Vanity: How many of you know someone who is "Crafty"?

Vanity Post | October 3, 2012 | The Working Man

[The Working Man]

My wife and I were discussing how our Farm Store business was doing, (Not all that well). The fleece from our Alpacas and the products that can be made from it are the focus of what we are doing while we build up the numbers of our Herd.

The big sellers are ready made items like stuffed toys, Finger puppets and some clothing. But what we are both surprised at is how few, (very, very few), people today do "crafty" things in their spare time. Things like knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.

So that got me to thinking and here I am asking the question: How many of you do or know someone who does "crafty" things in their spare time? I'm not asking for specific answers about what they do just do they do "something". If you want to volunteer that information that would be nice too.

Now to our "Prepping community" here on Free Republic, do you think that the ability to do something "crafty" will be a beneficial skill to have in a SHTF world?

[knittnmom]

I knit. My daughter sews. I haven’t knitted anything in over 2 years, after knitting an afghan a year for several years. I found that people were “treasuring” my creations in storage, rather than using them, as I’d intended. Although I think the prayer shawl I knitted with alpaca yarn did get used a little.

[Responsibility2nd]

Vanity: How many of you know someone who is “Crafty”?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think there was a Crafty around here a few years ago. I think he got the zot.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Obama is not smart, just crafty.

[two23]

Since the 70’s I have been crocheting, knitting, sewing clothes, quilting, soap-making, and in the 90’s I added handspinning,
(with ashford wheels)
Machine embroidery, small rug making, art, cooking and
fixing things.
In 1980’s we raised a hog, heated only with wood, cured hams, raised chickens, rabbits and grew vegetables and herbs.
Canning, drying, preserving etc.
We have been honing our skills for years.
We have tools.
Everyone should teach themselves at least one valuable skill that produces something so they have a means to barter.

[concerned about politics]

Things like knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.

Socks will be very valuable during hard times in cold weather. Hats, scarves, and mittens as well.

Because there will be no forced heat, scrap quilts will be a necessity.

I try to think colonial, or non electric. No fuel, no electric, which means we'd be on our own with nothing but what we already have or can create. "How did the colonialists do it?" or "How did the American Indians do it?"

[Wiser now]

I do. I can sew and quilt. I can weave and have three looms. I have two spinning wheels, but that skill is currently lagging. One wheel is a modern version, the other a classic wool great wheel, missing a part.
I also paint still life and landscapes.

[pgkdan]

I’d love to have the time!

[sassy steel magnolia]

Have craft stuff sitting in my sewing room next to my untouched sewing machine! It seems that I have been too busy with other things to even take time to clean out that room, but am getting the urge lately to start knitting again.

My mother believed in teaching me & my sister at an early age how to sew with a machine, do hand sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, even weaving.

I do believe if the SHTF that these skills will be important either to continue to provide clothing and bags (useful for carrying any kind of item), as well as bartering and training others how to sew.

I think it will be useful to remake clothing out of older clothes, leather hides, etc. So I guess I might be one of those grandmothers you want to keep around (plus I can shoot, cook, tend a garden, teach children, etc.)...but I sure hope it doesn’t ever come to this. Been watching “Revolution” on tv and it has brought up some very interesting conversations at my house!

BTW: My sister is an avid quilter and knitter—she even has a spinning wheel! We definitely appreciate the cotton growers and the folks who provide the various types of wool we use. BIG thanks!!!

[jcsjcm]

I come from an extremely crafty family. My sister has a lot more ideas than I do as far as doing crafty things in her home, but I guess she just enjoys it more.

My Aunts 5 of them are just amazing! They do incredible things from making wedding cakes for family members to decorative items for the home. Christmas swaps are always hand made items. Every year you can't wait to see what ideas they have come up with. These items are then treasured year after year.

Does that help?

My grandmother who was wheel chair bound due to Rheumatoid Arthritis use to make barbie doll clothes, Christmas decorations and she would make amazing paint by number pictures using tweezers, glue, and fish tank rocks.

Here is a photo of the Geisha girl that she did in these rocks.



The photo doesn't do it justice.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

My wife knits and crochets, plus she makes jelly. I’m sure she could can other things as well.

For my part, I work on our cars and know enough about carpentry to make things that serve their intended purpose even if they don’t look terribly pretty. My last major project was a teardrop trailer.

[Phlap]

My wife is very good at most hand crafts(sewing knitting etc). Me not so much. As for the SHTF world, I don’t see it happinin any time soon but you never do, do ya?

[The Working Man]

Beautiful!

My dad used to do Intarsia’s before his Hips got too bad to stand on for long periods of time. He also used to make hand made knives and furniture. I’ve learned a lot from him!

[BudgieRamone]

mom and sister both quilt. Mom can (but hasnt for years spin and weave) I can weave, draw, paint, carve wood—badly, design and sew basic crude clothing articles and a few other artsy craftsy skills . My wife knits and mom falls into that category as well. gads i think evrry adult in my or my wifes immediate family does at least something .....

[concerned about politics]

I am very good with a needle except when I do big frame quilting.

I have a big frame, but it takes up too much room. When scrap quiting, I usually use the lap quiting method. I can carry it around with me if I want, because the sections are done in smaller pieces - any size I want. It's easier to just do it on my lap while watching tv at night.

Eventually, I have to sew all the pieces together, but even that stays smaller for a while. I do it in rows.

[massgopguy]

I know several Bookies.

[jcsjcm]

Oh that sounds wonderful! I hope you have some of his work - keep it and treasure it!

I feel extremely lucky to have this artwork from my grandmother. I hope to pass it down through the generations and it stays in the family!

[Georgia Girl 2]

My sister and mother knit, crochet and sew. I am currently crocheting a red, white and blue afghan to be followed by a camo one for the fiancee’. My sister and I also quilt and make pottery. My sister dehydrates food andI am getting ready to start as well as canning. I am stocking up on yarn so I can still make warm coverings when the SHTF probably in 12-18 mos from now.

[TNoldman]

I do carpentry, electrical, plumbing,fix cars/trucks, paint, shoot rifles/shotguns/handguns, reload my own ammo, fix stuff,etc. My sons also do the same. We try to fix stuff before buying new.

Now that I am retired - I am called a lot to do the above for others that can’t or won’t - go source of walkin’ around $’s.

[concerned about politics]

small rug making

We make braided and twined rag rugs from old used clothing that can't be used for scrap quilts. No need to toss them out.
I suppose in an emergency, these could also be used for floor mats for relatives who "unexpectedly" show up at the door.

I used to have Shetland sheep, so I have an Ashford wheel. We eventually let them die off from old age, because we were afraid we wouldn't be able to feed them in an emergency. No fuel means no hay or grain. I miss them - a lot.

[sportutegrl]

My hubby is a woodworker. To me it looks like he collects expensive woodworking equipment. He has taken over the three car garage and I have to park in the driveway. He made me two beautiful end tables that only cost $20,000, when you add in the jointer, planer, dovetail jig, etc., that he had to have to make them.