Arts & Crafts--what's yours? [Archive] - The Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club

vicki

08-20-2007, 02:24 PM

I've noticed that we have a lot of arts and crafts people in the VBC, particularly in the needlework/threadcraft area. What's your art or craft? Tell us a little about it!

I'm a crochet girl myself. I learned it in the third grade, mostly on my own--from books--and have been doing it ever since. I tend to do it in bursts, especially in times of stress, as I find it very relaxing and comforting. I've done some lacework, but mostly tend to stay with regular yarn, doing afghans, scarves and baby blankets. Doing granny squares is by far the most comforting thing in my crochet skill-set--I think I could do those in my sleep.

Knitting, on the other hand, I have tried numerous times over the years and just can't seem to get it. I think the whole more-than-one-needle thing is intimidating to my uncoordinated self. But I'd love to be able to do knit, as you can make so many lovely things with it.

In one of my favorite picture books, A Gift from the Lonely Doll by Dare Wright, the LD makes a scarf for Mr. Bear, keeping all the end of it in her basket so he won't see it before Christmas. But she never takes it out to look at the whole thing until Christmas Eve, when she pulls a 3-yard scarf out of the basket. Hehehe! She manages to sort it out before morning, fortunately.

LRK includes a number of arts and crafts in her writing--Mary Russell is evidently able to knit (certainly thanks to Mrs. Hudson), as she notices a character's dropped stitch during questioning in A Letter of Mary. And there is Rae's lovely wood-art in Folly, and a blind weaver (who works mostly in textures) in the short story, "Weaving the Dark."

VictoriaMisselthwaite

08-20-2007, 02:48 PM

Arts and crafts! I love it!!!

Well, let's see...as I touched upon in my intro discussion, I sew -- mostly costumes to be worn at various science fiction and anime conventions, but a few years ago I experimented with various needlecrafts, beginning with counted cross stitch, which after I figured that out, dispensed with the counting and did a few pieces freehand, which left me with a pretty nice Christmas tree wall hanging, which still comes out every year, if I can find where in the closet I hid it!

I also crocheted for a bit, making several small afghans, and I had a great time doing it, though now my carpal tunnel syndrome might not like it. It's something I may go back to eventually anyhow. Granny squares might even come back to me if I tried...I never did get the hang of knitting, though...

Aside from the sewing, I draw. That's something I've always done...a little painting too. If you want examples, you can check out my gallery here:

http://www.victoriamisselthwait.deviantart.com

Right now, at the top of the gallery, you'll find some of my fanfiction drabbles...that's another one of my artsy things I do...but there are pictures too, mostly depicting themes from my various fandoms!

But yeah, I love all this artsy stuff...glad to see I'm in good company!

vicki

08-20-2007, 07:33 PM

I love your gallery! The Snape study you have out front is great, and I love the other Snapes, too. I especially liked the picture titled "Rin" also. And you sew, and you write and you do needlework, painting and music? I am officially in awe!

I love to cross-stitch, but I can't seem to get the tension right, so some of the crosses are so tight they pucker up the cloth, and some of them are puffy and loose. So while I love to do it, the result is always sort of ghastly. I had better luck with smocking, which is really fun and somewhat similar to the cross-stitch. But it's not really useful for anything other than making small children's clothes, so I only did it when my kids were in the 5-and-under age range. For a few short years, however, I'd happily smock myself silly for hours at a time. Maybe I'll take it back up when I start having grandkids.

I saw a cute picture of Cujo in the gallery and it made me sad for your loss. Are you doing okay?

VictoriaMisselthwaite

08-21-2007, 12:23 AM

Nara

08-21-2007, 02:40 AM

I mainly knit, usually larger items like lace shawls or sweaters, though socks are something I wear a lot so my sock drawer is also filling up at a nice rate. :)

I also do some weaving (got a 45" floor loom from a friend, but haven't found someone who can teach me to use it fully yet!), a tiny bit of crochet (edgings, etc.), some sewing (quilting and home stuff, not clothes), cross stitch, and of course painting and drawing. In the art realm I do printmaking, scratchboard, watercolor, oil, colored pencil, and graphite. Never have like acrylic...

