Check-In Post - May 6th 2025

[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: Do you change crafts with the season or stick to the same crafts year round?


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 was supposed to working outside in the garden today, but things went a bit wrong. Because I was nearing the end of my cross stitch project, I thought I'd get the threads out for my next project, a bigger one (112 x 140 stitches, whole stitches only, but there are no unstitched spaces, so it's over 15k stitches). I doubt I'll get it finished for my friend's visit in June, I should have started weeks ago, but I'll see how far I can get. Anyway, I was getting the threads out and there were two that I thought must be a misprint, because as far as I knew, DMC thread numbers started at 150 and these were both way lower than that. So I was panicking, didn't know what to do, emailed the cross stitch magazine the design was in, and they kindly got back to me within the hour with a stockist for the threads. I can only assume DMC has some new threads that aren't on the list I've got. Note to self — track down a new DMC thread list.


Anyway, I've ordered the threads, but I was rattled enough that it threw my entire day off balance and I ended up staying in, finishing the rose (no photos yet), and starting the new design. I really need to photocopy the chart so I can cross off what I've done so far, but that means I'll have to go to the library so I don't know when I'll get that sorted. I'll just have to try not to make mistakes...


I did do my daily caterpillar hunt, got 72. Would have been more, but I dropped a couple.

[nagi_schwarz]

That whole thread mixup would super stress me out for reals too. Glad you could get it sorted! Also yes, being able to cross off what you’re already done is super helpful in lots of crafting.

Way to go on your caterpillar hunt! You continue to slay. Literally and figuratively.

Do you have a tablet you could load the pattern onto? Often you can mark up a pdf and that’ll save you a trip to the library.

[badly_knitted]

I have anxiety, and the unexpected tends to send me spiralling into panic attacks, so that was NOT fun. Kudos to the people at the magazine getting back to me so quickly and so helpfully.

Thank you! I was surprised I git so many today, at the cost of being poked and scratched by gooseberry thorns.

Unfortunately I don't, and I'm really bad with tech anyway. It's a miracle I can use a laptop =/

[wiseheart]

There is always something, isn't it? At least you could work out your frustration on the slimy monsters. Even though a few got away.

[badly_knitted]

It threw me this morning, I get stressed easily and I could have done without that today.

The caterpillar massacre would be more therapeutic if I didn't feel so mean every time I have to kill them. I don't like killing things, even when I have to.

[wiseheart]

Well, it is their own damn fault for not getting out of your gooseberry bushes!

[badly_knitted]

They can't help being what they are, but I don't want more gooseberry sawflies.

[viskozni_varhanik]

Oh no, the seemingly small things and surprises can really make one's day on edge. At least the cross stitch magazine people pointed you in the right direction.

Excited to see how the roses turned out!

[badly_knitted]

Hopefully the threads will arrive by the end of the week...

Eventually there will be pictures, once I take photos and re-size them because they're always MASSIVE when I upload them from my camera.

[nagi_schwarz]

I managed all of two rows on my blanket project today at crafting group but I was also helping a new lady learn how to crochet (she’s a southpaw, which made things a bit extra tricky) and keeping an eye on my adventurous and clever toddler (baby slept in her car seat the entire time and was quite happy). Progress was made and new friends were made, so all in all it was a good crafting day!

[wiseheart]

Good for you! What is a southpaw, though?

[badly_knitted]

Lefthanded.

[nagi_schwarz]

Oh lol southpaw is slang for someone left-handed.

[wiseheart]

My vocabulary gets steadily extended, thanks to you folks. :)

[badly_knitted]

So glad you had a good time and made new friends, even if you didn't make as much progress on the blanket as you might have liked.

[wiseheart]

The little sewing kits are taking shape. I've sewn on another 30 buttons today; only 36 more to go. That should be doable during the week; after that I can start decorating the boxes themselves. Assuming I can cough up a working design by then. I'm thinking of a glued-together patchwork band. I've got an ungodly amount of felt rests, really small snippets, that need to be used up for *something*. We'll see how it works.

[badly_knitted]

That's amazing progress, well done!

Good luck on deciding the best way to decorate the boxes!

[wiseheart]

Thanks. I'm still waiting for inspiration to hit. *g*

[badly_knitted]

You'll get there.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yesterday I assembled a large part of the vegetable garden, along with a few other things. The gardens are starting to look pretty! Here are some pictures:

House Yard

South Lot

Today's creativity is focused on the Poetry Fishbowl with a theme of "Ethical Supervillains." Drop by and give me some prompts!

Re: Thoughts

[badly_knitted]

Wow, everything is looking beautiful! Columbines are among my favourite flowers, and I love the cottage pinks too, especially the clove scented ones.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Wow, everything is looking beautiful! <<

Thank you! It's getting to where you can really see the color-matching of different gardens now. :D The barrel garden is still kinda flat because it takes time to grow in, but eventually it will have flowers of different heights and some spilling over the edge.

>>Columbines are among my favourite flowers, <<

Me too. I like the wild type but I don't have any of those blooming yet.

>> and I love the cottage pinks too, especially the clove scented ones.<<

I've got more of them in the prairie garden. They're edible, and sometimes have a clove taste.

Re: Thoughts

[badly_knitted]

It always looks lovely when plants spill over the side of a container.

I have the columbines popping up all over, mostly just plain purple though. I do hope to get some pinks for the garden this year.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> It always looks lovely when plants spill over the side of a container. <<

Yeah, it's a favorite. Later in the season, some of the violas and pansies do that. I like vining petunias for it, especially the Wave kind, and the miniature million bells.

