Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting...

Wow! It has been way too long since I last posted on this.

Has anyone been doing any needlework recently?
I just finished crocheting a blanket for Jude's first birthday a few days ago- he will be one tomorrow!! I also finished crocheting flower headbands for a few of my friends.

I crochet a lot. I can also knit, loom knit, weave, cross-stitch, needlepoint, plastic canvas, embroider, quilt, latch-hook and others. (I'm not proficient at all of these, but I can do them)
My current projects… Hmm, I'm crocheting a full size blanket for my Grandmother’s Birthday. This will be my 3rd full-size blanket; I made one for myself and my Father. I'm making a plastic-canvas tic-tac-toe board, pieces and bag to put it all in. After I finish these, I plan to crochet another almost full-size blanket for my younger sister.
Past projects: besides the other blankets, I've recently crocheted four doll blankets for my sisters. Washcloths for my Mother and Grandmother. I scarf for my Grandfather. Two baby blankets to donate to our local pregnancy center. And a smaller blanket for myself. (All crocheted)

What about the rest of you?

I'm not sure if I'm qulified to be posting on the forum…I have knitted 7 scarfs, and I do some cross-stiching. I was wondering if it was possible to knit a blanket…if so, how? Sorry, I don't have a LOT of knowledge on this subject but I do really like it! :)

Sounds like you have been busy, Rosie :) I haven't worked on anything recently, but I'm going to finish make an apron for my older sister soon, whenever we get out the sewing machine again :)

BTW, is sewing classified as needlework? Probably not. I don't know…

I would think that sewing is needlework-it involves a needle….:)

You're smart, Rosie :) I don't think of things like that!

LOL not that smart……:)

Rosie - Well, I always thought that needlework was only cross-stitch and embroidery. But, I guess I was wrong once again! :)

BTW, do you know how to knit? If so, do you think it's easier or harder than crocheting? What kind of things have you sown before? I saw in your family newsletter, a picture of you with a quilt…did you make it? It was SO pretty!

No, I don't know how to knit, but I've become interested in the past few months and am thinking about learning sometime. So to answer your question, I think crocheting is much easier :D

Well, I've sewn quite a few things, but I'll stay brief with my answers. Let's see, I've sewn several burp clothes (and three just recently), many smaller pillows (like the one I made for Carissa) and mini pillows, pockets (like the one I made for you!), part of an apron (I still haven't finished it!), a jumper, and a few other things. Oh, and yes, I did make the quilt in the family newsletter- it was my first quilt, and it was so much fun making!

You told me on the phone that you haven't done much sewing lately, but what kinds of things have you sewn in the past?

I think it would be neat to learn how to knit! Maybe I could get some books about it from the library. How do you teach yourself a new skill, regarding crafts like this?

Let's see…I've made an apron, lap quilt, skirt, jumper, table center piece, and wall-hanging. I really like the quilt that you made! My wall-hanging that I made a while ago, is kind of the same colors as your quilt. Unfortunately, it doesn't match any wall colors in our house very well, so I just keep it folded up, and not on a wall. Have you made any more quilts?

Do you ever sew any of your skirts? I've have sown one tiered skirt with my mom's help, it has lots of earth tone colors in it, so it's an Autumn skirt. I would like to make another one, some time, as it's my favorite style of skirt :) This summer, I'd like to make another khaki gourd skirt and pink tiered skirt :)

BTW - I replied to your comment under my Introduce Yourself post :)

I really have no idea; though, I did teach myself how to make crocheted flower headbands- but I'm sure the way I taught myself to do that was not the best, or the easiest (I studied one that was given to me for a while and then tried to do it).

Wow! You've made a variety of things. No, I actually haven't made any of my skirts. I'd love to, but since I'm the only one in my family who sews, it's a bit complicated (considering all the details in making clothes, especially without someone to teach you!).

Oh, and no, I've only made the one quilt; I hope to make more in the future, though! Quilted table runners would be really neat too.

I am trying to learn how to knit…anyone have a good book to suggest?

I taught myself knitting by Boye publications.
I would be willing to send you a copy if you want?

@Elanee: Thank you so much for offering to send me a copy but I just found out that my neighbor knows how to knit and so I am going to ask her to teach me how to knit. Thank you again :D

For sowing, do most of u use patterns?

