#Channel Patterns for Beginners

[signode-blog]

Trading Strategies for Channel Patterns

How to Trade Channel Patterns: A Comprehensive Guide Trading in financial markets often requires a keen understanding of price action and chart patterns. One of the most popular and versatile tools in technical analysis is the Channel Pattern. This guide will walk you through what channel patterns are, how to identify them, and actionable strategies for trading these patterns effectively. By the…

[astro-royale]

OBSERVATIONS:11🦢🦢🦢

Disclaimer: my opinion

Taurus placements can get really caught up in unhealthy habits or just may find it very hard to break out of patterns in general. They’re super stubborn and life usually has to teach them interesting lessons for them to acknowledge that they’re on the wrong path.

Neptune on the rising or conjuct can give a very ungrounded “leaf in the wind” kind of vibe to a person, or ethereal if it is actualised lol

Brad Pitt and Marilyn Monroe both have cancer in their north node… know that he was one of the producers which directed the Marilyn Monroe movie which came out with Ana de Armas.

Heavy Aries in the chart can give someone a rebellious or “bad girl/boy��� look and vibe. Rihanna is such a good example of the Aries archetype, she has Aries as her moon, rising and venus.

12th house synastry sounds A LOT like the description of “twin flame” connection

I think many sugar babies can have prominent Leo, Cancer and Taurus placements

I’ve also noticed that Scorpio risings don’t mind being a bit “risqué” online

Gemini risings are soooo free spirited bro just look at Pamela Anderson

Sagittarius 12th house people may be drawn to psychedelics or travelling to other countries specifically to do rituals which open up their unconscious mind.

THAT’s all today folks, but guess what,

If you’re a beginner in astrology or know someone who wants to get into it I’ve made a beginner series on the houses on my YT channel .

They’re in short format and very digestible and easy to understand and it’s great for anyone who wants to have a rough idea.

I have created a playlist with them “The houses in astrology- shorts”

Consider sharing it and checking it out if that sounds like something you or someone you know may need ;)

[warehouse-in-la-cienaga]

Fantasy high au where over the course of four years, The Bad Kids all end up with online followers for wildly different reasons, and it makes the rest of Solace realise that this disaster group of teenagers are responsible for their continued existence (many times over).

-As in canon, Fig has all her music accounts. However, they all link to her personal accounts (not including any from before freshman year). On her personals, there are plenty of clips of her and the rest of the BK, starting halfway through Freshman year. She has a Fantasy YouTube account where she shows concert clips and music demos, but also running complications of each bad kid being cool/stupid/insane. The highest viewed video is Riz and Adaine pulling Fig into a magic debate, with the quote ‘someone get Kristin, I think they might actually kill each other’.

-Kristin actually gets involved on social media at the end of Freshman year. She starts with taking about her deity ‘yes!’ but also includes stories about unlearning toxic religious teachings, and how to deal with changing/leaving a religion. She gets a lot of ex-religious followers, although few of them actually follow ‘yes!’ When she starts talking about Cassandra at the end of Junior year, a lot of her followers get behind it. Highest viewed video is introducing her Sibling Bucky, who talks about following an older sibling who’s been denounced and escaping a religion as a pattern in families.

-Riz starts his social medias during the summer of Freshman year, when he gets his license and starts getting clients. He has a separate, personal Fantasy YouTube account that’s a mix of reviewing mystery-genre media (books, films, ect), and advice for adventurers (think Polygon Unravelled meets Monster manual guides). Highest video is rating all the enemies the BK’s have fought in their time, with the quote ‘Porter was strong, but he also relied on angry teenagers to be subtle and organised, so that’s a flaw.’

-Adaine is next, takes an idea from Riz and talked about her favourite media, as well as advice to other Wizards. Guides on memorising spell chants. Organising material components. She has Jawbone on some videos to talk about how to deal with the mental effects of adventuring. Most of her videos are very calm and easy to listen to, with a few insane clips of the BK’s thrown in, usually when demonstrating a spell. Highest viewed video is a blurry clip of a car on fire. In the background, Fig is howling laughing. We hear Riz say ‘what have we learned.’ The camera flips, and Adaine’s blank face says ‘do not punch a car to see how far it’s thrown.’ End clip.

-Fabian is terminally offline, and only joins the others online at the end of Sophmore year. His videos are a mix of dancing and fighting techniques. He goes through steps easily, from beginner to expert. His fighting videos include the rest of the bad kids as opponents. He sometimes does talk over them to give advice, but there are also complete dances and fights set to music with no talking. Highest viewed video is his first dance with Mazey. It’s not a ‘couple dance’ it’s almost like breakdancing, but you can tell the two have high chemistry together.

-The group channel is started at the beginning of Junior year. It’s mostly clip compilations, to begin with, since everyone is incredibly stressed and busy, but as the year goes on there’s videos of the snowball fight at moonar yulenear, the frostyfair. Debates between Riz and Adaine, Godess talks with Fig and Kristin. At least half of their videos are the BK’s doing something insane and documenting results, ranging from ‘fantasy jackass’ to ‘fantasy myth busters’ depending on who’s involved. Highest viewed video is Fig surfing a lava river, following Fabian who is riding the Hangman through the same river like a jetski. Adaine is standing on the other bank, holding an ice bag.

