Crafting

I think you should just make things for yourself. A lovely patchwork cushion for your chair, an intricate wooly hat for the winter etc.

You can also find organisations online that accept knitted squares or full blankets (great stash clearance!). Have a look and see if there are any "knit and natter" groups in your area as well.

I can well understand you getting fed up if you were left with things nobody wanted - how disheartening!

I only make things for a specific purpose, whichI know are really wanted and appreciated - they go to a charity, or e.g. the local hospital - e.g. twiddle muffs for patients with dementia. Is there perhaps something like that you could do?

I love my knitting and couldn’t be without i don’t do much in the summer more for the winter. Knit baby blankets always welcome from new mums.

Granniedot - that is me to a T!! Good to have a kindred spirit.
I taught art and crafts for Adult Education for about 20 years so covered everything possible - decoupage, macrame, mosaics, watercolour painting, card making, salt dough, xmas decs, table decs, rag rugging and much more.

I still do some crochet but really have to force myself to keep my hand in and my brain working. If somebody local has a new baby I make some bootees or a hat as it’s a family tradition. My mother and grandmother did this.

I get no enjoyment going to craft fayres now as you just see the same old stuff. I never did have a stall but I used to like a nose around. I have a hobby room and have slowly been selling off craft equipment on Ebay and I gave a lot to our village nursery school.

I think we must be all crafted out! 🤣🤣

Someone posted here a while ago about blankets specifically for premature babies in hospital - there’s a thread somewhere I think, with a link to the pattern.

Granniedot. I have only once made items to sell. A woman asked me to make two baby shawls. She asked me to buy the wool and she would settle up with me. They were boring to do as I don’t like doing things twice.

The yarn came to about £14.50 and I gave her the receipt and she gave me £15 and very generously said “keep the change”. So that’s what I got for several weeks work! never again.

Primrose 53 i think you are right, we are all crafted out 😊

I dont think people see the hours and costs, i get a lot of oh will you make my mother's sisters a patchwork quilt, from the younger generation, i once did and it didn't get collected 🤷‍♂️

Hi Granniedot, I received some great advice a while ago on here when I 'lost my crafting mojo'. Perhaps we all flag a bit now and then. Some gals posted lovely projects that were very inspiring. One of the things that kick-started me again though was Karmalady's Decluttering thread. I threw myself in (and a lot of stuff out) and after sorting and condensing my stash found my mojo lurking at the bottom of the pile!
I enjoy NOT having a myriad of choices not and am not overwhelmed by decades of stuff. Funnily, though the crafty bits were the hardest to purge this is the area in my home that has made me soooo happy. This may be worth trying!

Hi 👋I have been having a sort out today took lots of crafting items to my local community centre, they do knitting /sewing groups etc they seemed very grateful😊

granniedot, I only craft for myself, items that I want to wear. Hence sewing and using the best cloth and all my fabric stash is good. Spinning from fine prepared fibres like cashmere/merino/silk, that will make yarn which I knit to make lovely tops, not always for me but also as gorgeous presents for AC

Years ago I got rid of my large haul of card making items and there was a lot. It must have made a great deal of money for the charity and I felt good because after all, it was a gift to a worthy charity

I have all my wood carving items, again a lot but carving tools can pack away very tidily and there they remain, out of sight and under a bed. I see a glimmer of hope, that a dgs will one day take that hobby up and parhaps I will pass the whole lot over to him

I go to a craft group nowadays, not for crafting really but for the lovely chatty company. Most are older, no teaching required and by golly they are interesting about life and locality in general.

I suggest that you don`t stop crafting but pick a craft that you genuinely like and which will lead to companionship, if wanted.

Another one here that's lost her crochet mojo. I've been doing a bit of sewing, but can't seem to pick up my crochet hook. I look online at all of the lovely makes, but my hook stays in the bag . Will someone please give me a kick start?

Granniedot, thats so thoughtful, I'm sure your bits and pieces will spread joy, but then I have always found 'crafty' folk to be very kind hearted x

I find a good tidy up usually gets me interested again. I sew and make a bit of jewellery for the local charity shop. I don't ask what they charge as I suspect it would be a lot less than I start with but it gives my hobby a purpose. I wouldn't want to be doing it as a proper job - nobody wants to pay the actual price of the labour that goes into it. A patchwork quilt could work out at hundreds of pounds in hours.

A few years ago , I was asked to tech crafts at my father's club .
Most members were ladies of about 80 plus .
None of them were interested .
They said that it was too much bother and what were they going to do with the stuff when it was finished ?
They were more motivated by the tea , coffee , cakes and biscuits .
I felt like a flunkey .
But I do understand how they felt .
I'm too tired to sew .
I used to sew a great deal .
I still enjoy painting and drawing .

Opal

Another one here that's lost her crochet mojo. I've been doing a bit of sewing, but can't seem to pick up my crochet hook. I look online at all of the lovely makes, but my hook stays in the bag . Will someone please give me a kick start?

Have you looked at Mosaic crochet Opal? I am slowly doing a blanket called On The Seashore by Rosina Plane. Years ago I would have done this in a week or so even with small kids around but now I have to force myself.

If I can work out how to add photos I will show you.

This is the pattern Opal

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/on-the-seashore-2

Hi, where are you based?

I love my art and crafting. Family sometimes ask for particular things and friends like hand painted cards and fabric bags of various types.

If you need someone to appreciate your work , there are dozens of charities that are crying out for knitted of fabric items.
Just Google and I’m sure you will find plenty. If you PM me I can give you a few of the Charity names.

Thanks Primrose for the suggestion and the link. I'll take a look.

I like gardening more than anything but I do draw and make butterflies birds and mammals. I make fairy gardens in miniature just for family or friends as it can get expensive.
I recently volunteered knitting for a charity squares for blankets for winter. I am irritated the time it’s taken them to get back to me about the size they require. They are very specific about this so it’s not as if I can do random sizes. I do crafting because I have very nasty osteoarthritis keeping my hands busy is good for my joints.

I started sewing about 4 years ago, 35 years since I last made some curtains and a few bits and pieces of clothing for my (then young) DDs. I can sort of feel what you are experiencing, as I have made lots of T shirts, shorts, leggings, pyjamas, shirts and dresses for my GC, but they are coming to the age when home made is just not for them. Maybe not the youngest, 7 year old GS, but certainly the older GD. Luckily I now have a 5 month old GD and my DD2 loves anything I make for her!

However, I have certainly slowed down on the making front. Perhaps I could have a look at things other than clothes for their school fairs. Is there a local primary school that might appreciate your work? Or the idea of a local group sounds promising - sociable as well as useful!

I envy your crochet, cardmaking and patchwork skills, wish I could do those! I used to make cards for family birthdays and Christmas but only using a computer programme, so I couldn't claim any artistic merit!

If you can’t find, or don’t fancy, a local group I would try YouTube. There are lots of lovely ladies (and Stephen West!) who are so cheery and encouraging. There are Knitalongs and Crochetalongs which are fun and no pressure at all. Some of the YouTubers have helped me when I ran into difficulties. You’d be really welcome!

I agree! I’ve recently started thinning out my stash (a lot portion of which was offloads from friends etc) so no more felt or fabric.
My wool mountain has shrunk slightly (there’s a limit to how many blinking blankets I want/need/donate/gift etc although my sock yarn stash is still pretty impressive 😊
I am plodding on with knitting a jumper for me, it’s very slow progress!
Card making I no longer have any interest in, there’s a limit to how many I actually use and I have more than enough so I’m gradually giving the materials to the school.
I do enjoy watercolour painting and line and wash so I will happily use them.