Thank you! It's encouraging to hear other people faced similar issues when learning. Yup, tightness may very well be the problem - at least I used to crochet extremely tight, so I wouldn't be surprised if my knitting is also tighter than it should be.

I agree on the solid investment. When you're growing old and your hands get worse, then at least you find some solace in still being able to do your craft hobbies. And of course when you're younger but using your hooks a lot, it also pays for them to be easy on the hands.

They arrived!
https://i.imgur.com/7tds5KDm.jpg

Oooohhhh....fancy!

after I finish the Victorian Baby Doll Ensemble, I'm gonna make Archie Jr some clothes.

I am sad. My circular hand saw is dying. Also I want to buy wood to make painting panels but guess what I can't afford. ; n;

Edit: Mom got me a new saw and some wood! ; 0; She used some of the small claims settlement money to do so. ; 0;

I'm kinda bouncing from craft to craft to craft...

>Kitty stop being lazy and get art done for once D:

Totally haven't done anything for this month's theme...
But I am making a really pretty shawl!
XD

im so jealous of ppl who know how to knit/crochet!! one day i'll be able to learn. i know how to do those little woven wall hangings but that's about the closest i've ever gotten lol

I'm self taught. Learned from a book.

i'm workng on a "doily" for my boss for the hollydays - but it's more like a small table runner/centerpiece kinda thing. i'll post a pic when i get an updated one

xolv, it's actually not that hard if you start with simple projects. There are some good tutorials available online, both in video and in written form with photos. For example this free course on Instructables explains knitting, and you will already be able to make a scarf, phone cozy or similar thing just by learning how to cast on and do the knit stitch.

For crochet, you could start for example with a bookmark that also only requires you to learn two types of stitches, yet already looks like a sophisticated trinket.

I dunno, little woven wall hangings sound pretty impressive to me!

As for knowing how to knit and crochet...well, I ended up going for loom knitting although I have tried and would like to better learn crochet and needle knitting, I find loom knitting easier and more convenient for me because it's easier for me to keep track of where I am in any given pattern and it is also easier because you don't have to worry so much about tension or dropping stitches (although it can still happen).
I learned the most basic of scarves from a friend, but have learned the rest of what I make over the course of the last approximate 6-7 years through YouTube, patterns, and experimenting.
A lot of it is just making the time to learn and just doing it. And remembering that you can always start over if you make a mistake, but mistakes are just part of learning.

Made a thing!

https://i.imgur.com/2FdO3aFl.jpg

Pretty and useful!

I don't know how to knit or crochet, either, but one day! D:

"I teach you!"
https://s26.postimg.cc/4yp2tne91/20171123_200949.jpg

I am so close to finishing my shawl!
8D
Just 8 rows on the last full lace pattern repeat, then 8 more rows of the lace pattern, then the decrease! Although, I might do 1 more full repeat just to get back to the color I started with on the other end. We'll see what it looks like when I get to that point though as it's hard to estimate exactly how many rows I have until the color shifts...

GOGO KADERIN!

And I wanna get a cricut but those suckers are pricey.

Bwahahaha...potential Christmas present idea....
>.>

Also, on the decrease section of shawl now. Would be done, but hung out with a friend and have discovered a new mystery pack collectable obsession: Lost Kitties.
They come with 1 cat figure, 2 accessories (which are okay, but can't be put on the figures, so I'll probably end up losing half of them) 1 meme sticker, and some "shaping compound", which is basically knock-off playdoh. But tbh, I could care less about the shaping compound. It stinks and I have no use for it. BUT the color of the s.c. is used as an indicator for the "rarity" of the cat. There are 36 cats total in series 1 (which is the only series out so far). 18 are white/common, 12 are brown/uncommon, and 6 are pink/rare. I got a brown one and a pink one today. Pics forthcoming if anyone is interested in seeing them I 100% want them all though because they are so effing cute!

How much is the employee discount at joanns? Should I go work there a week get a cricut and then quit. xD

Blind box kittehs! WOOO!

It's 20%, but discounts don't work on cricut (or sewing machines as I found out the hard way), so it wouldn't help.
HOWEVER, no sales tax in MT....just saying...

DAMN YOU JOANN WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!

Finished my shawl!
It's got some minor flaws and could use a little minor blocking to remove the kind of crease from where it went around a tight curve in the loom, but it's super pretty!
Can't upload pics until probably Tuesday, but will take some good ones in the afternoon.

YEAH! You go friendo! I've just been painting a lot. I need more hardboard to cut for painting, and 1x2s for cradling it too, but we've had to buy stuff for the car so I am broke.

Any ideas for September?
I'm thinking September Scarves

I'm tired and lazy and no one's really been participating the last few months anyway, so I don't really feel like begging for theme suggestions. But if someone else wants to take over the monthly theme choosing process, that would be fine.

Hey, I made a flower! Attached to the most awesome hat ever! *checks back* oh, that was in May... nevermind ^^;

Pretty sure that was the last one I did, too.
Damies did do something for August's pool noodle theme, but it's mostly been just dead. And I'm just exhausted almost all the time right now, so I just don't feel like trying to pump people up about a monthly theme that, statistically, none of us will do anyway.

But if anyone wants to take over in running the theme picking, go for it.

I'll take over the theme picking then. Even though I statistically have done less than half of the monthly themes, I'm still determined to make them all.

But yeah, I can understand your point. It's way more rewarding to collect suggestions and play the cheerleader when people actually show their theme related works each month. Maybe after a few months I'm going to feel exhausted too, but for now... let's see.

Come one, come all - what do you want to craft this month?

One suggestion so far: Scarves! Would be just in time for the winter season, and shawls are allowed as well. Or if warm wrappings aren't your thing, a fashionable lace stole could be right up your alley.

24 hours before the suggested topic is locked in... unless any further suggestions arise, in which case there'll be a vote.

*tags out as theme host*
Scarves as a theme would give me the opportunity to hopefully finish some wips.

or September snakes maybe

I like the idea of shawls too. (Gods know I've got dozens of patterns now...)

Just finished a shawl this morning. If that ends up the theme, will it still count?
XD

It is September, thus: yep. Totally legit.

I have one wip (the loom knit triangular shawl you linked earlier in this thread), but I ran out of yarn and so far haven't been able to dig up a second skein of the very same. So for now it's just sitting there, occupying my largest loom. For September's theme I'd probably do a needle knitting scarf instead, because deep down inside I'm a yarn perfectionist who doesn't want to make the other triangle half a different color.

Technically it was about 96% made in August, so I'd probably try to make another one anyway...
And yeah, I'm actually having that same shawl issue. I have 2 unfinished currently, but I did gey the yarn for one of them not too long ago. Maybe I'll finish that one this month.

Yeah, the video gave a wonderful explanation, but the lady didn't mention how much yarn the shawl requires (or if she mentioned it in the description, I totally overlooked it). Since it was my very first time trying loom knitting, I figured I'd just try and see. Even if I eventually have to frog it and start again with different yarn, at least then I already know how it works.

Hm. Maybe I'll knit a scarf for Derpy XD

"Yeah! Scawf for me!"

...I guess that's another vote for the scarf theme ^^

Lol. New idea! Sept theme: Derpy scarves! Everyone just makes a scarf fpr Derpy!
XD

...and for those who aren't following me on Insta, the rainbow shawl! (I have a couple of better pics, but can't get them to upload currently.)
https://s26.postimg.cc/ureeme1m1/IMG...122352_922.jpghttps://s26.postimg.cc/gkynr666h/IMG...122352_921.jpg