Check-In Post May 23rd 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: What's the most complicated project you've ever tackled?


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]

Very cold today, but I've made progress on my cross stitch. The fairy has a head, hands, and wings. Also stitched the potted rose she's carrying, and I've started her hat. Still quite a bit to stitch, but progress is good. Don't know how much time I'll have for stitching tomorrow as I'm having the chimney swept and the fire serviced, but I'll hoping I can still fit in a bit.


Also, while I was rummaging through my stash, I found a piece of 18 hpi aida in parchment (a creamy beige colour), so I'm wondering what sorts of designs might be suitable for stitching on it. Anyone have any suggestions for what might work?

[wiseheart]

Sorry, haven't got the faintest regarding to cross stitch. I'm impressed, though, that you've managed to do so much, although your fingers must be stiff from the cold. *hugs*

[badly_knitted]

It's my feet that are suffering the most =(

Stitching helps keep my hands warmer.

[darkcedars]

Yeah, tomorrow sounds messy busy.

Since it's "parchment" do you have any bookcase/library type patterns?

[badly_knitted]

At least the guys are good, and they clean up.

Hmm, that's an idea... Can't remember seeing any, but I haven't looked in my cross stitch books. That's also made me think of Celtic designs...

[spiralicious]

You are making very good progress. I hope things fire servicing go well!

My first thought was "dull" colors for better contrast, like deeper shades, darker earth tones, more of the cool color spectrum. Dull really isn't the right word, but I was going for "not bright." I also don't know how helpful that is.

[badly_knitted]

I've been kind of thinking the opposite, bright colours to contrast the duller background, but maybe more muted tones might work better. I'll really have to look at colours against the fabric.

Still, should I go for animals, birds, flowers, or what? So much to think about... As if I don't already have too much in the planning stages, lol!

[spiralicious]

I worded it badly, my brain was mostly trying to figure out how to say that bright yellows and pinks (like highlighter tones) kinda blend into beige sometimes.

My first thought is plants & flowers. Colorful birds would look good. Sea creatures would also be nice. Most of the cards I've made with a beige base have ended up being nautical though, so I might have a bias.

[badly_knitted]

It's like medium honey coloured? Colourful birds might go well, parrots and such, I hadn't thought of sea creatures, so that's something to consider. =)

[illariy]

Awww, a fairy with a potted rose, that sounds adorable. Great progress, yay!

Hope you are able to fit in some crafting today despite the chimney and fire appointments. :-)

[badly_knitted]

I did get quite a lot done, thanks.

[wiseheart]

Two days with barely any internet connection and lots of stress, so no crafting done. Tomorrow will be fairly busy, too, but I'll see if I manage to do some small stuff.

[badly_knitted]

So sorry about your internet issues. That sucks.

[wiseheart]

It really does, considering that the internet has been my only window to the world in the last four years.

[badly_knitted]

It's been that for me since I got connected in 2008. Any time the internet goes out, I get really stressed, so I understand.

[darkcedars]

Sounds like an annoying week, I hope you can relax with some crafts soon.

[wiseheart]

Not yet, but I have tentative hopes for Sunday.

[spiralicious]

*hug*

[illariy]

Oh no, not the internet! That really sucks. I hope the connection gets better soon. Keeping my fingers crossed that you might have some time for crafting, too.

[wiseheart]

They found and fixed the problem with the junction that served our whole building (I guess they got dozens of enraged phone calls about the case), but by them I was so run down with nerves that I wasn't good for anything.

[illariy]

My sympathy for the nerves, mine get wrecked by stuff like that, too. But great that they did find and fix the problem. I hope you can have some time for crafting this weekend. And relaxation, too, of course. :-)

[darkcedars]

I started the baby Yip Yip basket, but just the first 3 rounds of the bottom.

I've been transplanting grass more, weeding, and scraping the final wall of the garage for painting. Rain tonight.

[badly_knitted]

Typical that it would rain just when you're ready to paint.

Yay, baby YipYip is on his way!

[spiralicious]

Well done on starting the basket!

Hopefully, the rain will not set you back too far.

[wiseheart]

Sounds like a fun basket.

Boo for the rain!

[tielan]

Sewed one row of blocks together for the quilt show quilt.

[badly_knitted]

Yay, progress! Good luck getting it done!

[spiralicious]

Well done!

[spiralicious]

Today was a hot mess of errands, but at one stop, they had really inexpensive amigurumi kits and it is one of my goals to try one this month. I bought the dinosaur one and it says it comes with everything you need. This evening I went through it. I already knew the instructions were going to be bad because I had heard people complaining about them online months ago, but I figure I can get around that with some YouTube tutorials. Full disclosure, I used to crochet, I am just very bad at it. These kits are supposed to be for people who have never picked up a hook. After looking at the instructions, they are not as bad as I thought they were going to be, but yeah, I can already see I will be hitting up YouTube a lot. It also comes with yarn, thread, stuffing, safety eyes, a hook, and a needle. For $1.25, I am not mad. I can see now though, the hook & needle are not going to survive, but I have hooks that size and needles, so I'm not worried . There is no way that is going to be enough stuffing though. It does look to be enough yarn and thread. We shall see how it goes.

[badly_knitted]

That's a great price for a kit! I don't think they ever include enough stuffing in kits though.

YouTube tutorials are great for so many things. I can crochet a bit (mostly granny squares) but I'm not particularly good at it either. Good luck with making your dinosaur!

[spiralicious]

It's a very good price. No, they are always stingy with the stuffing. I should have expected it.

YouTube is a lifesaver. And a craft saver ;) Ah. The only thing I ever got to work were scarves. I want to revisit granny squares though. Thanks!

[badly_knitted]

With patience, persistence, and YouTube, you'll figure it out!

[illariy]

The dinosaur kit sounds awesome and too cute. Hope you can make it work with Youtube despite the bad instructions in the kit. I am looking forward to your updates on it!

I used to crochet, too, as a kid, but very simple things. I want to get into making clothes but have yet to decide on a good but not too complicated or large project. So you are far ahead of me! Hope the dinosaur turns out to be fun. :D

[spiralicious]

Thanks!

Ah. I hope you find a project that speaks to you. I used to crochet scarves. I was very good at scarves. Nothing else has ever gone right. This includes a hat I was working on under supervision and they couldn't figure out where it went wrong either. I later discovered knitting and took to that quite well so far. There is a lot riding on this tiny dinosaur, but it's geared towards children and beginners, so fingers crossed.

[badly_knitted]

Fingers crossed crochet clicks for you better this time around!

[illariy]

Oh, what's riding on this tiny dinosaur or was that just a figure of speech?

Very cool that you used to crochet tons of scarves and got very good at that. I've mostly done the obligatory crochet pot holders with varying patterns plus I crocheted some simple clothes for my dolls, I think. That was all ages ago so I don't know how to reenter the world of crochet, hehe. I'm eyeing some cardigans or jumpers but am worried that as a first project it is too big and I'll get discouraged before finishing. Hm. I'll keep you folks updated if I ever start my first crochet project in a long time. :D

[wiseheart]

Yay for the dinosaur! I bet it will be very cute when it's done. Good luck with finding the right tutorials!

[spiralicious]

Thanks! I am hoping!