-Gorgug is surprisingly last. The audience know about him, he’s appeared in Figs music, Fabian’s fighting, Riz talked about his gadgets and the group channel includes him as much as the rest of the BKs. He just doesn’t really think there’s anything for him to have his own channel for. Until there’s a group video where Fig needs a gadget, and the audience get to see Gorgug’s workshop, where he’s currently working on a robotic, fox-like creature that jumps up on Fig when she walks in. His channel is sort of a Michael Reeves type, where he does such impressive engineering for the most insane reasons. Highest viewed video is a workshop tour that includes three fires, at least one of which is Figs fault. The thumbnail is Gorgug watching the fire on his desk with a completely straight face.

[sonicenvy]

[Megapost] Online Resources For Fiber Arts

Hi y'all! Local crazy lady librarian n' crafter here! I am one of those people who loves collecting resources and to that end I created my Weird Wonderful Web spreadsheet many moons back (which is an ever updating project btw) which is a spreadsheet of useful, interesting, wacky, old school, unique, or just plain delightful gems on the internet. For the purposes of this post I decided to pull out all of the fiber arts related resources (+ I added some new stuff just for this post that will make it on the sheet eventually)

Today, I am here to share with you collection of useful resources online for embroidery, cross stitch, sewing, knitting, and crochet. If you have any useful sites that you know of that I didn't share here I'd love to know! Reblog or comment and share!

Without further ado:

Sewing

@fatmasc’s google drive of sewing resources –– lots of sewing resources in one gDrive folder

Dagraeve’s Jedi Robe Pattern –– sew a simple jedi robe for a costume!

Vincent Briggs’ tutorials on making fabric covered buttons (18th century style!) –– what it says on the tin. These are very thorough video tutorials on this topic from a dude is extremely knowledgeable about sewing 18th century men’s clothing. Check out his whole YT channel for more 18th sewing content and his blog @ vincentbriggs.tumblr.com for more excellent content!

@wastelesscrafts basic circle skirt tutorial –– learn how to design and sew a basic circle skirt

Google WeWearCulture Project –– browse a huge collection of images and information about fashion around the world and throughout history.

Embroidery/Needlepoint/Cross Stitch

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials –– a complete visual dictionary of embroidery stitches with tutorial videos for each stitch. Super thorough and informative!

Lord Libidian’s Cross Stitch Blog –– lots and lots of useful resources for cross stitch and embroidery, including the extremely handy downloadable DMC thread color chart spreadsheet for helping you organize your thread hoard. Lots of reviews of products and free patterns as well.

ThreadColors –– DMC thread colors to html hex codes. Excellent resource for selecting matching colors from your reference image to color block your next project. Note that some of the color names on this site are older names that DMC no longer uses, but the number codes and the colors themselves remain unchanged.

Faimyxstitch’s embroidery blog posts –– embroiderer Kseniia Guseva, who is well known for her stunning embroideries of scenes of various cities around the world has a variety of freely available posts with information about getting started with embroidery, including a very thorough post on the supplies you might need. She also sells patterns on her etsy and teaches a class (paid).

Free Patterns on the Official DMC site –– DMC has a lot of free to download patterns for cross stitch and embroidery.

DMC thread conversion charts –– convert DMC colors to other brands and vice versa using these handy charts.

reddit’s embroidery community r/embroidery –– lots of great, talented people, many of whom very kindly offer tips when asked!

Needle n’ Thread embroidery tutorials –– lots of posts and videos for beginners!

Knitting/Crochet

Ravelry –– if you’re not new to crochet or knitting you probably have already heard of Ravelry, but I figured I’d stick it here because if you’re brand spanking new you might not have heard of it. You need to create an account but you can download free patterns or purchase patterns on Ravelry. The other main thing you can do with your Ravelry account is to use it to keep track of your projects in your “journal” where you can put notes, a list of the yarns used, the hooks/needles you used, etc. and continue to update the project as you go along. Because I am a person who starts a project and completely forgets about it for like 2 months, I love my Ravelry journal because I put down the yarn I used, the hook I used and the stitch counts for the last row that I crocheted. Nifty!

Left handed Knitting from LeftyKnits –– short, sweet videos on knitting for lefties posted 16 years ago. All are less than 2 minutes long and cover a single micro topic!

Rowbot’s Knitting Videos –– similarly old knitting videos that are short, sweet and to the point from 10+ years ago.

thecrochetside crocheting videos –– short, sweet and to the point crochet videos from 15+ years ago. Right handed mostly.

Internet Archive’s Collection of Knitting Magazines –– collection of knitting magazines that can be viewed online via IA from a variety of time periods. Some magazines also contain crochet and a few crochet magazines are buried in the mix. Magazines contain patterns and project ideas.

Bella Dia’s “vintage” style vertical stripe crochet blanket pattern –– photo tutorial for crocheting a vertical striped multi-color blanket.

General:

findoldvideo.com –– for those who weren’t on YouTube 12+ years ago, you might not know this but there were a TON of super useful fiber arts tutorial videos that were short, sweet and to the point that were all over YouTube, but since the YT search algorithm heavily weights new content you’d never be able to find them now …. unless you use this site! findoldvideo allows you to search YouTube videos from a particular year and sort your results chronologically. A good example search would be “crochet” year: 2008 Boom! Now you have tutorial videos that are less than 2 minutes long and have no promos, random extra talking, title cards, or other fancy shit because they were posted 17 years ago before YouTube was awash in “content”. You’re welcome.

