Daily Check-In Post 7th March 2021

[pensnest]

Hello everyone, and welcome to the regular daily check-in post, for this week hosted by me, pensnest. 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: Are you (in Normal Times) part of any groups that craft together? eg knit & natter, pottery class etc. What do you get out of it? Will you go back to it once the pandemic is no longer a threat? Have you been able to keep it up on Zoom?

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

[annofowlshire]

Hi, I’m new the community ^_^ I’m in—varying levels of activity—a knitter, spinner, dyer. I’m intrigued by embroidery and quilting but haven’t done much with it yet. I’ve toyed with weaving in the past, and I’m starting to get the itch to try it again.

I used to host and run knitting groups in the US a few years ago, as well as took part in groups on Ravelry. I loved being part of a community, teaching, and learning and making. I’ve faded off that in recent years for various reasons and I lost my in person groups when I moved abroad to the UK and never quite found another one.

We’ve just recently moved again (still in the UK), and of course I’m unable to meet local groups due to Lockdown but I’m aware of them in the area. A friend suggested I get in touch with the local SCA chapter (medieval reenactment) as many of my interests coincide and I’ve been attending their virtual craft days for the last few months when I can. Looking forward to attending in person groups again when I can!

At the moment I’m a bit bored of knitting. I just keep knitting the same mindless vanilla “pandemic” socks over and over again. I can’t get the enthusiasm for anything else. I’m looking to purchase a basic medieval style shift dress that I can start embroidering for when events are allowed again (to be honest, I hate sewing), and investigating buying a spinning wheel (left mine in the States), and possibly weaving again—although I’m going to wait until I can attend some Weaving Guild meetings to try before I buy.

Our new home is a small-holding with a woodland, so I’m also keen to try my hand at natural dyeing with locally sourced wild and garden-grown plants and such.

[pensnest]

Hello, and welcome! Whereabouts in the UK are you? I'm in Norwich nowadays, moved here from Hertfordshire nearly six years ago and love it.

Virtual craft with SCA sounds interesting! Does it give you inspiration?

I love browsing through Ravelry and looking at patterns. I actually have far more patterns in my queue and on my computer than I will ever use, alas - but there are such lovely scarves and shawls around, I don't think I could run out of inspiration. My trouble is that the patterns I fancy never seem to match up with the yarns I cannot resist...

A friend in my local knitting group is a spinner who runs online courses occasionally. I think she's getting interested in natural dyes, too. For me, there are so many fabulous yarns around that I don't want to risk falling in love with spinning (it appears to be an addictive thing!) or I'll never have time to do everything else. A smallholding with a woodland sounds *lovely*!

[annofowlshire]

We are in the Forest of Dean/Wye Valley now. (Previously we were in central London—big change!)

Thank you!

It’s not that there isn’t plenty to knit or that I even want to knit... I just... lack enthusiasm when I try to start anything that requires *thought* and so I end up casting on another pair of the same socks I’ve made dozens of instead. This is not normal for me, I’m usually a serial finisher. Maybe it’s burn out, but I don’t know if it’s for knitting or the pandemic or some combination. I think I just need to turn my attention to other crafts for a while, but that takes effort, too...

I do find the SCA inspiring. I’ve always liked having “prompts” and such with my crafting to guide me in a direction from all the many options, but I can’t keep up with any of the challenge groups I used to frequent on Rav anymore. It’s like... I want to embroider, I enjoy the motions, but I can’t figure out a project to work on. It helps narrow it down a bit.

Spinning is addictive! But I always liked spinning most. Although I had learned to knit previously in life, it’s when I tried a drop spindle (and then a wheel) that I got obsessed with wool, and then upped my knitting game so I’d have something to do with all that handspun! I’ve been using my drop spindle of late, and it just doesn’t scratch the same itch as my wheel did, so now I’m looking for a secondhand wheel XD

[pensnest]

It *is* difficult to try something new at the moment, and I think there is a good deal of 'coronavirus blues' in there. I've been wanting to have a go at acrylic painting for ages, and have even bought various necessities for it, but.... eh.

