Craft Corner

Well, you will be missed here at Spotlight. @CatcakesDo have a pleasant day with your mum I hope. A picnic sort of thing sounds lovely. Remember, you're doing fine, much better than you give yourself credit for.

Breathe ... relax ... breathe ... you've doing awesomely.

Okies, on it! I got you little turtle - I'll help you spend your money on crafty goodness! @Phoenix_Rising

@CheerBear might have some ideas too.

Please excuse the brevity of the notes beside each item. I have not yet totalled costs either.

Boye crochet hook set I have one of these, they have pretty much all the size hooks you will need almost ever. The case zips and is a handy way to keep the hooks together - worth factoring into the price.

I noticed that the prices for these kits have risen dramatically in the last few months, probably due to the changing monetary exchange rates.

There is another set of hooks from D through to K - but the smaller sizes are what you'd be wanting right now. It is lots cheaper, but there is no case and no smaller hooks.

stitch/ row counter more for use with knititng than crochet, I have them, rarely use them but CheerBear suggested one so am including it.

bodkins aka yarn needles yep, necessary. If you lose stuff sorta easily, a couple of different brands and types is useful for your kit.

split ring stitch markers handy for quick marking (feel them, if they are weak and floppy, not so good) - I have a mixture of different sizes and types including the ones below which I prefer

locking stitch markers my faves. check that they are as smooth as they should be so no catching in yarns, can smooth off some catches with an emery board. (Actually, an emery board is a good inclusion in the tool kit for nails and other stuff too)

Will post now so you can see, am following up with yarn and other things. What are you finding?

Other additions could be @Phoenix_Rising

ergonomic handle hook in one or two sizes that are likely going to be what you use oftenish for toys so you get to see what they are like. NB. It will depend on how close to the hook head you hold your fingers as to whether these will work for you or not. The grip is too far back for me as I hold the hook close to the head for faster and easier working.

I looked at the sets with smaller sized hoooks and there does not seem to enough size options, what I mean is that you'd end up needing to get more later and probably costing you more as well.

I thnk that is hooks covered, but do ask any questions you have or suggest your options too. It's all about your choices and how you want to do this.

tape measures various types - I have on on my key ring cos you just never know ...

ordinary tape measure of which I have many cos I sew and stuff

different bodkins

some sort of storage - website doesn't show one wonderful thing but instore should be easier to find something useful.

Yarn

Marvel 8 ply as cheerBear mentioned in lots of colours. It's the yarn for the baby dragon pattern too.

Cebelia #10 cotton this is the yarn for the eyes of those dragons, (BLACK for dragons eyes though) need only a small bit of white for the eyes.

DMC perle cotton #12 is much cheaper and only a tiny bit larger than the #10 thread (option as is cheaper and I don't know if it matters that much HELP @CheerBear

invisible thread used for sewing on things so it's invisible. very handy and it's always on hand (options for making up the amount of spend needed)

fibre fill/ stuffing IMPORTANT for stuffing your finished toys.

Okay, how are you going with those options? confused and overwhelmed you ???? Sorry. sorry. sorry.

So much to catch up on! The excitement is exciting!

@Catcakes LOVE your work! How beautiful 💗 I remember one of my was given something similar during a hospital adventure. It was so special and very treasured. Hope you're having an ok time out this afternoon.

@Former-Member my brain is a bit too scrambled to remember all of what's going on but lots of these for you 💗 and similarly seriously enjoying the in-tuneness (and wanted to let you know mega dragon has an attached head now 👍)

A virtual shopping trip to Spotlight - yes please @Phoenix_Rising! @Former-Member has given some great suggestions. Another one I thought of was a project bag. I have a couple of "stitch in time" bags. They're perfect size and they are a charity thing (hand made, fair labour etc.). They're often at the front of the stores and they're so well priced I think. Also there are now Elmer's glue slime kits. Totally not crochet related. Totally amazingly fun looking though 😁

@Former-Member love that you're a crafty person too! Those mats would be awesome ☺

Have a feeling you might like this one

I was deciding between this one and the dragon I am making at the moment and have him pinned as a one day maybe one. So cool!

@Phoenix_Rising Iforgot to include scissors!

Some choices:

scissors

snips I have mutliples of these they are very handy, but I use them for sewing at the machine. Pointy so might not work for carrying unless there's a hard cas to put them in.

I am soo very excited for you. *pushes aside all buses and trains and boats and planes and cars* Nothing gets in the way of a trip to gather new craft items - especially when they are on special and there's a voucher for more $$$ off.

@Catcakes It sounds ilke your trip was enjoyable today, that's lovely. So good to 'hear' the lilt in your voice this afternoon. You are a good daughter, that's for sure.

That's really cool that those links explained some stuff about stuff and it's crafty uses. if you even want to know what something is for, post an image or a link and we'll all see what we can do.

Knowing what tool is for what can be so helpful and make life so much easier too. I get a real kick myself out of learning about craftspeople's tools.

@CheerBear I will check out the 'stitch in time' bags next time I'm there. I usually make my own but it's good to check out what's out there.

Love that dragon, I saw it the other day when looking for a pattern for Phoenix_Rising. It's very cool.

Can't wait to hear what @Phoenix_Rising decides to get on the shopping trip.

Taking a break now. Happy crafting.