ILX Crafts!

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I know a few of us indulge in a bit of the old ultra-crafting, so thought I'd start a thread for people to natter about what they're making!

I'll start!

I am currently making AN BABY JUMPER in bobbly orange wool which is nearly nearly finished (eeeee), crocheted arm warmers, and faffing about making squares which might be a blanket someday.

This is where I try to keep track of everything I've started/want to start!

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 23 February 2004 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Who for?

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 23 February 2004 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I really want to learn how to use double pointed needles too. I've tried using them ONCE and they fell all over the place - they were quite long though so perhaps I need shorter ones.

Go on, tell us about yer yarn stashes.

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 23 February 2004 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Well um it's for a potential baby that has a somewhat mis-shapen neck at the moment, Pete.

Actually seeing as it is the first bit of real actual clothing I've tried to make I think I might just block it, then varnish and frame it.

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 23 February 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never been able to knit properly, and I wish I could. I can knit squares. And scarves. But I couldn't follow a pattern, not with all that k2, p3, psso mumbo-jumbo. It's like double Dutch to me.

I can sew quite well though, and I design and make clothes when I have the time and inclination. For Christmas, Santa brought me a lovely new super-duper electronic sewing machine which does fancy-schmancy embroidery and lettering and stuff. It's amazin'.

I have a cute Christmas cross stitch picture which has been waiting for me to start it for three years. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything, are there?

― C J (C J), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean to learn lots more origami, having not done a crazy study session since I was about 12. Yes I was a sad child. I did make a Pikachu a while ago, which was amusing. Robert Lang is a funny (peculiar) man.

http://origami.kvi.nl/models/zzzzz/00sub/spenjurm.htm

Does baking count as a craft?

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I make all sorts of hand-bound books.

I used to think I was crafty, but I think this is all I do anymore that counts as a 'craft.'

― sgs (sgs), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Your books rock, sgs! Keep on making things, say I. However, the word 'craft' does make me think of tired housewives who make up teddy bear kits that they got in one package from an enormous warehouse style shop on the edge of a provincial town. Wasteland.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I am in the middle of trying to convert a pair of trousers into a skirt. I say "in the middle of" - I started it about a year ago, and ever since it's sat in a cupboard waiting to be finished.

(I'm not as bad as my father, who has a half-finished rug in a cupboard that he started to make in 1977.)

― caitlin (caitlin), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, hand-bound books sound fantastic! I know Pam used to make notebooks from old books from second hand shops, they were fantastic as well, I wish I was more original with things I make.

My main problem with making "things to wear" is that I can barely sew and find seaming/joining edges TMFD.

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Celeste well and truly to thread.

― Matt (Matt), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I have this great pattern that you can lay over old record sleeves and then cut and tape them together to make the top and bottom of a cardboard box, but I've never done it.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Got any more details about that teeny?

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I will try to scan it in when I get home!

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

That would be great, teeny!

Blimey, CJ's mention of x-stitch reminds me that I have a MIFFY cross-stitch pattern as yet unopened waiting for me at home. I must finish one of my current projects and then start it!

Knitting instructions are actually alright to follow, once you get the hang of them. You just need a good guide, like the Readers Digest Guide (both me and Ktee have picked this up in charity shops with no hassle) so you can see where needles go, and a bit of playing about is also vv productive...

― Sarah (starry), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I can knit squares and rectangles, but I've forgotten how to cast off so the scarf I'm currently working on will in fact be of infinite length bwahahaha.

I'm rubbish at crafts generally. Matt is the origamist, calligrapher and baker of the household.

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 23 February 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

well, when i was a well wee lad (sic) of eight or nine, i was learned some knitting at school. really.
not that i remember much of it anyway ...apart from 'patching up holes', ie. (which 'craft', apparently, is quite not, but...)

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 23 February 2004 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I just finished a purple sweater that has pink skull and crossbones on the sleeves. I made a hat with the leftover yarn. Now I am working on a dog sweater, woo hoo a commission!

