What kind of crafting projects are you working on?
Magic Claims, grumble, grumble, grumble.
Things I have made recently: a sweater/T-shirt for Kid 2. I don’t have a picture of it finished, but it is. Here is in progress picture.
I wanted a very simple pattern, like idiot proof, because my brain was very fried at the time. This is Flax Light by tincanknits.
I also made a Perrito Sweater. The sweater was redone 3 times to size it down and it is still too big. Perrito now wears a sock, and the sweater will have to wait until he grows into it. I might try one more time, but he is ridiculously tiny, so getting the sweater over his head while making it still fit him is a bit problematic.
Mostly I’ve been cross stitching. I got myself into this pattern because it had bright colors and I’m trying my best to stitch myself out of it.
My pattern app assures me it’s almost 36.6% done, but I think it’s delusional. The little fox is a needle minder. It’s a magnet that keeps the needle safe and put up instead of being lost on the floor somewhere and puncturing feet and paws.
I am grimly determined to finish this one, but I also want to either knit or crochet a cowl or an infinity scarf of some sort. This winter showed me that I’m lacking in the cowl department. Specifically I need something to wear during that roughly 2 weeks of cold days sprinkled through out the winter season so I can go get the mail and get wood with Gordon.
Shawls don’t work that well as cowls because they keep unwinding and scarves are too long and get in the way. I managed to pinch my scarf between the logs when carrying wood, then in an effort to pull it out, hit myself with a log, and ended up with a bruise that prompted my gynecologist to gently ask if everything was alright at home during the breast exam.
So a cowl or infinity scarf to warm my neck, something wide enough so I can pull it over my head and it can double as a hat or hood or something.
The other sort of craft project is that I learned to do my nails. My nails kind of thinned out over the years despite only occasional manicures. I’m trying to reinforce them a bit. At first I did gel, but then I read that apparently UV lamps might be causing skin cancer. So I decided to alternate gel with something else, and that something turned out to be dip powder. It has taken me awhile to learn to apply it and this picture shows it as the nails are beginning to grow out, but I’m satisfied with it.
I’m using Saviland 29Pcs Dip Powder Nail Kit, which I bought on Amazon. As always, there are no affiliate links in this post. I suggest watching some Youtube videos if you are trying it for the first time because thick application will make them pop off after a day or two.
The other craft project that I keep trying to get to is a journal. I had this idea of making a story journal with pages devoted to different story ideas. I bought cute stickers and washi tape and … 2 years have gone by. Still no journal. One day.
I adore washi tape. During lockdowns I bought an inordinate amount of it, but have no actual use for it. But I’m keeping it! Stashing is an accepted craft, ask anyone who knits!
lol love that the gynecologist asked. If you want inspiration to journal just reread Dracula. It always makes me want to dairy/ journal everything in my life even though my life is boring. You never know OO
I made the Inclinations Cowl by Andrea Mowry twice, because it fits so perfectly, and can be pulled up into a hood. Highly recommend, and it is very simple.
I decided to fill a scrapbook with cartoons I find funny from a magazine I subscribe to, so I can look at them again when I need something to brighten my day. A year and a half later I have a couple of pages filled and a pile of unread magazines.
Your story of getting your scarf caught in the log etc gave me a good laugh. It reminded me of myself, my scarf gets caught in my coat and wrapped around my purse handle. It is like a puzzle to unwrap myself without choking!
Mostly my projects right now are cooking. I had fun making red snapper fish tacos this week. Normally we just throw leftovers onto tortillas, but it was really fun to make real fish tacos. Also did a new soup last week, from New York Times, Slow-Cooker Lemony Chicken Soup. My husband kept raving about it, though he likes most everything I cook!