I always think a spinning wheel looks so elegant! Hope you find one soon.

[darkcedars]

Hello!

Will be interested to see what you end up doing with plants. I do a little container garden with herbs. This year I'm going to try stevia.

[pensnest]

I missed this last night but I'm curious, because stevia is something I don't know. Can you tell me what it is? I'm trying, rather feebly, to work on my own garden, so ideas are always welcome!

[darkcedars]

Missed this. I haven't been coming in every day.

Stevia herb is a sweetener often used by diabetics as a replacement for sugar (believe it originates in South America). I like a mint tea sweetened, so I have this thought I can grow the sweetener next to the mint? :D

[smallhobbit]

*waves* It's nice to see you over here!

[annofowlshire]

Followed you over, as usual. You know all the best DW Comms ^_^

[alafaye]

Welcome!

[m_findlow]

Wow, you've got some talented craft skills there, and how great is it that you've found people with similar interests that you can meet with to chat about them. I'll bet you can't wait to be out of lockdown to meet them in person for the first time. Such a great way to settle in to a new place when you don't know many people.
And yay for finding this comm, too. I hope it provides some inspiration and encouragement to get back into things.

[medievalrosalie]

Welcome and hello! I'm in a medieval group in Australia and I'm extremely keen on all the associated crafts which come with that! Glad to see another person here who is familiar with our stuff! Yay!

[darkcedars]

Just plodding along with the afghan border today.

Mixed up a new salad dressing recipe to try tonight, sort of creamy italian-ish. We shall see if it works out.

[pensnest]

I've seen some sizeable afghans in my time, so I imagine there is quite a lot of border - a bit of gentle plodding is probably the best thing. :-)

[perspi]

Oh, hello!

I haven't been in much in-person or online crafting groups. I get most of my crafty interaction on my instagram, and I have a lot of stuff in the queue for knitting and quilting both. (I had a subscription box for yarn and knitting patterns last year, and I loved everything I got, but alas, I am not fast enough to have kept up. SO I've quit the box for this year, and will try to catch up so I can re-subscribe next year, because four or five boxes of surprise stuff in a year is pretty great.)

I did just finish the second collaborative quilt with my sister and my aunt, as a wedding gift for my brother. (The first was a wedding gift for our nephew.) We have had a lot of fun doing that, so I think the next one will be a for-the-fun-of-it quilt that we rent a house to get together to make start-to-finish. :D

[pensnest]

A collaborative quilt sounds amazing - *very* steeped in feminine tradition, but also, fun.

I haven't ever really got involved with the kind of projects that require you to keep to a deadline (except writing ones), so I sympathise with you on the knitting box thing. Getting surprises does sound nice! Thanks for replying.

[badly_knitted]

Sunday night, so 50 arm warmer rows! Yes, I know, I only had three rows left on each of the pink , so the knitting on those is done, but I had another pair started late last year, purple, only there wasn't enough yarn. I got up to 56 rows on each before I ran out. So I picked those up again, added 44 rows of light purple to the dark purple. Now I just need to finish the other to match. If there's enough yarn.

I'm something of a by myself person, so I've never been part of a group like that, although when we get back to normal I might do some crafting with neighbours. It's something we've talked about.

[pensnest]

Ah, well done! 50 rows is a *lot*. I've been working on a mini blanket, and get bored after not very much.

I used to have a fun arrangement with some friends who, like me, had given up on our local amdram group - we'd meet every couple of weeks for tea and knitting. It was nice. Walking in to a group of people you don't know is a lot harder to do.

[badly_knitted]

It can get boring doing something straight and ordinary, but when I'm glued to the TV I can knit more or less on autopilot as long as it's something straightforward. I'll probably leave finishing the two tone arm warmers until next Sunday, which is the Dancing on Ice final. I really need to sew up the completed arm warmers, and maybe decide on my next big project.