I also made this scarf which has alien heads of you look at it at a certain angle:
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/43/78/98734/1995622542108l.jpg

I also make marble magnets, decoupage on those candles in glass jars, and some beaded bracelets. I want to start embroidery, crosstitch and latchhook; I have ideas for interesting patterns. I bought a sewing machine for $5 so I want to learn how to use it this spring.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 23 February 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I like to knit. I make lots of scarves, and did a sweater that I posted a pic of somewhere. A "Stuff you've made" thread or something. I don't know if I will ever want to take on a sweater again.

I hate patterns too, never understand much gibberish beyond k and p. I found a pattern for a garter stitch baby blanket that alternates needle sizes so that you end up with ruffly parts, so that will be my next project. My ebay yarn is taking FOREVER in the mail though.

I like crafts, but I don't like those things where you have to count. I think that's why I stick to simple knitting things, generally, and am horrible at crochet.

Casting off: from the beginning of the row, knit two stitches, and then loop the first stitch over the second. I don't know if that makes any sense.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 23 February 2004 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I have been filmed knitting for Japanese tv (NY Streets) and Fine Living TV , and this week I am going to be on WNBC . I also had a big picture of me in the Star Ledger holding a knit bikini top. The photographer said "ooo, I think you should wear that" and my grandmother said "I think that's too small for you". Ha.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 23 February 2004 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Starry Sarah, there was a hat you linked to on chicknits I think that said it was really easy, but the pattern confused me. Maybe I should try to find a Reader's Digest thing or something. Oh wait, I'm staring at it and it's starting to make sense. Now I feel silly. I should try that one.

I learned to do cables this winter, just to learn, and after a while decided that I hated them with passion and ripped the whole scarf out to do a more interesting and simple stitch.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 23 February 2004 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I am doing cables. It is rough.

I love DPNs and circular needles though.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 23 February 2004 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

My friend L (who knits) is going to London in a month; what are some good yarn shops there?

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 23 February 2004 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I went through a compulsive yarn-collecting phase, but all I've made are scarves and hats.

I accumulated bags and bags of yarn from thrift shops. Any suggestions for things that don't require a specific pattern?

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 23 February 2004 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, I inherited every sort of knitting tool imaginable from my grandmother.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 23 February 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Knit two squares the same size and make a pillow.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 23 February 2004 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I just saw Matt in the pub and he told me he'd called me to this thread. I do lots of things. Crochet, sewing, cross stitch, jewellery, and far too many others to think about or list. About the only thing I can't get to grips with is knitting. Actually that's a lie. I can knit, but I've forgotten how to purl.
I'm running out of places to hide my stash, and I'm dreading packing it all up when we move, I don't think Lynskey has realised quite how much I've got. But I'm sure all that material will come in useful one day, and the wool is all from charity shops and so it was too good to not buy. As for all the beads, well I can't help it if people keep buying them for me, and it's so relaxing to play with them, even if I never get around to making anything.

It's so frustrating that the only UK craft get togethers seem to be happening in London though. When with the rest of the country realize it's not just something old ladies can do?

As for what to do with wool and no pattern. Make either a couple of squares or a big rectangle and turn it into a bag. You can never have too many bags.

― celeste (Celeste), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

What I want to know is where craft ends and art begins because it has plagued me all through art school so far. So lecturers write me off as a crafts person, some thinks my work is art. Where does it end and begin?

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Art begins wherever you want it to. In my view when I'm following patterns or tinkering without putting much thought or effort in, or completing anything, then I'm doing crafts. As soon as I start designing something myself, maybe doing a bit of planning, and putting some thought into the overall process, (though not necessarily the finished object,) then it turns into art.

For years I've said that I do Crafts, now I'm just starting to have a bit of confidence and pride in what I do, and I'm trying to think of the things I've designed as Art.