I’d like to learn to crochet. I keep starting, then putting it down, then try to pick it up a few months later, but I have to relearn how to do it again! When I first tried to learn, my friend said oh it’s real easy, just do this, and she crocheted so fast I couldn’t tell what she was doing! Then my mom and aunt tried to help me, but they both were almost blind, so that was a comedy in itself! I have a new book and videos to learn from now, so this spring for sure I’m going to get going on it!
Good luck on all your projects!
I made this cowl. I like it. it is happy and colorful and easy knitting. The yarn they use is good. I like its feel. Mine is a little big because I am terrible at using gage or possibly because I stretched it during blocking because I didn’t measure, but I still like it.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/color-craze-cowl-2
I have made this cowl twice – once for myself and once for my dad – I like the chainmail look of it. It’s an add on from another pattern (which teaches the pleating technique. I made mine a little snugger than the pattern called for and I love that it doesn’t bunch under my hair.
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/470819234/cowl-knitting-pattern-chainmail-add-on?click_key=50ed5fe68c054c943bb500f61fcd0fe471f3b246%3A470819234&click_sum=9fc3d562&ref=shop_home_recs_4
I’ve just started using dip powder too. and yes it does come off fairly easily, however I found if I use nail tips my bendy nails are protected and it then takes almost a week before it starts to come lose around the cuticles. My nails are starting to get a bit stronger since it started using it. Hopefully you can use this tip to help your nails get a bit stronger too. ❤️
I have the opposite issue making sweaters for my chihuahua. She’s a dear head so larger than standard.
I *try* to make Christmas ornaments but the little stinker demands a lot of time.
I have had to accept that I am a Pinterest Fail. I want to be crafty but it never quite works out.
glad to have company.
and thank you to the comment above that “stashing” counts too.
future me is crafty.
current me. . . Pinterest fail all the way
I’ve recently knitted myself a cardigan and a great hat for my husband while in the background working very slowly on finishing a Koko shawl (pattern by Olga Buraya-Kefalion) which I started well over 2 years ago. Next weekend there’s a big yarn festival near London (Unravel) and I hope to get inspired.
I have an infinity scarf that I crocheted over christmas. before we got a really cold cold temperature snap. I meant for it to go around my head twice but it has to go around three times in order to the tight enough to cover my face and neck, otherwise it just covers my cleavage. which I don’t show much in Michigan in the winter. LOL.
Love Kid 2’s sweater. The needle minder is an awesome idea! I recommend an infinity scarf. That’s what I wear on some of our coldest days – in Wisconsin (so I can cover as much exposed skin as possible, without obscuring my vision, yet I can quickly and easily uncover myself once I enter a public building). I didn’t make mine, though. I bought mine, at Aldi’s, of all places, years ago. I haven’t allowed myself to buy a journal – I already have a notepaper/paper problem.
I was wondering where you got that awesome needle minder. My kiddo is fox obsessed and she would love it so much if it’s still being made. I always keep an eye out for fox themed things.
Once upon a time I had a Chesapeake Bay retriever puppy who used me as a ball throwing machine. He would jump on my tired, laying down body, drop the ball and push off to go get the ball again. His paws were the size of my palm. I was covered in paw prints, aka bruises. I go to the doctor and he tries to get me to admit that I am being beat up by my non-existent boyfriend. It took a while to convince him or he finally gave up. I went home and was a happy ball throwing machine for another 13 years. Fortunately Jake the monster puppy, learned to run up and place it in my hand.
I’ve got a this-thing-will-NEVER-be-done blanket being crocheted for #1 kid and a cross stitch that I’ve made up for the phrase: “common sense is not a flower that grows in every garden” for funsies for me.
I have been taking Biotin for several years. its made a big difference in my hair and nails. maybe that would be helpful for you
Oh boy. Currently on the needles: Two pairs of socks that were promised at Xmas, a poncho for mom, a top down raglan for one of our charity knits, a stitch sampler vest for one sister, and a shawl for my other sister. I seem to be rotating randomly thru them all daily. They’ll all get done eventually! ????
Love the sweater! Amazing job!
