by multi-crafters, I mean that needlework isn't the only craft you love doing and you are sometimes inundated by everything.
I was heavily into cross-stitch for a long time (stamped) when I was younger, then got off the habit and back into sewing (parents both taught me how to sew when I was in elementary school). I kept up the sewing because it was less stressful to make something that I liked and that fit vs. going from store to store trying to find something. THEN....a friend got me interested in quilting (I believe I've surpassed her because she sticks with Log Cabin quilts and has yet to do much of anything else). I *still* sew clothing for myself and my children, both of whom are skinny little things and all store-bought clothing needs alterations. I *still* quilt - mostly when the mood strikes me or when I have specific projects that I want to do for people. I have a pile of cross-stitch (counted) UFOs, WIPS, and ones that I haven't even started but REALLY want to do.
So....for the other multi-crafters....how do you balance/rotate/ prioritize all of your different projects/interests??
Larisa, who still hasn't found the cross-stitch that I want to do for DH...but I know it's somewhere in the sewing room closets!
Like Cheryl, what I do is directed more by mood than anything else. For many years I sewed all my clothes but I really haven't done much more than an occasional repair or alteration now.
Sometimes I just knit because I find that the most relaxing thing. Other times I do busy cross stitch patterns because they keep me focused on what I'm doing. Then there are the times that only Crewel will satisfy my needs because it's so pretty. I forgot needlepoint.
I'll try nearly anything once so if anyone has an idea for a fun thing, please feel free to make suggestions.
I guess the only thing I have no interest in trying is scrapbooking.
Scrapbooking has never appealed to me either, even though I love to take pictures.
Actually, I don't knit and don't want to learn because I have so much else to do - but I do know how to crochet and will occasionally do that.
As to rotation, like Cheryl, whatever strikes me. Right now, I'm in a needlepoint phase, but am itching to do something on cloth - I'm looking at some of my redwork patterns to see if I can find one that strikes my fancy. And also I want to do some applique work - found a picture I really like and want to try to do it in cloth as a wall hanging. And of course I have to get back to the BOAF seasons. . .
I knit, crochet, quilt, tat, and do bead work. I did a lot of knitting when I worked, since my office was one in which the usual clothing for ladies was a sweater and dressy slacks. I can make much nicer sweaters than I can afford to buy (if I can ever find them!) I occasionally made afghans -- knit or crochet -- as gifts. Bead work is for the children. Tatting is for the occasional antique handkerchief that screams out for a fancy edging, and was a favorite of my mother, who never failed to show off a fancy handkie to her friends after church. At the moment I am working on two quilts, one piece work and the other whole cloth. As to what I do when, it's often just as the mood takes me, although gift-giving may make something a priority. As to gifts, that requires a LOT of lead time since I do my own designing and do everything by hand. There is also the "portability factor" since I take something with me in a tote bag when I serve as a substitute for the church secretary -- I do the receptionist-part of the job and stay off the computer at the church. I take some sort of project with me when I travel, too. I recently designed and cut all the pieces for a pieced quilt top I will take with me next year on a world cruise -- small enough to pack efficiently, interesting to do on lazy afternoons at sea, and long enough to last the entire voyage. (When you have your nose stuck in a book people leave you alone, but if you are stitching, people stop to chat and get acquainted.)
When I get ready to piece a quilt top, I cut all the fabric pieces for the entire top and divvie them into business-sized envelopes, one envelope holding the pieces for one block. And just in case I have mis- counted I always have an envelope with extra pieces in each fabric and shape. I also make the binding and tuck it away. The current ready- to-go-traveling top will be for a bedspread for a double bed, and has
81 blocks with 72 (yes, 72!) pieces per 12" block . It is my own design. I have stitched two blocks "just because" and have them tucked in the box with their unstitched sister blocks, thread, etc.
For the world cruise I may also take some materials for needle-tatting
-- just some thread, a couple of tatting needles, embroidery scissors, and steel crochet hook. Paper and pencil for drawing a pattern will be on the ship, of course. Tatting is the smallest take-along craft, but I do get tired of it sometimes!