Pretty much all my hobbies (except language learning and karaoke :rolleyes: ) are crafty in nature.
In fact, I just finished a cardigan which you can see on the blog. (Not sure about linking images that are totally unrelated to LRK, so I'll leave it at that.)

Smurrey

08-21-2007, 03:15 AM

I love craft projects, but I'm ADD and hate reading directions; directions spoil the joy. I enjoy crocheting scarfs, but all I know how to do is double chains and chains so, there's nothing fancy, and I'm too ADD to count or anything so each scarf has its own "unique" personality. I find it very relaxing though. So much of my daily work is of the variety that never draws to a satisfying conclusion that doing a scarf that takes maybe an hour or two is a nice tangible accomplishment-- even if it does look dodgy.

vicki

08-21-2007, 07:26 AM

I miss little Cujo terribly, but I'm getting through it! I'm really glad I still have two other dogs -- they help tremendously!

It's good you have the other dogs for comfort! I'm glad you're getting through it okay.

I also do some weaving (got a 45" floor loom from a friend, but haven't found someone who can teach me to use it fully yet!), a tiny bit of crochet (edgings, etc.), some sewing (quilting and home stuff, not clothes), cross stitch, and of course painting and drawing. In the art realm I do printmaking, scratchboard, watercolor, oil, colored pencil, and graphite. Never have like acrylic...

Wow--another VBC uber-art-and-crafter!

(Not sure about linking images that are totally unrelated to LRK, so I'll leave it at that.)

It's fine to link or attach photos! Most people post photos in the Gallery area of the forum, but if you want to post art/craft pictures here in this thread, that would be fine, too.

The minimalist cardigan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theprolificknitter/1187550606/) is tres lovely! I'm a big 3/4-length sleeve fan. http://laurierking.com/vbulletin/images/misc/progress.gif

Kathryn

08-21-2007, 07:37 PM

I'm what I guess you'd call a "jack of all trades, master of none." <chuckle>

I'm a singer/songwriter, mostly acoustic guitar with a smattering of badly self-taught piano playing in the past. I recorded two albums when I was in my teenaged years, but since lost the "teen angst" and can no longer write music like I used to. I now experiment with electronic instrumental music using samples of real instruments.

I do a ton of fanart, currently for the Doctor Who bunch, although I've drawn for other shows as well. Most of my art is digital, but I do use pencils, pens and watercolors on occasion as well.

As I mentioned in my introduction, I collect asian ball-jointed dolls. I paint them, customize by sanding, shaving and reshaping faces and limbs, and also do a small amount of sewing for them.

I crochet a little, mostly small pieces, but it's a craft I learned from my grandmother, and I cherish those moments by her knee, making pretty, soft things from string.

I used to sculpt, but haven't done as much since moving into a smaller apartment.

I wish I could knit, but I haven't found a good learning tool, and I'm afraid I would lack the coordination to do it anyways.

I love that a lot of people here seem to do a lot of crafty, artsy stuff. I feel so at home! :)

Tara

08-21-2007, 09:17 PM

I can crochet and knit, but the only thing I can knit is scarves. :D My paternal grandma taught me to knit, and my other gran taught me to crochet when I was about 11. The last thing I crocheted was a Granny Star afghan. It looked pretty cool when it was done, but it took FOREVER.

I can't sew at all. I wish I could, but the last time I tried the cloth got sucked into the sewing machine and I had to take it apart. Then I couldn't put it back together. :p

I'm a crochet girl myself. I learned it in the third grade, mostly on my own--from books--and have been doing it ever since. I tend to do it in bursts, especially in times of stress, as I find it very relaxing and comforting. I've done some lacework, but mostly tend to stay with regular yarn, doing afghans, scarves and baby blankets. Doing granny squares is by far the most comforting thing in my crochet skill-set--I think I could do those in my sleep.

