but I can't do that, and I can't pay someone else to do it, which is why it's out of control. I try to cut it back from the pavement whenever it sticks out too far, but I'm limited in what I can manage and I have the back garden I'm trying to sort out. It all went to hell while I was my mum's carer for the last 10 or so years of her life, and I've been trying to wrest the garden back from the undergrowth since she passed 9 years ago. I'm making progress, or I was until last year when it was so wet I couldn't get out there very often, but it's slow going. The privet hedges in the back garden needed about 5 feet off the top, and I've still got a couple of inaccessible bits to cut back, once I clear the way through to them. It's been so wet this spring that I haven't got out there yet. I'm usually able to start outside mid-March. Now it's May. *pouts*

[jupiter2932]

Oh, thanks for the answer--sorry it's been so damp, though! That sounds like a huge undertaking. I'll cross my fingers for some dry weather for you.

[badly_knitted]

Dry would be good. Last summer and this past winter have been the wettest I ever remember. My neighbour across the road has offered to bring ladder and hedge cutter across next week, since he won't be working, and take the top off the hedge for me. I'm 5ft, the hedge is currently at least 8. It used to be a comfortable 4 foot or so, but it's completely out of control now.

[wiseheart]

I've sewn in the second page of the felt songbook, and it was brutal. Helplessly optimistic as I am, I had hoped that things would get easier the further I get in the project... well, they did not. My fingertips, especially the middle finger, with which I push the needle, look like a picture of the Moon's surface. I kid you not. So, tomorrow back to paper work.

[badly_knitted]

Owie! Maybe take two days' rest before the next page. Sounds like your fingers will ned it. How many pages are there?

[wiseheart]

Five, plus the actual spine of the book.

[badly_knitted]

That's a lot. Two down and three to go, then the spine. Ow...

[wiseheart]

Ow indeed!

[jupiter2932]

Oh, ouch! Hope the rest of the sewing goes by more easily :|

[wiseheart]

That's what I thought before starting with the most recent page. Then I was shown the mistake of my way...

[jupiter2932]

:( Well, best of luck finishing it!

[malurette]

That sleeve is going well. I'm done with the main part and should start on the ribbed end now.

[jupiter2932]

Sounds like some great progress!

[badly_knitted]

Excellent! You'll soon be able to wear your sweater!