Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cross stitch and other hobbies

66 replies

Rizzoli123 · 17/09/2021 21:21

After hearing that crafting such as knitting and sewing have increased in demand due to the various lockdowns

Did any one start a new hobby or pick up an old one

I love to cross stitch and knit. In the lockdowns I took on my first big project. I took me 6 months and was so worth it to break the bordem

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
Original poster
Rizzoli123 · 17/09/2021 22:29

@RVN123

It fits a double bed with loads of overhang on each side. It was 16 squares high by 12 squares across so 192 squares, then stitched together as I completed every row to save the gigantic task of sewing together all at the end (been there, done that!). I can knock out 15 squares in a day if I'm organised enough. It's a sunburst pattern and the tutorial is on YouTube. I just use three colours (purple, teal and mint) and vary the order, and then the cream border, and finished it off with a scalloped ruffled edge. The recipient was delighted with it and I was so glad.
Wow that's amazing. Super speedy
OP posts:
Original poster
Rizzoli123 · 17/09/2021 22:31

@user1471478181 mine to if I am honest. I love how I can just sit and feel like nothing else matters. It was something for just me and only me.

OP posts:
fallfallfall · 17/09/2021 22:31

card making
and a complex cross stitch that has a long long way to go

Catflapkitkat · 17/09/2021 22:37

OP your friend's dog is amazing.

Such lovely pieces in the other photographs too.

I am cross stitching everyone Christmas cards this year

londonmummy1966 · 17/09/2021 22:59

I bought myself an electric sewing machine in first lockdown as my hand crank is dying on me and have probably run up about 150 face masks to match every possible outfit I and my 2 DC own....

At the moment I'm crocheting mini hats for the Innocent Big Knit campaign for Age Concern. The hats are fine but the pompoms to go on them are a bit of a faff..

toffeeshock · 17/09/2021 23:08

I enjoy cross stitching but started before the pandemic and had very little time to do it during the lockdowns thanks to having to homeschool!

weegiemum · 17/09/2021 23:32

I knit, and paint and do calligraphy and card making. For a few years I ran a small business with my cards and painting glass and silk.

But can I fucking crochet? I've tried and tried and so if anyone can point me to a reasonable YouTube tutorial I'd be delighted. I just want to be able to do a basic granny square for now!

HighHighHopes · 17/09/2021 23:44

I have crocheted for about 7 years but I got tired of it during lockdown. Now I'm doing cross stitch and hand embroidery.

Pic of my one of my last crochet projects attached. I liked doing that but just lost my cro-jo.

Cross stitch and other hobbies
DappledThings · 17/09/2021 23:45

But can I fucking crochet? I've tried and tried and so if anyone can point me to a reasonable YouTube tutorial I'd be delighted. I just want to be able to do a basic granny square for now!
I tried a few and it was the Bella Coco ones who did it for me

LoveFall · 17/09/2021 23:50

Card making
Very bad watercolour painting, but I try and it's fun
Combining watercolour painting and card making

I just mailed off a spooky Halloween card to my grandchildren in England.

JaceLancs · 17/09/2021 23:55

I used to enjoy cross stitch but my eyesight is too poor now
I re taught myself to crochet recently and made a few cushions
Knitted DP an Aran sweater in very complicated pattern and rediscovered jigsaws
DD and I have just signed up for a sewing course this autumn - I’ve not made a garment since I was at high school over 40 years ago and can’t even thread a sewing machine so am excited yet nervous

raspberryrippleicecream · 17/09/2021 23:59

I used to knit a lot pre DC, mostly colourwork. I also used to cross stitch. I bought the threads to finish the CS projects, but found it very hard on my eyes 25 years on ( it's on linen). But I started knitting again, discovered circulars and lace knitting, mystery knit alongs and have really enjoyed learning new skills.

stitchy · 18/09/2021 00:01

I've cross stitched for years but can't make any head way with my current project. I've sewn a load of soft toys during lockdown though

RVN123 · 18/09/2021 10:50

It was the Alisons Russells Crochet channel that helped me. Maybe also because I literally watched it 30-40 times, pausing it between stitches, I was so determined to learn it. When it finally clicked what I was doing and WHY I was doing it, it was like a lightbulb moment and off I went. After a while you don't need the tutorial any more.
Just remember where your corners are, use a stitch marker if necessary. You always go into the corner hole a lot more than the other holes, remember a corner hole shares two sides of the square, I think this is where I was going wrong at the very beginning.
Good luck!

RVN123 · 18/09/2021 10:55

This was the first tutorial that made sense to me.

3totheright4totheleft · 18/09/2021 11:19

That's so useful to know about the online tutorials. I am excited as DD is starting a new club this afternoon and I've decided to reclaim Saturday afternoons as craft time. O mainly cross stitch but determined to learn crochet too....hoping my ancient aunt can teach me as she's an avid crafter.

DappledThings · 01/10/2021 19:10

Just bumping this because I finished my first blanket (well 2nd but I wasn't happy with the first one) and I'm really chuffed!

Far more pink than I would choose but DD (3) is an absolute stereotype in her choices!

Didn't have any idea how to crochet at all until a few months ago and the online videos totally made it make sense.

Cross stitch and other hobbies
Cross stitch and other hobbies
Sirzy · 01/10/2021 19:13

I have got back into cross stitching and loving it. Just not enough time for all the kits I want to do

FeltCarrot · 01/10/2021 19:18

I used to cross stitch years ago but gave up when the children where small. First lockdown I took up wool cross stitch ( bigger holes!!) and made a few cushion covers, this year I have got hooked on cross stitch again making stitch people portraits for friends, have even had a few commissions!

GrolliffetheDragon · 01/10/2021 19:24

I've not cross-stitched for about 20 years. Have multiple half finished projects. Didn't dig them out during lockdown.

I did start on paper crafts of various kinds though, including origami and collage, and digital scrapbooking. With the origami I started off using printer paper trimmed to size. I have a huge stack of origami paper of various types and sizes now.

I know I'll never get great at it, but if I work slowly and methodically I get good results at the beginner- intermediate levels.

lazyarse123 · 01/10/2021 19:43

I love cross stitch but can only do printed not counted.
Am finding them a bit hard to get hold of.

Cross stitch and other hobbies
Cross stitch and other hobbies
CastleCrasher · 01/10/2021 19:49

I did lots of craft before Covid but work has got so busy since I've hardly had a chance to catch my breath. I miss it so much Sad lovely to see everyone else's work though! Smile

Original poster
Rizzoli123 · 01/10/2021 19:54

I finished my aunts cross stitch one today.

OP posts:
Boood · 01/10/2021 19:57

I took up cross stitching over the summer. I’ve done one big one, and I started the next today- a big landscape of Tuscany in the autumn. I don’t use patterns, just kind of copy photos. I find it so relaxing, and I love doing something creative. I had no idea it was such a popular hobby though!

Redshoeblueshoe · 01/10/2021 20:08

Lazyarse I prefer the printed ones, you can get them on Amazon. I'm doing a counted one, so I'm drawing some of it straight onto the fabric. I hadn't done any embroidery for years and I'm loving it