crafty types - what projects have you got on the go?

[lillia]

I'm not in the least bit crafty, I can't even knit (so what my friend was thinking when she bought me a 'knit your dog a coat' kit, I have no idea).

And I have to do hems etc by hand as I don't know how to use a sewing machine.

*Leaves thread, head down in shame*

If you can hem by hand instead of machine you're far more crafty than me! 'Tis real craft that innum!!

Me and my sister agreed to do a jewellery stall at a craft fair in June. So far we haven't made a damn thing. (I have done the fun 'buying of goods' and bought loads of silver and loads of crystal/glass/vintage beads - so far I've organised them all beautifully in boxes but no actual crafty-ness has ensued )

And have also bought some colinette mohair for a wrap with sort of flower patterns knitted into it for my Mum's birthday in September. So no sooner have I taken a breath after said craft fair I have to pick up the knitting needles.

2008 was meant to be the year of dancin' not the year of craftin'!

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

And have also bought some colinette mohair for a wrap with sort of flower patterns knitted into it for my Mum's birthday in September.

Oooh, that sounds gorgeous!

As an aside, are there any materials you shouldn't use if you're knitting/crocheting for babies?

 

[Tank Girl]

I didn't think I'd know where to start either moomoo, but saw little things in magazines or online that I thought, oh yeah, I could do that.

I saw some bunting in a shop, and realised that it was easy to do gave me the inspiration to do Rollem's bunting - I managed an 8 metre length in a few days (as well as going to work etc).

simple bags and cusions are just sewing a few sides together really - a good way to get used to using a sewing machine, and fairly instant gratification!

I've found that I've ended up looking at craft websites and getting inspiration (not stealing ideas ) from them.

 

[Tank Girl]

If you can hem by hand instead of machine you're far more crafty than me! 'Tis real craft that innum!!

Me and my sister agreed to do a jewellery stall at a craft fair in June. So far we haven't made a damn thing. (I have done the fun 'buying of goods' and bought loads of silver and loads of crystal/glass/vintage beads - so far I've organised them all beautifully in boxes but no actual crafty-ness has ensued )

And have also bought some colinette mohair for a wrap with sort of flower patterns knitted into it for my Mum's birthday in September. So no sooner have I taken a breath after said craft fair I have to pick up the knitting needles.

2008 was meant to be the year of dancin' not the year of craftin'!

you're going to be busy! the sorting out and buying stuff is definitely the most fun bit isn't it?

2008 is the year of crafting and dancing for me - I think I've been taken over by aliens from the olden days

 

[mrsfran]

Oh, I'd love to be!

But I'm not and wouldn't know where to start.

Cross-stitch is perfect for the beginner crafty person. I am not in the least bit artistically inclined, but cross-stitch is very simply laid out, no complicated jargon, you get told what to do and when and where. I started on cross-stitch a few years ago and loved it (still do). Get yourself a beginners cross-stitch kit off ebay

 

[Choc]

i have just got a new stamp kit (birds and nests) and am currently making two cards

 

[Tank Girl]

I got bored of cross-stitch very quickly, there was no practical use for it after I was done. and didn't enjoy it enough to do any large pieces.

I need my quick fix of "whoo hoo, I made that!!"

 

[madzone]

*feels a bit lost in the crafty crowd*

I don't really know where to start with making my own cards. What do I need? Do I need to design a pattern? Is there anything I need to think about? Bearing in my mind I am genuinely terrible at drawing, so that's out.

I made my own wedding invites. I made one 'original' with torn out card and stiched paper and cut out letters and then colour copied it, tore them out and stuck them on folded card.

 

[madzone]

I got bored of cross-stitch very quickly, there was no practical use for it after I was done. and didn't enjoy it enough to do any large pieces.

I need my quick fix of "whoo hoo, I made that!!"

Have another baby?

 

[Tank Girl]

no-fucking-way!

 

[madzone]

no-fucking-way!

The making of them is super-quick though

 

[RubyToogood]

missfran, it's worth knowing that you can photocopy anything you like onto acetate (my local stationers does this), and then cut bits out of it to make a stencil. I did my whole bedroom with acetate stencils I'd photocoped from a library book. Stencils should be done with not much paint on the sponge at all.

Libraries often have lots of books on how to do crafty things like making your own cards, so it's worth a look there too.

Oh! I've just thought of some great heart cards I made ages ago. I got some wire and twisted short lengths of it into a heart shape with a spiral in the centre. This I sewed onto a card with two squares of tissue paper behind. The squares were torn, not cut, one larger than the other, and complementary colours (eg blue and green or red and orange - because you slightly see the bottom layer through the top one). I've probably still got some knocking about if you wanted to see one. You could use some other backing than the tissue paper, but I think they'd have been dull without something behind unless the card was coloured. You can get copper wire or brass, both of which look nice. Silver coloured wire is harder to come by.

As for self, I'm currently desperately trying to get a jumper finished because I need it in this weather:

I finished the body and tried it on and it's lovely and snuggly. It's slightly the wrong shape for me because it's waist length, which means I can only really wear it with a skirt, but I knew that would be the case. Also the ribbing is a bit on the loose side, but I think I can take that off later and redo it. I just wish sleeves didn't take so sodding long!

