Anyone start Christmas crafting yet? - Page 2

[MamaBug]

Originally Posted by rere

I started last week.

I started teaching myself to sew right before my grandma died.And during a visit with her I was telling her how I really liked the idea of using old clothes as sewing materials.So the next time I saw her she gave me some of her clothes to use.She died not too much later.I couldn't figure out what to do with the stuff she gave me until the other day when it dawned on me to cut it into strips to make patchwork scarves for all the ladies in my family.

So far I've only made two but it's early right?

That is a really amazing gift! I love this site and thought of you when you mentioned using your grandmas clothes. I don't know how time intensive this is, I am a new sewer but you could maybe make it for yourself when your done to remember your grandmother.

http://rosylittlethings.com/tanglewoodpattern.html

[rere]

Originally Posted by MamaBug

That is a really amazing gift! I love this site and thought of you when you mentioned using your grandmas clothes. I don't know how time intensive this is, I am a new sewer but you could maybe make it for yourself when your done to remember your grandmother.

http://rosylittlethings.com/tanglewoodpattern.html

Oh thanks for that!It sparked an idea.I'm keeping a piece of the clothing for myself and when I saw your post I remembered that my grandmother loved a bag I made out of a thrifted tea towel.I wore a hole in the bag but there are plenty of good parts left that I could cut up and pair with her shirt to make a new bag.

Thanks!

[NoliMum]

I have dyed my first batch of wool!! :

Now it's sitting in the jars, but I'm not sure how to dry it. Can I spin it in the washer in a lingerie bag? Or would that be too harsh for wool roving? Should I just pull it out and let it drip?

It's been in the dye bath for almost 24 hours... tell me what to do!

[sarah_bella1050]

I just made some play food (for the girls' stockings) and some play money (for dd1s cash register I'm getting her) you can see them on my blog here I made up some play money the other day, view it on my blog and let me know what you guys think.
http://bellapepper.blogspot.com/

[MamaBug]

Originally Posted by rere

Oh thanks for that!It sparked an idea.I'm keeping a piece of the clothing for myself and when I saw your post I remembered that my grandmother loved a bag I made out of a thrifted tea towel.I wore a hole in the bag but there are plenty of good parts left that I could cut up and pair with her shirt to make a new bag.

Thanks!

You are so welcome! I myself would never be able to do that, but it is quite cute. I got her clothespin doll kits and am making them for dd. I figured I would order the kits and then I would be able to go and get the parts on my own in the future to make for my niece.

I love the clothes made into something else. I have saved all of my dd's special, at least to me, outfits to make a quilt for either her or me I have also saved all of my boys jerseys and sports team shirts to make them a comforter when they get bigger. Can you tell I am very sentimental?

Sarah that food and money is just super cute! I am totally going to steal that idea for dd! Thanks!

[flapjack]

NoliMum, you need to rinse it and drain it and dry it, without agitating and without changing temperature. I find that the spin cycle on my front loader is too harsh, unless I take great care to hold the fibre still.

[NoliMum]

Originally Posted by flapjack

NoliMum, you need to rinse it and drain it and dry it, without agitating and without changing temperature. I find that the spin cycle on my front loader is too harsh, unless I take great care to hold the fibre still.

Well I got impatient and air-dried it without any spinning or rinsing. Do I need to rinse it out now, and dry it again?

*off to do a search on dyeing roving...*

[llamalluv]

Oh, good heavens, yes! I started back in January, and just wrapped up FIL's sweater last night. I cast on MIL's this morning (and that's as far as I've gotten).

I've already bought DH 1 stocking gift (a pedometer) and a small gift for SIL. I've got a list of things to buy/make before the end of November, and then right after Thanksgiving, I will start on making the candy (I've already purchased about 1/2 of the candy tins I will need.)

[rere]

Originally Posted by sarah_bella1050

I just made some play food (for the girls' stockings) and some play money (for dd1s cash register I'm getting her) you can see them on my blog here I made up some play money the other day, view it on my blog and let me know what you guys think.
http://bellapepper.blogspot.com/

Thanks for sharing!The felt money is a great idea.The paper money drives me nuts but my daughter loves to play "payer"with her cash register.I'm definitely going to make some felt money.

Originally Posted by MamaBug

Can you tell I am very sentimental?

Me too!


Ok,I made another present.A funky bracelet for a funky friend.



Now if only I could come up with an idea for my MIL who doesn't really like much...including me.UHG!Any ideas????

[flapjack]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

Well I got impatient and air-dried it without any spinning or rinsing. Do I need to rinse it out now, and dry it again?

