Crafting chat

[JackBauer]

Hi,

I know that a lot of you are busy crafting for christmas as should I be but I need to offload and thought it would be nice to have a thread we can offload about crafty stuff/other stuff/whatever amongst like minded fidgety fingers!

I spent today at teh soft play with DD's. DD1 has a friend in her class she has been begging to have over for lunch, but I don't really know her or her mum (they are 3) so we decided to take them both to soft play for lunch. It was fun, and she is lovely, but it meant I felt really awkward getting my crochet out in front of a relative stranger.
My mates are used to me doing crochet while talking to them but I thought she might think I was being rude, so I got nothing done. It was so weird sitting there doing nothing!

I have also been offered a job interview tomorrow for a low paying job I neither want, nor can afford to take with nursery fees etc so I have said I will go but now I don't want to.

On the plus side I have finally found a coat for ridiculously tall DD1 here considering she has just grown out of her 4-5 yr one I have to get a 6 yr olds size for her

And breathe.

Hello everyone! All the dones and to-dos look gorgeous!

I didn't get the sweater done on time. I've only got to finish the neckband and sew it up now though.
DN did get his fruity crayons, but I didn't label them and his Mum didn't know what they were and gave one to his Dad to eat.

I didn't get any craft books for Christmas, but I did get a DIY book and two cookbooks, icluding this. Nomnomnom....

Getting in early...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Those puppets are wonderful. I'd love to give that a go . Also, Welcome to our little crafty corner, Robyn!

CharChar, what's your due date? I think that my old sewing machine with it's shocking industrial action may have been responsible for my waters breaking with DS1, so watch yerself!!!

I've had my eye on that cake book for a while now. You'll have to tell us if it's worth the money.

Am also looking at a few crafty books on Amazon...may have to take the plunge now. I'm very tempted to dive into the attic to find my paints. Got the painting urge. May have to settle for the old wardrobe in Ds's room that could do with a serious makeover first.

As usual, so much to do, so little time...

Happy New Year

Sorry you didn't get your sweater done wasting but can't wait to see it Lol at eating fruity crayons, DSD was eyeing up her crayon cakes before I told her they weren't food That book looks so pretty, I got a baking book off my sister which I'm eager to try.

Due date is 28th Feb Knotty and she'd better not come early, I've got too much to do! Am partway through her little dress now, really enjoying sewing something so tiny. Can't believe how much easier it is with a better machine though.

My books came today and This Is Not A Book is so amazing. I haven't even done any of the tasks yet and already my mind is getting more creative. Which probably means I'm going to forget lots of important things in the near future

Get the paints out Knotty, streeeeetch your miiiiind [hippie emoticon]

just popping in to get you back on my threads list - DD rampaging and needs attention.

Will catch up later.

Oooh lovely lovely pictures everyone. I hope you all had wonderful Christmases and peaceful New Years.

I am quite of all the new sewing machine chat. I've had mine since I was 17 - mum offered me the machine or driving lessons.

I confess to being glad Christmas is over, I took the tree down and put everything away on Saturday and I now feel so much better to be able to get on with projects for me, DD and the house.

Currently making draught excluders. Front door is done, kitchen door will be done tonight and DD and I will have matching aprons and oven gloves.

I have also made a rather big decision about the direction our lives will take. I was offered a FT job in London, but I've always wanted my own boutique selling my stuff and other beautiful bits. So I've decided to not take the job in London but to stay in Devon and try to make a go of a sewing business with a view to having regular stalls at local craft fairs and one day, many years from now, my own shop. EEK!

So from now on all sewing that isn't for me will be trial designs for my business. Double Eeek!

OOh steak, how exciting! Good luck!