I still have two black sweaters to complete, but the evenings aren't light enough yet for figuring out where I am on those. Also got the white blobby sweater to complete, but I have to work out the neck shaping. Got the arm bands to do on the summer top so I should finish that, shouldn't take too much work. The red sweater I was working on though... thinking of abandoning it, undoing all I've done, and starting over with a different pattern.

I have social anxiety among other things, so getting together with strangers would be too fraught.

[pensnest]

I've never *quite* been able to knit without looking. I can manage a few stitches, but have to keep checking.

Knitting in black is a bit of a trial in the winter months, but it sounds as though you have plenty to keep you busy. Personally I hate the 'sewing up' stage of knitting, so these days pretty much everything I knit is seamless, which makes me much happier!

[badly_knitted]

I can on stocking stitch and purl rows, mostly on rib with an occasional glance to make sure I'm not purling knit stitches and knitting purl stitches - it can happen. Have to watch what I'm doing on pattern rows.

I don't love sewing up, but many years ago I learned the technique of invisible seams which is easier and quicker than regular sewing up and means I can get away without blocking and pressing anything, it's just that I don't have good sewing up needles at the moment. I lost mine when my sister insisted on taking back the needle case she made in school. Never mind that she chucked it out forty years ago and I'd been using it since then, it was hers so she wanted it. I have no idea where I put my needles. Been looking for them ever since.

[pensnest]

Ooh, how infuriating - it's so irritating to *have* the tool you need but not have access to it right when you need it. Invisible seams - does that mean something like Kitchener stitch? or actual sewing, with added cunning?

[badly_knitted]

It's actual sewing, but done from the right side of the work. But to do it you have to knit all your pieces a specific way, slipping the first stitch knitwise, and knitting the last stitch. On most patterns that means casting on two extra stitches so there are edge stitches that aren't part of the pattern. It leaves a row of knobbles along both edges which, if matched up right, will result in an invisible seam.

[medievalrosalie]

50 rows!!!!!

I like crafting solo, but sometimes we have sewing bees or bring-what-you're-working-on things.

[badly_knitted]

I know!!!

Solo crafting I think is more relaxing and you can focus more on what you're doing. Fewer distractions. But crafting with others you get ideas and perhaps learn other techniques.

[smallhobbit]

I am two-thirds of the way through my cross stitch now, which is pleasing (I began it at the end of October).

My answer to today's question was so long I posted a response on my blog: Dare to Dabble

[pensnest]

Well done on the cross stitch. How big is it?

Thanks for the extra answer!

[smallhobbit]

It's designed to be displayed inside a 7" hoop.

[badly_knitted]

You're really motoring with the cross stitch! *cheers you on*

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

[m_findlow]

Great progress! Can't wait to see the final product.

[smallhobbit]

There'll be a photo I promise!

[medievalrosalie]

wow you're making good work!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

[alafaye]

Since I picked up crocheting this past year I've tried to hang out with the virtual knitting groups run through the local libraries, but I'm sadly usually busy with work. I did do painting and some prop work at a local theater sometimes so I think that counts. Probably won't be going back to it though -- moving this year. Maybe I'll find a new one in the new state.

Yesterday I added many rows to the purple/green scarf I've been working on and I'm nearly finished with it now. And today I finished up the cross stitch kit I started a few weeks ago:



Don't know which I'm going to work on next. Maybe I'll try to map out a bookmark now I have a few sea shell patterns from this last project.

[pensnest]

That's a very pretty cross stitch! Kudos to you for doing the painting and props, when I was in a local theatre group we had a quiet group of heroes who produced all kinds of amazing things, including a scene painter who was *amazing*. I bet any group would be glad to have you, when you move!

[alafaye]

Thanks! And yeah any community theater is always grateful for those kinds of people I've heard enough stories lol.