On Jan 30, 7:04 am, snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net wrote:
Thanks everyone! Really, it has been helpful in getting me to try and figure all this out. I think what I need to do is itemize everything in each craft genre and then prioritize them. The ones that are portable will go with me when I know I will have some down time (like SUnday nights when I have an hour between the start of the children's activities and the start of mine)....will probably stash a couple of smaller projects in the glove compartment of the van as well - good things to keep myself busy while waiting for DDs school time to be over (I like to get there early so that I don't have to park at the far end of the lot).
Of course, being as I'm in the middle of 3 projects right now (one just needs a label attached, 1 is in the planning and prep stages, 1 I ran out of fusible bias, so it is waiting for that), I will put the itemizing off for at least another week. HOWEVER....I can go ahead and put some of the smaller gift stitchery projects in strategic places. I think if I had them nearby instead of stashed away in a closet, I would do more work on them. SO.....I will find the smaller projects (I know there are at least 3 in the nightstand on my side of the bed) and put them near the places I usually veg out. That way, instead of just zoning out, I can zone and get work done.
Okay, enough rambling....I have housework to get to today before I can even start anything else.
Larisa, doing laundry and sewing and trying to get grocery list made based on the multiple dietary needs of the family....told DH we would just go vegetarian and he said he'd be living at McDonald's if I did that (he has kidney disease, I'm prediabetic, both children are underweight, and DS has food allergies....lovely, huh?)
It's a good question. I don't know that I do balance them. I find that I do what's calling to me, and not worry about the finish time. Rarely do things with a deadline. So, when I'm in a sewing phase - I'll be working on that. The big thing for me is that the sewing machine has to be accessible. When it was put away, and I really wanted to work on things it drove me crazy.
I also paint - prefer oils, but do watercolors as well. Right now neither my big easel and studio stuff, nor my drafting table (at which I do watercolors, and canvas painting) are set up - so that's making me a bit twitchy.
It seems to me that doing multiple arts/crafts things and balancing them is about having the resources available. When whichever muse is calling, I need to be able to do that. For painting - I tend to really get immersed and be doing that for long periods of time - because I have to. Stitching, some things it's the same way, but I can come and go with it a bit. Knitting is the fill in that I can do anywhere. Sewing - more of a take the time to do it. Right now I'm more annoyed with myself about sewing UFOs - but will get to them soon.
The other key for me - is not doing a bunch of things as "gifts" with deadlines. That would totally not work - I've come to accept the lifecycle of UFOs that come and go, and finishing things as I get to them. Occasionally I can be disciplined and finish something when I planned it - but it's taken some time to learn reality of how long, etc for many projects. And DH is pretty good about allowing the UFOs all over, and bugging me appropriately. He did say that once I start work, and the new counters are put in, perhaps instead of me doing the tile backsplash I should hire someone - though I think I'll do it anyhow.
You'll find it. It's amazing what jumps out at times.
In the heat of summer, I can't stand to have a lapful of yarn, so the knitting/crocheting get done only in winter (well, unless someone's having a baby and I have no choice but to whip out a sweater or a romper in summer). In summer, I do the XS.
An e-friend who sells scrapbooking supplies was trying to get me into it. I probably would enjoy the creative process, but it's a waste of time. I'm not the type who sits around looking at my old photos, and the photos I've taken are of no interest to the next generation in the family, who barely know me and wouldn't know any of the other people in the photos. I fully expect that all my photos will be put in the trash when I die, so why spend hours prettying them up for the garbageman?
When I was a little kid they were called Horse Reins. I have no idea why so don't ask. My mother, or maybe my father, would hammer nails into a big wooden spool from sewing thread and that was that.
Not quite as fancy as the new ones, but it did the same thing.
The only thing I ever remember doing with the string was to coil it and make potholders and hotmats.
"Lucille" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with
We called them Knitting Nancy's and the original one I had was more like a long clothes peg that had been painted to look like 'Nancy' with four nails in the top of her head, and a long body to hold on to. Knitting Nancy's or Horse Reins, both sound better (I think) than Cheryls French Knitter which sounded almost pornographic ! lol
You coil it together and make hot mats or placemats. Or use it as cording trim on knitted stuff and pillows.
I had the idea a while back to work the knitting around a center of clothesline, which might make it sturdy enough to use as a rug. Haven't tried it yet.
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