I finally got my books on monday but DD1 came out in pox on monday morning so I haven't been able to get anything done! So much stuff though, some of it fab. I especially love the 201 crochet blocks and motifs book as it has so many different blocks I am thinking of just making one when uninspired to make a big blnaket (eventually)

Anyway, now for the scary bit - current project list
My friends baby bag and stuff, which I promised her ages ago and haven't got round to ye although I have only seen ehr for 2 minutes to hand over rainbow blanket as DD's have been constantly fricking ill for a month.
A crochet sunflower in a (real) pot for my mums birthday
'Something' for my sisters birthdayk, only she keeps forgetting what
Wrist warmers for me from new handdyed/spun wool from ebay.
Something else for my friends birthday, not decided what yet.
Crochet name bunting for DD1 and her BFF for their birthdays.
Picnic blanket/napkins for DD1's birthday 'tea party'

See, I am still so uninspired! Aagh!

We have a great discount book shop in town.

I picked up this crotchet for kids book

I also got this book of crafts and another by the same author that is very similar, but just different and beautiful enough to buy.

Ah the list.....

Aprons for me and DD.
Oven gloves.
Winter coat for me.
Green dress and green cape for DD.
Blue dress and floofy net skirt for DD.
Cover body of easy chair (already done cushions)
Cover two bedroom chairs - one for DD one for me.
Make curtains for my wardrobe.
Possibly recover DDs highchair.
Finish crocheting DDs red bolero.
Cream long sleeve tee for me.
Something for SILs 40th bday.

Probably a ton of other stuff too.

After that it is all about trying to get patterns together for the business.

What sort of things are you going to do? would you sell patterns as well as completed 'things' as I buy a lot of crochet patterns on etsy.

Jack - I was thinking of selling patterns as well, but I am self taught so rather slow at drafting stuff.
I was thinkng of having a proper "season" of clothes for boys and girls, I started doing girls clothes a couple of years ago but life got in the way.
I learnt I needed to be more organised so a capsule selection for boys and girls - some unisex to keep things efficient - do it in a couple of colourways. That way I can make them up in DD's size in both colourways as samples and to do photos and then make to order, that way I don't have to invest in lots of fabric for stock.

I am doing this on a shoestring so there isn't a large investement in fabric that I can make.
Which is good in some ways.

Friends on my post-natal thread have come up with lots of helpful ideas too.
Simple things like parent and child aprons, personalised blankets/pillows - the kind of thing that is simple to make, looks good and works as gifts too.

erm not sure if that answers your question - there are so many ideas and it is hard trying to get them into some kind of order.

Ominous smell coming from DD better sort. Thanks for your encouragement.

Not even sure where my question was going, sounds good though

Good luck steaknife - well done for actually doing it rather than just talking about it!

I'm quite excited by the clothes selection - make sure you post here when you're up and running. I'm thinking practical rather than cute - and can I suggest maybe not everything in pink for girls?!

Can I ask what you're planning on for a winter coat? I like the idea of making one myself, and have some lovely red wool mix fabric for it, but haven't plucked up the courage yet to decide on a pattern and cut into it.

I've not posted my list here before, and I'm rather intimidated at the speed everyone seems to get down theirs - stuff stays on my list for months if not years! Anyway here it is:

DD:
felt mail - done a couple but need to finish off
clothes for dolly
(both of the above were supposed to be Christmas presents...)
skirt
scarf from my new crochet book

ME:
finish off: top, dress, skirt, jacket...
(I'm a terrible finisher - some of these just need hemming before I can wear them!)

OTHERS:
one of those wristlets Jack posted about before Christmas for my sister

HOUSEHOLD:
miscellaneous alterations for me and DH
some kind of hanging storage bag thingy for hats, gloves etc

I feel I should say stuff gets kicked off my list in a seasonal manner, so summer dresses for DD's will appear back on my list in a few months, and maybe this year they will get finished....

Skiffler - it is Mccalls M5718
I am doing view C. I wanted coat that had full arms as my current winter coat is a very narrow cut so I can't get my chunky jumpers under it - well I can but my arms then stick out at a funny angle

I am planning to embelish it with ribbons and felt flowers running down one side of the front. DD's v cute coat from last year that inspired me.
Ah bums the coat I was going to show was in a set on my pro flickr account that has expired - does anyone know if I renew it then will I get all the photos that were in the sets back?

