Hand crafted things.

[Pattree]

. Mind you the person I went in for has arthritus that means she is no longer enjoying her knitting. I thought crochet might be something for her but no idea what it is or needed so looks like plan C for that person.

I asked my wife about craft life beyond arthritis. Her fingers are getting stiff but she isn’t suffering yet. She is one of the younger of the groups she attends so she knows people with various problems with their dexterity.

She suggested circular knitting needles to take the weight of the knitting in the lap and to minimise changes.

She also does different things in a night. She couldn’t crochet for several months but she could knit. She did knitting and embroidery (and a bit of quilting needle work) to keep going. Then after half a year she tried crochet again and managed it. Tell your friend not to give up.

She also knows lace makers who can no longer knit. It’s easier on the fingers but a big learning curve for someone new to it.

 

[Paul_B]

I asked my wife about craft life beyond arthritis. Her fingers are getting stiff but she isn’t suffering yet. She is one of the younger of the groups she attends so she knows people with various problems with their dexterity.

She suggested circular knitting needles to take the weight of the knitting in the lap and to minimise changes.

She also does different things in a night. She couldn’t crochet for several months but she could knit. She did knitting and embroidery (and a bit of quilting needle work) to keep going. Then after half a year she tried crochet again and managed it. Tell your friend not to give up.

She also knows lace makers who can no longer knit. It’s easier on the fingers but a big learning curve for someone new to it.

It's not just the arthritis it's a bit different than that so she's kind of out of knitting thing. Hands, shoulders, etc. Curse of old age I guess. Not sure she's even painting now.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I've made it quite a bit bigger than the ones I've seen, and also insulated with some wool batting that I hand carded.

I've been thinking of making a sitting mat, wondering about dimensions.

How big did you make yours?

 

[Woody girl]

I've been thinking of making a sitting mat, wondering about dimensions.

How big did you make yours?

To be honest, I didn't measure, just made it as big as materials allowed, but a quick measure, it's about 23"square.
Plenty of room for my butt, and space around to keep stuff off the ground that I don't want to get dirty . I don't think I'd want it much bigger. Most that I've seen for sale are much smaller..and cost a fortune!

 

[haptalaon]

Went into a crafting shop friday and was a little disappointing in that it was not a crafting shop just a wool shop. It did have a few books on carving and whittling (perhaps for the shoppers' mensfolk whjo are not into knitting to read while the women are stocking up). Still, I only went in to shop for an Xmas pressie. Mind you the person I went in for has arthritus that means she is no longer enjoying her knitting. I thought crochet might be something for her but no idea what it is or needed so looks like plan C for that person.

It would be nice if a craft shop (sign said that) had moree craft things. There are so many craft types and I have been to proper craft shops that do the wool and fabric stuff plus paper stuff plus wood stuff and more. I guess that is too much to ask outside of cities and larger towns.

It's a real difficulty yeah. If you ask a knitter or sewer you'll find as often as not the craft shops that exist have a really poor selection: mostly plastic, mostly small pieces for children's quilting. You do get the occasional posh wool shop in London, but a real haberdashery is nowhere to be found. Similarly whenever they have origami books and paper well if you know what you are looking for, the paper and books are both poor quality and make things harder for beginners than they need to be.

It's probably for the best... In a proper craft shop with a bit of everything, I would be a menace.

I think they sell wood blanks at...its a stately home outside of Newport where they have a folk festival every spring. That's probably a nice place to browse it you're woodcrafty. And a musical instrument repair shop.

 

[Pattree]

Between Hobbycraft, Aberkan, Screwfix and Wicks I find my craft needs sorted.

 

[Paul_B]

I seem to recall that in mmy youth there was a craft shop that had everything from model kits to the materials to make your own things. Motors for planes, boats and cars. Paper and art materials for paper crafts and artists. Wool and yarn for knitting, crochet, etc. Needles, hooks, glue, resin, balsa wood, glass fibre materials, etc. It was a real rabbit warren of stuff. I went in for an airfix kit and drooled over the stuff for making models out of wood. I also bought a matchstick model making kit with a safety cutter thing and loads of headless matches.