― celeste (Celeste), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Z, where is your friend going to be? The BEST shops aren't in central London, as far as I've found. There's a brilliant little shop in Walthamstow that I found THE WEEK I MOVED AWAY FROM WALTHAMSTOW (argh), and my friend swears by this one in Acton. Otherwise I get stuff from charity shops, and my friends with an eBay habit have given me a LOT of yarn! I'm not allowing myself to find out about any more yarn shops.

John Lewis has yarn YES but it's pricey. Fun to scrabble about in though!

I want to get lots of lovely COTTON yarns once I've managed to bish through the current stash. Gawd, I have 2 cones of green I want to make into a Scrabble blanket...

Celeste, you should try and get people together for Crafts meets! London.Crafts only started because I suggested it and Kake made up a mailing list! Apparently there's some other crafty type groups but I know nowt about them m'self :) Join London.Crafts anyway! Even if you can't make the meetups you can have a good old crafty natter, innit!

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Teasels Yarncrafts, 842 High Rd, London, England E10, is the one in Walthamstow/Leyton. http://www.teasels.co.uk/

They are very nice and will have a nice chat with you about the stuff you're making and everything! I want to go there again...

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooh, Celeste! I love beads too. I've got a huge box full of them which I've collected - mostly from charity shop necklaces, but also from specalist bead shops (there's a fantastic one in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which I go to whenever I happen to be in that neck of the woods).

One day, when I have nothing to do, I will make fabulous jewellery from these beads.

Maybe we should start a bead-swapping club??

(p.s. no jokes about anal beads, thank you Dan)

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I raid charity shops too. Also my hippie teenage jewellery is being re-incarnated, as is all the stuff given to me by aging relatives. The problem is I rarely wear jewellery. One day though I will hold a car boot sale or put things up on ebay, so I can make some money to buy more beads.

I dragged Lynskey down to a bead shop at Ellesmere Port. It was a long drive, but worth it. He managed to curb my spending a little.

A bead swap could be good... but it would mean parting with some of them... that would be hard... they're like old friends...

― celeste (Celeste), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

In early 2001 I went on a scale model car buying eBay frenzy. I managed approximately one really nice-looking model -- a '71 Nissan Skyline GT-R -- and then sort of dropped the whole idea once I realized I wouldn't be able to do all the painting and stuff in my apartment.

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm still wondering whether it's worth paying real actual money for Stitch & Bitch - I already have enough guides so would be getting it pretty much just for the patterns but all the descriptions are rather vague so I'm not sure if I couldn't just gerrem all on that there webternet anyway.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 11:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been thinking the same. I've not seen a copy of it yet, and I can't really see the point in buying a book like that without having a browse through first. So until I find a real copy of it I'll stick to online freebie patterns.

― celeste (Celeste), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I think knitty.com probably has a lot of similar stuff to S&B anyway?

Oh MAN I really want to learn how to use DPNs!

My crocheted tie plan has been abandoned after actually trying it on last night, you'll be sad to hear. It's now turned into the edging for the blanket!!

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

that's the great thing about knitting, you can always just patch your old projects into a blanket if they don't work out!

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I started using Nichole's yarn on the blanket actually, it's really easy to crochet with, hurrah! I love it when a plaaaan comes togevver.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

About half the things I crochet get pulled apart halfway through and made into something else (which will get pulled apart halfway through... repeat to fade.)

I bought a sock knitting kit from Web of Wool, some nice opal yarn, I thought I'd throw myself in at the deep end with learning how to do socks, dpn's and purling all at the same time. I had a little try, just to work out the tension, the needles are sooo short and thin that I decided to leave it until I'd some more time to concentrate. I will sit down and learn properly... one day.

― celeste (Celeste), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Those sock kits look SMASHING!

I've read so much gumph about making socks now I half think it's rocket science. I can crochet a sock I think, by going round and round and round and well... just making a tube, but thas cheating really.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I know sock knitting scares me too... I want to find a really easy pattern for making toe up socks, but there are so many online that I don't know where to start.