I love shainalines designs cowl patterns. Just enough pattern to keep me motivated.
I really am interested in learning how to knit/crochet. Have all the tools and “stuff”; 5months later I’m still on the second row????????♀️
Bought big ceramic Santa boots for three additional peeps to our growing fam. (For the stocking stuffer stuff) Will start painting those next weekend.
Cleaning out the flower beds; and sewing fabric for the outdoor cushions.
Making canvas prints from my photographs, to hang on the walls.
I confess to being distracted by my “treasures”(books), thank God for audio books.
I have quilts going pretty much constantly. I have discovered wild rags from the horse site Hoofprints. silk scarf works great can be tied or run thru a scarf slide.
This is the most recent cowl I knit for my sister, https://www.ravelry.com/projects/AsMezgeja/fields-of-wheat . It’s really pretty and not bulky. I also use cowls. I once got out of my car after driving ten miles to work and found that I had caught my scarf in the door and the end of it dragged through snow and mud and street crap that whole distance. Cowls are the way to go!
me I’ve started knitting baby singlet as a lady in my church is having baby 4. and I plan to make peg pinnys. best way to have pegs handy whilest hand out or bringing in.
If you also sew there is a cute pattern on line for a bandana bib. It takes a 12 inch square of flannel folded into a triangle. Sew around the edges leaving an opening for turning. Cut one inch off the two matching end points and turn it right side out. Tuck in the raw edges , stitch the openings closed and sew on either snaps or velcro. The baby singlet sounds adorable. I never learned to knit very well. I admire anyone who can!
Finally finished a big WIP afghan for myself after about 7 years – fuzzy Patons mohair. I kept finding “just one more skein”, but I finally dug all my yarn out (I am trying to not have a yarn SABLE) and am pretty sure I found it all.
Of course, I also started 3 more afghans, so I’m not really ahead. However, those have recipients, so I will get them done before tackling another WIP for myself – it gets a bit embarrassing to give a baby blanket to a kid who’s now 5…
Trying to get back into cross stitch, at least to finish up Flower Power (https://www.crossedwing.com/charts/chartf.html). I’ve been working on it on and off (mostly off) for almost 30 years, and I just want to get it done. It’s huge, almost 2′ x 3′. It doesn’t help that I decided that I didn’t like how split stitches were coming out for some of the butterflies, so I decided to do them over 1 on linen. They look lovely, but are a major PITA to do.
And, we won’t talk about the SABLE fabric stash…
Love your needle minder. I stick mine back and forth through the fabric then get frustrated at the stretch marks.
Thank you. Off to browse Amazon. Or maybe my favorite local sewing shop if I get my Saturday chores done quick enough.
building a frankenplannerjournal with rocketbook and discbound pages.
wife made a baby blanket and I’ll be working on making custom seam rippers.
Beautiful!
I crocheted a snood yesterday/today because, apparently, it isn’t that hair refuses to grow, it is hair breaks at the same place all the time and ine should protect the ends from abrasion and dryness.
*SIGH* It doesn’t fit without bobby pins. So I think I will just knit a bag, line it with satin and sew combs to the opening.
For a cowl… check out Vicki Perkin’s design on Ravelry.
To be silly French…. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bertrand-louis but it breaks the first rule of hats, one should be able to put it on and not need a mirror to make sure it doesn’t look silly. Mine is half red, half gold (Iron Man colors) because that was what I had left over from making a Captain Marvel hap shawl for my BFF. Wonderfully soft and squishy but a bit difficult to wear as a hat.
Cowls. Some are quick one skein projects. Check out the ansh cowl by Kavitha Raman from Ravelry.com.
Cowl talk: Wait….have you learned to wrap a shemagh? The patterns for them should be super easy and if you make them with a nice wool all wind issues should disappear. Wrapping a shemagh takes a little practice but is a nice skill to have. Also the infinite uses from medical to filtering water are kinda amazing. I use one as an underlayer for most winter hiking and such.
