Calling all crafters....

[Talmina]

After talking to Marija last night and finding out that Dawny was also a knitter like me I decided that I should find out who else on Ober is a crafter, this includes sewing, knitting, crochet, folk art, scrapbooking, cardmaking, jewlery making and many other crafts I just can't think of right now. Also with the Knitting Olympics coming up with the Winter Olympics www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/olympics2006.html I thought I should suggest a Crafters Commonweath Games along the same premise... Especially since I don't think I have the money to buy yarn for a new project at the moment...

So tell everyone what crafts you do and if you would be interested in participating in a Crafters Commonwealth Games...

[avra]

Oooh! I'm a knitter too! I didn't know about the Knitting Olympics...
Sounds like fun Although, I somehow doubt I'll get the time, but I have been meaning to have a go at mittens for a while (yes, I'm a very new knitter) so I'd join in with a Crafters Commonwealth Games

[Elspeth]

I can knit, although I haven't done it for ages. It might be fun to have a go at making something again. Something small, I imagine. Maybe a hat for Pickle...

What would we be doing as part of the Games, good Jess?

[Rushton]

I learned to knit last year!

But I'm incredibly slow I envy all those people who go a mile a minute and can watch TV at the same time!

Jewellery making however, I can do! and all other sorts of crafty type things.

I second the Bunne, what events are proposed?

[Talmina]

well similar rules as the knitting olympics, those being that you start your project during the opening ceremony and finish it during or before the closing ceremony. Craft of your choice, for example Rigel could do something simple like a scarf or some nice elaborate jewelery. It's supposed to be challenging to you is the important thing, you could learn a new technique or take on a larger project. I'm thinking of putting this idea up onto LJ in a few communities I'm part of too. Look around on the net for some inspiration, for you knitters looking for patterns but don't want to accidentally end up with something too hard, try www.knitty.com, they're all free patterns and they have a nice system of levels for their patterns.

The funny thing about the knitting olympics is that they've now got more competitors than the winter olympics...

[Elspeth]

talmina said:

The funny thing about the knitting olympics is that they've now got more competitors than the winter olympics...

Hehe! That is quite amusing. On the other hand, I don't think the knitting olympics will attract quite the same level of spectators.

Spectator 1: Look! She's finished casting on and she's going for her first row of ribbing!

Spectator 2: *snore*

Thanks for the site, good Jess. I'll check it out when I get home.

[avra]

Ooh, that is a good site! I'll have to bookmark that one.

[Kangaruth]

Well, I don't knit fast enough for the Olympics, even if I had a pair of needles with me in Switzerland (my last jumper took nearly a year to complete!) but I'd definitely be interested in joining in the Crafters Commonwealth games. Maybe it would be a good incentive to make the new corset I'm working on (I seem to be interminably slow making the mock-up) I sew, mainly dressmaking stuff, I especially love corsetry. I have a sewing journal if anyone is interested, it's at livejournal. (The jumper I knitted is about 6 entries down)

[Siryn]

i learned to knit, though i can only do scarves. thehard part for me is to not add/lose stitches. the first scarf i did started out the width of my forearm and finished the width of my bedroom door!!!

i just started scrapbooking -this is SO fun, i've finished about 8 pages.

i like making simple jewelery, earings + neclaces are about as far as i go.

i LOVE sewing, though i've only made one good dress. (i thought, if i'm making it, i'll make the split as high as i damn well like!)

i've made simple bags but they never turn out how i like

i like pressing flowers, if thats even craft!

when did Knitting Olympics start up? i've never heared of it............

[Lucy]

Well, I don't do knitting or anything like that - it seems that if you're a right hander it's difficult to teach a left hander how to knit so I was never taught.
However, last year one of my friends introduced me to scrapbooking and card making. I'm not very good at it, but I really love it! It's really relaxing and is a good time filler! So, I don't think I'd be up for the Knitting Olympics or whatever but it's interesting finding out wht crafts people enjoy!

[Fuil Dearg]

i can knit, sew and do woodwork. is baking cakes a type of craft too?
i like knitting, have been meaning to start knitting again but i always forget to go to the shop in town to buy needles and wool. i havent knitted in many years except a few weeks ago when i used peac0ck feathers instead of needles. im not very good at knitting, i only know how to cast on, basic sticth and the reverse of the basic stitch and casting off. i made a scarf once, thats the only piece of clothing ive ever knitted. i think i tried knittingt a pencil case once. i like/enjoy knitting and sewing with an electric sewing machine. i hate sewing by hand. havent sewn in many years. i made a cushion once, i tie-dyed the piece of fabric for one side. i sewed 16 bits of material for the otherside. and i sewed the two sides together. i learnt to knit from my sisters, i learnt to bake from my mother and sisters, i learnt to sew at school and i learnt woodwork at school. i did home economics and woodwork in school. one time at home i was trying to use an old sewing machine for my school project. i accidentally put my finger under the needle and it went bitways through my finger. it was deep. i very carefully figured out which way to turn the handle to raise the needle rather than lower it. i got it out ok and it healed quickly.