*off to do a search on dyeing roving...*

Not unless you're needle-felting. If you're spinning it then wet-finishing your finished yarn will rinse it out, and if you're wet-felting it then that'll rinse the last of the dye-bath out. At the same time, leaving any excess dye residue, vinegar, mordants or whathaveyou on the wool isn't going to be good for it- so finish up for this Christmas, not next. KWIM?

[NoliMum]

Originally Posted by flapjack

Not unless you're needle-felting. If you're spinning it then wet-finishing your finished yarn will rinse it out, and if you're wet-felting it then that'll rinse the last of the dye-bath out. At the same time, leaving any excess dye residue, vinegar, mordants or whathaveyou on the wool isn't going to be good for it- so finish up for this Christmas, not next. KWIM?

But if I wet-felt different colors together, will they run if I don't rinse them first? :

[flapjack]

No, because you need heat to set the dye on protein fibres

[railyuh]

Originally Posted by rere

Now if only I could come up with an idea for my MIL who doesn't really like much...including me.UHG!Any ideas????

I have the same issue. The thought of putting all that time and love and effort into a handmade gift and then having MIL toss it or bury it in a closet just makes me : I just can't do it!

I think this year I am going to make everyone handmade soap with a little cotton soap scrubby pouch. It should be easy enough and quick and everyone can use soap so it shouldn't go to waste. Then I can do extras for people that I know will appreciate it

[rere]

Originally Posted by railyuh

I have the same issue. The thought of putting all that time and love and effort into a handmade gift and then having MIL toss it or bury it in a closet just makes me : I just can't do it!

I think this year I am going to make everyone handmade soap with a little cotton soap scrubby pouch. It should be easy enough and quick and everyone can use soap so it shouldn't go to waste. Then I can do extras for people that I know will appreciate it

The soap is a great idea!

I hear ya.I'm really torn.I want to stick to trying to make everything but it stinks to have someone not even appreciate that I made something.Last year I made her these placemats.They are not my style at all but totally her style.She would have to know that I made them specifically for her but she didn't say a word when she opened them.But I guess that's better than the year that she had just started knitting,so I went and bought her a variety of yarn but only one skein of each kind.I thought that way she could try out different kinds to see what she liked without wasting any money and then if she liked something she could buy more.She held up one of the skeins and said "well I'm not gonna be able to make much with that".UHG!

I've decided to refuse to let it get to me.I'm just going to keep putting the handmade goodness out there.And she can react how she wants to.

ETA: What are you going to make the soap scrubby out of?And will it have a closure to keep the soap in?Can you tell I'm thinking about stealing your idea?

[Miss April]

I love all of these ideas!! I have recently started my Christmas knitting. I think knitted socks for the older males of the families.

For the "knitting olympics" I'm doing my first fair isle project The skull isle hat from the new snb book for my little brother.

I'm making "family tree of life" pendants for my mom, mil, and step mom too. I got all the beads I need, just need wire (and to find my tools). Those will be pretty fast to make though.

Keep the ideas coming!

[homefrontgirl]

Originally Posted by railyuh

I think this year I am going to make everyone handmade soap with a little cotton soap scrubby pouch. It should be easy enough and quick and everyone can use soap so it shouldn't go to waste. Then I can do extras for people that I know will appreciate it

This sounds cool. Do you have a pattern that you're going to use? TIA!

[skeegan23]

I've THOUGHT about starting, does that count?? lol

ETA - so far, my ideas are to make some cool reusable grocery bags and for dd, I'd like hubby to make a few wooden toys but mostly a wooden toy chest. I also have painted wooden bead jewelry and baby blocks on the agenda for other kids in the fam.

[railyuh]

Originally Posted by homefrontgirl

This sounds cool. Do you have a pattern that you're going to use? TIA!

There are a few different ones on ravelry. I think I am going to try the one in the book "One Skein". It's actually crochet but I've been wanting to learn anyway, only I'll use plain cotton yarn instead of the fancy stuff they use in the book. It looks really easy and quick, sort of like a little net bag with a drawstring to hold the soap.

[1growingsprout]

Yes i have several projects in progress right now...

hopefully i can get everything in time for the holidays... i need to devote more time each day to crafting and less to computering ;(

I am doing beading for a couple people that goes very fast.... crochet is a bit slower

[rere]

Originally Posted by skeegan23

I've THOUGHT about starting, does that count?? lol

YES!

Figuring out what to make is half the battle.Or at this point,for me,all of the battle.