2023 - No Craft Spending - I WILL bust my stash and make pretty things!!!!!

greentiger

Hi gang!   May I join you all again?   As usual I'm (very) late to the party.   I am not setting targets, other than to use up as much of my seemingly endless stash; I hope that's ok

I have started this year's busting already.

I have made the dog coat - finally, yay!!!!!   It only took 1 year plus to get going on it.
I have crocheted another of those wee jumpers.   I have started another.
I did stitch the pompom back on a hat (that's been waiting a loooooong time).
Today I made 2 Chinese New Year cards.

Last year' my stash made 277 items, made up as sewing - 109 items, woollies - 21 items and cards - 147 items.   I'll have to push myself to beat that total this year.

I'm off now to read through all these pages and see what you've all been up to  so far.

plumduff55

Good morning, I've done my tension square for the waistcoat and it's knitting up big even though I've reduced the needle size so a bit more thought to give this. I know if I knit it again and it does not work I will bin it 😱.  So I'd better make sure it's going to work before I start.

I've prepared a chart for the temperature blanket and spent all afternoon yesterday practising the square. I'm really a beginner at crochet as I've only ever done trebles. I watched lots of YouTube videos and they all started very differently with "magic circles" and "slip knots" and I couldn't get the hang of the beginning. Once I get past that I know I'll be fine. It's a single crochet/linen/moss stitch square. I'd really appreciate help if anyone can point me in the right direction.

@Soontobeoap Your cards are really beautiful
@sammy_kaye18 Your robin is starting to take shape - well done

Here is my plan for the temperature blanket which will be great when I get past the first round 🥴


Happy crafting xx

Soontobeoap

Hi @greentiger would love to see pics of your dog coat and jumper. I find everyones pictures very inspiring. 

Love the colours for your temperature blanket @plumduff55. I had never heard of them before you mentioned them. Crochet is made more difficult by the difference between american and  English patterns. If you find one with sc ( single crochet) that is american wording. Single crochet stitch = double crochet in English patterns. You obviously have American terminology in your pattern. Once you have worked the basic stitches out the patterns are usually easy. Dont know how they are creating the "moss stitch" can you give more details so that I can try and help more. Thanks. 

plumduff55

@Soontobeoap Below are instructions for one that is easier to understand. I always start with 3 or 4 chain stitches so I could do that instead of a magical circle. Yes, I think the patterns I was looking at are American and so confusing me. What do you think of this pattern. Thanks for your help 

Soontobeoap

Hi @plumduff55. Look up dc english version and you will find it on youtube. ( have just looked but cant work out how to link here. 😂) . You have one loop on hook from making your "magic ring", insert hook into ring, loop wool over hook and pull through, (2 loops on hook) now put wool over hook and pull both loops through. =one dc made. Hope this helps.

Where your american pattern reads sc (single crochet) it =dc (double crochet) in an English pattern. They are the same thing. Hope this makes sense. Let me know how you get on. 

Katiehound

The advantage of the magic circle is that you can have a reasonable sized circle to work in and  then can pull it really tight and have almost no central hole. it takes a bit of getting used to

I hate US crochet terms! If the pattern was in UK terminology I could envisage

Do you have a picture of what this should look like?

I thought you were doing rows rather than squares, but this is clearly a square (or circle!!) as it has a centre

This shows UK double crochet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XwSnpZUy34

however if you google single crochet all sorts of US videos come up!!

Here is Moss stitch- US terminology- nice clear instructions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WDUZPIv2yk

sammy_kaye18

Soontobeoap said:

@Sammy_Kaye18, you cross stitch very quickly. Do you find it calming? I am really enjoying watching him grow. 

old_fogey said:

@sammy_kaye18 good idea to check the delivery is all there, you never know. And those Robins are starting to look very Robin like! And thanks for the reminder about valentines day. Only a card to make for hubby, but I like to do it when he is out on Friday mornings, and I soon run out of them.

Thanks @Soontobeoap - I do find it calming. I generally sit and do it in the evening or when I have an hour or so whilst dinner is cooking. My husbands way of de-stressing after a day in work is to play a farming game on the computer so I will generally sit down and cross stitch for a bit whilst he does that. Feels good being productive too. 

@Stashbuster - good luck with your new top. 

@old_fogey - yeah I have a card to make for my husband too but I get a bit of free time with him working etc so I will get round to it sooner or later - just trying to decide what to put on it for him. Im thinking I might use one of the glass jars I got in my delivery and my cricut to make a sticker for a treat jar for him an then fill it with his favourite pick n mix sweeties. We dont generally do valentines day or meals etc so its nice to give him a little token of something although we are a bit weird with out gifts. Last year I got him cycling complression socks to help his bad ankles and he brought me a tin opener.. :-:smiley:

I have done a bit more on the cross stitch last night so it is starting to look good and I think I will be onto the second robin before long. 
I am going to sit down later and look through all my craft stuff to see exactly what I have to do because in the midst of me cleaning earlier, I realised that I have pegs stuck everywhere so making a peg bag is going to be one of my tasks to do as well - especially since I hope some nicer weather will be on the horizon before long and I can actually use my washing line! 

plumduff55

Thanks @Soontobeoap and @Katiehound. I see that it's just double crochet and that won't be a problem for me. It's starting it that I'm finding difficult. I am going to sit all afternoon and practice till I master it, even the magic circle 🥴. Here is a picture of a finished square - it should have 31 rounds but I'm just going to do 28 as I think it'll be quite big. There'll be 12 squares - one for each month. So here goes  ......... watch this space 🤪

Katiehound

Don't know if this helps- magic circle- (then trebles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GHTfXaz2E

and slightly different- but same result
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yX0ZG4ef74

Cupcakecraftscuddlycanine

sammy_kaye18 said:

Cupcakecraftscuddlycanine said:

Hello!

I'd like to join again please!

No targets this year money or craft wise-I just want to get through all the wedding stuff without spending a fortune 😥 but also try and do some crafts in the evening to combat my anxiety!

I found crafting some things for my wedding really helped me too. 
I made my
- table decorations - jars with lace ribbon, butterflies and candles. scattered gems.
- place cards - white card with purple butterflies and names and gems.
- favours - small hessian bags with mini bars of cadburys chocolate bars
- thank you cards.

Lovely to see your on the boards hun and looking forward to seeing what you make x

Thank you!

These sound lovely! 

I've just finished my bouquet and buttonholes (and matching single flowers) out of playing cards-one pack I already had and one I had to buy (not to mention glue/wire/mini mushrooms etc! 😂)