I think making granny squares is soothing too. I love crocheting in the winter, under a blanket when it's cold out. :) I don't know about making them in my sleep, but sometimes I knit in the dark.;)

I mainly knit, usually larger items like lace shawls or sweaters, though socks are something I wear a lot so my sock drawer is also filling up at a nice rate. :)

You can knit socks? I had a pair of knit socks once, and they looked like they'd fit, but they were really tight and I couldn't even get them over my heel.

Nara

08-21-2007, 10:26 PM

I don't think it's that knitting is harder, necessarily, but I do believe that your body learns one set of movements, and increasing that range (i.e. adding to your muscle memory, which is really what knitting requires) is a little more tricky. Much like learning a second language, your body and brain fight it because it already has a useable way of thinking, and your first language is required for survival!

Oh, and knitting socks - it takes practice. I have always been the sort to learn from a book, along with all the pitfalls (and freedom) that come with it. (Sewing has been the same way. I'll take a picture of some of my really ugly coasters, if it will cheer you!) I knit my first pair from a pattern in Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick - the Devotion Socks, in one color, and worsted weight yarn. I then knit a pair of socks for my mom out of Fun Fur! Eek!

What helped me was to learn my measurements, how to take them, and how to figure out gauge, stitches per inch, and how to translate that into a workable and easily remembered pattern. I don't use a pattern for my socks anymore, I have it down pat. ;) (If you'd like a little guidance, I'd be happy to help you! Though it sounds like you might need an inbetween step, like a hat, first? Just PM me...)

vicki

08-22-2007, 06:12 AM

I was looking at recent reviews on goodreads.com and found a reference to this book--No Sheep for You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo & Other Delights (http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=954411739&searchurl=aid%3D10387831%26isbn%3D1596680121%26pid %3D2227948) by Amy R. Singer, which I thought looked kind of cool. I though I'd link it here in case any of our knitters are interested.

LindaU

05-11-2010, 12:43 AM

OK, I see that this is an oldie but still relevant to newbies like me. I am by profession a graphic designer, but also like to paint and photograph, and I've learned to do leaded glass recently. I do some threadcraft, creating a big duvet cover that is a duplication of the English landscape (a long-term project, I'm not sure how long it will take to complete, it's about 1/4 finished).

tangential1

05-11-2010, 05:50 PM

Wow...I completely missed this thread. Thanks for reviving it, Linda! :)

I used to do a lot of crochet (my dad taught me...people always find that funny:p), but I picked up knitting several years ago (my best friend wanted a Harry Potter scarf from the pictures for the first movie...so I taught myself to knit) and haven't really gone back to crochet. I like the look of the tighter stitching. One of my highly-talented knitting friends showed me how to do socks a couple of years ago and I've been addicted ever since. The hand-dyed sock yarns are beautiful and socks don't require quite so much planning or money or time commitment (though someone did point out to me recently that your average pair of socks has the same number of stitches as a a worsted weight sweater:rolleyes:). Here's the last pair (http://ravel.me/tangential1/2z9aa) I finished and remembered to take pictures of ;) (playing with the new share feature on Ravelry...so hopefully it works!)

Knitting, on the other hand, I have tried numerous times over the years and just can't seem to get it. I think the whole more-than-one-needle thing is intimidating to my uncoordinated self. But I'd love to be able to do knit, as you can make so many lovely things with it.

A lesson at Bcon, mayhaps, Vicki? Always happy to spread the knitting love:D

Pat Floyd

05-11-2010, 08:56 PM

Erin, the socks are beautiful.

Vicki, I don't know how your mind works, but I found knitting and crocheting hard to follow when someone tried to show me how, but easy to learn from diagrams in a book.

Jennifer

05-11-2010, 10:32 PM

Pat,
That's amazing! I had the devil of a time learning anything from a diagram! It must be an underdeveloped part of my brain. Now show me how to do a thing and I'm good to go. I am embarking on socks just now. I've only successfully turned a heel once and then I didn't do it again immediately (not to mention it was about 30 years ago) so I have to learn it all over again! Gotta go look at Erin's socks!
Jennifer
Saw the socks!
Erin, the socks are impressive! I do want to urge you to embrace cables! There are a lot of very easy ones that only involve 4 stitches in a pattern. I know you know knitting so I am preaching to the choir. You obviously have talent and nerve (that heel, hum, it would have beaten me!).
Jennifer

tangential1

05-11-2010, 10:40 PM

Thanks Pat :)

Hard to get a good picture of knitting. You either end up showing off the color or the pattern...hardly ever both.

