All new crafting chat thread.

[Alicetheinvisible]

Hello, the old thread fizzled out after christmas, so here is a brand spanking new one.

You don't have to be at all particularly talented just enthusiastic

Oh snickers, that is gorgeous.

I think people would be happy to donate some of their stash.

I would happily pay postage, as a very very minimum. And even the cost of the fabric. It's just the quantity involved if I buy it from a retailer - I'd be able to make 5 of the things. Now that's actually not such a bad idea, I could have one in each room...

Or gifts, sell them...

snickers I'll have a look at my collection, see if there is anything monochromatic there. Probably got a load of zebra print..

Snickers i don't think i have anything i'm afraid. Do you have a remnants bin at your fabric shop? If you ask then they might have a dig around for you. If not, what about swatches? Would they be big enough? And i'm sure there are some dodgy delightful old shirts at the charity shops that may be suitable

First step towards the blinds is complete! I have measured the window! I will have 6cms for seam allowance/hemming, so not a lot, but managable

Can I join you?

A question for yarnoholics - how do you store your stash?
I have wool all over the place, masses of it. Entire fleeces and everything. Storage must be toddler/cat proof. Any suggestions?

snickersnack - that quilt is lovely.

snickers - that is gorgeous. So are you looking for single colour & white combinations, rather than just black & white? I don't think I have anything but I will have a look.

Didn't do anything re sewing all weekend - but did a little work on dress last night & will do a little more tonight - having a little prob with the Burda instructions. I do find that sometimes the more tricky manouvers get a little lost in translation.

I don't find the sewing tricky but i really struggle with even simple instructions

Oh that is gorge snickers.
Reminds me actually, was thinking of suggesting a fabric swap, maybe a Fat eigth or 10x10 square swap so you get rid of some stash and get new stuff in return, anyone up for that?
Will start new thread...here

Alice, well done, have got no further than half heartedely measuring window

Gentle, mine is in black bags in wardrobe, small cupbaord down here and 2 larg tote bags. Oh, and a box under teh bed. And a cardboard box on the window sill.

baahhh... posted once and now lurcking because i am trying not to do any crafting until the new craft room/ study is done, but you have all put up such great links I am champing at the bit!

(I have made one of those "office-shirt-into-toddler-dress" ones from way up the thread before, it worked really well!)

am knitting anyway... this in some random brown yarn from my Grandma's cupboard!

Ooh you've all got such lovely ideas/projects on the go!

I am quite proud of myself today, I have never done any machine patchwork before but I decided to make DD a cushion. I have sewn together 16 squares, and they are (very nearly) all even

Have nearly finished DD's scarf for Christmas, I plan to get some more of it done whilst waiting for the election results on TV tonight!

*lurking
i mean

Somebody said earlier on that they were taking a table at a craft fair. I have been thinking about doing that, our local monthly craft market charges £29 for a table. You have to show them samples of your work before you are approved, so the standard should be quite high. Not sure it will be a huge money spinner but I like the idea of making my crafts pay for themselves.

Does anyone know if £29 is about the going rate? I'd like to try it once to see... maybe later in the summer - I would need to decide what to put on there and then make the stock! Probably sewn items mostly, for mums and babies/children.

Ouch, £29 is loads. I am doing a stall at DD1's school summer fete with a knitting mate, it's only a tenner and we figured to do it together £5 isn't a huge layout and we have company if we are shunned by the other mums I know Pheebe does craft fairs as well so she might know better than me.

Prety cardie pooka!

Yet again I have started something not on my list at all Decided last night after too much wine that Stewie Griffin would be simple in crochet form, so I have made his head already and am going to try and finish him in front of Messrs Brooker, Mitchell and Carr tonight.

£29 does sound a lot but it does also depend on what you are selling. I would need to sell a lot of cards to just break even but for someone selling cushion covers, knitted garments...etc...you are more likely to cover costs.

I think "Craft fairs" cover a huge range and you could be overtaken by very large professional stands or in the middle of something more like a bootfair where people haggle and expect something for nothing.

It's worth doing a bit of research; see if it's a regualr event, perhap go along to have a nosie....

Snickers 10" by 10" fabric squares are often called "layer cakes"

Not sure if I have seen any plain colour ones though will go through my bookmarks...

Have finally finished my bag! Well actually as always, I have finished the machine sewing & just have to hand-sew up the gap in the lining. (not keen on handsewing)
will try & take some photos soon.

rainbow 10x10 squares or they do a fat 1/4 pack (reasonable too)

I also found an online store a while back that sold their own jelly rolls etc, mainly in plain colour packs but dont seem to have bookmarked it. Will try googling & get back to you.

What are jelly rolls?

Kaloki - jelly rolls are 40 or so 2.5 inch strips cut across the width of the fabric. Usually a way of showcasing a whole fabric range. So you get lots of fabric in a convenient precut form.

YoMoJo - I did look at layer cakes. I think the problem will be that they are cut from a single fabric range so unless I can find one that does what I need, I may struggle. What I need are lots of squares from different layer cakes.

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to order the solids then see what I've got to match in my stash, then may come back and ask nicely. I have just had a bag of squares I ordered on eBay - some good options in there (and some absolute monstrosities!). And in any case i really ought to finish off some of my WIPs - a baby quilt to bind, a queen size quilt to quilt and bind, and a couple of half finished tops before I start any more. Will report back!!

Right, I've done nowt for ages as I'm illing and have just been plonked in front of tv in the evenings.

BUT, step-MIL birthday on Tuesday, so I need to finish the wrist-warmers. They don't take long, just need to crack on.

All the lovely fabric is lovely.

Have i linked to this recently? MN cafting group on FB, great for sharing picsetc.

I have been sewing today, made 4 doll bodies and just have to stuff and embroider them, which is all handsewing, so could take awhile....
Made some crochet apple cozies the other day, veyr funny, stop your appple getting banged up in your bag and look veyr cute, and a load of butterflies too.

Snicker, have a look at bundle fabric on ebay, sometimes people sell all their offcuts/old squares, so you could end up with a big bag full, might be able to find one that has some which you could use?

Nice name. I need a new name but I'm chicken.

I love apple cozies, did you follow a pattern?

I will post some photos on the FB group soon promise!

I made progress on the wristwarmers last night, just keep getting stuck on MN.

I had a look at the challenge thread, I may join after this week, everyone seems very inspired.

Pattern was from ravelry, I have linked to it on FB bit. Was so fast and easy and teh DD's spotted them yesterday morning and went hysterical, veyr funny.

Hi - thought I'd pop in and say hello - my biggest hobby (when I get time!) is cross stitch - absolutely love watching a picture grow! Currently sewing a beautiful cushion for my Gran's 98th birthday with pretty pink roses in the shape of a love-heart. Then have a new baby card to do for a friend whose baby is due any day and then back to finish my Pollyanna Pickering picture of a badger, rabbit, mice, squirrel and hedgehog which is almost finished and has taken over a year to do!

So nice to see so many of us MNrs being so crafty!