I doubt there is anything like that now not even hobbycraft is close despite having a larger store space.

 

[Woody girl]

Yeah, where do you get balsa wood and all the affix kits nowadays? As a kid, my brother and I lived in those sort of shops, and we always "needed" something or other to complete a project, be it a balsa wood sail boat or air plane, airfix paints, kite making stuff etc. I guess there gone the way of all things, press a button and get it delivered. So many hours of joy looking and choosing, a joy most modern kids will never experience.
Plus kids don't make stuff anymore, it's all instant gratification. So sad.

 

[Paul_B]

I remember as a kid on summer holdays watching that kids show that was only on in the mornings of holidays, IIRC it was called something about getting off your behind and going out to do something more interesting instead. Kind of a tv show telling you to turn the tv off and get outside to do stuff like make dens or explore your neighbourhood. All stuff kids don't do quite likee they did back then.

I would see something on there and go out and try to find what was needed to do it for myself. Not very succesful as they always had all the craft things needed and all the skills to do it. I had neither, but I did come home from the craft shop with a few square section bits of balsa wood and pins to hold it all together. I made a sticky pin held thingy which had no purpose!! LOL!! Ambition greater than ability for sure. I am not a crafty type so whilst I loved the ideas and idea of doing it all I never had the true inclination to do it properly.

 

[Tengu]

Why Dont You.

I used to watch it too.

 

[Pattree]

Bet you can’t find fuel for an Eiflander PAW 1.4 cc air cooled diesel engine nor the balsa wood to build the Razorblade aircraft to fly it.
No control lines.
No bell crank (oh you can on eBay!)
Can you even still buy dope?

Bet you can’t buy the ingredients for the diesel fuel either - 250cc of amyl nitrate anyone?

 

[Glow_worm]

Don't worry, there is a big revival in 'vintage' aeromodelling, balsa building, control line and free flight are still quite popular, as is machining model aero engines from plans... The stronger the culture, the stronger the counter-culture!

 

[GreyCat]

On the other hand, the internet has saved the embroidery world. Real silk threads and goldwork materials from small shops can sell to an international customer base and have thus survived. Appleton's wool for example- as demand dropped in UK, the worldwide market became accessible just in time for them to survive and thrive. Mail order became internet and expanded.

I buy kits, patterns and materials from (amongst others) the Crewelwork Company (Appleby, UK), Needle Delights Originals (Florida, USA), Hazel Blomkamp's Fine Needlecraft (South Africa) and I download digital patterns from Inspirations Studios (Australia). I have done quite a few on-line stitch-alongs. And when one visits one of those few specialist shops that survives (e.g. Viking Loom), you typically find that they already know you from your on-line order and it's very social.

The internet has saved a bunch of small shops they are still there, just need to find them....

GC

 

[Toddy]

I agree. It opened up their entire customer base.

I make, I make everything from traditional textile crafts to N gauge models. The internet and online shopping has been a brilliant resource.
That said I do use our local model shop quite a lot too Ronnie at Uddingston Model Shop goes out of his way to acquire pieces for his customers. It's appreciated.
I also shop local fabric stores, and knitting wool shops too.

But then, I live in the Central Belt of Scotland where most of the population live and such shops still have a wide local customer base, and it's not seasonally dependant on tourism.

The internet has increased the sales of these shops too though.

Personally I enjoy being able to see such a wide variety of both shops and goods.

M

 

[demented dale]

I like to make stuff, and wanted a chunky crochet hook to make a chunky scarf, and blanket.. As there are no suitable shops within 20 miles, and have made a vow not to order on the net unless its absolutely vital, I decided to make one
The crochet is just a practice piece to see whether it needs further refining. It's working perfectly. And best of all it's free, apart from 15 minutes of my time.
I have 3 more part fashoned in different thicknesses, and am looking at making some knitting needles too.
Bushcraft can be far more than lighting fires and setting up a tarp.
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Well done W.G. my first thought about anything is 'how can I make it'. If I cant then the second is 'where can i get it cheap or free or swap'. Good way to live I think. x