What is your craft?

On Thursday evening I am leading a workshop for a group of ladies that want to learn to crochet or refresh their skills. I have done one before for a different group which went well and several of the ladies have gone on to make some lovey items..

Wish me luck !

Yes, that's it! One large box, line with chicken wire and add a mixture of concrete mix and I think it was about a sixth peat, place a small pot in the bottom to pride drainage, then place a smaller box on top of that bottom layer, add more chicken wire and fill in the walls with the mixture.

I learnt my lesson and used smaller boxes after that first one. You then painted the sides with yogurt to encourage moss.

Hypertufa! (Just Googled it )

Oh my next door neighbour made one of those! That was years ago and she's long since moved on, but I remember it well, really effective when filled with plants. I think it was mixed with peat as well? Is that the sort of thing you mean?

I share the carpal tunnel syndrome/tendonitis problems with you, sadly. It's the main reason why I have different projects on the go, I can't manage much more than an hour of consistent knitting. Knitting club is never consistent so I cope. I love the sound of the planter! Did anyone ever try making an old sink out of big cardboard boxes and concrete? That was very successful - as long as you made it in the place you wanted it to be used.

I suppose I'm a bit like stillhere in that I've tried so many different crafts over the years, card-making, macrame, rug-making, felting - both from merino tops and by knitting up wool and then 'fulling' it in the washing machine - patchwork and quilting, cross stitch, tapestry and other types of embroidery, such as crewel work, mosaics using ceramics, pottery (at evening classes), and the usual knitting, crochet and sewing. I've dabbled with woodwork too, if you can call it that - I made a huge wooden planter for the garden, about 6' x 2' x 2' with 'feet' to hold it above the concrete. I used tanalised timber, and stained it with a blue woodstain. I remember it used around 120 galvanised screws, which were all screwed in by hand. That was about 20 years ago, and it's still holding up!
I made my wedding dress and veil, and the three bridesmaids' dresses. I sew all sorts of things - bags, bunting, little padded hearts to hang as decorations, Christmas tree decorations, babies' headbands and bibs, cushion covers, soft toys. I recently made a new travel changing mat for my DD from PUL, which was the first time I'd worked with this fabric. It was fine! Really pleased with it.
I knit mostly small things - babies' or children's clothes, or infinity scarves. I made a cable-knit cushion cover recently in chunky yarn, but it didn't last long because it rubbed and bobbled so much and soon looked scruffy. I made a couple of knitted patchwork blankets, one to use up stash and another planned one for my baby GD.
And I crochet when my carpal tunnel syndrome gets too bad for knitting - for some reason crocheting doesn't seem to trigger it.
And I love photography, though I haven't been out with the camera much just lately. I especially love 'playing' with my photos in Photoshop, being creative with them.

Luckily I enjoy it. I did some classroom assisting years ago, and always ended up with those slower to learn how to do the annual cross-stich calendar for Mum. I think that was what taught me how to be exceedingly patient and not lose my temper.

It sounds as if you have your hands very full stillhere. We tried to set up a craft group in our local U3A but I could see who was going to get lead it! I just didn't have the time and still don't really with mum needing a reasonable amount of my time.

Boho being the new flowerpower/bohemian! 70s is back (again).

That will be so fashionable this year. The boho look is in.

Almost finished the back of dgd1's cardigan

Also - I do have people just turning up, locals from my village, not always at convenient times, but frantic because they have twisted or dropped a stitch or can't understand the pattern. DBH has got quite used to it. The two slowest often come around for an hour or two, but at my invitation. It's taken almost a year (we started straight after xmas) to get them all able to knit evenly, cast on and off, do stocking stitch and purl, and to constantly count the number of stitches they have. Also to do tension squares first. When I come home I feel wrecked.

It really wasn't my idea for them all to be doing pullovers so soon, but they insisted and are only just beginning to realise what they have let themselves in for.

I rarely manage to get on with my own knitting, I have to teach everyone else. I do have a friend who has promised to come along to help out, as they all want to make pullovers for their DBHs before xmas. I can see myself with an awful lot of necks to finish off.

I think I am safe outing myself on here, as MiL hates crafts!

stillhere - forgot your stars

Isn't it all amazing. Stillhere how did you manage with the knitting - did you end up teaching everyone?

That sounds lovely.

Also in the middle of a cot blanket ( for no particular reason,) with 3 knitted bunnies stuffed along the bottom.

Last winter I mosaiced a garden table. The pattern is half an onion/ bulb in greens, lilacs and greys. Fancy doing another for the back of the garden seat - a dragonfly pattern with turquioses, white and greys I think

btw I am really janerowena in disguise, I have had to change my name and am wondering if I will acquire a new personality to go with it!

I love that so many people are making things, when our knitting club started and I discovered to my horror that I was the only one there of 16 who knew how to knit, I was starting to think of it as a dying art. We have one crocheter and one quiltmaker - that's it. All in our 50s.

They don't miss anything, do they!
Delightful! (until they turn into stroppy teenagers)

I fell asleep instead Oh how I know that feeling!
that is a lovely little outfit with great attention to detail - and unique. What a lucky little GD!

I am not sure she felt it was quite as unique when they came over last Christmas rosequartz. The fabric was such a good buy - flagged up by someone on a sewing forum I am on. It was beautiful Tilda fabric and the company were selling of 10mtr bolts at the price of under 2.5 mtrs.

When she arrived she noticed that the curtains in my bedroom matched one of the ones in her dress and the curtains that front the Ikea cupboard things I have for my crafts matched another. She was delighted though and I fell in love with her just a little more.

Rubysong I take my hat off to you for the costume making - I would be terrified!

I made most of their clothes for four little girls but children don't wear home-made things now so I make useful stuff like curtains and cushions.
What I like best is hand-sewing and embroidery. I belong to Embroiderers Guild. I've just finished a rag doll with six outfits for littlest grandchild.
I don't make anything just for hanging on a wall, it's got to have a use.

Yes I have an overlocker which is great for sewing jersey. I am just learning how to sew knitted fabrics properly and avoid all that puckering and waving that can happen, it's not that difficult after a bit of practice.