[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?

[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 .....

[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.

[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.

[Grammy]

I am crafty. I have knitted since I was about 12 (many many years ago) and after 9/11 taught myself to crochet, since I figured they wouldn’t let me take my needles on a plane. I also have done a lot of embroidery and other needle work. I can sew, but hate it.

I also can..... mostly jams and jellies for Christmas presents, though I have done pressure canning for preserving the garden.

I have refinished furniture, painted, cook, bake and teach baking and cake decorating, and will be teaching myself to spin.... so I can teach the boyscouts.

My current craft project is a present for my almost 1 year old grand angel. I have knitted her a purse, covered it with flowers, and filled it with knit and crochet butterflies. That way she can practice putting in and taking out, counting, and colors. (it also uses left over bits and pieces of yarn)

Most of the purpose of my crafting is to give unique gifts. So many of my friends and family have everything they need, that it is hard to purchase an appropriate present for them.

[CatherineofAragon]

I sometimes make wreaths, and I used to be very into decorative painting with acrylics, and painting glassware. I’ve gotten away from it for some reason, although I usually do a bit at Christmastime.

I’d love to be able to sew or knit, but I have absolutely no aptitude with needles, and little patience to try.

[twyn1]

I sew quite a bit (mostly costumes) and am now learning how to fold origami flowers and using those & other unique materials to make bouquets and corsages. My daughter and I did the flowers/decorations for her wedding & saved a lot of money! It’s really been just for fun, but we were thinking of setting up an Etsy page at some point, we’ll see.

[Charles Martel]

Yes, I picked up a craft years ago from my grandfather... the ability to make fishing nets. When I was a kid in Louisiana, just about all the older men I knew had a netting (not knitting) needle in the bottom of their fishing tackle boxes.

They mostly made crab nets and crawfish nets, but some, like my grandfather, made cast nets. To anyone who can knit or crochet, this would be dead easy.

[rbbeachkid]

I teach quilting online. But, I do all that other stuff as well, including tatting.

[martin_fierro]

[JimRed]

When I was growing up, “crafty” meant sneaky or untrusworthy.

[Andy'smom]

Isew and knit.

[JoeFromSidney]

The trouble is, a lot of "crafty" stuff is basically luxury items. Hand-painted pottery, for instance. There wouldn't be any demand for them in a survival situation.

However, practical skills would be very valuable. Making or repairing things people need for survival would be worth knowing.