Ideas for an Easy Craft to Take Up

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Cross stitch. It's a slow craft but is so relaxing . But a copy of The world of cross stitch it will come with a free kit for you to try. I didn't realise how little crosses can make beautiful pictures . I did these using patterns in The world of cross stitching. The mice took a week each,dragon 3 months and my owl 2 months . That's what I need it's slow .

My sister in law does needle felting .

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The owls are what my sister in law needed felted for me the back is as good as the front. She made the owls before putting them in the hoop. I put it into a box frame to keep the dust of . The cross stitch are Christmas ornaments I made took 2 days each .

Needle felted

Well, I found crochet again during lockdown and, having failed before, there are now so many helpful YouTube videos and Crochet Alongs to follow that it is easier to learn.

You can crochet whilst watching TV in the evening unless it's a complicated pattern.

That's really beautiful, Whiff, and definitely something to consider. I remember doing cross stitch at primary school. I think we had to decorate a tablecloth, but I didn't enjoy it. I'd enjoy doing something like a picture more, so thanks for that.

I'm just looking at needle felting kits for beginners. It's amazing what you can make and they look so professional.
Thanks for your suggestions

I tried knitting as a child and again as a teenager, but kept making too many mistakes and gave up. I've never tried crocheting but I like the idea of doing it to relax while watching tv. Now I'm a lot older, perhaps I'll have more patience with things like this. Thanks for that, Allira.

Steelygran

I'm just looking at needle felting kits for beginners. It's amazing what you can make and they look so professional.
Thanks for your suggestions

I've tried that but stabbed myself more than ths wool.

As a birthday present my friend bought me two crochet lessons in the local haberdashery and wool shop. In a couple of hours I learned enough basics to confidently have a go on my own. From then on I've taught myself more stitches by using library books and it's a really enjoyable hobby.

Bella Coco's tutorials are helpful

bellacococrochet.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo7_PlCfrEK1Gbce7lwMuBWzOdaTl2Yo2auMohDj1JPXgKmLFTf

I don't crochet but my daughter taught herself with videos and is pretty good now.
She always chooses beautiful yarns and is currently making a rather lovely bedspread.

What about Macrame?
I did that years ago and enjoyed it. Recently I followed a tutorial (again online) and made a lovely plant holder for my (other) daughter who had said she wanted one but thought the more complex ones were expensive.

Thanks Allira. The videos look really helpful. Don't know why I didn't think to look for something like it before.

I know people turn up their noses a bit nowadays, but consider flower arranging?

I found it very restful. Mostly used stray greenery and set myself a £10 limit on bought flowers.

Sometimes I achieved something really striking and the best bit (if you’re not very arty like me) is that the failures can be rejigged or disappear in a week or so anyway.

One of the problems with crafts is what to do with them………….

For relaxation, you might consider Zentangle or even better, a mix of watercolour and pen art. There are some excellent YouTube channels to get you started.

www.youtube.com/@Zentangle

www.youtube.com/c/creationsceecee

www.youtube.com/@huartdrawing

www.youtube.com/@LouDavis

Also look at neurographic art.

You don’t need a lot of materials to start - just ordinary printer paper will do for the tangling but a heavier duty sketchbook or watercolour pad if you want to combine paint.

You can mix any paint colour from just nine: Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Payne’s Grey, Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre and Lemon Yellow. You should find most of these or something close in most starter watercolour sets or you can buy tiny tubes in art shops. For pens, I use Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners which come in a variety of pen widths and colours. Cult Pens is a great place to buy pens online.

Or maybe try some hand sewing. I like this channel for English Paper Piecing:

www.youtube.com/@thelasthomelyhouse

And this one for all hand-sewing especially slow-stitching:

www.youtube.com/@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery

You don’t need a lot of materials, just some fabrics which you could collect from charity shops, a needle and some threads. For EPP I buy tatty old children’s books from charity shops and and run the pages through my printer to make the hexagon shapes.

What a good idea!
I love arranging flowers.

I love card making and paper crafts and I have recently ventured into creative journalling
Very relaxing and many people love to receive hand made cards

I'd love something like that. My local crochet group isn't for beginners but I'll keep looking for a more suitable one.

Zentangle really appeals to me. The finished pieces are beautiful and I can see why it appeals to children too. I love the sound of the paint colours you can use. Thanks for the great ideas Silverbrooks. I'd definitely have a go at slow stitching too.

Flower arranging appeals to me too. Did you go on a course to learn how to do that, NotSpaghetti?

Card making would perhaps be a good one for me to start with. Thanks for the idea, Justmeonmyown. I'm thinking of including some of my favourite short poems with them.
I enjoy writing holiday journals. The best part is reading them back years later.
So many good ideas for things to try. I'm inspired to have a go at these. Thanks to all you creative grans.

Ice just started cardmaking at U3a, not very good yet but there are lots of beginner tips on you tube.

Steelygran

I'd love something like that. My local crochet group isn't for beginners but I'll keep looking for a more suitable one.

I belong to a U3A craft group.

Members take any handicraft, tapestry, embroidery, patchwork, knitting, crochet, all levels and abilities and there's always someone willing to help.

I made many cushion cover in Bargello work.
It’s very simple but very effective.

www.amazon.co.uk/Bargello-Needlepoint-Guideline-Beginners-Technique/dp/B0CDK74T27/ref=asc_df_B0CDK74T27?hvlocphy=9046574&gad_source=1&psc=1&psc=1&linkCode=df0&hvptwo=&mcid=d13446523d7b3a369cd1af0fc7a22706&hvnetw=g&hvadid=697241939011&hvpone=&hvlocint=&th=1&hvpos=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvqmt=&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-2320096221044&hvrand=754257613133728567

Jiggery Pokery do some brilliant sewing kits and not hard. I’ve re-taken up embroidery/ slow stitching and enjoying it.