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Crafting Update
Sun, Feb. 23rd, 2025 06:56 pmI've not been great about doing regular updates anywhere about anything and I want to catch-up at least what I've been up to crafting wise for the last month.
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Knitting Meme
Tue, May. 21st, 2024 12:11 amI originally started this in January, then I restarted it at the beginning of March for National Craft Month and never got a chance to finish. I'm finishing & posting it now, but leaving the old text the same.
Because it is National Craft Month, I am doing a crafting “get to know you” meme. This was originally as a Pick a Number made by Flannelandpurls on Instagram. Because of that, it is pretty knitting oriented.
Snagged from Flannelandpurls on Instagram
1. Advice for beginners
Although I still think of myself as a beginner, (I’ve been knitting just over a year and a half), I think the best advice I can give is to buy tools as you need them. There are a lot of “must get” lists for beginners and honestly, most of them include specialized tools you may never use or items that just don’t suit how you like to do things or fit your storage needs.
My other advice for beginning knitters is to try both circular and straight needles. Knitting with them are vastly different experiences and most people have a preference. Most people also find knitting with circular needles much easier (I do find them hellish and only use them when a project would genuinely work better with them). You won’t know until you try them.
2. Favorite object to knit
Anything I don’t have to sew together later. I don’t mind sewing things together, as such, I just greatly prefer things to be whole already, once I’m done knitting.
3. Other hobbies
I have a lot of hobbies, maybe too many. The ones I am currently most active in are trying every crafting kit I come across in my price range, designing cards, watching horror movies, watching anime, writing, reading fanfics, trying all the board & card games at the library, painting, reading fandom memes, looking at fanart, creating gaming characters, researching whatever pops into my brain, watching video essays, listening to podcasts, listening to music, and I am in 3 book clubs.
4. Current WIP
My current knitting WIP is a set of hats. I’m on the third of three. There is much sewing ahead of me with them. (Since I wrote this, I have finished the knitting part of the hats and moved onto a wingspan shawl.)
5. An inspiring designer
As far as knitting goes, I don't really know any designers, but I've done a few of Nimble Needles patterns for beginners.
6. Best stash yarn
I’m not sure I have a best stash yarn. It’s either my set of “hygge” yarns (SO SOFT), which are for a specific blanket project, but I think I am going to have to order more to actually finish said project as the store I bought them from stopped carrying them, or I have a skein of “bright stripes” variegated yarn in Halloween colors that I have yet to find the right project for. Both are by Red Heart.
7. How you learned to knit
A combination of the Knitting for Dummies book from the library, YouTube videos, and spite.
8. Best knitting tip
Take notes! You think you remember where you are when you get back to your project two days later, but you are wrong. Also, some projects really benefit from marking on your knitting which side you left off on. Needle point covers are your friend.
9. Your “to-knit” list
Considering how I am with any sort of to-do list, you’d think this would be bigger, but the current “to-knit” list is just:
Continue working through the learn to knit projects in the book
The blanket the “hygge” yarn is for
A shawl that is a gift for a friend, but requires the left-over bits from the hat project I am working on before I can start
10. Go-to crafting snack
Decades of paper crafting have hardwired my brain that snacking while crafting is verboten. The oils on your hands can be detrimental to your materials to start with when your hands are clean, not to mention the possible irreversible damage of a food related accident. Knitting materials are obviously more forgiving, but old habits die hard. I do tend to have a drink on hand… way over there from where I am knitting.
11. Favorite make to-date
A massive shawl that reminds me of owl wings that required learning to do a lace knitting technique with bulky yarn and a baby blanket, who’s pattern I had to design myself. It took much trial and error and came out beautifully, but unfortunately, I was unable to give it to the intended recipient.
12. A knitting pet peeve
When the yarn knots in the middle of the skin while you are pulling. When a skein doesn't have a center pull.
13. Your yarn storage
My yarn is split between a cardboard banking box and an unusual plastic storage container from the thrift store free bin. There is also somewhat liberal use of 2 gallon storage bags with in those boxes as moisture is the enemy. (This has somewhat changed, as I was gifted a larger plastic storage tote with lid to put everything in since I wrote this.)
14. Inspiring IG accounts
Crafting/Art wise:
flannelandpurls
ribblr_it
knot.bad
studiosprout
mp3.rave
bubble.ow0
altknots
andrea.nelson.art
mx.domestic
katieabey
rebelunicorncrafts
mister.larrie
silver_rox
There are a lot more, but this list is getting really long. Two people I want to mention that I can't find their names are the person crocheting an orgasm blanket, I am weirdly invested, and an art challenge account that signal boosts art challenges and prompt lists on Instagram.
15. A fun fact about you
I always hate this question.
16. Your project bag
Years ago, my mother picked up a Lions brand knitting bag when she was snatching up every reusable shopping bag she came across at garage sales, so when I started knitting she just pulled it out and gave it to me. It’s been quite handy, though I could use some better storage for notions within the bag. It’s a large heavy-duty green tote with a few specialized pockets.
17. Favorite fiber to knit
My budget (and local availability) has not allowed me to explore beyond acrylic blends so, I can’t really answer that question.
18. Dream holiday location
The first 3 that come to mind are Svalbard or Japan or Disney World (This is more about eating and attractions, and less about rides).
