I just sew and paint shoes.
Talk about what you do. Ask questions. Brag. Share ideas. Wrest the handwork we love to do from the lefties who think they took over our beloved crafts as a lefty thing to do. Have fun!
a surprise! VRWKNC ping!
I don't see handwork as political at all; rather, it's the antidote.
I'm currently knitting a "shrug" for a friend for Christmas, but the directions are awfully big and she's tiny, so I'm adapting as I go along, totally unsure if I am OVERadapting. KAC, have you made a shrug before?
Right now (well, not right now, but after work and on weekends), I'm sticking pins through beads and sequins, and inserting them in styrofoam balls.
So far I've only made two (a large Christmasy one and a small Hanukkah-ish one).
Also my medieval unicorn needlepoint gets pulled out on occasion. I need to quit playing that stupid computer game and get back to crafting!
I'm not doing anything right now, but when dh deploys in a couple of months, I intend to work on a new quilt to pass the time. I'm excited. I am going to make it, and then donate it to our local animal shelter for their silent auction. I'll post pics as I go. I love to quilt when dh is gone. It is such a great time killer, and my kiddos love to help me.
Can I get added to this ping list? If there is one, I mean.
Bump for Lunch! :)
I have started crocheting beaded wire jewelry, which has been really fun for me. I got three books (can't you teach yourself incredible stuff from books?) and sat down this last weekend, rolled up my sleeves, and just started. A couple of people I spoke to before I started said it was hard on your hands, but I haven't found that to be the case yet. The necklaces are obviously first efforts (especially the clasps), but I'm having such a kick learning this that I expect I'll improve with all the practice.
I totally stink at posting pictures (I know, I know, back to the sandbox for me), but I will try to figure out how to show you all what I'm doing. The other neat thing is that beads take a LOT less space than all my yarn for knitting and crocheting.
Hey---Thanks for the ping! Currently knitting and quilting. Thank goodness I decided NOT to make Christmas presents this year, so both are still for relaxation and most of all fun!
One of my favorite easy sock patterns:
ANOTHER JOAN'S SOCKS
A pattern in three sizes (women's, men's, and children's) using 1
strand of WoolEase or other DK weight yarn. Will fit about a women's
size 9, men's size 11, children's size 2.
Some variations: use up leftover yarn by making multicolor stripes,
make heels and toes a different color, use a two color slip stitch
pattern for the ankle part, use any two or four stitch texture pattern
for the ankle part and/or the top of the foot part, make entire ankle
part in rib, etc.
Requires about one skein for the women's (medium) size. One set of
size 6 dp needles
Instructions are for women's size with men's size and children's size
in parentheses.
Cast on 40 (48, 32) stitches, dividing them on three needles as
follows: 10-20-10 (12-24-12, 8-16-8). Join, being careful not
to twist. Work K2P2 rib for 2 (2, 1-1/2) inches. Continue in
stockinette or pattern until piece measures 6 (8, 4-1/2) inches, or
desired length.
Begin heel flap. Work across first needle. Turn. Now, working back
and forth only on the stitches on the two needles with fewer stitches,
and turning the work each row: P one row (wrong side), slip one knit
one for one row (right side) until you can count 7 (8, 6) larger
stitches up the slip one rib - 14 (16, 12) rows. End with a wrong side
row (right side facing you ready to begin).
Turn heel. Slip 1, knit 12 (14, 9), slip 1, knit 1, passed
slipped stitch over knit stitch, turn. Slip 1, purl 6 (6, 4), purl 2
together, turn. Slip 1, knit 6 (6, 4), slip, knit and pass, turn.
Repeat last two rows until all stitches have been worked, then work
right side row.
Gussets: Pick up 10 (12, 8) stitches on left side of flap, work across
stitches on center needle, pick up 10 (12, 8) stitches on right side of
flap. Knit half the heel stitches onto this needle, put the other half
onto the needle where you picked up the first group of stitches. Knit
one row around. Decrease row: Knit to within 3 stitches of end of
first needle, slip, knit, pass, knit 1. Work center needle. On third
needle, knit one, knit 2 together, finish row. Knit one row even.
Repeat these two rows until you are back to the number of stitches you
cast on (40, 48, 32).
Knit around until 8-1/2 (10, 6-1/2) inches, or about 1-1/2 inches
short of desired length of foot. Work across first needle so that you
are ready to start with center needle.
