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

Ah Dingle - so I am not the only one with a wool stash in the loft! I have around 3 bin bags and some of mine goes back 20 years or more.... A lot of it dates from local wool shops closing down as I can't resist a bargain!

One of my aims this year is to reduce my stash.

Any whole balls are now recorded on a spreadsheet so I know what I have in each weight.

I have already sold 2 packs of yarn on eBay that I knew I didn't want to use for anything. When I get some time I intend to sort the rest into

(1) Yarn I want to use for family members/gift.

(2) Yarn I want to work with but will sell the results.

(3) Yarn I really wish I hadn't bought and will try to sell unused on eBay.

And then there is the fabric stash to sort.....

Somewhere in the loft is a big box of cotton squares and an unfinsihed patchwork quilt I started making in my teens...I was 44 last month!

I did categorise all my wool, labelling boxes, snipping off small samples and making a chart as to what wool was in what box...unfortunately the list has gone awol and all the boxes got moved around when we had the house extended 3 yrs ago.

I am SO glad I am not alone. I do feel guilty about going out and buying more wool...but it also feels good at the same time if that makes any sense.

He he he.....I just loved the colour! looks a bit more pinkish in the pic though!

Oh hello! Can I join in?

I'm a fairly newbie crafter (last 6 months or so), but have found my niche: crocheting small things, esp baby / children's slipper boots. I've also recently started spinning (drop spindle), and I'm off at the weekend to get me some Gotland tops, plus some white tops plus natural dye (I'm thinking madder).

Noooo downdog we can't have a wet weekend, I have to spend most of it watching DS1 and DS2 playing football, and if the weather is OK I can take a folding chair and my knitting and get on with it whilst watching!

helyg hope you've got a huge umbrella you can knit under if the weather doesn't favour you!

Hi Spawn, and others! I have been busy with Kaloki's challenge to makes omething new everyday, It's going ok.
I found a table in the street being given away so have started to set up a sewing corner in my bedroom, then last night I made flowers out opf vhs tape for a clutch bag, and just made DD1 a crochet flower hair clip.

Plan for today was to cut out and sew up some mini dolls but DD2 is being uber clingy and grabbing at her ear so I might end up spending it in ooh docs instead

Afternoon.

Hope she's ok Jack.
The challenge sounds good, but I want to find my craft feet a little more I think before I dive into such things.

Snickersnack, the pattern arrived! Thank you soooo much! It's perfect. Simple enough not to scare a newbie seamstress, but complex enough to learn about sewing properly.

Dingle, did you see I finished a 17 year old cross-stitch the other week?
I also have a 17 year old patchwork project to complete. It's a bag and all the patchwork is actually complete, I did some french knitting for the handle, 3 strands I'll plait and all I need to do is line it.
Which I'll be able to do when I've learnt to sew.

Hello Spawn, spinning is very impressive.

I didn't get any more knitting done as have been glued to MN for the last two night.

Has anyone got any good tutorials of how to make fabric flowers? I want to make a nice big flower as a hair accessory (sorry, can never spell that word!) for ladies day in July (another thig to add to my list......)

Hello again!

purplefrog - I'm in awe of your yarn spreadsheet! I was feeling quietly pleased that I had at last untangled and tidied all of my yarns into a drawer, but I can see that I'll have to up my game!

Alice - these are crocheted, so not fabric exactly, but veeerrrry sweet!

I had a fab evening last night spinning my Gotland tops. It's so silky and soft. I'm not sure what to do about the chamomile I bought for dying though - it has an infestation of little red beetly things. I suppose I should take it back / complain to the seller, but she was such a sweet lady I don't know if I have the heart!

Hello all,

Alice, I have loads.
Loopy felt
vintage ones
layered ones

They are all felt, If I am making fabric ones I cut out a 5 petsal shape twice, add interfcing inside and then zigzag round the egdes so they fray on the outside. Layer a couple fo them and bung a button on the middle, very sweet.

I did some freeform crochet last night, was very fun.

My new sewing space is upstairs waiting to be used so I have a new to do list.

