Crafty ideas for first timer

[TittyBojangles]

I'm currently on mat leave (DS 15 weeks) and BORED. Sorry, I know I shouldn't say that but I hope you know what I mean.

Anyway, I've been thinking about starting a crafty hobby (was thinking about this ages before DS, but now I have a bit more time). But I don't know what to do. It needs to be something easy to pick up/put down without loads of equipment/materials to sort out. I am quite arty but have no 'skills' as such, i.e. I can't knit or crochet. I do have a sewing machine and can do basic stuff with that. I wouldn't mind learning to do something new.

Sorry for the waffle, do any of you experienced crafter have any good ideas of where to start?

oooh, cross stitch, good idea. I know this might sound stupid but do you just create little pictures? I'd quite like to make something usefulish. WHere do I start? One of those 'learn how to' kits?

Great name btw

I second cross-stitch.
Also, messing around with felt is dead easy and results look pretty (its also QUICK!). Stick a bit of stuffing inside and finish off with blanket stitch around the edges - you can make lots of bright, cheerful decorations for your DS's room, or start work on a bunch of child-friendly felt Easter/Christmas/insert occasion ornaments...

TB - I learnt (when DS was about the same age as yours!) with one of those beginners kits... (cross-stitch)

I have a bit of an obsessional personality I think so I can see an expensive shopping trip for materials coming on!! Oh dear.

Geo what do you make with your cross stitch?

Are there any good websites or books anyone would recommend for ideas? Just so I don't come on here every 5 minutes pestering you all for advice

I will have a look in my local shop for cross stitch stuff then. Or are there any good online sellers?

Crochet? That looks hard, maybe when I have the next DC?

Once you learn the basics of cross stitching, you can buy pattern magazines - I use a pattern as base and then adapt it (I like to change colours and add bits...).

I mostly do gifts, though - stuff like hand towels for Mother's Day etc (have to be small patterns - short attention span!).

I find cross-stitching is a bit like meditation, actually. Counting squares and etc.

I've recently started on embroidery - I trace the pic I want on linen and stitch it in. I did DD and DS's hand prints for my mum, it looks great!

Aw, what a great idea for a pressie Geo.

I know this sounds stupid, but doesnt the cross stitch get done on a holey squarey type of material (jeez, this really does make me sound thick), so how do you turn it into something? Like your hand towels.

As you have a sewing machine, its dead easy - just make sure the cross stitch fabric (can't remember what its called in English!) is cut to fit the width of the towel (for example), then after you've finished the cross stitch you sew them together (across the bottom end of the towel, if you see what I mean). You can add some lace or summat around the edges if you want to go fancy...

I don't have a sewing machine so I buy towels from a craft shop that have the cross stitch section prepared, but I'm not in Uk so I don't know whats available for you.

Hi TittyBojangles I love craft and really enjoy cross stitch. As the others have said it's easy to pick up and great fun to do. You can decorate all sorts of things. I did some lovely tea towels as a project once. You can buy them plain with the aida (the fabric you stitch on) as the border.

Anyhow, this is a good site to have a look through and I can recommend their magazine membership too.

www.thecrossstitchguild.com

Have fun and let us know how you get on

There are loads of lovely free sewing patterns out there. Most of these I have got from the sewmamsew blog - I have linked to a lovely cross stitch cushion.

otherwise these would make nice beginners projects and there are plenty of utube videos out there to get you going.

cute hat

easy bibs

wipes case & mat

mobilehttp://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSFabricMobile.pdf

SOCK MONKEY!!!!!! or this oneMy only attempt turned out hideous but the boys saw him before I chucked him in the bin! Now they fight over who is taking him to bed lol!

Sorry for not noticing the extra replies...

I have been busy! I got my sewing machine out of retirement and have knocked up a very misshapen knitting bag!

Then my Mum taught me to knit and I am about 5 inches into a very misshapen scarf.

And I bought the Cath Kidston needlepoint book and am planning my first cross stich design (does this also have the potential to turn out very misshapen?)

Thanks again for all your advice and I will check out those links.

I like this blog but it is too complicated for me. Too much work actually. increations.blogspot.com/2011/01/quilled-totoro-toy.html?utm_source=FeedBurner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+increations+%28Crafts%2C+Kids%2C+Quilling%29