#occasionally crafty

[behaviornerdwithahat]

So many fiber arts have difficulty levels that are less about your level of skill than your ability to tolerate extreme multi-step processes.

[behaviornerdwithahat]

I weaved so many tablet this weekend!

This is my first ever tablet weaving and first real weaving ever (that wasn’t made by a child on a cardboard loom in school) so I’m pretty proud of it. Funnily enough, I distinctly remember thinking “Tablet weaving looks really cool but doesn’t really interest me much as a potential hobby so I probably won’t do it myself” and then a few months later I get the sudden urge to do this. So there’s one more fiber art I’ve checked off and I’m one more step closer to bobbin lace (yet another hobby that made me instantly go “Nope!”) Definitely will be doing this again!

I also made the design, modified off of one with three interlocking loops. The edge is a bit janky but not bad for my first design and almost twist neutral. I was originally thinking something kinda infinity symbol and pride but lack of orange for a pride flag and some other decisions morphed into this. When I was mapping it out the colors were originally symmetrical but then I fell into this and I thought it made a nice 3D sort of effect. If you want the pattern let me know.

It’s about 4ft total, made over 3 days, 4 if you include warping the loom. I made a backstrap loom from PVC and a double ended dog leash and modified as I went along. It ended up a little too narrow for the belt I was originally intending so it might end up using it as a backstrap or something. The ends were made by twisting 4 strands together and then plying with another 4 which makes a pretty cool effect.

[behaviornerdwithahat]

Sure, it might take you a week or even several weeks to sew or knit a piece of clothing. But when that piece of clothing lasts 5-20 years and actually fits and keeps you warm, you come out way, way ahead.

[behaviornerdwithahat]

I have gotten so sick of trying to find clothes that are long enough for me and use natural fibers. Especially the long enough for me part so I have been considering making my own but it has also been difficult to find fabric that isn’t insanely costly and is also 100% natural fibers. But yesterday I found a 100% cotton jersey pillowcase at the thrift store for $1.25. It should be plenty to make a halter top without leaving me with tons of extra fabric. And now to learn how to sew clothing!

[behaviornerdwithahat]

Best tip I have as a serial crafter for anyone learning a new skill: Pick projects you are excited about. Even if it isn’t a beginner project. The dopamine hits will be bigger, you will actually be motivated to finish and you will enjoy it while you do. That will sustain you through the extra 16 steps you may need to learn to do the not beginner project as a beginner.

[behaviornerdwithahat]

I feel so accomplished!! I still need to finish the bottom hem and I obviously need a lot of work on my knit binding skills, but I think this is pretty fantastic for my first time making clothing or sewing anything stretchy. Not to mention $1.25 pillow case fabric, a free pattern and an afternoon. And look, no butt crack, even if I bend over!

Thanks @andsewingishalfthebattle! Freesewing.eu was exactly the resource I needed. Basic, made to my measurements patterns that I will actually wear, and directions with just the right amount of ‘explain it to me like I know nothing but am still sufficiently competent for the job’. I am so excited to have a functional wardrobe soon.

[behaviornerdwithahat]

Really, really proud of how this is going so far. I’ve never been that into embroidery but who knows, that might change.

We discovered this piece half finished in my neighbor’s house after she passed. She probably hadn’t worked on it in over two decades as her vision started to go more. The embroidered wall hangings she had in her kitchen are a treasured memory of mine. She won prizes at county fairs for her work and this piece was already breathtaking. Even more than those pieces, despite being half finished. So I decided I had to complete it.

This is how it looked before I started. So almost everything in the first hoop placement is mine and everything outside it is hers. The fair does seem to have a category for fiber art restoration, do you think this would count 😂. I think it would be pretty cool if her work was able to be seen again in that setting, although I doubt my work would measure up to hers under expert scrutiny given this is really only the second thing I have ever embroidered.

[behaviornerdwithahat]

This is the embroidery project my neighbor started years ago. The instructions are dated 1985 but it could be more recent than that. We found it when helping her husband move and it was so beautiful I just had to finish it. I still need to find or make a frame for it but the embroidery is now done. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.