Degraeve Color Palette Generator –– generate a color palette from any image on the web and get hex codes. Good for graphic design, but could also be useful for coming up with “inspired by” color palettes for your projects.

Kleki –– digital painting in your browser for free. Includes a wide range of brushes and the ability to use layers. If you need to do some drawings for your project, Kleki is a good free alternative if you don’t have paid software on your computer or tablet.

Library of Congress Digital Collections –– Free to use reference images of a wide range of items, including images of historical fashions!

ManualsLib –– did you just buy a second hand sewing machine, digital embroidery machine, or knitting machine that doesn’t have a manual? You might be able to download a free copy here on the internet’s most comprehensive catalog of product manuals.

Stitch Fiddle –– A site/tool for designing patterns for knitting, crochet, cross stitch, needle punch and more.

The Smithsonian Image Archive –– Free to use images of a massive amount of things! If you like designing embroidery or cross stitch images of botanicals, insects, animals, etc. you can find high quality images of these here and download them for free and use them for anything.

Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont (1890) –– Dillmont’s Encyclopedia of Needlework contains tutorials for sewing, embroidery, cross stitch, lace making, knitting, macrame and more. Originally published in 1890, it was an extremely popular work on the topic and is still being reprinted today. The link takes you to a free online copy on  Project Gutenberg. It unfortunately doesn’t seem to have included the Table of Contents so you’ll need to pop a ctrl + f (cmd + if you’re on mac) and search your desired terminology. If you get it in print it is HUGE!

The Dictionary of Needlework­ by Sophia Frances Ann Caulfeild (1885) –– Read another popular book stitching, with the delightful subtitle: “an encyclopaedia of artistic, plain, and fancy needlework. Dealing fully with the details of all the stitches employed, the method of working, the materials used, the meaning of technical terms, and, where necessary, tracing the origin and history of the various works described. Illustrated with upwards of 800 wood engravings, and coloured plates. Plain sewing, textiles, dressmaking, appliances, and terms”

Volunteering Opportunities:

Project Linus ––  Project Linus seeks to “Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer blanketeers.” Knit, crochet, or quilt blankets that will be donated to NICU babies, Peds Oncology kids, and more. My grandma quilted for Linus for many years. I think that this post is a great encapsulation of the impact of Linus and similar orgs that donate blankets to kids in need.

Loose Ends Project –– “Loose Ends is an everyone-is-welcome movement that aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with textile projects people have left undone due to death or disability.”

[rainystressed247]

Do you have any advice for beginner artists?

your art is so inspirational <3

Aww thank you! I am honoured that you think so!

Also, bold of you to assume that I am in any way shape or form a good source for advice /j.

Anyways, the advice is by no means good/professional, so take it in with a grain of salt XDDD:

Use reference! When starting up, getting around anatomy and pose is difficult, it is best to reference photos, pose website, artbooks by professional artists, heck even 'draw with me' video on youtube! Personally, I does use posemaniacs from time to time. Line of action is another good website to challenge yourself in quick succession of practice. The goal here is to gain an understanding of the human body and therefore you will be able to bend it the way you want to in the future. Be careful on Pinterest! Although it is easy and fast ref, it is filled with AI art and can lead to inaccuracy in anatomy! If you gets more familiar with anatomy as a whole and is able to identify the disrepancies, then it is a go! However, if you are just starting out, I will say to pay special attention and be extra careful on the site.

Character design! I love, love character designs. Beside the mountains of artbooks from my favourite creaters, I like to watch youtube channel that specialises in character designs; some includes but not limited to: ABD Illustrates ; Bluebiscuits; GinjaNinjaOwO; Truegreen7 (for wonderful creatures/pokemon/character designs with multiple artists) and Drawfee (to explore silly ideas and creative character designs)

Learn from others! There are a lot of channels on yt that helps with improving art! Naoki Saito is one of my fav to watch; he frequently offer tips and improve on an illustration with bite size changes! He gives good insights on why he thinks each change contribute to the illustration! Hanacue gives advice on ibis paint a lot; the character designs are also top-notch!

Try multiple medium! If you are doing traditional art, it is good to explore the option; even digital, download brushes/patterns/backgrounds, I cannot stress how many art of mine is made because I want to try a particular brushes. In term of traditional medium, I know that sometimes high end products like alcohol markers can be pricey, I would say if you have never used them before, try similar but cheaper brand or go for smaller pack. Try them first before committing to using the products. I personally uses dollar store alcohol marker to practice before I get any of the high end product. Also test your products, if you want to mix and match traditional medium like coloured leads with alcohol marker, test them together first before mixing to avoid running into problem like them smudging (speaking from experiences)

Learn with others! I like to draw with some of the youtube art channels, especially those exploring new medium that they themselves have never used before, you can find useful advices in the comment sections, as well as getting advices from the struggles of the channel themselves. A good recommendation is Spilled Ink and also Natsume-Sanchi なつめさんち

Do warm up and start small. Do a page full of blob, circle and doodles that do not require fine details. Your wrist will thank you.

Don't stress about the numbers. I deleted Twitter because the numbers are constantly stressing me out and will give you an illusion of an art being not as 'good' as others because it is not performing well. As I like to put it, if there is one like, then at least one person out there likes it. If there is none, at least I did it and take the first step. It is always hard to get over the mindset but tumblr is a good place to start because it just doesn't care about the numbers.