Toe: Decrease Row: knit 1, knit 2 together, knit to 3 stitches before
end of needle, slip, knit, and pass, knit one, (on second needle) knit 1,
knit 2 together,
knit to 3 stitches before end of
third needle, slip, knit, and pass,
knit one. Work one row even. Repeat these two rows until you have 16
(24, 12) stitches left all together. Weave top and bottom of toe
together using kitchener stitch.
I just sew and paint shoes.
Wresting from lefties BTTT!!!!
:)
"Who's still crafting?"
Me!
"What are you doing?"
I've made a stack of fun and funky hot pads from old quilted fabric that I've found at Goodwill. I've been squirreling away pieces for 50-cents or so all this past year. I usually find nicely quilted pillow shams, or old quilts that are torn or have stains (I work around those!)
Anyhow, they've turned out great. I made a pair for my Mom, my MIL and my Sister. A very fun way to use up materials that are already here and need one more life before they hit the landfill. :(
I've been crocheting dishcloths with cotton yarn, which are always a hit. Those are going to all female family and friends this year.
I made a wonderful, fluffy blue and purple scarf for my niece and one in cammo colors for my nephew who is "in that phase."
I've made Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce, since I had a recipe of raspberry jelly that didn't set up properly. I'll share the recipe if anyone is interested. You could use any flavor jelly (seedless) that doesn't set up right for you.
Other than that I've been making Gift Baskets for various friends and relatives and this year I made (sewed) six Christmas Stockings (Husband, Son, Son's Girlfriend, 3 Best Girlfriends) and have been filling them all year long with useful B1G1Free items and "freebies" I've collected through the year. (Gum, candies, razors, chocolates, toothbrushes, gas cards for the teens, etc.)
It's a VERY Handmade Christmas this year, but my family is getting older and it's getting more "in vogue" to make our presents, versus buying them. :)
Mom and I baked cookies and candy yesterday. Two women, 9 hours, 17 varieties and 600+ pieces of cookies and candies later, we were done! (Those will go in tins for friends, Christmas Parties we attend this month, the Mailman, the Paperboy, Church Coffee Hours, etc.)
It sounds like a lot, but I do a little at a time all year long. It keeps Christmas in your Heart all year long. :)
I just finished a felt (I know, not cool but it's what I can do) Advent Calendar for my 6 year old granddaughter. She's basically being raised as a pagan. She and I had a lot of fun obsessing on The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe last year and on Easter, I told her that Jesus rose from the dead just like Aslan and that's why we celebrate Easter. She did this "No way" look and then ran off to tell everyone. So this calendar has my own version of Aslan instead of the wimpy fawn lying down in the snow. He's free form but I found a wonderful picture of him on the net which inspired me and I also embroidered his name in another part of the calendar and there is a little retablo for Dec. 1st and a lovely necklace (did I mention that there are 24 pockets to put stuff in?)with a silver nativity scene and finally, in the 24th pocket, the baby Jesus from the Equidorian bread dough nativity set she is getting for Christmas.
I've got 2 scarves going that are both for me! LOL At the rate I am going I hope to be done while it's still cold enough for them to be useful. ;-)
Earlier in the year I made 2 baby blankets for my brand new neice and nephew (SIL had twins in October) and a shawl for myself. I found Moda Dea "Dream" lilac yarn on a 50% off sale and made the shawl out of that. It came out so gorgeous! It's so soft and cuddley.
My wife & I have recently started making some candles. It's a pretty good 'immediate gratification' hobby for someone like her, who doesn't have the patience for quilting or whatever; once you have the materials, candles can be made in under half an hour (plus a little finish work later on).
Hey, Knitting! :-)
Just in time, thanks!
I''m making blouses for a daughter.
Bags and pouches for Christmas presents, and bags and pouches to put them in. :-)
Anyone here own or play with Janome's 6600 machine? Fast for quilting, computerized for pretty...
I'm scrambling to finish an Aran afghan for my daughter-in-law. Almost there! Wish I had a picture to show you. It's lattice, cable, and Aran Diamonds w/popcorns. Family Circle "Country Afghan" #4140 from about 1990.
I haven't cross stitched in 2 years (and I used to be addicted to it). Need to get back to a project that I started so long ago. The fun part will be training my cat. I got her after I started my "break".