I used to keep a travel journal. I was inspired to do so after reading “Japan Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan”.
Personally, I have a lot of respect for people who knit or sew. But I cannot do it myself, at least not for longer than a day, and mistake correction by pulling hours of work apart drives me crazy.
So I was very surprized and happy as I suddenly found a craft to my liking last year – chain maille. Lots of advantages from my point of view! No free-forming, just connect rings in a certain pattern. Calming as knitting, but the mistake correction can often be done only on the spot that needs it. And if it get dropped down or a cat plays with it, no work would be lost. And if one don’t like the form of a collier anymore, the same chains can be reconnected in a different ways to different projects easily and many times.
People often work with copper or aluminium rings, but I would recommend stainless steel. It requires stronger tools and fingers, but is hypoallergenic and gets no unwanted patina.
The Youtube channel “Aussie Maille” has a lot of very good tutorials – well structured, well filmed, and well paced – not too fast, not too slow.
Your sweater is impressive, it makes me want to try to knit again.
I am currently working on stained glass lamps, bamboo in progress. It doesn’t have the beautiful variation of color that that flower lampshades have, but I’m hopeful it will make a nice library lamp. Thanks for asking, fun to see what everyone else is working on to get through the last of winter.
A bamboo patterned stained glass lamp sounds gorgeous. I would totally buy that if I could find one in a natural color palette.
Thanks! Totally agreed, it needs to have a natural color palette. I added a little pop of color because I could not bring myself to just green leaves, pic attached (hopefully)
Trying a different file type
Hi Christine,
Unfortunately the limit for pictures is 1 MB. It sometimes works if you can screenshot the image and upload that ????
thanks ModR! I was wondering what I was doing wrong. I am giving up for now though!
If you have the time and energy, please try when you get a chance; I totally want to see that. There’s a local stained glass artist and I’m wondering whether I could commission one now. If not, no worries; I am all about rationing energy for the necessities these days.
I bought a bunch of pro artist grade gouache, and haven’t done a thing with it yet.
Did a survey of supplies: I have several watercolor sketchbooks and multimedia sketchbooks, several packs of watercolor papers, colored pencils, papers, etc. Some of the sketchbooks are ready for painting. There’s a stack of four ceramic rectangle dishes I use to mix paint on ready to go, and a huge amount of brushes, water containers, and other bits.
What I don’t have? Any energy to paint. UGH.
So as I write, I’m staring at all these supplies practically screaming in my face. I’m determined to paint this weekend, so we’ll see. I’ve been doing a lot of research for my stories this week, and it’s taken over everything. **Sigh**
By the way, I think I also have a copy of Giant Sloths and Sabertooth cats somewhere in my book horde. (I think it might be next to ‘Man and Impact into the Americas’ by EP Grondine.)
I started doing my own dip nails about a month ago. The YouTube videos were a big help and I love the set I got off of Amazon. I’m amazed at how much better my nails are since doing it myself, and getting the dip off is SO easy! Yours look great! Love the color.
I’m working on a Geode Cowlette in alpaca that I started in January 2022…and pretty much ignored for a year. I finally went and bought contrast colors I genuinely like (instead of what I have on hand) and whodathunkit, I actually want to knit on the thing!
I am also in a cowl place. I don’t like scarves, and using shawls either required fussing in front of a mirror for five minutes arranging the thing—who has time for that as you’re leaving the house?!—or wearing them lumpy. Cowls, you just yank over your head and run out the house screaming. (Head tip to the Knitmore Girls.) No fussing necessary.
I have more cowl plans once I get the cowlette done…
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/geode-cowlette
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/treppenviertel-cowl
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/askews-me-dickey
Ilona, you might be interested in:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hasukai-cowl
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seussian-cowl
I love Hasukai so much! Thank you for linking it!