― celeste (Celeste), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

painting is craft, yes? Anyway, just painted this, it's twee-abstract. It's just a section, but it reminded me of ile! :)

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/bby2k/pika8.jpg

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Jel what a grebt picture!! Will you do me one?? :)

― Sarah (starry), Thursday, 26 February 2004 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I can take some ordinary sharp sticks and some mud, and make a fine mess.

― Speedy (Speedy Gonzalas), Thursday, 26 February 2004 10:43 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Help help help!

I see that some people upthread (apart from me) have mentioned doing cross-stitch. I've now finished the Christmas cross-sticth picture I talked about earlier (which turned out to be quite beautiful and has now made me obsessed with cross-stitch), so.....

I don't suppose anyone has a cross-stitch pattern for (a) something with dolphins on and (b) something pretty with fairies, possibly a flower fairies pattern which they could scan and email to me? I need to make these as presents for two children in the next couple of weeks!

I've had a look on the net for free patterns, but the dolphin one I found was very plain and I can't find a flower fairy anywhere.

I may have to resort to buying kits for these WITH MUNNEY, but thought I'd ask here first .... and I'm happy to reciprocate by sending other patterns to people if they'd like them :)

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

F#cking stupid picking up stitches in the sock gusset f#cking p1ssflaps ect ect. I managed to make ONE sock but completly screwed up on the last one and had to undo it ALL. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

― f#cking SOCKS, Tuesday, 17 August 2004 07:36 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

REVIVE because I need to crochet an ipod case with a drawsting closure.

I am not kidding.

Problems:
1. Lack of pattern
2. Lack of knowing how to crochet (a coworker has agreed to learn me)
3. Lack of time before Christmas

Help from crochet-ing ILXors would be greatly appreciated. I do know how to knit a little bit--would it be easier to knit a drawstring ipod case?

― quincie, Monday, 22 November 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

(cross-stitch!)

http://grampaslap.com/images/dk.jpg

i got the stitch n bitch book. i don't think knitting is my bag though - it's really hard to learn just by a picture without a human physically showing it to you. but they have some cool patterns in there. i dunno crochet - i can only make one big long strand.

― lolita corpus (lolitacorpus), Monday, 22 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm trying to make a scarf but all i know how to do is knit, while the pattern calls for knit-1 purl-1. i don't get purling.

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Monday, 22 November 2004 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

oh quincie! I crochet a bit (and knit as well)--I would definitely say as a beginner that crochet is better for this project because it's small and because you can accomodate your mistakes better. Get your co-worker to teach you a few stitches and I think you'll figure it out pretty quickly. For something this small I think you'd want to use a single crochet stitch (maybe if you wanted to get fancy you could switch to triple crochet where the ipod buttons were so it would be meshy and you could see the buttons through)--just do a long rectangle and fold it, then crochet up the two long sides to make a little ipod pocket!

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 00:25 (twenty-one years ago)

and caitlin here are some pictures of purling, maybe they will help: http://knitting.about.com/library/bllearnp.htm

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 00:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a scarf I pick up whenever I can, and I always forget how to purl and have to figure it out again. I have three inches of twisted stitches that I didn't want to pull out!

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

quincie, there are lots of knit and crochet patterns for ipod cases at craftster.org

caitlin, can you can get someone to show you how to purl? I find that more helpful than pictures, I find the accompanying text never describes what is going on in the pictures accurately!

My quest to get the new stitch n bitch book has been unsuccessful so far. I am so excited that Debbie Stoller's book tour is going to be in NYC on my birthday.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 01:28 (twenty-one years ago)

ipod cozies!

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I was just trying to purl from that site and from a book I have and it's so difficult to understand! I do have to wait for someone to show me, I guess.

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 01:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Well if ever your in NYC, I will happy to help you out.

Knitting is noize, I bet you could poke someone's eyes out with a knitting needle.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been making light switch covers & door hardware (escutcheon plates, I think they're called.) I just started doing this copper work this past summer .. (in case you thought I was talking about knitting.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/dave225/map001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/dave225/map002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/dave225/map003.jpg

and now I'm hooked..