Lastly, get an obsession and keep drawing. To stop is to stagger improvement. Get you a fav green boi that you can obsess over and makes hundreds of AUs from hahaha.

Sorry for the long rant! But I hope you find it even a little bit helpful!

[maziijapanese]

Complete guide to self-studying Japanese

Learning Japanese on your own can be a rewarding experience with the right resources. Here's a comprehensive guide to various methods and materials that can help you effectively self-study Japanese.

Self-study Japanese through textbooks and guides Textbooks and guides are the backbone of structured language learning. They provide comprehensive coverage of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji, ensuring a solid foundation. The "Genki" series is highly regarded for beginners, offering thorough explanations, engaging exercises, and accompanying audio CDs to practice listening and pronunciation. Another excellent resource is "Japanese for Busy People," perfect for those with limited time, focusing on practical conversation skills and essential vocabulary. Additionally, "Minna no Nihongo" offers an immersive experience by using only Japanese, pushing learners to think in the language from the start.

Self-study Japanese through videos Videos are an invaluable resource for enhancing listening skills and understanding pronunciation nuances. YouTube channels such as "JapanesePod101" and "Learn Japanese from Zero" provide free lessons ranging from beginner to advanced levels, covering grammar, vocabulary, and cultural insights. Additionally, watching anime like "My Neighbor Totoro" or dramas such as "Terrace House" with subtitles helps learners get accustomed to natural speech patterns and everyday expressions. For music lovers, listening to Japanese songs like those by J-pop artists such as Hikaru Utada or Arashi can also improve language skills and pronunciation.

Self-study Japanese online The digital age has revolutionized language learning, and Japanese is no exception. A plethora of online resources are readily available to cater to diverse learning styles. Interactive platforms and engaging apps offer personalized experiences, allowing learners to focus on specific language skills and track their progress efficiently. From mastering grammar to honing pronunciation and expanding vocabulary, these digital tools provide flexibility and convenience for self-paced study.

Self-study Japanese through exam preparation For those aiming to certify their proficiency, preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is crucial. Resources like the "Nihongo So-matome" and "Shin Kanzen Master" series offer focused practice across all JLPT levels, including grammar, reading, and listening exercises. Additionally, websites like "JLPT Sensei" provide practice tests and tips to help learners gauge their readiness and identify areas for improvement. Self-studying Japanese can be a fulfilling journey with the right resources. By utilizing textbooks, video lessons, online tools, and exam prep materials, you can develop a well-rounded understanding of the language. Remember, consistency and practice are key to mastering Japanese, so make use of these resources to enhance your learning experience.

[mosspodge]

HELLO @okartichoke I AM HERE WITH MOSSY'S GUIDE ON HOW TO START SEWING: A VERY MESSY TUTORIAL

I am extremely self taught, so this is gonna be a lot of links and infodumping!!!! Hopefully this helps a even just a little bit :>

SO! I honestly got into sewing through youtube during covid, largely bc i wanted silly fun clothes! There are a loooot I could recommend to you out there, but I personally find that the more chaotic and learn-as-they-go people help me the best! Rachel Maksy and The Stitchery are, to me, some of the best to learn from! Which is honestly pretty funny since they tend to just fully wing it most of the time lol. While i could recommend excellent sewists like the amazing Bernadette Banner (who is actually the first sewing channel I watched!), I find that the more loosey goosey the process, the more i can learn, if that makes sense? I find it helpful to watch people trial-and-error their way through projects and show where they succeeded and failed since I get a better grasp on their process that way.

The best way to start sewing, in my humble opinion, is to grab whatever sewing machine you can get your hands on and play around with it! Read the manual, find a tutorial video on how to thread the machine, grab some scrap fabric and play around! You don't really need any special needles or feet (the little thing that holds the fabric down), unless you wanna get started sewing denim or velvet or something Speaking of which, learn about fabrics!!!!! I learned mostly by going to joanns, touching the fabrics, and looking at the content labels. Everything has different uses, and while two things might both be cotton, one could be knit while the other jersey (tshirt fabric). I like this video for learning the basics! Tbh this one took me a while. Usually patterns have recommendations for what fabrics to use, so that's always a good place to start!

Patterns. Ah my arch nemesis. Unless you decide to start drafting your own patterns (or get a mannequin and learn how to drape fabric), you're probably gonna need to use one. There's two major things i recommend for this: 1) Make sure there's a video tutorial online before buying, and 2) start with something you might actually use/wear. Pattern instructions are notoriously vague, but thankfully many wonderful people make video tutorials for them! And while you might be tempted to grab one of those beginner friendly patterns, they can sometimes be. real ugly and not well fitting. Also boring! Finding something you like will hold your attention better and make you actually wanna finish it!

Ok SO. getting into more of the cosplay sewing stuff. First things first my knowledge here is a bit more limited, unfortunately. Fortunately there are many wonderful people out there with tutorials!! So if you wanna learn more definitely look there!!! General tip for cosplays + more complex sewing: MAKE MOCK UPS PLEASE IT SUCKS BUT IT HELPS SO MUCH. Go find the ugliest fabric in the sale bin and buy a few yards, then use it whenever you wanna test patterns. It might be tempting to immediately start cutting and sewing the finished garment, but the truth is that patterns rarely fit perfectly well (especially if they're fitted/tighter on your body). Make an ugly, barebones version first with your bad fabric, take notes, and then start making the finished piece. It'll save you money and sanity.