 

[Tank Girl]

madz - yeah, but then there's all that waiting and then the ultimate disappointment that you've not had a kitten

that jumper's lovely ruby I don't think I've got the patience for knitting (or the brain cells).

 

[mrsfran]

I made my own wedding invites. I made one 'original' with torn out card and stiched paper and cut out letters and then colour copied it, tore them out and stuck them on folded card.

Torn out card? Torn from where? What?

Stitched paper? You sewed paper?

and then you tore out what?

I don't understand

 

[mrsfran]

I got bored of cross-stitch very quickly, there was no practical use for it after I was done. and didn't enjoy it enough to do any large pieces.

I need my quick fix of "whoo hoo, I made that!!"

It depends what you want from your craft though. I want something that will occupy my time and look nice when I finish. It doesn't need a practical application. For example, I made this:

It doesn't have a practical application, but it still makes me smile that I made it because I love cricket and I like cross-stitch. That took me six months to do! Should I so wish, I could make it into a cushion. I may do one day. But for me, it's enough that it was fun to do and an accomplishment once I'd done it.

 

[cesare]

I need to get back to making time for crafty things, maybe 2008's the year for it.

I probably don't need anymore practice at flash celebration cakes and greetings cards. But it's ages since I did any sewing ... hmmm ...

 

[Tank Girl]

I just didn't dig cross-stitch and the results. but my mum loved the card I made her with a poppy design, poppies are her favourite flower. but once I'd done that for her, I couldn't see the point

but I do like my craft to have a practical application I guess.

 

[cesare]

Ruby, that jumper's lovely - really lovely. Want.

 

[lillia]

madz - yeah, but then there's all that waiting and then the ultimate disappointment that you've not had a kitten

 

[madzone]

Torn out card? Torn from where? What?

Stitched paper? You sewed paper?

and then you tore out what?

I don't understand

I got some card and tore it into a square shape, then I got some cotton rag paper and tore it into a heart shape (to fit the square). I overstitiched the edge of the heart shape with glittery thread and then I glued the stitched heart to the card square. Then I cut out letters from a magazine to spell 'WEDDING INVITATION' and glued them onto the card around the heart shape. Then I scanned it and colour photocopied in sheets, tore them out, stuck them to cards and bob's yer uncle

 

[moose]

I've got a knitted cardi/jacket in a tweedy tobacco-coloured Aran on the go, as well as a loose scoop-necked jumper in a satiny ribbon yarn, and a pair of socks in Colinette Jitterbug on tiny needles. I've got plans to crochet some cushion covers to use up all the odds and ends in my wool stash.

Oh, and I'm one term in to a 2 year City & Guilds in Ceramics
I've made a vase, a jug, a cat bowl, an olive platter, and some tiles.

 

[Tank Girl]

pics!!

 

[cesare]

Ooo top tip for greetings cards/wedding invitations etc. Get some tracing paper and print a design (or the inside greeting/invite details) on it. Then you can attach it to coloured card and maybe use a gold/silver pen to outline around the printed image (if you want). I use one of those punchy inlet gun things to attach tracing paper cos the metal rings look quite cool but pritt stick works too

Buy a feather boa and pull the feathers out and glue one or two to each card

 

[pennimania]

I am nearly 2/3 of the way thru a needlepoint cover for a Victorian footstool. When i have finished it I have to do the covers for the nursing chair it belongs to S that will take me to about 2012

also knitting hats ( a constant ) and a cardigan in various yarns and stripes.

Just finished a prom dress for my daughter - took me about 40 hours all told.

I have just got some vintage lingerie patterns and I want to make some undies and nighties in bias cut satin.

 

[madzone]

Ooo top tip for greetings cards/wedding invitations etc. Get some tracing paper and print a design (or the inside greeting/invite details) on it. Then you can attach it to coloured card and maybe use a gold/silver pen to outline around the printed image (if you want). I use one of those punchy inlet gun things to attach tracing paper cos the metal rings look quite cool but pritt stick works too

Buy a feather boa and pull the feathers out and glue one or two to each card

Or buy a pack of feathers from the craft shop

 

[aqua]

I've got a knitted cardi/jacket in a tweedy tobacco-coloured Aran on the go, as well as a loose scoop-necked jumper in a satiny ribbon yarn, and a pair of socks in Colinette Jitterbug on tiny needles. I've got plans to crochet some cushion covers to use up all the odds and ends in my wool stash.

Oh, and I'm one term in to a 2 year City & Guilds in Ceramics
I've made a vase, a jug, a cat bowl, an olive platter, and some tiles.

you still owe me a cardi woman

 

[cesare]

Or buy a pack of feathers from the craft shop

Spendthrift

My way ... you just get a wearable feather boa that gradually gets shorter and shorter till you have an excuse to buy a new one

 

[madzone]

Spendthrift

My way ... you just get a wearable feather boa that gradually gets shorter and shorter till you have an excuse to buy a new one

Oooh, I'm liking your thinking

 

[moose]

you still owe me a cardi woman

I've done a sleeve
Can't get the bloody wool any more. Unless I go to Iceland (and I don't mean the frozen food emporium)

 

[madzone]

I've done a sleeve
Can't get the bloody wool any more. Unless I go to Iceland (and I don't mean the frozen food emporium)

Was it Lopi?