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

omg i love my beads - so much so that it's hard to use them to make things, but am itching to make more dangle earrings with the new findings and crystals that i recently got, and i think i might make a few x-mas ornaments this year.

― Kim (Kim), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I feel a desperate urge to cross-stitch.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 04:18 (twenty-one years ago)

don't fight it! feel it!

― lolita corpus (lolitacorpus), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 08:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I keep meaning to relearn how to crochet and knit - I was great at it when I was in my early teens, but have completely forgotten both since

― caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

O.K., I now know how to single crochet stitch. However, it looks very lumpy and untidy. This will get better with practice, I hope?

I really like the stripe-y ipod case. Are stripes hard to do? Perhaps I am better off sticking to one color.

I know have the strong urge to knit, which seems easier to me than crocheting at them moment. Caitlin I don't know how to purl, either. But I think it can't be very hard, but getting someone to show you in person is U&K. I can't make any sense of the pictures in books.

― quincie, Tuesday, 23 November 2004 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

If you are near any yarn stores, they are usually quite happy to help you out with instuctions, etc.

you are in Rochester, right caitlin oh no? Try http://www.rochesterknitting.org/

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

ok I picked up a cross-stitch kit (an overly ambitions one as always) but forgot to get a HOOP!

or a needle. :(

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

this is the kit, it's meant to be for my mother-in-law eventually.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

oh hey hey! it does come with a needle! glad I found it with my eyes and not the other way.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

That looks like really hard work, teeny! You're not planning to finish it in time to give it to her for Christmas, are you? (if so, get orf the 'puter and start stitching!!)

― C J (C J), Saturday, 27 November 2004 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I am 95% finished with the periwinkle Eglantine Price tam that will be my friend's Christmas present.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 29 November 2004 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha, and I spent the big bucks on getting angora/wool yarn instead of acrylic. Do you know how hard it is to find the right shade of periwinkle??

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 29 November 2004 04:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Mmmmm bunny fur.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 29 November 2004 04:01 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't know if it's the weather or what, but all i feel like doing these days is watch movies & knit. i'm going to try playing around with felting & also knit some legwarmers.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Tuesday, 30 November 2004 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

ok I am almost done knitting my gigantic ball of fishermans' wool (that I bought a year ago) into a scarf, I really liked the way it turned out, it's all randomy, both on accident and on purpose. On purpose I knitted it stockinette (knit purl knit purl knit purl etc) but then once in a while did knit purl KNIT KNIT KNIT purl so there was a little ridge in the facing-out side. The on-accident part is that I kept forgetting either how to knit or purl so there are long stretches where my stitches are twisted (this is a lot more obvious in stockinette).

Now I need to finish it off. Because it's stockinette, it's all curly. So I think I need to seed stitch around the whole thing? This strikes me as difficult and weird, maybe I should just crochet around it. Should I do this before or after I block it?

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 24 December 2004 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm pretty sure you're supposed to steam scarves after they're done to get the curl out. by putting a wet towel over it and ironing. i don't know though, i've never actually finished a scarf. also i know how to purl now!

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Friday, 24 December 2004 02:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Crocheting will be easier. For a seed stitch border, you have to do it while you're knitting the scarf.

I knit a scarf that has a seed stitch border and it STILL curls. And I'm limited in what I can do for blocking cause it's a wool/acrylic.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 24 December 2004 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

any seamstresses on ILE? let's talk sergers.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 24 December 2004 04:12 (twenty-one years ago)

that's kinda what I thought rosemary, thanks for the confirmation!

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 24 December 2004 04:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I want to learn crochet (beyond making chains which is the extent of what I cna do).

I also want to learn embroidery. I bought the Jenny Hart kit for my birthday.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Saturday, 25 December 2004 22:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, just pick up the stitches at the bottom and do a couple of rows of garter or rib to weight it down! Piece of wee. No need to crochet round the whole thing - ugh! I'd go mental if I had to do that. Foax, the moral is don't do a scarf in stocking stitch if you don't compensate for the curl...