As for cosplay youtubers, I heartily recommend Sarah Spaceman, since not only do her videos show her process, she also does segments teaching you more about sewing!! She tends to tackle more complex projects, and watching her take those on has helped me a lot :} For cosplay patterns etsy usually has quite a few! I like Indigo Patterns (they have a good array of loz patterns I need to buy) as well as Alice in Cosplay Land. Please note that I haven't bought from either, but both their etsy shops have wonderful reviews and I plan to buy from them in the future!

not gonna lie I am getting very sleepy so I'm gonna cut it off there for now! Hopefully my rambling helped lol. Feel free to ask me any questions or for any clarification!

[rainbowpipette]

Made some sunflower coasters as a birthday present!

Pattern: crochet a cute flower pot or basket that you can use as coasters. A great project for beginners. - on Leonela Cevallos YouTube channel

[crochetmelovely]

Free pattern from me: Stunning Sunburst Blanket! Video tutorial on my YT channel. Full pattern and step by step photo tutorial on my blog! Pick your fav way to learn! 💖💗💖

[emmyinjapan]

Skating at the Iizuka Ice Palace: Living My Yuri on Ice Dreams

There I was, standing at the entrance of Iizuka Ice Palace, feeling like I had just stepped into an episode of Yuri on Ice. If you’re not familiar, this rink was actually featured in the anime, which made my inner fangirl do a triple axel (in spirit, not in reality—because let’s be honest, I’d probably break something).

It’s about an hour and fifteen minutes from Hakata Station, which, in Japan-time, feels like a minor detour rather than a full-on journey. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find the rink almost empty. No dodging wobbly beginners, no speed skaters zooming past me—just wide, open ice, ready for me to (attempt to) glide gracefully across it.

I laced up my skates, took a deep breath, and channelled my inner ice dancer. Somewhere deep in my brain, buried under years of London life, were the patterns my coach had drilled into me. (MORE KNEE BEND) And let me tell you—I almost remembered them! Well… sort of. My feet knew what they were supposed to do, even if my timing was an absolute disaster. But honestly, that’s half the fun, right? The struggle, the small victories, the moments when you finally nail that step sequence—only to immediately forget everything and having to start over.

To my delight, my forward scratch spin is still there—a minor miracle! But my jumps? Oh dear. Rusty doesn’t even begin to cover it. I gave one an attempt, wobbled mid-air, and decided that maybe today wasn’t the day for heroic comebacks. Let’s just say, I don’t think Viktor Nikiforov would be particularly impressed.

But something about being in that rink, in that moment, rekindled a fire in me. I need to skate more. Not just as a fun hobby, but because nothing quite compares to the feeling of moving on ice, chasing that perfect edge, and laughing at yourself when it inevitably goes wrong.

So, to anyone considering a visit—do it. Even if you’re not a Yuri on Ice fan, even if your skating skills are questionable at best. Because there’s just something magical about having almost all the ice to yourself and remembering why you fell in love with skating in the first place.

They also had a comic area near the lockers...

Titles like One Piece, Naruto and Go Ahead.

They also had a Yuri on Ice FRAMED POSTER at the front!!!

—Emmy

[legacysam]

fiber arts friends: please recommend me your favorite beginner knitting tutorials/patterns. I am currently channeling all my stress into yarn crafts.

[olderthannetfic]

This might be an odd or personal question, but could I ask how you started knitting and where you started as a beginner? Or what would you recommend? I’ve tried to join clubs and groups irl, but there’s so much drama and gossiping. When I said I didn’t want to take part in that aspect, they started ostracizing and gossiping about me. Any websites, yt channels or books you’d recommend for a beginner?

--

Haha.

My friend, this does not even register on the scale of deeply personal or odd questions people have sent me.

I've been trying to remember exactly how I started and why (like, even before this ask). I think it was on a family vacation to Scotland the summer before I started college. That would have been in 1999.

I taught myself from one of those awful 90s pamphlets with the line drawings. They're a nightmare compared to being able to see someone do the motions in person or even in a video. I had some awful plastic needles and no guidance on yarn and just knit with what I found at some shop there. Do not recommend!

I achieved what I wanted during college, which was to make a nice cable-knit sweater that I still wear, and then I got frustrated with crappy acrylic yarn and drifted away from knitting until a year or so ago.

The fact is, I basically didn't do beginner projects. I moved straight from making one rectangle to making grandiose sweaters or whatever else struck my fancy. (But if you want to know, I was using Viking Patterns for Knitting and a bunch of Alice Starmore books, all of which you can still buy.) I know plenty of people who did it this way, but you certainly don't have to.

And you definitely don't need to learn from a terrible 90s printed pamphlet!

Luckily, nowadays, you can find a tutorial on just about anything on Youtube. I enjoy watching the technical and historical types discuss quirks of knitting you might not think of without years of practice or research.

Roxanne Richardson is great, for example.

Look for somebody old, not wearing a lot of makeup, and not talking about their indie dyeing/yarn business and you'll avoid most of the clowns who learned to knit five minutes ago and now want to be knitfluencers.

When I want a super simple technique tutorial, I usually end up looking at either Nimble Needles or VeryPink Knits. I find her super annoying, but her tutorials are spot-on. Norman's voice is much more soothing and I just enjoy his presence more, but both of them have good ultra close-up shots of what they're doing (which lots of vloggers don't because it requires special equipment).