Jennifer

05-12-2010, 10:58 PM

Erin,
Wish you'd be available for consult on the sock thing! Getting ready for the short rows....Not a "diagram" type person... Guess I'll search out a video on line....
Any tips?
Jennifer

tangential1

05-13-2010, 12:10 AM

Hmm...knittinghelp.com has some good videos (http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques). And I see a few on youtube when I google for it ("heel turn video"). I think heels are way more complicated to look at than to do, actually, but it is nice to watch someone work one.

Head to your local yarn shop, though! They're usually pretty friendly/helpful. :)

Jennifer

05-22-2010, 05:19 PM

Does anyone knit for charity? Do you have specific patterns? My friend who's a missionary is coming home for a sabbatical and I'd love to send back somethings with her but I am not sure where to start. Would love input...
Jennifer

Pat Floyd

05-23-2010, 02:26 AM

Jennifer, if you look online for "prayer shawl ministry" you'll find a number of sites with directions for shawls. Our church in an inner city neighborhood has a group that meets at the local library to knit prayer shawls, caps and mittens for homeless people, and scarfs for students who receive scholarships from the neighborhood organization. We will soon be beginning a ministry with teen parents, and this group expects to add baby things to their knitting. After knitting one prayer shawl, I've not continued with them because the joint of my right thumb is pained by knitting, and so far they've had plenty of knitters.

tangential1

05-25-2010, 06:54 PM

I've knit for Afghans for Afghans (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/) a couple of times when their due dates overlap with my yarn box having left-over wool. They've got a lot of patterns and guidelines on their website.

I think it would be key to speak with your friend and get her input on what would be needed and helpful and what she thinks she'll be able to carry back with her. It would be disappointing if you did a bunch of knitting that she couldn't use or didn't have space to carry.

I'm going to pimp out Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com) again (I know, I know...but the site is soooo amazing!): If you're on Rav, do a search for charity groups. There are a ton of them, all doing different things (from baby clothes and blankets for hospitals to scarves for the homeless to socks and hats for troups), and they're super helpful if you want to join in or get ideas for your charity knits.

Jennifer

05-25-2010, 08:47 PM

Erin, I didn't even think of ravelry. I'll go there for sure. But I also had the idea that you had, that I need to speak to my friend. For all I know, there may be a group knitting for them already and I can just put my efforts in with them. I did find a generic baby sweater for aids babies. It has a lot of ribbing and only 2 seams which makes it my kind of garment. I love knitting in the round so I am going crazy now with my little pieced sweater. Purling is the devil!
Jennifer

tangential1

05-26-2010, 04:36 PM

Why does purl stitch get no love??? I don't mind it myself; it's a little bit slower than knit, but no big deal.

You could always learn to knit backwards and then you wouldn't ever have to purl again!! Unless you're doing ribbing or something ;)

Davina

07-07-2010, 02:33 AM

Feel free to potter around my gallery, I'm so damn lazy though so there isn't much there. http://kagomes-heart.deviantart.com/

My mother made me give up art at school so my talents have severely degraded. I need to go back to basics and relearn how to draw.

But when DH and I got a house of our own I had so many kitchen utensils and didn't have a pot big enough to put them in. Wanting to be different I got a big clay plant pot, tracked down a picture from my fave anime at the time "InuYasha" and painted myself a one of a kind utensil pot. :)http://kagomes-heart.deviantart.com/gallery/#/deph2q

My friend was also a fan of the show, so I painted a tray for her. As with the pot art isn't mine, though I did freehand draw it on the tray and paint it.

http://kagomes-heart.deviantart.com/gallery/#/dgc5ks