Yes!!!! I could not sew if I did not have a pattern. I can't sew clothes yet without my mom's help but I am going to learn soon :D

I sew with and without patterns! I like to make things up, so I do both :)

I can't make things up…I just can't think that far ahead to figure out the end product and then sew to that point.

What was the last thing you sewed, Carissa?

My sister's have an etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/heritageindustries?ref=shop_name_search_sugg). They don't have much for sale right now, but are planning to widely expand soon.

That's neat! I'm hoping to start an Etsy shop of my own sometime this year.

Which sister, Anna? :)

@ His Servant 1 - Lydia, Mary and Julia. They're thinking of hats, dishcloths, coasters, child's-size sweaters and the like. They are all very crafty (in a good sense:).

@Rachel: Well…the last thing I sewed by myself was a notebook cover and pincushion and I am working on sewing a dress with my mom. What about you?

@anna: That is so neat.

I've sown a lot of doll clothes and mini and full size pillows, I am currently working on a pair of pj shorts but the pattern seems so confusing! Lol

I am wanting to find some nice fabric to make some doll clothes as we have lots of doll clothes patterns but we have never used them before :D

Lol is the fabric going to fall out of the sky? Lol jk. :) yeah I never use patterns for doll clothes. It sound like a good idea though. :)

No…we have a bunch downstairs…I just have to find a nice piece to use and one that my mom will let me use. NEVER USE DOLL PATTERNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I never used patterns I would ruin the dress.

I can't say I haven't ruin stuff before…… Lol

Well…I would ruin everything if I didn't use a pattern.

Last night I finished sewing a skirt for me without a pattern! :) I don't know if I'm really going to wear it or not….it was just a practice ;-)

That's awesome!!

That's awesome!!

That's awesome!!

That's awesome!!

I really enjoy sewing… but I'm a dunce at knitting and crocheting! ;P My sister , Shiloh is really good at it. I really enjoy tailoring clothes that I get at the Goodwill for a "perfect fit"!

That sounds like fun…do you go to goodwill often?

I have been to goodwill but never really found anything I like there. :(

Hi, Eden!

I enjoy sewing as well- and this probably a strange question, but by tailoring clothes do mean you mend them? I really enjoy doing that too! A lot of the skirts and dresses I have are from Goodwill and Salvation Army, and many of them I've had to mend (particularly sewing buttons back on….).

Btw, what kinds of things does your sister Shiloh like to crochet and knit? I know how to crochet, and really like doing it, so I'm curious….:)

Interesting, whenever Mom and I go to Goodwill or Salvation Army, we are in there for sooo long, and we almost always find clothes that we like (we don't go all that often, though). But everyone is different I guess. :)

Yeah. :) lol I know some people who love goodwill! I have only been there a couple of times.

We…my sisters, mom and I…really enjoy going to goodwill/thrift stores. We don't always find stuff we like and we don't go all that often but it is so much fun.

Has anyone seen the Sashay yarn Ruffled scarves that I've been seeing quite often? This is what they look like:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/98110741/knitted-scarf-red-heart-sashay-mesh-yarn

Has anyone made one? if so, did you think it was easy or difficult?

I have not seen them nor made them.

Rachel- I have! I actually have one :D

Oh wow! Did you make it? I really want to but I can't find the right color of yarn that I want in our nearby stores :(

No, I did not make it. I got it at a small curriculum sale (I know, odd place to buy one :). I don't know how to knit, so I couldn't make one even if I wanted to (which I do!). I really like the one I got though. The main color is deep blue/navy blue. Maybe if we both make it to Nationals this year, or even just go, I could wear it :)
Do you have a Jo-Ann store near you? Or even Pat Catan's. Both stores usually have a variety of colors…

I heard you can crochet them too, which was what I was going to do!

The closet JoAnn is about a 30 minute drive. We do have a Michaels!

Really?!? If that is true, I would SO want to learn how to make them!

Okay – well, hopefully sometime you will find the color of yarn you would like.

EDIT: I'm about to leave here….just letting you know if you wonder where I went. :)

I’m interested to find out what kinds of yarns you knitters and crotchetiers like to use. Do you use one in particular or dose not really matter to you? I have only ever used Red Heart yarn. :)