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Arts & crafts

What is your craft?

(173 Posts)
Gracesgran Mon 12-Oct-15 12:46:18

I just said, on another thread, that I didn't take to card making because all my hard work gets thrown in the bin shock and it made me wonder what everyone else enjoys.

My craft seems to be "Christmas" which seems to suit my rather butterfly mind. It may, in any one year, include sewing, crochet (do knit but it's not a favourite), and original style decoupage - flat not 3D. I am currently learning to use a rather elderly embroidery machine which I bought second hand to personalise some gifts and decorations - it only has a small hoop but that is all I need and I am going to try folk art when there is a gap!

I am sure some of you are less inclined to flitter and I would love to know what you do.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 12:49:18

I used to enjoy latch hook rug making, but Readicut just don't do the variety anymore. Now I either read or GN! Haven't even knitted since GSs were babies. hmm

rosequartz Mon 12-Oct-15 12:55:37

I used to sew (dressmaking, curtains, soft furnishings etc) a lot but very rarely nowadays. There is a long length of nice check fabric sitting in a box under the stairs waiting to be made into items for the kitchen, eg food processor cover, tea cosy etc.
I do knit (DH said I am turning into my mother grin) but mainly small things for the DGC and items for charity.
This winter I must try to get the hang of crochet.

Any 'crafty' things I attempt seem to end up as a disaster. Perhaps my fingers are getting too fumbly to create small beautiful items.

I make stuff with Playdoh - does that count? But only when DGD is here. grin

That all sounds very impressive Gracesgran

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 12:56:04

One of my rugs.

rosequartz Mon 12-Oct-15 12:57:43

That is lovely jings smile

I used to paint, and I did a painting of sunflowers but decided that Van Gogh did it better.

Luckygirl Mon 12-Oct-15 13:00:34

Quilting, photography, crochet, knitting - and I too have made a rug, but only because DD sent off for a tractor rug for her son and was a bit surprised when it arrived as you had to actually make it! I also finish up making huge banners and bunting for the concerts and festivals run by DD. It all keeps me off the streets!

Elegran Mon 12-Oct-15 13:00:52

You could get the canvas and wool strips online, Jings, and use a cross-stitch pattern for the design. You could make small cushion-size ones too. I make a little sunflower one for DGS1 that way - he still has it twenty years later.

Elegran Mon 12-Oct-15 13:02:39

For instance www.sewandso.co.uk/LatchHook/RugWool but others do it too.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 13:05:21

Yes. I have made the cushion size ones. But I do like a kit. I like to be able to listen to radio 4 and just do the hooking without having to think about the rug too much. Very relaxing. The Readicut ones were excellent.

janerowena Mon 12-Oct-15 13:11:34

I've had a go at pretty much everything over the years, from macramé to lace-making, linocut to quilling, knitting and crocheting to weaving, embroidery to rug-making. Nowadays I knit, crochet, and mostly confine my sewing to curtains and cushion-covers. I do make the odd little craft project as presents, one year I managed to get rid of most of my vast inherited button collection by buying up nice tshirts and customising them with buttons around the neck, I also made wire hearts and xmas tree shapes as decorations using buttons. Beaded padded coathangers, too many to remember.

I do like upcycling old clothes, making them more modern. I will put fabric inserts into tops, add pockets, bind around necklines, add length, that sort of thing. Turn old jeans into 3/4 length ones, maybe with a contrasting cuff. I often change all the buttons on a cheap coat, jacket or cardigan for some of my own beautiful buttons, which instantly makes them look better.

I am so glad that I know how to mend, it adds years to much-loved clothing.

I have always had a cashmere fetish, so current projects are; making a patchwork throw out of old cashmere pullovers, knitting a hoodie for DGS, knitting a daft xmas jumper for DBH, finishing the chainstitch stylised flower on a Tunisian crochet cushion cover and I have a pullover that needs darning. I pick up whichever I am in the mood for doing.

I run a knitting club.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 13:11:52

I made this multi-striped one from leftovers. It's quite jolly.

Galen Mon 12-Oct-15 13:13:02

Crochet

ninathenana Mon 12-Oct-15 13:16:00

Can't knit anymore or anything too fiddlysad
I do like to paint slosh water colours around

grannyqueenie Mon 12-Oct-15 13:19:45

Green with envyenvy, still searching for my creative gene.........sad

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 13:20:58

I really fancy crocheting! Must find a You tube vid and see if I can do it. I've got a hook somewhere.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 13:22:47

grannyqueenie TBH my rug making is a bit like paint-by-numbers. Not very creative really. grin

kittylester Mon 12-Oct-15 13:23:06

jings, you have hidden depths. I didn't imagine you doing anything like that. I'm impressed with all of you. smile

On the other hand, I can't do anything at all. sad Anyone any ideas for something that I might be able to do?

Galen Mon 12-Oct-15 13:25:33

Jbf try Mikey the crochet crowd. He does excellent video tutorials starting with very basic.
My grandma initially taught me but I'd forgotten it. Mikey got me started on utube also Facebook

ffinnochio Mon 12-Oct-15 13:31:11

Love your multi-striped rug, J. If I saw it in a shop I'd buy it! Fab. colour combos.

ginny Mon 12-Oct-15 13:33:36

Patchwork and various other fabric crafts, knitting and crochet scrap booking in the main. I occasionally have a go at something different. Also enjoy a little water colour painting . I do make cards but only for those I know will appreciate the time and effort that goes into them.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 12-Oct-15 13:35:11

AH, that's great fffin! It was the most fun to make. smile

Atrig Mon 12-Oct-15 13:40:01

I used to knit a lot when I was a child and when my children were young but my DiL barely used any of the things I knitted for our first grandchild so I have not bothered since then apart from if the GC ask for a particular soft toy.

Having moved house I recently joined a craft group at the U3A and was surprised at how interested everyone was in the dolls house miniatures I used to make a few years ago. I even found someone whose husband commissioned a dolls house replica of their holiday cottage and she wanted to furnish it herself so hopefully I have also found a friend and might rekindle an old hobby.

I hardly have any wall space left for more embroidery or cross stitch

ninathenana Mon 12-Oct-15 13:40:42

kitty a lot of people treat adult colouring as a joke but if you look on line it's amazing how different the same picture or pattern can be done by different people. To me this is creative.
Very easy and cheap hobby.

Gracesgran Mon 12-Oct-15 13:46:27

Wow - I am so impressed. Jbf you have brought back memories. My father used to love Readicut rugs - among the many hobbies he had smile - and he went on doing it until his hands wouldn't cope. He then took up tapestry. Interestingly, although mum taught me to knit I wanted to learn to crochet so he learned and then taught me. It kept him out of the garden - his great love - so I was never very sure how pleased he was about it but he was a natural educator so perhaps felt he ought to.

Do use You tube to learn to Crochet. It is one of those things that clicks quite early on and is relaxing to do. I have been making a throw for ages and tend to add another round to it while it is spread across my knees in the evening. I should probably do one of my UFOs but it is very relaxing.

I had a look to see if I could find any rug making kits. There are loads of bits and pieces on Ebay but I wonder if "proddy" rug making has taken over.

rubysong Mon 12-Oct-15 13:47:38

I do a bit of patchwork and quilting, also dressmaking (rough and ready for dressing up costumes etc.). I am about to make three Edwardian bathing dress costumes for a concert. I also have a rag rug on the go made from hessian and old t shirts. It is quite large and is getting very heavy.