I got 500g of this lilac stuff for wobs! I am going to make this cardigan I saw in the Rowan magazine a while back. I think it's to similar guage and I might even get it done by summer!

This yar: http://www.yarn-shop.co.uk/rowan-yarn/patterns.php/pattern/4

Or maybe: http://www.yarn-shop.co.uk/rowan-yarn/patterns.php/pattern/2

― Starry has eaten so much turkey, Saturday, 25 December 2004 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm much faster at crocheting than knitting, I ended up doing two rows of single crochet all the way around and it took no time. Now it is done finally! Well except for the blocking bit to remove a little more of the curl. It's soaking now.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 27 December 2004 02:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I made a scarf for my roommate for Christmas! I did it real fast on Christmas Eve day with acrylic rainbow worsted. Crocheted shell stitch.

― Poppy (poppy), Monday, 27 December 2004 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

hahah omg starry to thread again: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4099615.stm

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 28 December 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I have given up (quickly) on crocheting in favor of knitting--it seems to require less hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills. So far, I have knit a bookmark (which my family mocked ruthlessly), a coaster, and a ribbed scarf.

Next up: the cat bed from the Stitch 'n Bitch book. And some ipod cozies (because now the husband and I both have ipods! Thank you SANTA!).

Knitting is oddly addictive. I'm finding that I get a bit cranky if I haven't done any knitting.

― quincie, Tuesday, 28 December 2004 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh YEAH, the crocheted model of chaos! So awesome.

― Poppy (poppy), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 03:18 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTwomb.html

there's some sort of thing going on where people are knitting uteri and leaving them on the steps of the supreme court or something.

http://www.livejournal.com/community/knit4choice/

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:33 (twenty-one years ago)

the knit thing is kind of funny, not being that educated in biblical stuff I wouldn't have known this, but googling for information got me a lot of hits on anti-abortion sites with this verse highlighted: "Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13, no idea what translation that is although aparently it's a well-used one.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:36 (twenty-one years ago)

ah, here's the proper website: http://wombsonwashington.org/
sorry to get all political on the crafts thread, y'know.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:39 (twenty-one years ago)

teeny, have you seen

http://www.knittersagainstbush.com/

???

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:42 (twenty-one years ago)

They should leave the knitted uteri with knitting needles stuck in them.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:44 (twenty-one years ago)

when i graduate past scarves i will certainly be knitting uteri left and right.

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:44 (twenty-one years ago)

What does a uterus do?

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I knitted one.

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it cuddly or some shit?

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:55 (twenty-one years ago)

http://people.ac.upc.es/ernest/images/dontpanic.jpg

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/images/wombBEAUTY.jpg

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:56 (twenty-one years ago)

it's cuddly and there's babies inside sometimes if you're LUCKY!

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Monday, 31 January 2005 03:56 (twenty-one years ago)

And if there is a baby in there and you don't want it, you can stick a knitting needle in it and it will be gone! If Bush has his way, that and drinking gin are gonna be the only options left.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 31 January 2005 04:09 (twenty-one years ago)

What about getting punched in the stomach and pushed down a flight of stairs...? What say you!?

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

whoa...gin makes the babies go away? i thought it just made them come out wrong.

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Monday, 31 January 2005 04:18 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG you are so right, Jimmy!

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 31 January 2005 04:24 (twenty-one years ago)

http://people.freenet.de/tomspunchout/Tyson.gif

Step up, ho.

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 04:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I am working on a bag with this as black and purple sort of fair isle:

http://www.apocatastasis.com/images/patty-hearst.jpg

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 03:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Graphing it out was a bitch.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

I finished the Tania bag, I just have to knit the straps, block it, sew it, and put in the Hello Kitty lining

I just made my mom a sock monkey for her birthday. I hope she wants a RETARDED MONKEY.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Thursday, 3 March 2005 04:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I have finished the back piece of my very first sweater! I also have two hats, two ipod cozies, a scarf, and a cat bed under my belt. And I'm becoming a knitting uber-dork by signing up for two classes in June.

