Check-In Post - Aug 12th 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: Share your favourite crafting tip, if you have one.


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 think I've finished the cross stitch on the rose posy, so that just leaves the backstitch. Two or three stitches ended up the wrong colours, but it won't show so I am not caring. They're close enough.


Also got three more pumpkins knitted while watching TV. I looked for the rest of the crepe 4ply yesterday, didn't find it, so I won't be able to knit more in that. I've got 20 knitted in that though, so that'll do. Only knitted 3 in the DK so far, but hopefully it won't take too long to knit another 17.

[fadingfootsteps]

Oh yay, little pumpkins :)

I guess it is time to start on the spooky season stuff 🤔 how fast the time goes...
(and christmas. If you [unknown reader I'm speaking to] haven't started your christmas stuff yet you really should. A month in a closet is better than next year)

[badly_knitted]

I don't really do Christmas these days, not the same now mum is gone. Halloween is my big holiday these days, and I ran out of pumpkins for the kids last year. I promised I would have more this year. They'll be a bit different from the original batch.

[wiseheart]

Awww, little pumpkins sound so cute!
How many are you planning altogether?

[badly_knitted]

My aim at the moment is 40, 20 of the smaller 4-ply ones and 20 in double-knit yarn. If I have time I might make a few more. I'll have to see. I just need enough for this year because I promised last year I would make some more.

[darkcedars]

Ahhh pumpkin time begins!

[badly_knitted]

I need to get them done in time, so best to get going with that. Knitted three more tonight while watching TV, and got the next one cast on.

[peaceful_sands]

You're racing through the cross-stitch patterns and the pumpkins!

[badly_knitted]

Doing my best to. I knitted three more last night!

[nagi_schwarz]

Wow! Way to go! So much crafting progress! That sounds like so many pumpkins. They’re gonna be adorable.

[badly_knitted]

I hope so. The yarn I used for faces on the last lot was too thick, but I have some thinner black yarn now that might work better, and maybe some dark brown I can use for variety.

[fadingfootsteps]

I forgot to be checking in.

Anyhow, my needles will be home soon but Not Yet, and I started another doily.

I'm about 16 rows into it and boy does going "Hmm well it says intermediate and certainly I've learned Enough by now" make you feel stupid. What a blog considers intermediate's always such a guess though, so I cannot be blamed. I'm learning new things, at least? And making new improvements in parsing what the fuck a pattern *means* as opposed to barely parsing that it's said something.

[badly_knitted]

Never mind, you remembered eventually!

Ooh, new doily! Good luck!

You can figure it out, clearly you're doing so! I'm impressed with your crochet, I can barely do the most basic!

[darkcedars]

Also sometimes people don't explain things in a standard way in blogs. I've done the wrong thing and not realized for a couple rounds because of that.

[peaceful_sands]

I feel your pain - I find it's hit and miss with so many patterns but particularly those on blogs. I have similar issues with sizing on patterns I've got from blogs, even when I seem to be matching the gauge. Good luck and don't be disheartened.

[nagi_schwarz]

Way to go on your doily! But also yeah that does sound a bit frustrating. Kudos to you for giving it a go! And learning new things!

[darkcedars]

I am finishing the second washcloth for the second time. I ripped it back to make it the same size. I always think I will lose yarn chicken.

Repotted some African violets today.

[wiseheart]

So annoying when you have to redo something! I've sewn on the nice little felt clouds today and had to undo one of them, as it ended up in the wrong place. They say felt is forgiving, and maybe it is, but it also has a mind of its own, so one has to be vigilant...

[badly_knitted]

Yay for re-done washcloth and re-potted plants!

I'm the same, always think I'm going to run out and then I have way more yarn than I thought.

[peaceful_sands]

Well done and I hope the violets appreciate your efforts.

[nagi_schwarz]

I also always think I will lose at yarn chicken so I feel that. Kudos for the progress on the washcloth and for repotting the violets!

[wiseheart]

The front pages of the two dollhouse quiet books are taking shape; only that I'm getting new ideas about embellishments and interactive parts, and so I'm adding new details, which prolongs the process considerably. *g* I just hope I'll finish them in time for Christmas - out of the seven pages for each, I've finished one, made good progress on one and have started the third one, and it's August already...

