I realized this morning that one of the reasons I have been grouchy lately is that I haven’t made anything in almost a month. I am a compulsive maker of things – in other words, I’m crafty. In yesterday’s LTP we talked a bit about coloring for stress relief, but any craft hobby is a fantastic way to de-stress and decompress. I dabble in many things, and I will never stop coloring, but my two great loves are cross-stitch and crochet. There is an undeniable joy in watching something come into being under your hands as the cares of the day fade away one stitch at a time.
So how about you – What kind of crafty crap do you enjoy?
I couldn’t find any pictures of my Lil’ Cthulhu, so I had to steal this one from Etsy.
25 replies on “Lunchtime Poll: 3/4”
I like to scrapbook and make jewelry. I’ve gotten pretty good at earrings. Trying to improve on the clasps of my necklaces. I just bought some fancy new hand tools but haven’t tried them yet. I reallllly wish I could knit. I’ve tried and failed so many times. My sister makes it look so easy- smugly knitting on the train, silently mocking me.
I love coloring! I missed that convo. I also make cards and I scrapbook. The problem is that I have so many supplies that it’s a pretty big endeavor to get them all out, and they’re messy, so I rarely just make one card for someone’s birthday. And since I’m in grad school I haven’t been able to commit to serious holiday cards, either. I am totally failing at my crafts!
I’m mostly a sewist who dabbles in embroidery, but I’m thinking about trying knitting again. I tried a few years ago, but couldn’t get past the casting on stage. I’m not even sure if I have my knitting needles laying around anywhere or if they got sold at a yard sale. . .
Embroidery taunts me with its potential for awesomeness. It’s like an ex I can’t help getting back together with. It’s all like “Come on, you’ve learned so much. If you just set your mind to it, you can make it work. It won’t be like last time – I promise.” So I try again, and invariably remember why I dumped it in the first place.
I dabble in many crafty things like: scrapbook, knitting, embroidery, book -binding, weaving, etc. which is why going into places like Michael’s is so dangerous. I walk in determined to only get one thing and suddenly I have a full basket of “Oh I could use that pretty paper for something” or “Of course I have a use for this shimmery ribbon its 99 cents for crying out loud I’ll find a use!” I like trying new crafts so I don’t see this changing anytime soon :)
You are feeling my pain.
I started an afghan when my best friend got pregnant…her son is 35 now and will go to his grave without THAT present!
Sadly, I’m limited to crafty things that can be completed in an hour with a grandchild. I have nothing but awe for those who can make things with their hands.
My stress relief is more of the physical exercise variety.
Ugh what wont I give a try. Once the Bomblettes came along I lost my craft room and I now have an underbed jungle of fabric, yarn, paper crafting, and needle felting supplies. Sewing is my first love and if I had more space and free time all munchkin’s clothes would be handmade. My few actual projects were; sewing a set of pocket gnomes, painting pieces of carved wood to resemble stone walls and felting various shades of blue wool roving into a pond. All are birthday gifts for the Bomblettes.
I’m a decent knitter but I’ve always wanted to learn how to crochet. I also have a problem with compulsively hoarding Michaels and Joanns coupons and then buying far more supplies patterns, books, and crafty gadgets than I need.
Wow I wish I’d proof read that before posting. Sorry gang. It should read “my last few projects”, honestly there are so many typos in there I’m just going to look away and hum to myself.
Oh, Friend, nobody will judge you for typos around here. I make typos when I type my name. : ) We love you butterthumbs and all, especially if you forgive us for a few of ours.
Earrings! I make tons of earrings for gifts. I just keep collecting beads, it’s not like they take up too much room or spoil… That’s how I justify the horde.
I don’t bead much any more, but I still linger in the bead aisle in Michaels because they are so pretty and shiny. And there is something so satisfying about being able to say “Why thank you, I made them myself,” about your jewelry.
Those 40% coupons are dangerous they lure you in and suddenly you have a basket full of stuff.
I was just thinking to myself that I am not crafty AT ALL, but then Sally J. mentioned scrapbooking. That I can do! I made a delightful scrapbook of our recent honeymoon, with stickers and fun paper and everything. I know a lot of people have moved on to digital stuff, but there’s just something about scissors and double sided tape.
I do enjoy double sided tape, and it’s handy for spur of the moment clothing repair too.
I’m crafty in the sense that I like drinking and watching TV.
/not at all crafty
I was working on a very elaborate Classic Winnie the Pooh alphabet cross stitch to give to a friend who is having a baby, but it’s taken so long that I’ve become attached to it, and have thus decided to keep it for when I have kids, which I don’t necessarily plan on doing.
I just taught myself to crochet and made a scarf. I find most patterns to be kind of hard to read, but I’m working on it.
The thing I learned about reading crochet patterns is not to look ahead. If I try to read a whole line at a time I get royally confused, but if I only look at the step I am supposed to be doing then the confusing bits make sense by the time I get to them.
Thanks for the sound advice! I’ll give it a try when I attempt to conquer the hat. :)
Oh I do like to cross-stitch, but haven’t in FOREVER. I find that crafty-crap and toddlers don’t mix. I used to scrapbook, but that too has gone by the wayside. I should find something, though….
I actually started cross-stitching when I had a toddler, that’s how it became my end-of-day routine. As soon as kids are in bed I pull out my stitching and enjoy quiet time.
My dad’s new hobby is beekeeping, so I’ve been using his beeswax to make lip balm and hand creams. It’s a lot of fun to mix the different essential oils to come up with a good scent. At the moment I just make them and give them to family and friends, but hopefully soon once I accumulate enough wax I can start a small Etsy store.
That is so cool! I want a beekeeper dad and my very own beeswax.
This reminds me that I should work on my cross-stitch! I just started (I knew how when I was really little, and recently picked up the materials and some designs. One was a sampler, which was really good for practice.)
I also love to sew, but, alas, my current living situation doesn’t work out for sewing. There’s no room, and the only sewing-machine-place I have is at a standing-height table. Sewing while standing is not conducive to not having back pain. I mostly do apparel and costumy stuff, but have made one quilt (it took me 3 years of on-and-off working on it) and would like to make more.
I get the urge to sew about once a year, and then I remember that it makes me swear. A lot.