― quincie, Thursday, 3 March 2005 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

I am still working on my giant eagle cross-stitch (I put it down for a couple of months but then realized it's the perfect thing to work on while I listen to the news, so between the evening news and sunday talk shows, I think I'm getting like 5-10 hours a week in on it) but I am also starting to feel BABY NESTING URGES!! I am a little superstitious to start anything before I even feel the baby kick, but oh well. I am going to try embroidery (which I haven't done since I was small) but there are so many cute little designs out there that I want to put on bibs and onesies.

http://www.sublimestitching.com/allpatterns.html
http://www.needlecrafter.com/ (click on Library-->Designs for free vintage patterns)

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 17:16 (twenty years ago)

seriously teeny, don't buy any designs. Print some out on your own using dingbat fonts, clip art etc and then use dressmaker's carbon to place them on fabric.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Yay! Crafts! You should see my house! It's like a Paper Mache Museum. My friend Samantha makes these crazy stuffed things. I thought you guys might like it:

http://www.samanthajsmith.com/skeltor.gif
http://www.samanthajsmith.com/hair-styling.gif

Crafts Rock!

― django (django), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 01:30 (twenty years ago)

does she sell the skeltons, and does she have a site?

― anthony easton (anthony), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 02:10 (twenty years ago)

Hey no way! That's like what I used to do, much much better than mine though :) I hope she's showing this stuff somewhere.

― You fondle my trigger then you blame my gun / Kate (papa november), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 02:12 (twenty years ago)

That skeleton is fantastic.

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

She doesn't know what to do with any of it. she's trying to get an illustration career going. She's talking about making little brooches and buttons she could sell. .She did make this stuffed iPod that went at a charity auction a while ago. it was so cute! go to her site and e-mail her if you think you might want something. I'm sure she could use the encouragement!

www.samanthajsmith.com

The skeleton is my favorite! I love his silky stomach.

― django (django), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 04:43 (twenty years ago)

She should go to a gallery for fucks sake, not fuck around with brooches!

― You fondle my trigger then you blame my gun / Kate (papa november), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 05:12 (twenty years ago)

yes that's lovely! Kate, what happened with your stuff?

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 12:35 (twenty years ago)

I'm going to make a Socktopus.

― Rubbish Posting Name (alix), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

I am finishing the sleeves of a cardigan. It's rather boring, especially when I fvcked up and spent a whole evening knitting and unknitting and managed progress of about 12 sodding rows. The pattern? Plain stocking stitch. YES. I am an IDIOT.

― Lucretia My Reflection (Lucretia My Reflection), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

Matt and I might start going to our local Stitch n Bitch soon! My knitting has never really progressed beyond scarves so far.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

She should go to a gallery for fucks sake, not fuck around with brooches!

almost verbatim what I've told her a million times! i keep trying to talk her into making little puppets that we could make videos with.

― django (django), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

I can't really knit anything more complicated than scarves, but I have just started knitting a mini ipod cover in hot pink wool. It's going okay so far (you can't really go wrong when you only have 47 stitches to cast on though, can you?)

I'm also having a bash at making hand-made paper this weekend, which is something I've not tried before. I shall turn old newspapers + water into mushy pulp in the blender, add some colouring, a dash of liquid starch, and maybe some rose petals, and turn it into something pretty. Maybe. I haven't got any expensive equipment for this - I've made the deckle and mould from an old picture frame with netting stapled over it, and I shall be dunking it in a cat litter tray (clean!) filled with the pulp. Wish me luck (it seems as though it will be very messy!)