[darkcedars]

Definitely plenty of time, or it feels like it right now! Sorry you had to undo some things today too.

[wiseheart]

Yeah, it is annoying, but fortunately it was just a small thing.

[badly_knitted]

You can do it! You're inspired right now, so that will help.

[wiseheart]

Let's hope so. *fingers crossed*

[peaceful_sands]

Sounds like you are doing well with so much time ahead of you.

[wiseheart]

It seems like a lot of time, but considering how much work I still have before me concerning the fair and the fact that these books are very detail-heavy, it actually isn't all that much. I'll be lucky if I get everything finished, especially when the Christmas baking will start, too.

[nagi_schwarz]

They sound like they’re gonna be super cute! And for sure you’ll be able to get them done in time. You’ve got this!

[wiseheart]

Your word in God's ear!

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Still sweltering here, which limits yard work, but a chance of rain today and tomorrow.

>> This Week's Question: Share your favourite crafting tip, if you have one. <<

Collect patterns and ideas for crafts that use up small amounts of leftover supplies, so that you waste none of your goodies. These projects go by various names such as box-bottom, stashbuster, or scrap projects. Note that some whole categories, like granny squares in crochet, work well for this. Remember, it's frugality if you use what you save, packratting only if you save but don't use.

10 Junk Journal Page Ideas To Inspire You
Use up your scraps of ribbon, lace, fabric, yarn, paper, stickers, washi tape, or other embellishments. This also works as wall art if you add a picture frame, or sculpture if you start with a blank form.

12 Genius Uses for Leftover Sample Paint

14 Free Crazy Quilt Patterns and Techniques
Some of these are modern methods that add a bit of structure to the chaos.

40 Terrific Works of Art Made From Common Trash
Adding remnants from your craft supplies can turn trash into art, particularly covering things with paint, fabric, yarn, buttons, etc.

50 Free Crochet Patterns That Use Granny Squares

50+ Granny Square Crochet Patterns

50 Stash Busting Crochet Projects (Quick Patterns)

57 Stash Buster Knitting Patterns (Quick Ideas)

FRANKENYARN: STASH-BUSTER YARN BALL

FREE QUILT PATTERN Archive - Over 3000 patterns!
Includes some other patchwork projects such as aprons. Note that you can replicate quilt patterns in many other crafts using beads, scrapbook paper, paint, etc.

Freeform Crochet Basics: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

Freeform Knitting Inspiration

How to Crazy Quilt: Guide and Tutorial for Beginners
The old-fashioned way with no blocks or patterns.

SCRAP HAPPY! OVER 100 FREE SEWING PATTERNS FOR YOUR SCRAP BIN

Stashbuster Drop Earrings (beading)

Visible Mending Ideas, Techniques And Inspiration To Transform Your Clothes
Use up scraps of thread, yarn, ribbon, fabric, lace, beads, etc. to fix rips or stains in clothes, soft furniture, or other things.

... and finally, any soft scraps (yarn, thread, fabric, etc.) too small for other uses can be gathered in a bag for stuffing pillows, draftstoppers, cloth animals, etc. The mix of textures helps keep it from compacting too much.

Re: Thoughts

[peaceful_sands]

Some cool ideas - I should bookmark some of those as ways to use up some of my surplus.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Go for it! Bookmark the ones that suit your style and materials -- or are just fun to look at.

Re: Thoughts

[nagi_schwarz]

Oooh, thank you for all the stashbusting ideas!

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service. I love stashbusting patterns and projects. I grew up with my mother and grandmother making stuff like that.

Re: Thoughts

[badly_knitted]

Awesome! Thanks, I'll check some of those out later. Don't have time right now.

[peaceful_sands]

Managed another square. That's all at the moment.

[nagi_schwarz]

Yay for one more square!

[badly_knitted]

That's still great progress!

[wiseheart]

Well, one step a time is progress, too.

[nagi_schwarz]

I have two rows left on this blanket, which is good, because the official baby shower is in a couple of weeks so I have time to wash and block and stuff before then.

[badly_knitted]

That's great! Good luck getting everything finished and ready!

[wiseheart]

That is great! Good luck with finishing it!