#Fiber crafting

[iviarelleblr]

A case study in what may or may not be hyperfixation.

So, every once in a while, like many of us I'm sure, I get seized by an idea, and it will not let me go until I see it through. Today, that was a short series of jumps from problem to solution:

Bought a new tote bag I want to use often -> straps too short to put over my arm -> could make a new long shoulder strap out of fabric -> no matching fabric in mom's stash -> knitting and crochet are too stretchy to make good straps -> ...could I weave something?

So I started googling for stuff like "improvised loom" and discovered cardboard looms are totally a thing! But, I need something on which I can weave a single piece maybe 1.5 meters (~5 feet) long, and cardboard looms seem best set up for like, maybe 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) at most lest the loom bend and the warp threads be too loose and messy. But, in a scrap woodwork loom, there was a really funky heddle piece, and I saw it and said... wait, why couldn't I just have a piece that functions as both heddle and bobbin, to hold the extra length?

So I built myself a one-use cardboard loom. (Pictures taken before gluing, some adjustments were made in assembly like lining up the base pieces.)

Lots of slits in the base piece so I can adjust the warp threads if they're too close together initially or to move to one side or the other if the starting spot becomes unstable. The base will sit in a slot in my lap desk for stability. The bobbin piece will float in my lap or on the floor while I work a weft. It's almost more like a knotwork friendship bracelet setup than a traditional loom.

Will it be perfect? Heck no! But it will be recycling scraps of yarns I already have from old projects instead of throwing them out, and it will be handmade custom work as I learn an entirely new to me craft. Plus, the cardboard just has a little glue to hold the layers together, and can still be recycled if I don't want to hold onto it as proof I Learned A Thing.

It's not even the first time I've made a normally fancy craft tool out of cardboard. Well, last time it also involved a chopstick and a screw hook for picture wire, because I wanted to try spinning some roving I'd acquired too much of for thrummed mittens. And honestly? It might not have much weight, but a chopstick and round of cardboard made a drop spindle that worked just fine to spin up like 200 grams of wool roving. The more it spun, the more weight it had all on its own. I still have that spindle, though roving is pretty expensive to get my hands on these days and I don't have any intention of keeping up the spinning habit.

Make bad art, do it with whatever you have on hand, and wear and display it proudly because you learned something new and made the world a little bit weirder.

[seeingteacupsindragons]

I'm a little jealous of my fiber crafting friends, to be honest.

I'm a crafty person and always have been, but most of the tangible things I make kind of...suck. No matter how hard I try. I can sew a little, but after a really bad experience being taught how to crochet while being lefthanded and no one compensating for it...well, fiber crafts have me leery in general.

I could put 60-100 hours of work into a piece of writing easily, and yet it would never feel like the 60-100 afghan/sweater/coat/shawl someone could give as a really great gift. No matter how personalized and tailored I made the story. No one would think "ah, yes, this is easily worth $$$ and it's one of the most valuable special things I have."

I could, maybe, do it with drawing. 60 hours is a lot to put into a drawing. It might actually start to look worse at that point. My drawing is very hit or miss. I can't paint for shit. Can't sculpt. But I can kinda draw.

The way people into fiber crafts can just. Make gifts for people (whether they want to or not!) with their own hands is amazing, and I'm a little jealous. I know it's still expensive to do. But you can.

[little-homestead-in-the-suburbs]

So I started a new crafting hobby, made this little sampler in about an hour and a half.

[finishwhatyoustarted-event]

Tools Tuesday - Fiber and Fabric Craft Support + What To Do During Breaks

Happy Tools Tuesday, everyone! Today's topic is especially for all the yarn and fabric crafters participating and sharing their progress in the discord!

Just like with any other medium, it can be easy to get into the flow when working on a physical craft project, and totally lose track of time - only to reap the consequences of cramped muscles and aches. That's why setting a timer can be a great strategy. There are many guides online about different work-break timer strategies; my personal favorite are these Pomodoro timers from How To ADHD, which have break timers built into the video (and no annoying clock sounds except when the timer is about to end) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvq9Tp5JZ8oAV7wsRBIZjlQqVrTSjKeVs&si=6rDaZSORbJ85lzN3

Figuring out what balance of time will depend on you, your mood, and your project. But sometimes, "taking a break" is too nebulous a concept. What could a break entail?

The annoyingly simple answer is: it varies! The long answer is figuring out what works for you.

I try to remember to check in with my body during a break and address basic needs I neglected while focused. Ask yourself:

Are you hungry?

Are you thirsty?

Do you need to use the bathroom?

Are there any physical aches?

Are you curled up oddly?

Do your eyes feel strained?

Addressing 1, 2, and 3 are simple but easily forgotten. For 4, I have shared a sheet on some common stretches previously, but there are a wealth of stretches, yoga poses, and exercises recommended for knitters, crocheters, and sewists.

