Crafting 2021 Update 1

 

As I was expecting, the amount of crafting I've been able to do since starting work has dropped dramatically.  I have managed to still do a few projects here and there, but, not only is the time I have at the moment much less, I'm also finding I'm a little too tired to pick up a project when I do have the time.  

The 1940s Trousers

This is a project I hadn't planned on doing until much later on, and then my jeans literally fell apart.  It's not surprising really, they were already second hand when I got them and I did wear them almost every day I wasn't at work.  If you've read my blog on what my future plans are for my wardrobe you'll know that I had planned on making some 1940s style trousers to replace my jeans when they went.  They're not going to be very flattering, but they'll be comfortable and will allow for the regular changes in my hip size that happens throughout the year.  In fact, on almost a monthly basis.  I've brought the pattern for them from Sew Essential (the pattern is the Misses Vintage Trousers, Overalls and Blouses simplicity Sewing Pattern 8447) and a cheap cotton bedsheet from a supermarket (I really can't wait for the charity shops to open again) so that I can make a mock-up of the top half of the trouser first.  The reason I'm doing the mock-up first it that I have a sneaking suspicion that my body shape won't fit neatly into the pattern provided and I'll probably have to do some jigging to it to make it work.  If they work out I'll just convert them into the tailored shorts I'm wanting to have as well.  I still haven't decided on what material I want to use I just know I want something hardwearing.  Hopefully, by the next update, I'll have a lovely pair of trousers to show you.  At the very least, a lovely pair of shorts.

Crocheted Coasters

This was another unexpected craft I hadn't planned on doing, but we needed some additional coasters and I had been looking around to buy some.  Then I remembered that I had some crochet needles and a whole load of spare wool accumulating, so could probably just make them myself.  I used this pattern by Crochet Sunnshyne called Simple Flower Crochet as a starting point (I did have to change it a little bit as I don't own the right sized needles).  This wool is what was left of the jumper I made for Ed for Christmas and there's something quite nice about having that special link with an item you then use every day.

Christmas Cards

This is still a very slow process, mainly because I big part of me really doesn't want to start in case it fails and I then have to make another decision.  I've decided that what I would like to attempt to do is some wintery (possibly fakely so) watercolours of the Devon coast to be printed and made into cards.  I did use to use watercolours when I was younger, but I haven't done anything since and there's a big chance I can't even remember how to use them anymore.  I'm just going to have to bite the bullet though and get it done.  Silly to put it off really....oh look a squirrel - I really must look at that first.

Biophilia Shawl and Tie

These are at least finished now (good to have something), but they do still need soaking as I noticed some colour transfer onto my hands when I was knitting them and would rather this didn't happen with my clothes.  I'll also need to block them as well to get them to hold their shape properly.  I do wish I'd made the shawl a little bit bigger as it just sits on my shoulders rather than being able to loop through my arms, but it's still a very beautiful pattern.  The main issue is that I used too small a crochet needle when I was finishing the shawl and it's pulling the ends in too tight causing them to curl in.  Hopefully, the blocking with sort this out. but I'll have to wait and see.

Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit Cross-Stitch

I've finally started one of these cross-stitches and, though I'm just doing the sky at the moment, I'm excited to see this one develop.  I've decided to start at the very beginning of both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and am therefore working on The Shire.  There are absolutely no white spaces so this is going to be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to hanging it on my wall when it's finished.  These should definitely keep me busy for quite a while.

The Fantail Skirt 

After a lot of thought I decided that rather than print this out myself, I would be better off getting it printed by someone else in much better quality and with a lot fewer joints as they can do it on A0 sized paper instead of A4.  I actually got it printed by Net Printer, who are based in Plymouth and have a specific pattern printing service you can use and am now waiting for the charity shops to open so that I can buy the fabric I want to start making it.  It's probably a good thing that I'll be making the trousers first as this is quite an important skirt and it'll be good to have a bit more practise on the sewing machine before I give this a go.

And that's all the projects that have been happening, sort of, so far.  It's been a good mix of different forms of sewing, knitting, and at least thinking about drawing.  I do like to have a mixture of crafts going at the same time as I'm not always in the mood for one specific style.  Now that we've settled into this flat and I have a little area to do some crafting properly (I'll be turning this into a proper crafting nock soon) I should hopefully get a lot more work done.  One thing I might do is see if I can buy some second-hand fabric online, I just need to find out where.   I guess we'll see how it all goes in the next update.  Your guess is as good as mine.