Leslie from The Knit Girllls made a Hasukai a while back as a long-term project. Hence, it was in my favorites.
I started Hasukai a couple of years ago in a bright red alpaca, but got distracted. Thanks for reminding me to dig it out and finish!
I’m learning to crochet. I’ve made 4 squares that are named “dish cloths” although I can’t bring myself to use them yet. And seceded in my first attempt at using a pattern–I’ve made a little mouse (of which I’m ridiculously pleased).
Ilona, I don’t think Jacqueline Cieslak’s Ursa Canis comes in extreme miniature—broad range of sizes that is has—so maybe you need to knit the mini pup sweaters in 1×1 ribbing to help them to fit?
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ursa-canis
i have weak nails too, i tried gel-nails, but i don ‘t like them.
since i use
P-Shine Japanese Nail Conditioner (got it from amazon)
my nails are a lot better,
Well when i am gardening a lot, i still have to shorten them, but my nails are shiny and healthy ☺️
Making Celtic torcs and arm rings…
I recently knitted a very long scarf with sleeves at each end. I love that when I slip my arms in the sleeves it’s like a shawl around my neck and shoulders. Now the whole family wants one ????
I don’t have a lot of time to knit, so it says something that I’m casting on for my 4th one of these cowls! Plus, it’s so easy to wear and fills in that gap at the top of your coat just perfectly https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-shift
The shift is a fun mindless knit once you grasp the pattern, and because of the ways the colors interact with each other every cowl is an adventure. If you choose the right yarns, it really does become a “just one more row!” kind of pattern. 🙂 My fiber drug of choice for this one is Malabrigo Arroyo since I’m usually a more subtle/predictable color shift kind of girl. But Maker’s Merchantile sells kits with Schoppel-Wolle Edition 3, and boy did that make one with a lot of color that was fun to knit! https://www.makersmercantile.com/shop/c/p/The-Shift-Cowl-Kit-designed-by-Andrea-Mowry-x43655493.htm
Happy Knitting! 🙂
I have Zauberball®s waiting for The Shift… one day I will have one! (Or more?)
Lol. I have the blank journals, markers and the washi tape too. Maybe someday. I’ve been experimenting with Procreate. It’s a painting app for the iPad. It’s amazing, but it takes a little while to learn ????
I also got into doing my nails, I used to love gel and the salon but found gel polish really damaged my nails. A friend suggested Olive & June nail polish and I haven’t looked back! They are amazing. Their formula gives a gel look finish and depending on how active you are stay chip free for over a week. It is normal polish so you do need to resist attempting to do anything for 30 mins (40 to be safe) if you don’t want to smudge them while they dry. I put on a comfort show or movie and relax and it’s so nice. I don’t gush over many products but I love this stuff.
Anyone else do an automatic face zoom to the book?
I was knitting a sock, then the cuff fell off and I realised I had a whole bunch of rubbish weak yarn,
LOL. I’m sorry for your pain, but you just made my day. I read your stories, love them, come away marveling at your imagination, your ability to organize it, put it on paper and the blocks of knowledge in them that I always have fun researching. You bake wonderful things and knit and crochet and design, like I can only dream about. I write a few things for local newspapers, and newsletters, I bake and some people are kind about my efforts. I garden moderately well. Knit? Sew? Crochet? Only in those dreams. The cat does a better job of it. In fact our daughter said she could always tell when I wrapped the Christmas packages because it looked like the cat did it. And our son chipped in, “Yeah, wearing boxing gloves.” Yes, I am a klutz. But when someone of your skills can manage to hit herself with a log…well there’s still hope for me.
Crafting: I stopped making jewelry when I stopped working due to retirement because I don’t wear it anymore and don’t have coworkers to gift but I miss the crafting. I haven’t done needlework in a while either because of the arthritis in my hands. I do still make soaps and lotions and lip balms. Using herbs to make salves is something I do at least once a year. Oh yeah, and baking bread.