Sunday, March 28th, 2021 01:01 pm
Those of you who follow me will already have seen these pictures, but for anyone else, and because I keep saying I will post things, here are my various crafts for March.

crafts during March )
Friday, March 5th, 2021 04:45 pm
I spied these in a magazine today and couldn't resist sharing them as great little samplers for cards and gearing up for Easter. So cute and so simple.

Letter and Number Samplers:

Read more... )

Easter Samplers:

Read more... )

Happy cross stitching!
Sunday, December 27th, 2020 07:22 pm
Hello!

Bit of a belated introduction, but I made it. My main hobby is reading just about anything I can get my hands on, but I do have crafts. I learned how to cross stitch as kid, but fell out of the habit. I picked up a kit as an adult, but then found out that I forgot how so I never finished it. And then I found small craft starter kits and finally relearned cross stitch and have since done several items. I actually just finished one today. My crafting as an adult started more with small kits geared toward kids, but which I found easier to do and I'll usually pick them up just as small projects to keep myself busy. I've done sun catchers, plastic cross stitch, ornaments, and some small painted wooden items. And this year I learned how to crochet (and learned the difference between crochet and knitting) so I've got that going on.

Project one: cross stitch of a cat that I got for Christmas

Project two: purple-green scarf I'm making for my sister. I actually...I picked up the yarn ages ago without knowing what I was doing, only that it was soft and pretty. I thought maybe I'd try out making bracelets or something. I had put it into a ball and never kept the wrapper for it. When I first decided this year to try crochet, I didn't know what needle I needed and so got a smaller one than I actually needed. So bit of a late start and I ended up learning I can't count stitches (I end up just paying attention to my project which is working out better for me) which meant that I ended up with a wonky square that my sibling now uses for a coaster. But I finally have four inches of the scarf!

Project three: a white scarf for myself. Using natural wool. Bit of a mistake I think >.> Natural fiber is definitely harder to work with than acrylic. But it was soft and pretty and I was excited that I'd learned how to crochet! And rather than single stitch, I'm alternating single stitch with double stitch for fun and it's coming out really pretty I think.

Photos under the cut if anyone is interested.

progress! )
Saturday, December 26th, 2020 11:33 am
One of the delights of being known by family and friends as being 'into crafts' means lots of crafty presents:



Which sorts out rather nicely all my projects once the current ones are finished!

The hat pattern (a present from my husband) naturally required wool to be purchased (I know such a hardship).  It's knitted in the round, so I dug out my circular needles.  Which naturally are both the wrong size for the pattern, so I've ordered needles as well.  Husband said he could either buy me new slippers or pay for the craft order - no contest really ;)

The knitting projects book came from my son and daughter-in-law (chosen by DIL).  I told her how pleased I was with the gift, and she said she wasn't sure what I could do with the items once I'd knitted them.  "Give them to my granddaughter!"  She laughed and said, "When I showed A the book, she pointed at some of the pictures and said, 'Granny can make me those'."


Tuesday, November 24th, 2020 05:37 pm
Hello, lovely crafters! Welcome to our daily check-in post, where you can tell everybody all about your most recent progress (or lack thereof). Feel free to also chat with other members and generally enjoy yourself!

Check-in is not compulsory, you decide if and when to take part in these posts.


Today's optional question:
How much planning do you put in your projects? Do you immediately get started when inspiration strikes? Or you do meticulously plan everything in advance instead?



If you have questions or suggestions about the community, requests for tags, or want to host the daily check-in posts, head over to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment there.
Monday, November 16th, 2020 08:18 pm
Hi there!

There aren't many crafts I haven't had a go at, but when it comes to knitting I'm positively rubbish. I wish I could because I would knit myself all kinds of things but there's just something about me and knitting needles that aren't friends. I can crochet but just don't have the patience for it.
Mostly my crafting these days (a term I use loosely given how little I've done) is cross stitch, beaded jewellery and cardmaking. I have more unused jewellery and cards than anyone should ever have, and never got around to selling any of it. I also had a few little wooden kits for things like storage boxes to paint up and cover with scrapbooking papers. I only ever finished one.
I've also dabbled in washipaper ceramic decoupage but it's hard to find plaster or white ceramic figures/ornaments. I've done a seahorse, some cute little unicorns and a set of three Christmas papered reindeer. Once they're lacquered they're quite beautiful. If I could find bauble shaped ones I'd go to town.
Crafting has been with me since I was a kid because I had to spend long days amusing myself in the tea room at my parents business all weekends of the year. Mum took me to my first craft show when I was about ten and we did that every year for about twenty years, always buying more and more stuff. She was, and still is, a knitter, and handmade all my school concert costumes including all the handstitched beadwork (which must have taken her bloody ages!). Knitting was not genetically passed on, but mum always says cross stitch is too hard for her, so I guess that makes us even. When I was little she used to make tissue box covers out of cardboard and cover them in fabric, lace and fabric flowers but no one really bought them when she had a market stall. We still have them on all our tissue boxes around the house, and some she made in more recent years that were mdf boxes painted and using wallpaper strips.
In short, there's not much we won't have a go at.
Saturday, November 14th, 2020 09:43 pm
Hi, I'm Small Hobbit, and DK and I have been chatting about our craft projects for a while now.

My current projects:

Project One: Fair isle style jumper for my granddaughter (nearly 4) for Christmas

The front and back are done, and I intend finishing the first sleeve tonight, so it looks like it will be done in time.  The reserve date was her birthday at the end of January.


Project Two: Various knitted Christmas ornaments

The angel and Santa's washing line are completed and given to my granddaughter.  I have also done a bauble and two toy soldiers.  Currently underway a gingerbread house, which needs a little more sewing up and a Christmas tree which I began this evening while watching a rerun of a Poirot episode.


Project Three: Super sekrit cross stitch for Christmas

No further comment


Project Four: Cross Stitch William Morris - Strawberry Thief

Only just begun - I received it for my birthday at the end of last month.


I also received various other crafty presents, but I haven't managed to start them yet!

I post a monthly Craft update report on my own DW page, which includes photos.  It can be found here: crafts