[Siryn]

ouch! was that at school?!

i Love woodwork too, though im not the best at it

[Talmina]

Its great to see how many of you can knit and stuff and Siryn, I'm sorta into making corsets at the moment, I just have to put the ribbon edging on my first one from the elizebethan costume page. I'm also about to start on a cincher belt for a friend using an alteration of the same pattern. You don't mind that I added your sewing lj to my friends list do you? I'm talmina on there too.

[Kangaruth]

I got a bit confused there, do you mean me? In which case, feel free to friend me. If you haven't already, check out the corsetmakers community on lj - it's a really friendly, helpful place if you're into corsetry.

[Talmina]

was it you, argh i even went back and checked who it was!

And siryn, just ignore my pm, i think i need to wait until i have had my first cuppa before i come on here!

But for all of you, the knitting olympics is for all skill levels, you could do anything from a dishcloth to an elaborate afghan really. I'm doing my bf's scarf actually which is my own design. I've been at it like a lunatic the last few days trying to get stuff finished before... i guess ill be starting saturday... anyone know what time the opening ceremony is supposed to be in relation to here? For the winter olympics?

The skill level thing is the same for the Crafters Commonwealth Games, you could even decide to learn a new craft if you wanted. It's about getting out there and doing it really, preferably if possible in public.

Also Lucy, if you can find someone who knits continental you might find they can teach you how to knit, I'm lefty and I find that when I teach other people to knit I knit right handed but continental (with the yarn in my left hand) I just can't for the life of me get that yarn out of my left hand, it is also apparently supposed to be quicker once you get the hand of it. Or even if you have broadband (or are really patient with waiting for dial-up to load stuff) try www.knittinghelp.com

[Lucy]

Ooo, thanks for the tips, Talmina. Think I'll check that website out! Aaahh, yet more fuel to the fire of my procrastination ;D

[Lauren Hedgehog]

I make medieval dresses for when I go a medievaling ( I haven't really got out of the 12th century Norman period though their dresses are lovely without being too complicated ) and I also dabble in tabletweaving since it is far, far cheaper to make than buy

[Squarmi]

I used to knit but i don't anymore. I don't know how to cast on. it took me about 5 years to knit a scarf for my teddy bear, which is about 4 cms wide and 30 cms long. and haven't knitted since. I've done occasional mediocre sewing of clothes and arts-y stuff (mostly for school). Did a few tapestries and cross-stitches when I was younger. Haven't done anything for ages though. i do have a crosstitch from about 10 years ago that i think i'll do. I started sorting the colours and that's as far as i got Lol

Squarmi

[sarsalot]

That sounds like loads of fun! I dabble in craft (crochet and jewelllery making, mostly), but I'm terribly lazy, so I'm more of a wannabe-crafter than an actual crafter.

[Maryon]

Well I can crochet and knit fairly well, but with school and extra curricular activities I can't seem to find the time. I'm probably better at crotcheting, as I can only really knit scarves. I have also done a few cross-stiches (generally unfinished) and a few other little things, but really, during term I ddon't have the time.

[Talmina]

Auro, if you can knit and purl there are heaps of easy patterns out there for you to learn how to do other things. I tried crochet but it just didn't seem to want to work for me, but I love crochet hats. Hats are half the reason I wanted to learn crochet actually, they seem so much easier to crochet than knit (I keep losing stitches off my double pointed needles)

[maverick]

hmmm well i can knit and crochet but i'm not that great. i just don't have the patience. and i can't really sew. i only know enough to put a button back on or to fix up the hem. truth is i refused to learn - coming from a family of boys i thought it was quite insulting that they could go out and play footy while mum made me try to sew. but i fought and now i'm a footy playing girl who can't sew. great huh?

lol. but i can make jewellery. i specialise in beads on invivisble wire and all that jaz. touble is i don't really have the time anymore - this year is soooooooooo busy (hence why i only get on obernet every once in a while) bah! i can't wait til it's over.

oh but if any one has some good beading patterns please send them to me, i need to go outside my comfort zone.

mav

[Talmina]

try www.about.com 's jewellery making stuff they're a great reference to finding other stuff on the web. Really great reference for beginners in heaps of areas

[HeartoftheDarkness]

I knit, sew and embroider.
My mum got me onto embroidery when i was about seven, and i've been doing it ever since. I think i had the beginnings of Elspeths shawl lying around somewhere I should probably finish that. I've made and embroidered a few teddys, cushions, tapestries, things like that. I've made jeans before too

[Elspeth]

You should do some work on your "Elspeth" shawl for the Commonwealth Games, good Frankie. That'd be amazing to see when it's done. No pressure, though.