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Original poster

Do you ever finish something and wish someone else knew how clever it was?

31 replies

stealthsquiggle · 14/04/2014 10:55

..that sounds awful, but hopefully someone out there will know what I mean.

I have just finished a bag for DD(7) - a little messenger bag based on this which she saw in a shop and was lusting after. I made it for the pure challenge, TBH (I could have just said no and pointed to the large pile of bags she already has), and to get myself over my zip phobia, but it's come out really well and no-one but me is going to appreciate how tricky it was Sad. DS made "there there clever Mummy" noises because he knows what's good for him but that's about it.

I am considering making letting DD take it to holiday club tomorrow because the teacher in charge is someone who might just appreciate it Blush

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flakjacket · 14/04/2014 11:01

Oh yes! I sewed lovely chain stitch spirals on to my daughters pointe shoes and I put it on facebook because she wasn't sufficiently stunned. A friend made me a medal :-)

I also made a stunning bolster cushion for a friend with piping and zip (neither of which I'd one before). I took photos and my mum appreciated my work...

flakjacket · 14/04/2014 11:03

Oh and how wonderfully clever you are btw Smile

Nocomet · 14/04/2014 11:03

YANBU and I'm sending you a "Welldone"

I too have zip phobia, not helped by an elderly sewing machine that throws it's shuttle thread if asked to sew across the end of one.

Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 14/04/2014 11:13

Thank you both for indulging me SmileBlush

I have sort of forced myself to get over the zip thing, because in hunting for zips for this bag I ended up impulse-buying an ebay lot of YKK zips which worked out at 10p each - for 270 of them Shock.

..I forsee a lot of zipped bags.

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Hoogally · 14/04/2014 12:33

I made a gruffalo costume for DS third birthday party. Spent all summer on it. He wore it for ninety minutes in total.

and the millipede costume the following year suggests I didn't learn my lesson

DD comes along and I hand appliqué and quilt a little tag cuddle cloth. The child adores it whenever I am making it. Once it's put together? Well I guess it's ok as a peekaboo cloth but that's about it as far as she is concerned!

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 14/04/2014 12:35

Facebook is great for getting appreciation for these things have been known to put up more photos of fabric things I've made than of actual people

My crafty friends and I have a theory that the only people who truly appreciate something you've made are those that make things too, as they can tell how much work has gone into them.

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 14/04/2014 12:35

forgot to say well done!

Hoogally · 14/04/2014 13:00

Oh that's a very good theory onthebottom I think you're completely right.

ghostmous3 · 14/04/2014 20:34

I know what you mean. I just made the dds a granny shawl each, nothing really fancy but I am ridiculously proud of them. I even crocheted them a little flower and heart and put loads of fringes on the bottom. Dd2 is happy with hers but after nagging me whilstI am making it dd3 has refused to wear hers. No one apart from my mum has seen them, im too scared to put them on facebook.

Hoogally · 14/04/2014 22:02

I think you should put them on Facebook if you want to.

I bet they are better than you think.

I started a blog partly because Frienda kept asking how I did stuff but partly just so I could go "ta da, I made this!".

I don't think we celebrate the hand made enough.

Go on, I dare you!

Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 15/04/2014 07:04

I do post photos of most of my stuff on Flickr - and they get lots of views, but no comments - which doesn't quite fulfill the need for "ta da - look what I did" but it's nice that people look at them, anyway. I am only really a lurker on Facebook, though.

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Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 15/04/2014 07:09

oh, and predictably, having jumped up and down and squealed, DD abandoned the bag on a chair 5 minutes later. I bit my tongue and didn't say "but have you looked in the pockets - see how cool the lining is - isn't it clever how neat the zips are....appreciate it more!"

still might make her take it to holiday club in search of a more appreciative audience

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TheNinjaGooseIsHooking · 15/04/2014 11:44

maybe you should start a ta-da! thread for everyone to post on or you could post a photo here, as a zip avoider I will happily tell you how fab the bag is Grin

Hoogally · 15/04/2014 12:27

I was actually thinking of having a monthly spot on my blog where I had a ta da moment for a fellow crafter but unfortunately most of my followers aren't commenters so that wouldn't feed the need for praise!

I've had DD in her new trousers for three days before anyone noticed them and I got to say "I made them!".

We need badges to tell people something is home made!!!

Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 15/04/2014 12:30

OK, so when you look closely the pattern doesn't line up as well as it might, but at least all the camper vans are the right way up eventually

Do you ever finish something and wish someone else knew how clever it was?
Do you ever finish something and wish someone else knew how clever it was?
Do you ever finish something and wish someone else knew how clever it was?
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ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter · 15/04/2014 12:35

I shamelessly show my handmade bits and bobs to anyone who will be slightly interested and a few who aren't. Mainly I share photos on Twitter or Instagram (I don't do facebook) and Ravelry. It's not easy getting praise for my achievements I have to work quite hard at it Wink

ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter · 15/04/2014 12:39

That is lovely Stealth. I am not a sewer seamstress so I am in awe of anyone who can join two bits of fabric together without a stapler. Sad that you don't have a more appreciative audience. One day hopefully she'll get it.

Hoogally · 15/04/2014 13:15

That's great Stealth I am very impressed with the zips!

cate16 · 15/04/2014 13:41

That's lovely stealth - well done!

hoogally any chance of a link to your blog? I love looking at what other people make :)

To be honest, it has never really occurred to me to leave comments, perhaps I should start. :)

TheNinjaGooseIsHooking · 15/04/2014 16:55

it is fab!! The zips look so neat, I make a right pigs ear of that type of thing Smile

ComfyLeatherChair · 15/04/2014 18:38

Stealth that is completely amazing. (I am in awe of anyone who can use a sewing machine)
And of Ninja's crochet skills

StressheadMcGee · 15/04/2014 18:41

It looks great, those zips are really neat! I totally understand the need for a ta-da moment (and don't get me started on my colleagues who see a baby quilt that I've made as a present who then ask how much I'd charge - then regret asking when I answer honestly!)

Hoogally · 17/04/2014 22:55

Cate16 I can't post my blog on here because I've not hot around to getting on the mumsnet bloggers network but I am allowed to pm you a link

It's a relatively new blog and I've got a bit of a backlog of projects I've photographed and will be putting up over the next few weeks so hold in there and you'll get a few more things on. I've just got to give a few of the items as presents first!

And I'm always happy to get constructive criticism too!

I'll send that pm

whatdoesittake48 · 18/04/2014 06:55

if something is going to take me a long time to complete - I keep it. other people get the easy to do stuff. Luckily my MIL is a knitter and understands the work involved. But i think everyone else hasn't a clue...

MothershipG · 18/04/2014 07:07

Well done! That looks great, I'm always very gung ho about zips so usually make a pigs ear of them.

I mainly quilt but I've made a few bags and find I actually get a lot more appreciation for them than the quilts, I guess because they are seen out and about more. Definitely make your daughter take it with her to holiday club - and every time she leaves the house! Grin