I'd just figure out what kind of finished products you want to use knitting for and then find patterns and tutorials geared towards those.

Cables are relatively easy. Stranded colorwork requires a fair amount of physical coordination and some people find it rather difficult at first.

Circular needles are far more popular than traditional straight ones for people starting today.

Cotton yarn is relatively less nice to knit with than wool for most people, but it tends to be the natural fiber available at a low price point from major retailers.

Picking up general tips like that by watching various youtubers will help you pick a project that won't be too painful to work on.

People who naturally knit loosely should consider grippy bamboo or wooden needles. People who naturally knit tightly should consider slippery metal ones.

My biggest piece of advice is that you're usually better off with something "hard" that you actually like rather than a "practice" project you don't care about, at least after you've made like one rectangle to practice doing a knit stitch at all.

--

Finding community can be hard, and yes, some crafting hobbies are infested with drama.

But if you just want to know how to knit, you're way better off with some video tutorials and a nice pattern you like.

[queenofzan]

hey I saw on your blog that you’re a professional seamstress. Do you have any recs on where to start for an absolute beginner? I really want to learn to make my own clothes. Thank you!!

Absolutely!

So where I started, and where a lot of people start, is altering your own clothes. This has the advantage of being cheap, since you have the clothes already, but the disadvantage of...most modern clothes are actually pretty tricky materials to work with! We wear a lot of stretchy clothes and synthetic materials/blends that are a little weird. It's definitely a place you can start, especially if you have lots of clothes that you aren't super in love with or have sized out of. A lot of the projects on Annika Victoria's Beginner's playlist are this kind of sewing! There are also some cool t-shirt alterations you can do with just cutting and tying that can get you comfortable working with fabric (and cutting stuff up) that get you wearing something you made very quickly.

How we started in the costume shops I've worked in was with little samplers. With hand sewing, we showed the kinds of stitches we used most often in repairs (running stitch, cross-stitch or catch-stitch, back stitch, different ways of tying off thread, sewing on a snap). This takes a long time when you're starting out, because getting used to handling the needle and thread and fabric at one time without things getting tangled or stabbing yourself is a lot to learn all at once! Based on her YouTube channel and reviews of the book, I think Bernadette Banner's Make, Sew, and Mend would be a good resource for this kind of thing. For starting out with machine sewing, I highly recommend taking the time to do some exercizes to get used to steering! My mom started me out sewing through a piece of paper without thread in the machine (which, in hindsight, might not have been the best for the needle...but machine needles need frequent replacing anyway, so it's fine.) Searching "sewing maze" got me mostly relevant results, lol. I like the way this page takes you through the steps really slowly. When you're feeling pretty good about keeping your stitching on the line, copy a maze or draw some lines onto fabric and try it there! Then try some curves, which are harder to get the hang of but very, very important to be able to control for clothes specifically.

In terms of fabric that's not going to be a butthead to work with, natural fibers are your friend. Cotton is probably the most accessible, and quilting cottons would be great for this kind of practice. Go to a fabric store if you can, and just sort of feel the quilting cottons, and other fabrics (if they have them). Especially for practice or beginner projects, you'll have a much easier time with a stable, sort of crisp fabric. The main problem is that they don't usually make very good looking clothes, but for really beginner projects that are as much about practicing your skills as they are about making something finished (pillowcases, pot holders, fabric baskets, simple pouches, little drawstring bags) quilting cotton is really easy to work with and very available. There are almost certainly books at your library that are aimed at beginners, or at being a reference! Pattern companies used to put out sewing manuals that would go over all the skills their patterns assumed you would need, which included all the basic hand-sewing skills as well as things you need with patterns. The one I have, and is widely regarded as the best, is the Vogue Sewing Book. I picked mine up in a secondhand shop for about ten dollars, and my local library has a couple different editions. (In general, the library does a pretty good job of stocking books that are actually helpful, so you don't have to figure out quite as much on your own.)

I do find it really useful to have reference books, for those times when a pattern or video is like "Then you just have to edge-stitch it" and then don't explain what that means. I've been sewing professionally for 14 years, and I still routinely pull down one of my books to find out what someone is talking about, or to refresh my memory if it's been a long time. (...At work I will often use my phone to look it up, but that DOES require you to know, approximately, what you're looking for, and if they're making sense. Especially in the world of generative AI making up nonsense, a solid reference book is helpful.)

Even if you're a visual learner and want to follow along with videos (which is REALLY helpful with some of the tricky stuff where it seems like we go from "thread and fabric" to "some sort of sorcery" to "and it's that simple!") a sewing book is useful because it will give you the terms to search for! Sewing is a pain in the ass because there are almost always multiple names for things (a slip stitch and a ladder stitch and a tunnel stitch are all the same thing) and, at least in English, a lot of our sewing terms come from French, so sometimes you'll be completely lost trying to spell a thing or understand what it means. So I do recommend doing at least one hand-sewing sampler and a few sewing mazes and practice seams before you start sewing A Real Thing, and you could certainly keep doing that to improve, but you would not be blamed for finding that boring and wanting to get into The Good Stuff! Like I said before, I would recommend trying some projects that aren't clothes and can be made out of quilting cotton without them looking or feeling yucky. A pillowcase is just about the most basic first project there is: straight seams and a hem. If you get a cute fabric, you can even have it out on the couch or the bed and be able to show it off, which is SUCH a wonderful confidence builder. Reusable fabric bags can be just as easy, and are practical.