Present for friends twins, born prem so I am well behind already!
Fabric dolls for DD's
Trousers for DD2
Hairbands for both DD's
Assorted finger puppets for craft fair
bag for my friend
New handbag for me for summer
Blanket for friend's baby due in 2 months

Hi there,

can I join in? I am sooo impressed with all the things that you are all getting done, I struggle to sit down and do some cross stitch, each gets so elderly that I get bored with them and start something new, which of course doesn't actually help getting the rest finished!!!

Still as it is a bank holiday and DH2B has gone to work I have decided that today is a day to do just what I want rather than what I feel I should do (ie housework malarky) so I have been making a top out of Prima magazine, dead simple only six or so pieces and I just have to sew in the sleeves and hem it and it's done! I was in the fabric shop and was thinking I could embellish it and make it all fancy, but I figure this time it would be better to actually finish something rather than making it more complicated that it should be!

Quick question, does anyone else find that the sizings on patterns are less generous than the sizes in shops? I seem to be quite a lot bigger than I would have thought I should be.....

I think that is true of patterns, generally, BabsH. I've heard some horror stories. I only make children's clothes, which are usually ok though certainly not generously sized, so I tend to end up making the next size up (also working on the principle if I'm going to all that trouble, then I really should make sure they get plenty of wear out of it!).

WastingAway, glad you like it. Would love to see a picture when you're done - are you going to use some funky material? I made ds a pair out of bright yellow and green check last year - he was 2 and prone to wandering off, so I decided he could wear them anywhere he might get lost, and we'd be able to track him down. But dh was horrified by them, and refused to leave the house with him if he was wearing them.

Room for another? (How did I not notice this thread before?!)

I've got silly amounts of things to do..

• finish making a dress
• make DP a suit
• learn to knit
• finish off reupholstering some chairs
• make a hammock for our rats
• need to finish off a top - all I need to do is attach sleeves and hem, but I get distracted so easily!

babsH In stores I'm a size 14-16, in patterns I'm a 20. They work them out differently I believe.

Thanks Jack, love those, but looking for some more chiffony looking ones iyswim?

Babs - the first pattern i ever used was a vogue one. My back length was their size 4 and my waist was their size 20 that makes me sound like a weeble. I am actually a size 10 on the bottom and 14 on the top (big boobs) and 5ft3 so really not very weeble like.

I think the Burda, Simplicity and NewLook ones tend to be the better ones.

ALice, have just seen these

Might have a go myself!

these much the same as kaloki's but all in one.
Ribbon one so just use a pretty ribbon
not chiffon but cute
Ooh, just foudn these ones, they look CUTE

and now I have to get DD1 back to school!

Made a necklace last night based on this very sweet.
Got to go to library and renew my craft books. Again.

Ooh JB that necklace is lovely!

Ooooooh, so pretty, thank you (plus something i can do in front of the telly )

Jack - love that necklace

Have just noticed that DP has a load of chiffon for a photoshoot..

Must wait till he's finished with it, but it's so tempting.. though would love to see his face if he went to use it and there were a load of circles cut in it.

Another tutorial

Thats nice too.

I have decided to make the baby's bird mobile out of brightly coloured felt as i have a fair bit i was planning on using for things at christmas (last year).

Really need to measure windows and make a start on those blinds.....

Ooh Jack that necklace is gorgeous.

I have been to the market this morning and bought fabric for the toddler trousers. Plus elastic.
Next step, read sewing machine instructions.

I cast-on for the wristwarmers last night.
The Eco Wool is very loosely spun (I think?) and splits easily so requires concentration.

Evening

Still need to finish my top but getting help with the hemming soon or i'll do it wonky!!

I've been sitting in the station car park waiting for my DH2B knitting a tea cosy!!! It's really nice to sit listening to the radio and knowing there is nothing else i have to be doing right at that moment

I think the sizing on patterns was based on 1950's sizes when everyone was a lot smaller than they are now, certainly I rarely find anything that fits in vintage shops, my shoulders are too broad!!

I am going to make this. Or at least, I was until I realised how many different pieces of fabric I would need. The solids are fine - I can buy a jelly roll type thing, I think. But where do I get 40 different 10x10 inch squares of different coloured monochromatic prints??? The minimum order on most websites is a 1/4 of a yard, which is way more than I need. I have lots of red and white fabric, and some blue and white in various shades, but everything else is multi coloured.

If I posted a "help needed, am willing to pay" type post on this board, do you think kind MNers would come up trumps??