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Craft Corner

CheerBearSenior Contributor04 Apr 2017, 11:55 am AEST

Craft Corner

A place to chat and share all things crafty!

What's your favourite craft? Is there anything you're working on at the moment? What would you like to create/work on (I have heaps of "one day" project patterns and ideas that I know I will probably never get around to, but it's nice to imagine)? I'd love to hear!

I have absolutely no artistic side to me and stick figures are the extent of my drawing ability, but I really enjoy learning and trying out new crafts. I learnt crochet during a stay in a prevention and recovery centre and it's something I pick up often when I am feeling blue, I need a distraction or I'm just a little bored. I've tried paper crafts too, although I didn't really get far with anything. Sharpies are some of my best friends and when I find my hands need to move I have a collection of smooth rocks that I draw on (different coloured circles) which often relaxes me. Sometimes I dust off the sewing machine and sew as well. I walk around spotlight for a fun outing 😉

Looking forward to hearing from you all 🙂

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In response to: Craft Corner

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor24 Jan 2018, 8:43 am AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

@CheerBear your excitement super made me smile. I have a picture in my brain of you doing a kermit run around your loungeroom.

Your question about whether I had to practice observe and describe also made me smile and caused me to reflect on how different our ways of being in the world are. My experience of this first baby step into the world of crocheting sounds very different to yours. I watched the video a couple of times, and then had a go. Then I giggled at how amazingly uncoordinated I am, slowed the video down to 50% speed, and giggled again, this time at how the person was now speaking very sloooooowly. Then I tried again...and again...and again...and again. And now I have a super long chain!!!!

I was reflecting on how completely ok I am with learning something very slowly and methodically and how I really don't get impatient or frustrated that I can't learn faster. Of course, the flip side to this super slow and methodical way of being in the world is that I have a near-zero stress tolerance. Sadly for me, my optimum speed of functioning seems to be at about a quarter of the pace that contemporary western society generally moves at. Left to do things in my own way at my own pace, I'm a happy little turtle.

It did also occur to me that if you got frustrated trying to get the hang of this crocheting adventure, it's probably best that you never take up learning to play the violin.

I am ready for the next step. I'm kind-of hoping the next step might be about how to get the consistent tension thing happening. My amazingly long chain has stitches that are of notably varying sizes.

I'm not quite sure what to make of the fact that you are holding a baby dragon's head in your hand. CheerBear my not-friend, the baby dragon slaying carebear. I can't wait to see a photo though!

In response to: Re: Craft Corner

CheerBearSenior Contributor24 Jan 2018, 9:46 am AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

Hi @Phoenix_Rising ☺ Definite Kermit happening in the lounge room last night!

It's totally normal to feel/be uncoordinated when you pick up a hook and yarn to start with! I'm seriously uncoordinated with lots of things and it took a while to "be one" with my hook ☺

I found this video here about tension that at 5 mins talks about tension in the foundation row (which is the long line of chains like you made). It has some tips that may be helpful but I think mostly it's practice. If I do a long chain for a blanket for example, they're often a bit wonky and not totally perfect. In amigurumi (the little toys) you don't tend to find long chains and it's much more likely you'll have a couple or a few chain stitches (often ch in a pattern) here and there ☺

I think the next step would be single crochet. (Nearly) every stitch you make is based on a single crochet. It's the most important one as it's the base of all of them (from my experience). It's the mother stitch 😁

A good way to practice single crochet (often written as sc in a pattern) is to make a foundation chain, then build on it with single crochet stitches all the way along, then learn to turn and go back along the row. And then turn and go back along the row. And turn and go back along the row... If you're like me, you may need to do this about a bazillion times before you figure out what's going on 😆 I have a sneaking suspicion you may pick this up a little easier though. I found this video here which I thought might be a good one next but there are heaps out there if you want to find a better one for you.

Here's my dragon head (holding it reminded me of the time my cat did a runner with a mermaid psychiatrist parts). I have a leg, belly and some scales as of this morning too. So looking forward to stitching her together!

Hope you have fun. Oh and no, there won't be violining for me I think. Way too expense for a me with a frustration problem haha 😆

In response to: Craft Corner

Unknown userMember27 Jan 2018, 11:18 pm AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

I enjoy lots of craft like painting but im not good at it one thing i really enjoy doing are hair wraps in my hair they can stay in for a long as i like and i normally add little beads and charms to the end of them. It can take awhile depending on how long ones hair is. You can also make clip in ones but i am yet to make any clip ins.

In response to: Craft Corner

Unknown userMember03 Feb 2018, 12:26 am AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

@CheerBear Craft of many types interest me. I crochet heaps, it keeps my attention and I enjoy designing things to sometimes. I also sew, making most of my clothes, and things for the house too when I get the urge or see a need for something I can make instead of buy. My parents were depression era and we recycled and upcycled before it became sophisticated. If I wanted a new dress, I learned to make it for myself, saving up for the fabric or reclaiming something from an op shop.

And cooking, I enjoy cooking, baking, pickles, jams and desserts. Eating them is lots of fun too! Tatting is another of the yarn crafts I do a fair bit of at times.

Crafting helps reduce stress for me, I have a project bag in my handbag at all times, I actually carry 2 now, 1 tatting and 1 crochet project for different moods and stuff. Reading sometimes doesn't distract well enough, and the crafting does.

While I'd love to be able to draw, I just don't have the skill for it, and the arthritis means I don't have the coordination for it now either.

Both sewing and crochet are my go to crafts at the moment for relaxing and for feeling like I've done something with my day. Making a hanging spice sachet holder (I use lots of spices) for the pantry door in my new house has been one of the latest biggish things I've done.

Everyone has such beautiful things they've made.

In response to: Craft Corner

CheerBearSenior Contributor03 Feb 2018, 6:11 pm AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

Hair wraps sound fun @Former-Member! If you can post a photo or link of the kinds of things you make, I'd love to see 🙂

Hi @Former-Member - it's nice to "meet" you and to meet another crocheter! Like you, craft and particularly crochet is a big relaxation and distraction for me. I have a steady stream of projects on the go too 🙂 It's really cool to hear you design things. I haven't heard of tatting - will have to look it up.

In response to: Re: Craft Corner

Bubbles3Senior Contributor03 Feb 2018, 6:32 pm AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

im starting a new form of journalling

In response to: Re: Craft Corner

Unknown userMember03 Feb 2018, 6:36 pm AEDT

Re: Craft Corner

What a great idea @Bubbles3 and what lovely neat hand writing (printing) you have. I start out neat and readable and end up with illegible even to me chickenscratching these days.

Lovely

In response to: Re: Craft Corner

Bubbles3Senior Contributor03 Feb 2018, 6:39 pm AEDT