One of the shops I worked in would have students make pajama pants or a stuffed animal out of fleece. Fleece is stretchy, so it requires some different techniques and a little adjusting, but it is also very readily available, won't fray (unlike the quilting cotton), and is suuuuper forgiving when you mess up and have to pull stitches out. It's also one of the only other fabrics you are likely to be able to find in all sorts of colors and patterns without tracking down a specialty shop, since people use it for blankets and kids' stuff.

I think the most important thing to know is that: you will mess up. And it's almost never the end of the world! If you've just sewn something inside out, or the fabric wandered under the machine, or you caught a bit of fabric you shouldn't have, you can almost always stop, pick out the thread, maybe smooth out the fabric, and try again. The only really permanent mistakes are usually cutting, and there's often ways to fix those as well! Like I said, I've been sewing professional for 14 years, and on the last project I did, I probably spent as much time picking out stitches and redoing it as I did actually sewing the darn thing, because between me being tired and the fabric being uncooperative, it was just a struggle. But I don't think my customer could even tell, because once the thread is out and you've done it right, it looks the same as if you did it perfectly on your first try.

The other most important thing to know is that most of sewing clothes is actually pressing and ironing, especially if you're sewing by machine. You will be tempted to skip the step of pressing your seams, because what difference could it make? I promise it makes a difference, and it's really hard to tell when you're starting out if the fabric you're working with will actually behave without pressing. If your instructions say to press that thing, you better press that thing. It will look SO much better when it's done.

Okay I know this post is long already but my other advice on garment sewing specifically is: machine sewing is faster, so you might be tempted to do it by machine whenever possible, but the truth is, a lot of things will look better if you do it by hand. I usually put in zippers by hand, and lots of hemming will have a cleaner, more invisible finish by hand. In couture sewing and tailoring, a lot of hand sewing is done, especially for the finishing, because it simply looks nicer and you have better control. Put on a tv show or a podcast or something, work in short bursts if you need to, but really, for good-looking results and control over finicky fabric, hand sewing is your friend!

Okay, I hope my long lecture was helpful! Good luck!

[anielskaaniela]

Hey there, fashionistas! I'm excited to share a fantastic sewing tutorial on creating your own stunning balloon sleeves. If you're looking to add a touch of drama and elegance to your outfits, this tutorial is perfect for you!

In my latest video, I guide you through the process of drafting and sewing balloon sleeves. Whether you prefer a lined or unlined version, I've got you covered. To make things even easier, I've included a free printable PDF pattern that you can download and use right away.

These balloon sleeves are incredibly versatile and can be added to a variety of garments, from tops to dresses. They instantly transform any piece into a fashion statement. Even if you're new to sewing, fear not! This tutorial is beginner-friendly, with detailed step-by-step instructions and useful sewing tips to help you along the way.

Head over to my channel to watch the video now and embark on this exciting sewing journey. Don't forget to give it a thumbs up if you find it helpful and consider subscribing to my channel for more inspiring sewing content.

I can't wait to see your fabulous creations! Share your experience, ask questions, and connect with fellow sewing enthusiasts in the comments section. Let's make fashion magic together!

Stay stylish🤍🥥

[lotties-ashwagandha]

WOMAN OF MANY WORDS

moiraine damodred x fem!reader, w/c: 1125

UPDATE i wrote this before finishing season 2 so writing this i had no idea what the aes sedai is so we’re pretending it’s some fun little thing where u just show off ur little powers yeah?

summary: you fail the test of becoming an aes sedai, but moiraine is there to comfort you

You tried desperately hard to focus on the book in your lap. It was the only distraction you could get your hands on, but it was hardly worth having anyway.

Your mind kept going back to the horrible events of the afternoon. You’d taken the test at the White Tower to see if you had enough ability to be recognized as an Aes Sedai — you had been training under the radar with Moiraine ever since you’d met her on the road to Tar Valon, a casual fling that had quickly led to more, and when she’d figured out you could channel she had used it as an excuse to take you with her while she searched for the Dragon. When the two of you had arrived at the White Tower months later, Moiraine had worked ceaselessly in making a deal with the Amyrlin to let you skip White Tower training for beginner Aes Sedai and let you take the test to pick an ajah.

You had completely blown it. When it came time to prove yourself you’d completely frozen, and when you had finally calmed yourself enough to channel you’d fumbled so badly that you had ended up flinging yourself, and the other present Aes Sedai, against a stone wall… hard. You were lucky to have left without any broken bones.

Every time you thought about it you were almost brought to tears. The test was so important to you, you had been tirelessly training for months on the road and never before had you thought you would be able to be a recognized Aes Sedai until now.

You knew it was important to Moiraine, too — she had been the one to teach you, mentor you, she had been the first one to find out that you could channel. It had brought you together, and had been what started your relationship together. And she had worked so hard for you to be able to take the test early. She was exhausted on your behalf.

The front door to your cottage opened, and a wave of humiliation overcame you. You knew it was Moiraine, and while usually you would be rejoicing in her presence, this time you were wrought with embarrassment.

Her heels clicked persistently on the stone floor. Your stomach dropped with every passing moment, until you felt her presence in the living room with you.