As with any exercise, be aware of your body and mindful to not hurt yourself!

This video has some hand stretches not covered in previous posts here. https://youtu.be/WxV_lpjEGvI?si=gKCLqNSi1SugT8d0

And here's a full playlist of yoga moves put out by the yarn brand Lion Brand, aimed at knitters and crocheters. Many of the moves are designed to be done from a chair, so you don't even have to get up if all you need to do during your break is stretch! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2VjAZ-N13BC4KrE6DGYs3ag1mON6-Zns&si=_LGdOtXqZ35IMQAl

Many back stretches covered in that playlist also help with 5, posture. If you find you're curling uncomfortably over your work, or that your hands regularly ache after crafting, perhaps it is your tools that need to step up their game. A little support can go a long way.

I often crochet with a pillow designed for nursing babies on my lap, to keep my hands up in a comfortable, relaxed position, and to keep me from leaning too far forward. A rolled up blanket or long plushie can do the same job. Ergonomic shaped needles and hooks can help if your hands cramp when working or you find you have to tightly grip the tools. Likewise, supportive gloves or wrist braces can aid when repetitive motions make your wrist ache. Better lighting or magnifiers make seeing stitches easier

There should be no shame in using assistive devices! Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself while you create!

For 6, eye strain, we can forget this can be an issue even when not working at a computer. The 20-20-20 idea (look at something 20ft away for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of close-up focus) goes for reading a book or doing crafts as well. Anything where you're staring at something right in front of you for a long time can make your eyes ache. I really liked this video I found while gathering resources for today that goes over ways to mitigate eyestrain from a computer, as well as some exercises that I regularly do myself when I feel my eyes get sore.https://youtu.be/rPfCtJ1PX9I?si=qGMO1lJ1WiFZlNIs

As always, these tips are just my personal recommendations that you can use as starting off points for finding what works for you. Your breaks don't need to be structured to be beneficial. Moving your body in a change of scenery to get a snack might be all you need. Or you could start a load of laundry and work while it's going, which gives you a timer and a different physical task to do during your break when it's ready to be hung/changed to the other machine.

Do whatever works for you, just please take care of yourself! We artists might suffer for our art, but creating art shouldn't make you suffer.

Got any tips or resources? Or a tool that helped you craft more comfortably that you think others should know about? Share it in the comments or reblogs!

[asoftspotforangels]

some of my favorite woven tapestries, by Cecilia Blomberg:

Point Defiance Steps

Mates

Rising Tides

Vashon Steps

[antisocialxconstruct]

AT LAST....... I'M FREE

Approximately seven months and almost 12,000 stitches later...... behold :') I don't even know what else to write anymore gfdsgsd just look at it. Please.

Feeling brave enough to try it yourself? You can buy the pattern here for as little as $1 👍

[scarletstitchstudios]

I finally made my first yarn wig after 10+ years of crocheting my cosplays...

[hattedhedgehog]

I've finally finished my Dread Wolf tarot embroidery from Dragon Age Inquisition! Clocking in at 64 hours of work, it measures 11.5 X 19.5 cm and I've been chipping away it during my downtime at work. My fellow community council members on Dragon Age: The Veilguard may have been biased while helping me choose which character's card to do, but I'm so grateful they did because it was so much fun to work on, and so different from the previous ones.

This is my fourth large Dragon Age character card project, and the first one I started since I uprooted everything to train as a costumer. Having a portable yet elaborate project was comforting while travelling for new experiences.

Now, who's excited for the new game later this year?!

[bananna-threads]

Hand embroidered, self drafted, birch tree inspired buttonup shirt.

[stoneantler]

I'm really surprised how many young fiber art people don't know that they can get pattern books from their local library. So as a PSA:

Your local public library has pattern books! They have crochet, knitting, weaving, and quilting pattern books! If they don't have the book you want, or the craft you want, you can ask for us to get it for you! It's free!

[lookingforcactus]

Because I'm feeling whimsical,

What the fuck do you mean that's a quilt??? Round 2

All quilts are contest winners from the quilt show Road to California, 2022. You can see these quilts and the other winners from that year here.

Best of Show Quilt

Title: Harlequinade Maker: Rebecca Prior Quilter: Jackie Brown Design Basis: Maker's Original Design "Harlequinade" is a theatrical quilt filled with visual clues guiding viewers to discover a hidden story. Inspired by Venetian Carnival masks and commedia del'arte characters, the quilt features the antics of Harlequin, the trickster, who has his own ideas about freedom and fun!

Director's Choice

Title: Welcome Home Maker: David Taylor Quilter: David Taylor Design Basis: Original image by Margo Clabo, used with permission I first saw this image from friend Margo Clabo more than a decade ago. It took years to convince her to let me adapt her photo into a quilt. The image it depicts is especially sentimental for her. The challenge for myself was to create a pieced pictorial background and recreate a traditionally pieced quilt by using my hand appliqué technique. The project size was overwhelming, but I'm thrilled with the finished quilt. So is Margo. Time to exhale.

