Crafts thread

[jojackson]

Do the stiff people not sit like that? I thought everyone could do that

I get told off for leaning nonchalantly on my desk and 'turning my arms inside out' as my French colleague says...

[mindsquatter]

I hope someone might be able to help me!
i'm going to a garden party at a friend's house next month, and all her parties have a quirk, this one is everyone wears a hat. I have really thick, curly hair ... I don't do hats! But I was thinking of an oversized beanie like this

that I could stuff my hair into (also stops me eating it along with the party food!). Now's the tricky part - because I already know what I want to wear, I think it will be easier to crochet my own, but I can't find a pattern. And it needs to be pretty lightweight (or lots of holes) seeing as the party is next month and I don't want to melt. Can anyone help me find a pattern? I'm pretty new to crochet, but I can follow clear instructions, so I think I'll understand most patterns - I just can't find one!
Michelle

[jojackson]

http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showt ... p?t=108486

This is one, but there are masses of free patterns on Ravelry.com - you have to sign up if you haven't already, but there's an advanced search function that allows you to search for crochet patterns for hats that are free, have pictures available, use a certain weight of yarn, etc.

Good luck!

[mindsquatter]

Ravelry was a fab idea, thank Jo. I've already found a pattern I'm going to have a go at in old wool to see if it's the right size!

[Clare]

Hope you do give Terry Pratchett a try, Jo. I find his books a real boost when I have loads of free time, or I need to rest up.

I love the characters he creates, the keen observations he makes, his sense of humour, and the way that the books are so easy to re-read. His female characters are so strong and well-rounded, which is brilliant.

Most of the time, I can only re-read a book perhaps twice, but his I can read over and over. With the first few books, I found that I had missed several jokes at the first reading 'cos I was too busy laughing at the one that had come before. Some should never be read on a train (or anywhere in public) because random sniggering or outright guffaws get you funny looks!

If you get hooked on it too, there are two key places for further fuel, such as the alt.fan.pratchett group on Google Groups and L-Space. The annotations for the books help you get jokes that might have passed you by, or pique your interest into reading other things.

He has had to slow down a little since he developed his Alzheimer's problems (or rather, since they really made themselves an "embuggerance" - his own new word!).

The Ankh-Morpork Knitters regularly have themed knitting projects.I keep seeing the swaps on the group in Ravelry, but I have never joined one because I'm not entirely sure how it works. Perhaps one day!

[mindsquatter]

I love my hat! I had to adjust the pattern from Ravelry, but it's come out really well

I apologise for the miserable face, but I was taking the photo myself, and troublesome ribs were interfering!

[Englishgremlin1]

nicely done

[Stone]

Stone: I'm sure your baking is great!! You'll have to post some photos when you do some!

Not very complicated but I just baked a huge batch of blueberry muffins



I have a sneaking suspicion they won't last too long

Stone

[dragondee]

Cor they look smashing Stone.
Well done. Now how did you get that picture on the site?
Dragondee

[Stone]

I took about 10 to work and they got decimated Nothing like a vote of confidence!

For pictures you can use a free image server like Photobucket or Imageshack - sign up for an account, upload your photos to the account, then you can put the link to the image (both of them should provide it in an obvious place) inside (img)(/img) tags (but using square brackets). Images have to be 640x480 pixels in size or smaller. HTH

Stone

[serenity79]

I have just started making home-made cards - just for family - and I'm really enjoying it. I just spotted a little 5 card kit in Tescos and thought it looked like fun and immediately got hooked. I'm actually thinking of taking on Christmas with home-made cards this year, perhaps by getting a complete kit from QVC or something.

I also bought a sketch pad and pencils a couple of days ago, I haven't sketched in many years, but recently I've had the itch. I do have some problems with tremors and jerks but I'm hoping they won't bother me too much.

[shen]

Hi Serenity, its great you got into card making! I would suggest you take a look at www.createandcraft.tv they have LOADS of stuff and packs made just for christmas, with toppers, and backing papers, embellishments etc at quite a reasonable price. If you have freeview you can watch it on channel 36, often the shows give you some really cool ideas!

[serenity79]

Thanks! Will check that out for sure.

Got the sketchpad out tonight, was wondering what to start practising with, then thought "what better than Zaza, my Talking HEDS mascot". So here he is, my very first sketch!

Zaza sketch


This is Zaza, for those who don't know him

The real thing!

[Blaadyblah]

Heh, I've that same zebra on my bed.

Most of my makes are on ravelry, I'm not hard to find there. Today I've been faffing about with edging ideas for this blanket.

[edenlea74]

Hi all.

I do cross stitch, card making, candle making and glass painting. Unfortunately because my HMS has been quite troublesome over the last 18 months I haven't done an awful lot. I've always loved crafts but it got put on the backburner for about 20 years after I got married, had a child, got divorced etc etc. Now I am single again, I can indulge in my crafting passion, so I hope now I have a diagnosis and am receiving hydrotherapy, injections, etc etc this will alleviate some of the pain and I can get back into doing what I love best!

Lea x