I'd never thought of making a winter coat, but it makes perfect sense?
Do you need certain fabric types? Is it expensive? Hard?
OOh...I feel a whole new list cmoing on!

Jack - not at all hard, if you choose a simple pattern. Buy the best fabric you can - high wool content or cashmere, silk lining if you can find it (for warmth)

I have a wool cashmere blend, flannel interlining and synthetic lining and it came to about £40 plus pattern - but I have interfacing and buttons already - so you could probably get a better than shop quality one for £60 - £70

I find collars trickiest so something like Mccalls M5767 would be ideal for a first coat - no shaping and a stand up collar - or you could just leave the collar off.

Or you could get some old wool blankets and do a kimono style or dressing gown style coat.

Wow! I love your DD's coat - those flowers are gorgeous. When you described it I thought it might be a bit OTT, but that looks great - individual yet subtle. If this is the kind of thing you're going to be selling, I'm definitely interested.

I've been toying with Simplicity 2812 which has lots of variations. The princess lines appeal to me - I'm an hourglass shape, and most coats tend to go straight up and down, so I'm hoping to get a bit of shape into it.

I've got a busy month work-wise, so doubt that I'll get much done on my list, but it would be nice to manage something...

Sorry SKiffler - I didn't make that clear, I didn't make DDs coat, but yes that is very much mystyle of things. Simple clothes but going for interesting fabric and embelishments.

One of my summer dresses I think my talent lies more in putting different fabrics together.
The year I did the summer dresses they were all one offs and it doesn't really work well because people want this style in that size.

That is a lovely pattern, I like the different collar choices.

Do you know the Stitchers Guild sewing forum. It is a very good and very friendly forum. I'm not on it so much since discovering MN but it is excellent for advice and ideas. Also lovely ladies that send you emergency fabric parcels. Tis the sewing version of MN.

Ah I see - an inspiration piece. I can't wait to see you coat, though.

Can't see the picture - it keeps asking me to sign in (I don't have a Flickr account - I don't usually need one to view other people's pictures?)

Not familiar with Stitchers' Guild - off to take a look. I usually check out reviews of patterns I'm interested in on Patternreview but it doesn't really have the community aspect to it. Shamefully, I've never got round to adding any reviews of my own!

Lots of the same people are on Patternreview as on SG,I think there are forums there, but I've always preferred SG - maybe because I found it first.

Maybe I linked to a private photos, sorry.

Yes! Finally finished the skirt for DD! Maybe there's something in this listmaking on a public forum?

Hello! Nice to see you're all busy, busy.

Steaknife, you go! How exciting.

I didn't get the sweater finished as the sleeves appear to be too small for the sleeve holes. I think I can rectify it without having to pull it out and re-knit, but was a bit disheartened so have left it for the time being and am knitting a twisty scarf using short rows in a nice mohair yarn.

I am sucha slacker.
What with one thing and another (chicken pox, guests, more pox) I have such a long list and very short deadlines! aaah

Crochet sunflower ina pot for my mummy. By Thursday
Scarf for my sister
Something for my godmother.
Valentines crochet flowers for DH
STILL got to make the flipping bag for my friend which is on my first list on this thread.
And yet I still can't get myself motivated!

After a promising start, I've not managed anything else off my list. Also just realised it's our wedding anniversary on Monday, and the theme is 'wool' - made DH a scarf for Christmas last year, and he doesn't wear jumpers even if I had time to do anything...

I've decided he needs one of these and a nice bottle of wine...

I can't wait for my DD@s to get old enough for Dr Who, I want to make one of those!

I made DH some crochet ami hearts last year and put faces on them, like happy, sleepy and face.
V amusing, except Dd1 nicked them that morning and now they live in teh toybox