Note: To be clear, that is not a photo with a quilt in it, that WHOLE THING is a quilt.

Best Machine Stationary Quilting

Title: Emerald labyrinth Maker: Kumiko Frydl Quilter: Kumiko Frydl Design Basis: Maker's Original Design As a starting point I used an image from the entrance to the EL Barkookeyeh Mosque in Cairo. Thinking of an elegant and intricate garden I added bursts of natural color and filled the area between the large elements of the design with finer ornament inspired by butterflies and plants. I set the circular image in a rectangular frame with a subdued complimentary design of rippled reflective pools.

1st Place: Animal

Title: Woodland Wilds Maker: Ann Horton Quilter: Ann Horton Design Basis: Maker's Original Design My morning hikes in the woodland hills of our northern California home inspired this quilt. The rabbits are always alert for danger. This machine appliqued, thread painted and embroidered view through a window is surrounded by wild flowers on hand dyed silk and again surrounded by other wild birds and animals. I love my wilds things in the woods!

1st Place: Human Image

Title: The Memories That Remain Maker: Lynn Czaban Quilter: Lynn Czaban Design Basis: Library of Congress Photos - LC-USF33-006183MI and LC-USF33-0061 I am fascinated by the human face and our ability to communicate without uttering a single word. The Portuguese word 'saudade' meaning a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for something or someone that one cares for and loves. Moreover, it often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing might never be had again.

1st Place: Naturescape

Title: Desert In Spring Maker: Andrea Brokenshire Quilter: Andrea Brokenshire Design Basis: Maker's Original Design My Mom and I embarked on an epic travel trip we named our "Thelma and Louise Adventure" In Palm Springs, CA we visited the Living Desert Botanical Garden. This quilt is inspired by one of the photographs I took that spring day of a Prickly Pear Cactus in full bloom. I loved the leathery texture of the cactus leaves (paddles) and the almost translucent citron yellow blossoms.

2nd Place: Animal

itle: Not Today Maker: Kestrel Michaud Quilter: Kestrel Michaud Design Basis: Maker's Original Design The chase is on! The Roadrunner is after his next meal, chasing a Common Collared Lizard through a steampunk junkyard. The desert is a favored dumping ground for the detritus of progress, even in a fantasy world. A steam-powered industrial revolution creates iron refuse and pieces of broken machinery have been left to decay in dry desert air. That doesn’t bother these critters. To them, this is home. Will that lizard wind up as dinner? Not today!

2nd Place: Human Image

Title: Declaration of Independence - Voices of Freedom Maker: Nancy Prince Quilter: Terri Taylor Design Basis: Reproduction of John Trumbull's Painting The quilt is a reproduction of John Trumbull's painting which depicts the moment in history when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress on June 28, 1776. The quilt front and back were created in Photoshop and custom printed on fabric. Four thousand hours over 4 years was necessary to create the quilt. The back captures the story of the Declaration and its signers.

Note: I'm not at all patriotic. But credit where credit is due. That's a fucking quilt.

3rd Place: Animal

Title: Midnight Flight Maker: Joanne Baeth Quilter: Joanne Baeth Design Basis: Maker's Original Design Several years ago we had an injured Great Horned Owl roosting in our willow tree during the day. I took several pictures and was inspired to create him in fabric. The background features a painted sky, old buildings, melting snow and a rabbit on the run The foreground is the swooping owl which was constructed by painting and inking each feather and thread painting over fabrics and needle punched wool rovings

3rd Place: Naturescape

Title: Day Into Night Maker: Deb Deaton Quilter: Deb Deaton Design Basis: Maker's Original Design Inspired from photo by Robert Murray with his permission. When the Arizona sun begins to set, the sky comes alive. I saw this photo and knew the splendor of this landscape needed to be captured with fiber! Sky is hand painted. Raw edge applique. Mixed media used: oil pastels, color pencils, inks to enhance the fabrics and create more dimension. Cheesecloth: painted to create spikes of cactus. Tulle used to capture the sunrays. Machine quilted.

[knickknackoftheday]

needle felted sardines

[thr3adb3ar]

"Summer Shadows" by Matty Smith - Summer Shadows | This weave came out of a morning walk with … | Flickr

[8pxl]

btw i added a few new cross stitch patterns to my shop!~ check them out on my shop: 8pxl

[sleepycatmama]

One should always have at least 2 craft projects going. That way, when one of them is messed up and misbehaving, you can switch to another, and let the first one sit there and think about what it's done.

[antisocialxconstruct]

PHEW.... just over a month of work but it's done 👏 As usual at the end I feel like a couple colors could have been changed but... I'm not doing this one again lmao

Okay! Due to (totally unexpected) popular demand:

CMYK Test Print PATTERN - pay what you want, a tip would be appreciated but no pressure!