Stitchin' for Fair

What I'm working on for county fair 2024 ◇Sarah of @sarahhudgins

[stitchinforfair]

I've been chipping away at different projects, and I took a break to make this quilted tote for QuiltCon in Raleigh.

[cannibalchicken]

[stitchinforfair]

Part of me wants to make these. Another part of me realizes that I'd be finding dust-sized pieces of tan, fuzzy fabric in my sewing room for years.

[stitchinforfair]

I finished an 8.5" by 8.5" Jigsaw Block for one of the two Block of the Month quilts that I'm doing in 2024. And now I'm trying to talk myself out of doing a 12.5" by 12.5" one out of Christmas fabric (because holy crap do I have a lot of Christmas FQs in my stash).

[adamsmasher]

True facts.

[vafibrearts]

I've been ... gone ... for a while. I've been working on a few projects I wasn't really able to share and it made posting difficult, but I'm hoping to start sharing some of my work again!

[acorviart]

everyone should attempt an artisan craft at some point in their life because it would cut down the number of comments questioning why handmade goods like ceramics or textile craft or woodworking are so expensive

and this is an unrealistic expectation, but I think the attempt should include seeing through to the end at least one "finished" item, no matter how clumsy or lumpy your first attempts might be. like to me, there's a huge difference in perspective between attempting to learn how to crochet or throw a pot for a few days, acknowledging that it's harder than it looks and giving up, versus committing to finishing that scarf or clay pot you started and working on it for weeks while you painstakingly learn from your mistakes and grow attached to your project while also simultaneously hating it.

once you finish the latter, your perspective changes from "why does this crocheted blanket cost $200" to "holy shit I can't believe they're charging $200 for this crocheted blanket instead of $2000" because you may have known crocheting is hard, you may have easily agreed with the idea that "handmade goods take time and effort" even before attempting a craft, but now you know firsthand the absolute time sink it takes to make things. like yeah dude, that one item took you 2 months to make and probably wasn't even an ultra complex item if it was the first thing you made, now imagine attaching an hourly wage to that time to calculate the cost (and this is ignoring every nuance of the artistic element and master crafters being able to work faster/charge higher because of their years and years of experience)

anyway this rant has been motivated by a comment I saw on someone else's ceramic post asking why a mug was $60 and they understand it's handmade but $60 just seems overpriced, and bro do you know how long ceramics take to make. that mug probably took at minimum 3 weeks between how long it takes to throw the mug, dry partially, trim the mug, dry fully, bisque fire, wait a day for the kiln to cool, sand and paint and glaze, glaze fire, wait a day for the kiln to cool, take product photography of the mug, write description and list the mug online for sale, im not even including the skill needed to complete all these steps without the mug literally exploding or collapsing while also making it an appealing piece of art, aaaaaaaaaaaaa

[stitchinforfair]

I was so excited to be done making Granny Squares for this sweater (after crocheting 50 squares)... then I realized that I need to make another five... and I'm out of the yarn I've been using (other than a bit of scraps).

That is tomorrow Sarah's problem. Tonight's Sarah is going to bed.

[fatmasc]

U say to urself "i dont need notches, ill know how to orient the pieces when sewing bc i made the pattern" this is the devil speaking. Put notches in ur pattern and cut them into ur fabric. Youll be glad for it

[draculasdatter]

u say to urself “i don’t need stitch markers, ill know which stitch to attach when crocheting because i can tell” this is the devil speaking. Put stitch markers into your pieces

[emthejedichic]

u say to urself, "i don't need to mark the beginning of the round when knitting, I can tell where it is by the tail" this is the devil speaking. u'll be glad for that stitch marker when you're 37 rows in and the tail is a distant memory

[derryderrydown]

u say to urself "I don't need to grid my aida when cross-stitching, I can count perfectly fine" this is the devil speaking. Grid ur fabric or you'll spend half an hour trying to figure out which stitch in which of thirty shades of grey is one block out.

[eroticcannibal]

U say to urself "I dont need to leave a long tail, thats a waste of yarn" this is the devil speaking. Leave a long tail or you'll spend the next half an hour trying to pull the tails through with a crochet hook instead of weaving them in in minutes with a needle.

[catscraftsandcommentary]

You say to yourself "I don't need a stitch marker for every lace repeat." THIS IS THE MOTHERFUCKING DEVIL, DO NOT MOTHERFUCKING LISTEN. USE THOSE GODS-DAMNED STITCH MARKERS LIKE YOU MEAN IT.

Do you want to restart your project six different times? Not using stitch markers is how you restart your project six different times and then give up in frustration. ASK ME HOW I KNOW.

[kaiyonohime]

You say to yourself that you don't need a life line in your lace, you know how to tink without issue. This is the devil, use a damn life line in your lace!

[amysnotdeadyet]

You say to yourself, you don't need to erase every extra pencil line before you ink onto real paper, you'll remember which ones not to draw. This is the devil speaking, clean your damn sketches, there is no undo on paper.

[cricketcat9]

Devil speaks A LOT to crafters and artists

[roach-works]

if you think, hey, i don't need to nest my seams OR press them when im quilting, the batting layer will forgive a lot. you're actually right. but the devil is laughing at you. just suck it up and press the fuckin seams.

[stitchinforfair]

There are few things cooler than seeing a blanket I made for a baby shower being used during said baby's first Christmas.

[stitchinforfair]

This knit blanket took five months and 5+ skeins of fluffy yarn. It's about 57" square. Depending on what shape it's in come September, I'll absolutely be entering it into the knit afghan competition at fair.

[stitchinforfair]

I decided that I needed yet another stitching hobby, so I taught myself to embroider.

And yes, I've already started eyeballing patterns for next fair.

[has-the-gavle-goat-burned-yet]

I missed the crochet pattern last year, semi considering making one (and possibly crocheting flames on the goat) this year.

For the folks who crochet you can find the free pattern here!

Gävlebocken

GARNKVALITET LéttLopi (100 % ull. Nystan ca 50 g = ca 100 m)MASKTÄTHET Ca 25 m x 26 v med virknål 3,5 mm = 10 x 10 cmTips: Använd det röda g

[stitchinforfair]

I don't normally crochet amigurami, but I'm so tempted to make a Gävle Goat.

[emmikay]

Pintrest: Look at this pretty quilting pattern!

Me: Oh, that is pretty. Is there a link to the pattern?

Pintrest: Haha! You've fell for a classic trap! There is no avalible pattern, instead you must purchase a pdf!

Me: Yeah, I'm not paying $10 for a computer file.

Pintrest: Then I suppose you shall never make this pretty pattern!

Me:

Me, a quilter who knows how half square triangles work: Bet.

[autobiographicalmemes]

Me when it's time to start knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts

[i-am-mysticbat]

Hi, I'm Kat.

I like yarn, and I make stuff.

I started learning to dye yarn a year or two ago, and have become obsessed with it. Look at this color I made for spooky season that I named "Haunted".

[stitchinforfair]

I've taken advantage of having time off for Thanksgiving and have started a granny square vest. First side is done, and second side is 4/5 of the way done.

[rosyopal-eva]

finally finished my ghost files crochet sweater! 👻 🫶🏻🥹 @wearewatcher