>> I have the columbines popping up all over, mostly just plain purple though.<<

They come in so many colors!

>> I do hope to get some pinks for the garden this year.<<

Go for it. They're often sold in packs of 4-8 in assorted colors, which is way cheaper than buying bigger individual pots.

Re: Thoughts

[badly_knitted]

Well, it depends what's available here in the UK. Mostly they've been single pots on the occasions I've seen them

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

You might look for a seed packet in assorted colors.

Re: Thoughts

[badly_knitted]

I would, but I'm not in a position to grow from seed at present, and it's a bit late for just sprinkling them on the ground and hoping for the best.

[fadingfootsteps]

still no seam ripper appearance. Attempting the third layer is tempting just to quit stalling about it but I'd need more stuffing than even what I just bought, and may well run out of orange yarn before I get that far (note: I did not start with a small amount!)

I did in fact buy more yarn today for different projects, so here's to hoping neither are a dumb idea while the cushion rests in a box until I can run to walmart and get a ripper 🤞

Even if they're dumb I like having more yarn. more yarns always good.

[badly_knitted]

More yarn is indeed always good, and difficult to resist. Good luck with your future projects, and I hope you can get a seam ripper soon.

[althea_valara]

One row on the cardi. I have set the bar really low, and am hoping to do one row on either the cardi or the knit t-shirt on most days this month. That sounds doable.

I posted this elsenet:

To get personal for a bit: the low bar is because my depression has flared up, and I’m finding it a struggle to do, well, anything. Crafting has fallen to the wayside, possibly because long rows of stockinette and HDC aren’t very exciting. They’re big projects, too, and I am possibly overwhelmed by them. I’m overwhelmed by a lot of things right now!

My confidence in myself is really low at the moment. Yesterday in therapy, my therapist asked me what makes me feel confident. Well, not much truthfully, but crafting does. I’ve designed my own patterns in the past because I felt like I could - it was just yarn, and if I messed something up I just ripped back and redo. It’s my safe space to try new things.

I think it would be really helpful to my mental health to challenge myself right now with my crafting, because it IS a safe space for me, so I have decided to knit yet another doll (LOL). What can I say, I love doll knitting! This one will be Alphinaud Leveilleur from Final Fantasy XIV. He’s such a great character and for the past year, I’ve been enjoying watching Colin Ryan (his voice actor from Heavensward onward) stream the game himself. So yes, it’s time to knit Alphi!

So today I did the physical work of moving boxes around to find the yarn I need for Alphi's body. In the process, I discovered some blue acrylic fingering that will be PERFECT for his clothes! I'm so pleased! I also ran to Joann to peruse the clearance sales because I had used Big Twist yarn in white for his identical twin sister's hair; they did have plenty of that in stock so I bought some even though I have some misgivings on the shade (it looked yellow-cast in the store, not pure white) and picked up more fluff for stuffing. Once home, I scoured my hard drives for the pattern and cast on. Didn't get far, just a few rounds, but progress was made!

Now I just need to tell myself I did PLENTY today; the guilt is flaring up and whispering "but you could have done x, y and z as well" and ahhhhh. Stupid brain weasels.

(that's his sister in my icon. I need to get an Alphinaud icon, he's awesome enough to deserve one.)

[badly_knitted]

Sorry that depression is hitting so hard, but one row on a bit project each day with keep things progressing, and if you alternate projects, they'll both be growing.

Great that you've started another doll. I hope that will be exciting for you and provide a confidence boost. You did a HUGE amount for one day, be proud of yourself and ignore the brain weasels. *hugs*

[viskozni_varhanik]

I've had a bit of a scare with a friend, so I didn't get much done yesterday. Very little cross stitch, no crochet.

I'm afraid I got too scared of the new folk And the little impostor syndrome anxiety at the back of my head to go to the crochet club today. Sighs; maybe eventually. Trying to brave that anxiety is a bit too much with my energy rn.

Got the Mysterious Plastic Canvas. Aaaand, surprise, it is not suitable for cross stitch. Decided I won't sit on it forever for "in case" and actually started the process to return it. That's my major crafting win for today, considering I'm very anxious about bothering support people under just about any circumstance.

Free day tomorrow, so I hope to make enough progress on the current sprite to start stitching the other side :)

[badly_knitted]

Scares upset the equilibrium so I'm not surprised you didn't get a lot done afterwards. Hope you're feeling better now.

Also hope that one day you will feel brave enough to go to the crochet club. It can be hard stepping right out of your comfort zone and meeting new people.

Well done for starting the return process! As someone who lives with anxiety, I know how nerve-racking it can be contacting people for any reason. I had to screw up my courage to email the magazine about the threads, but I'm glad I did it because they solved my problem and were so nice about it. Sometimes it turns out we were worrying about nothing. Hope the return goes smoothly for you.

[malurette]

I've started on my bérêt, I might not have exactly enough left of the colours I was hoping for, more grey than lilac but I think it should still be alright.

[badly_knitted]

I'm sure it will still turn out lovely, grey and lilac is a pretty combination!

[innitmarvellous]

A few days ago I started a crochet thingy that was supposed to become a scarf, but as I wasn't really convinced about that I turned it into a bag instead.



Looks alright (and is more useful than a scarf would've been), but the handles are a bit shoddy though, so I won't actually use it for a shopping trip or something, haha.

[badly_knitted]

That's such a cute little bag!