[m_findlow]

I would love to join some kind of local group but sadly haven't been able to find any.
Many years ago there were a bunch of ladies at work, two of whom were knitters/stitchers and a few who expressed an interest in learning crafts. We would get together one lunchtime a week and I would bring in some beads and things and taught them how to turn loops so that they could make their own earrings or memory wire bracelets. It was lovely and a shame it didn't last as people moved on.
There used to be years ago a wonderful little craft shop near the train station that ran classes on cardmaking as the shop was heavily papercraft oriented but did sell a very small amount of beading supplies. I was working up the courage to offer to run a basic jewellery making class, but they closed and moved further away before I got the chance.
Costume jewellery is so cheap these days that people no longer want to make their own because it ends up being a lot more expensive, especially if you buy from the big craft chain stores because they'll sell a packet of ten beads for say $4 (plastic mind you, not glass or crystal) and I could buy a string of real crystal with about 100 beads for the same price from a proper wholesaler, making it really expensive if you're just starting out. I've been to other bead stores where they charge per bead and the cost ends up being just outrageous, but that's how I started out and didn't know any better. I'd love to be able to tell people all the tips I've learned the hard way and make cheap, affordable kits of high quality supplies for people to start out with.

[pensnest]

I remember going to an incredible bead shop in Sydney and coming away with a fabulous haul of things I couldn't resist... but I've not managed to do much with them. Not that I've ever got into jewellery making, but I meant to incorporate the beads into knitted or embroidered projects.

I think there's a lot of value to being able to do crafts in company - everybody learns from one another. I ran a glass painting 'workshop' for my chorus, and even though they were all beginners I got some ideas from seeing how they worked with everything. Good luck finding a group, when you're able.

[m_findlow]

It sounds like you may have visited "I Love You Beads" in Sydney as that is one of the main bead shops there (I know most of them by name or reputation from magazines and trade shows). I've bought things from them online.
We used to have a great wholesale place in the inner city suburbs on my side of town which then moves all the way across the other side of town. I only went there once after they moved, but man did I buy up one of everything that day! A shame they've since closed their warehouse. I think you can still buy stuff online but it's never the same as seeing them all in person.
I think jewellery making is tricky at first which is why people give up on it. Stringing beads is easy enough but it's all in the finishing off the ends and having the right bits and doodads to do it and make it look professional. Having someone teach you all the basics makes a huge difference. I had to learn it from books and my own mistakes but always happy to share what I've learned.

[pensnest]

That's the one! I still have the carrier bag. My daughter found out about the place so while we were in Oz visiting my father in law, we made a little pilgrimage there. I think our chaps investigated the Bridge.

I have a couple of friends who make jewellery - one, who is quite an artist, does teaching sessions as well as going on courses to learn. I think for me, as with spinning, it's something I don't want to fall in love with, as there just aren't enough hours in the day. Why can we not have time turners? I am sure crafters would be a huge market for a time turner!

[medievalrosalie]

There's a great bead shop near me which is great for all the weird little things I need sometimes. Groups are hard. People move on.

[medievalrosalie]

I like crafting solo(except at events) but the group I belong to spends a lot of time working on projects by ourselves and posting up progress pics on fb or whereever. Usually they are things that you have to do alone, but sometimes pre-season there's a generalised panic about projects which are unfinished and we have a lot of sewing bees. I do do workshops sometimes teaching techniques or button making or whatever. I really love sharing skills and learning new ones. Zoom has been great to sit in on online workshops.

[pensnest]

That sounds like a great combination. I'm in a knitting group, we meet in a rather fabulous café and have tea and cake and a nice natter, but obviously, not at the moment, so we've gone to Zoom. It will be so nice when we can get back together and start stroking one another's yarn. That sounds like a dodgy euphemism but isn't!

There's a lot to be said for Zoom. I wonder how many of our normal activities will continue to be online even when we can meet in person again.