19. Skill you want to learn
There are so many, but I'd really love to improve my clothing sewing and prop making. (Which is multiple skills technically)
20. Biggest knitting ick
I haven’t really been knitting long enough to have one.
Because it is National Craft Month, I am doing a crafting “get to know you” meme. This was originally as a Pick a Number made by Flannelandpurls on Instagram. Because of that, it is pretty knitting oriented.
Snagged from Flannelandpurls on Instagram
1. Advice for beginners
Although I still think of myself as a beginner, (I’ve been knitting just over a year and a half), I think the best advice I can give is to buy tools as you need them. There are a lot of “must get” lists for beginners and honestly, most of them include specialized tools you may never use or items that just don’t suit how you like to do things or fit your storage needs.
My other advice for beginning knitters is to try both circular and straight needles. Knitting with them are vastly different experiences and most people have a preference. Most people also find knitting with circular needles much easier (I do find them hellish and only use them when a project would genuinely work better with them). You won’t know until you try them.
2. Favorite object to knit
Anything I don’t have to sew together later. I don’t mind sewing things together, as such, I just greatly prefer things to be whole already, once I’m done knitting.
3. Other hobbies
I have a lot of hobbies, maybe too many. The ones I am currently most active in are trying every crafting kit I come across in my price range, designing cards, watching horror movies, watching anime, writing, reading fanfics, trying all the board & card games at the library, painting, reading fandom memes, looking at fanart, creating gaming characters, researching whatever pops into my brain, watching video essays, listening to podcasts, listening to music, and I am in 3 book clubs.
4. Current WIP
My current knitting WIP is a set of hats. I’m on the third of three. There is much sewing ahead of me with them. (Since I wrote this, I have finished the knitting part of the hats and moved onto a wingspan shawl.)
5. An inspiring designer
As far as knitting goes, I don't really know any designers, but I've done a few of Nimble Needles patterns for beginners.
6. Best stash yarn
I’m not sure I have a best stash yarn. It’s either my set of “hygge” yarns (SO SOFT), which are for a specific blanket project, but I think I am going to have to order more to actually finish said project as the store I bought them from stopped carrying them, or I have a skein of “bright stripes” variegated yarn in Halloween colors that I have yet to find the right project for. Both are by Red Heart.
7. How you learned to knit
A combination of the Knitting for Dummies book from the library, YouTube videos, and spite.
8. Best knitting tip
Take notes! You think you remember where you are when you get back to your project two days later, but you are wrong. Also, some projects really benefit from marking on your knitting which side you left off on. Needle point covers are your friend.
9. Your “to-knit” list
Considering how I am with any sort of to-do list, you’d think this would be bigger, but the current “to-knit” list is just:
Continue working through the learn to knit projects in the book
The blanket the “hygge” yarn is for
A shawl that is a gift for a friend, but requires the left-over bits from the hat project I am working on before I can start
10. Go-to crafting snack
Decades of paper crafting have hardwired my brain that snacking while crafting is verboten. The oils on your hands can be detrimental to your materials to start with when your hands are clean, not to mention the possible irreversible damage of a food related accident. Knitting materials are obviously more forgiving, but old habits die hard. I do tend to have a drink on hand… way over there from where I am knitting.
11. Favorite make to-date
A massive shawl that reminds me of owl wings that required learning to do a lace knitting technique with bulky yarn and a baby blanket, who’s pattern I had to design myself. It took much trial and error and came out beautifully, but unfortunately, I was unable to give it to the intended recipient.
12. A knitting pet peeve
When the yarn knots in the middle of the skin while you are pulling. When a skein doesn't have a center pull.
13. Your yarn storage
My yarn is split between a cardboard banking box and an unusual plastic storage container from the thrift store free bin. There is also somewhat liberal use of 2 gallon storage bags with in those boxes as moisture is the enemy. (This has somewhat changed, as I was gifted a larger plastic storage tote with lid to put everything in since I wrote this.)
14. Inspiring IG accounts
Crafting/Art wise:
flannelandpurls
ribblr_it
knot.bad
studiosprout
mp3.rave
bubble.ow0
altknots
andrea.nelson.art
mx.domestic
katieabey
rebelunicorncrafts
mister.larrie
silver_rox
There are a lot more, but this list is getting really long. Two people I want to mention that I can't find their names are the person crocheting an orgasm blanket, I am weirdly invested, and an art challenge account that signal boosts art challenges and prompt lists on Instagram.
15. A fun fact about you
I always hate this question.
16. Your project bag
Years ago, my mother picked up a Lions brand knitting bag when she was snatching up every reusable shopping bag she came across at garage sales, so when I started knitting she just pulled it out and gave it to me. It’s been quite handy, though I could use some better storage for notions within the bag. It’s a large heavy-duty green tote with a few specialized pockets.
17. Favorite fiber to knit
My budget (and local availability) has not allowed me to explore beyond acrylic blends so, I can’t really answer that question.
18. Dream holiday location
The first 3 that come to mind are Svalbard or Japan or Disney World (This is more about eating and attractions, and less about rides).
19. Skill you want to learn
There are so many, but I'd really love to improve my clothing sewing and prop making. (Which is multiple skills technically)
20. Biggest knitting ick
I haven’t really been knitting long enough to have one.