― C J (C J), Thursday, 16 June 2005 04:28 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

I need help on the knitting front. I got the StitchnBitch book and all I can do so far is put some stitches in a row on my needle. While they are glorious, I can't figure out how to properly start knitting. The pictures are balls. Can someone give a hint? My cat is cold and needs a sweater.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

Also: a good messageboard for crafters can be found here: http://www.supernaturale.com (under "glitter")

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

My cat Bernard, tomorrow:

http://www.dbccollectibles.com/images/bb81002.jpg

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Imagine, if you will, how cute and how warm he will be, strolling down the street on his kitten harness/leash combo, the toast of 4th and Gill.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:11 (twenty years ago)

Aw. It is nearly impossible to describe how to knit via diagrams or words, in my experience. Get next to someone who is knitting, watch their hands, get them to talk you through each movement they make.

I still can't do it properly, though, so what do I know?

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

knit via diagrams

you do NOT want to know what I misread that as. ;-)

― Luminiferous Aether (kate), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:36 (twenty years ago)

Er? Knit vulvas and diaphragms? Stretching it a bit.

No pun intended. Blimey.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

No, just knit vaginas.

I mean, we used to joke about the Ladyfest crew knitting diaphragms but still.

― Luminiferous Aether (kate), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

Knoxville has a Stitch n' Bitch

and a yarn store here:

Knit 'N Purl
464 North Cedar Bluff Road
Knoxville, TN 37922
+1 (423) 690 9983
fax: +1 (423) 693-3154
Owner: Jackie Johnson
email: knitnpurl@juno.com
Large inventory of high-fashion hand knitting yarns including Berroco, Colinette, Patons, Plymouth, Prism, Reynolds, Swedish yarn, Tahki and Vittadini. Knitting machines and accessories. Crochet and tatting supplies. Send email request to join mailing list. Located just two blocks south of I-40/I-75 at exit 378 (Cedar Bluff exit).

maybe they have lessons?

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

I learned to knit and purl by watching others, but I figured out various increases & decreases and the kitchener stitch from books

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

Oh, and crochet all from books, which is probably why I suck at it.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 8 September 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

I learned how to knit from like about.com or something like that (maybe I linked above?) but I still twist the shit out of my stitches if I don't think about it really hard. My grandma taught me how to crochet and I'm better at that.

I'm still working on my enormo eagle cross-stitch, getting close to done though. I embroidered some cute monkey faces on newborn teeshirts for a friend but I haven't done any for myself yet--it was super easy and fun though. What else should I make for the baby?

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

snug little hats, with ears on!

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

!!! excellent idea!

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

oh he won't grow up to be a furry then will he?

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

haha, surely not.

I've seen patterns for ones with all kinds of ears, and horns. All cute!

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 8 September 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

http://myspace-693.vo.llnwd.net/00221/39/60/221770693_l.jpg

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 15 September 2005 22:32 (twenty years ago)

Wow, thats amazing!

― Bombed Out and Depleted / Kate (papa november), Thursday, 15 September 2005 22:36 (twenty years ago)

I saw glow in the dark embroidery thread at Michael's today.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Friday, 16 September 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

this is crazy!
http://www.halfangel.ie/knitting-ie/theknittingmap.html

I have an american friend who is backpacking in ireland for a couple of weeks and she stumbled across this and is participating, what fun!

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 10 October 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

What is the cheapest/easiest way to make a stencil from a photograph?

― Munki (nordicskilla), Monday, 17 October 2005 21:08 (twenty years ago)

tweak image in photoshop, print result on card stock?

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 17 October 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

yes!

― Munki (nordicskilla), Monday, 17 October 2005 21:17 (twenty years ago)

awesome!

I want to embroider a table of the elements next.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 17 October 2005 21:18 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

I just thought I'd bump this thread because today I was hired here: www.tinseltrading.com (at the actual store, not to work on the site). Dude, I'm stoked!

― Andi Mags, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 01:46 (eighteen years ago)

Congrats!

― roxymuzak, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 02:50 (eighteen years ago)

TINSEL FOR ALL

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 03:03 (eighteen years ago)

three years pass...

fuckin hate crafts

tried to make "moleskine-style notebooks" for my family following these directions
http://michaelshannon.us/makeabook/

they look like something a lobotomized third-grader would make

― congratulations (n/a), Wednesday, 15 December 2010 19:43 (fifteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.