• Craft

    Date: 2009.02.25 | Category: Family Journal, craft | Tags: ,

    I’ve just realised that I don’t blog about a huge part of my life – craft!  I love to crochet and turn out things that are pretty and useful.  I taught myself using a book from the library designed for children.  The reason why I chose a children’s book is because they generally have much better pictures.  I’m a visual learner and so found it much easier.  Written instruction doesn’t work as well with me, nor does verbal, so that’s why.  I’m still hazy on the terms because I think I learnt from an american book, so I’m confused on “doubles” and treble” etc.  But it doesn’t matter because I don’t follow patterns.  I make up my pieces, sometimes as I’m going along or sometimes before I begin.  Often I’ll work for a couple of days on something then I’ll be unravelling it.  Just ask Dave, he used to ask what I was doing and I’d say “I’ve changed my mind!”.  He’d say “Wish I could do that with wood!” (his chosen medium).  I don’t even get a blink anymore, they all know me so well!

    My specialty is blankets.  I find them functional and easy.  I have made poncho’s, shawls, beanies, moccosains, scarves and dolls clothes in the past but find blankets satisfying to make.  I recently finished one in “boy” colours to send off to the Vic Bushfire Crisis and have now started a green one for Tash’s bed.  (When I do Liv’s of course it will be pink!).

    I can’t work with wool (or yarn as some call it) in the hotter months so I turn to cross stitch.  Generally it’s only about 2-3 months that I can’t crochet or knit, so in that time, which includes Christmas, I only finish one piece.  I find cross stitch painful at times, but it reinforces dicipline in me as when I make a mistake (not if – when) I MAKE myself go back and fix it.  I hated to do this years ago, but now it is rewarding to know I’ve finished a job and done it well.  Some things don’t need such precision (crochet!!!) and so I skip and go on.  Quilting on the other hand needs precision and is something I have always wanted to do.  I don’t think I’m ready for it yet.  I need A LOT more practice in sewing!

    Recently I discovered things called “softies”.  I’ve never heard of them before, others may have and you may be thinking where has this woman been all her life?  Under a rock???!!!  If so, I’m sorry!  I think they’re cute and may be just the thing to begin my sewing pursuit again.  I’ll put up some links for craft blogs/sites that I find insprational in the next few days.

    I need to go help one of the girls with their homeschooling…

    as Tigger would say TTFN!