“How did it go?” You heard her ask excitedly, and you could hardly force yourself to turn to face her. She was smiling, for the first time in a while.

When you didn’t respond, her smile fell. Quickly she came to sit by you on the sofa, taking your hands in her own.

“What happened?” She asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Did you pass?”

Again, you didn’t respond.

“Darling,” she urged, moving one of her hands to your jaw, forcing you to meet the intensity of her gaze. “Did you pass?”

“No,” you said, on the verge of tears. You were hardly keeping your composure, panic and guilt rising in your chest. “They want to start me way back at the beginning with the new channelers who can hardly weave with a single thread.”

“No, no, I won’t let that happen,” Moiraine said, pulling you into her arms, your book forgotten to the coffee table in front of you. “I promise.”

You hid your face in the crook of her neck, letting her embrace you soothingly, her hands running mindless patterns down your back. “It was so awful,” you whispered, and the tears were falling now, unstoppable. “I was so embarrassed, you should’ve seen the looks on their faces. They must’ve thought I’d never channeled before at all.”

“Shh, it’s okay,” she said softly. “I know how hard you’ve been working. We’ve hardly gotten a second to rest since we’ve gotten to Tar Valon, and aside from that, I’m the only Aes Sedai you’ve channeled with.”

“But I know how difficult it was for you to get me a chance to test,” you choked out. Panic was consuming you entirely, your breathing beginning to go shallow, lungs perpetually empty. “I don’t want you to be disappointed with me.”

“Look at me,” Moiraine said. Her tone was so firm that you didn’t dare defy her, slowly raising your head and meeting her gaze. “I could never be disappointed in you. All I ever want is your happiness. If that comes from you becoming an Aes Sedai, then I’ll make you an Aes Sedai. If it doesn’t, then you don’t have to be. I only want what you want, and I’ll never be ashamed of the times you try and fail, it only means a different approach is needed.”

You nodded, and after a moment you rested your head in the crook of her neck again, sighing and letting your eyes fall closed as you began to calm down and the tears subsided. You still felt horrible, but her presence and her love made it more bearable. Her affirmations and adoration fed your soul, let it be healed.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said suddenly, her voice warm, genuine. She looked down at you with such love in her eyes that it almost made you start crying again.

“For what?” You asked, your voice hoarse.

She offered you a small smile, shrugging. “Everything.”

“You’re a woman of many words.”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m glad you’re finding solace in telling jokes at my expense.”

You smiled. “I am, actually. I have a couple more, if you-”

She cut you off by pulling you into a kiss. Her lips crashed into yours with fervor, and you could feel every bit of her love in the way she devoured you, claiming you as her own. Involuntarily you started crying again, and when you pulled away she held your head in her hands, wiping away the tears that streamed down your cheeks.

“Why are you crying, love?”

The ghost of a smile passed over your lips. “I don’t really know.”

“A woman of many words, hm?”

At this you laughed, allowing her to pull you back into her arms as she laid down on the sofa, you laying partially on top of her as you rested your head on her chest.

“Now, do you want to talk about what happened today?”

You sighed. “I flung Liandrin into a stone wall. Hard.”

Moiraine grinned, and you could tell she was resisting a laugh.

“It’s not funny,” you whined.

“It is, just a bit. I wish I’d been there to see it.”

And suddenly, the weight of the test wasn’t so great anymore. You still carried it, but Moiraine carried it with you, and in her love you could’ve borne anything.

[magickkate]

Hey friends! Here are a few ways to embrace the magic of Crystal Magic:

🔮 Choose Your Crystals: Select crystals that resonate with your intention and desired outcome. Each crystal has its own unique properties and energies, so choose ones that align with your goals.

🌟 Cleanse and Charge Your Crystals: Purify your crystals by rinsing them under running water, smoke cleansing, or placing them in sunlight or moonlight. Then, charge them with your intention by holding them in your hands and visualizing them being filled with light and energy.

📿 Work with Crystal Grids: Create intricate patterns or grids with your crystals to amplify their energies and manifest your intentions. Place them in geometric formations and activate them with your intention and focus.

💎 Wear or Carry Crystals: Wear crystals as jewelry or carry them in your pocket or purse to benefit from their energy throughout the day. Choose crystals that correspond to your goals and intentions to keep their energy close to you at all times.

🕯️ Incorporate Crystals into Rituals: Use crystals as focal points in your rituals and ceremonies, placing them on your altar or holding them in your hands as you work with their energy. You can also place them around your space to create a sacred and protected environment.

There are many good resources of information for crystals. Here are some of my favorites:

Books:

“Crystals for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with the Healing Power of Crystals” by Karen Frazier. This book covers crystal basics, including how to choose, cleanse, program, and use them for different purposes.

“The Crystal Bible” by Judy Hall. A comprehensive reference guide that provides information on various crystals and their properties.

"Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic" by Scott Cunningham. This guide to elemental Earth magic helps you harness the power of over 100 gems and metals for divinations, spells, tarot readings, and more!

YouTube Channels:

HearthWitch

TheWitchOfWonderlust

Ivy the Occultist

Feel free to leave your favorite books, blogs, videos, podcasts, etc. below!

Whether you're a crystal collector, a healer, or simply someone who loves the beauty of gemstones, crystal magic offers a profound and transformative way to connect with the Earth's treasures and harness their magical energies. So dive into the world of crystals, explore their mysteries, and let their magic guide you on your journey! 🔮🌿