Hobbies and Crafts

Thank you everyone...... I think you are all very talented with the variety of things you make. Much of what I do is down to a very good teacher at the weekly class I go to. What a brilliant idea it was to start this thread and with the blog it means you can actually see what other people do as well. :-D

That's interesting Von about the felting temperature. I am using Filzi wool for my bag, but don't want to end up with Barbie's purse, so for this first one I think I will try it at the lower temperature first, even if I have to put it through a wash twice. Do you put yours in a pillowcase in the machine?

Jude, how about just folding the edges under a tad to neaten and oversew all round picking out one of the colours in embroidery thread? (I'd go for blue)

Yeh it defo need the edges neatening, so you think it ok to just add an edging in blue, will it look odd though, be honest??

jude

I don't see why it would look odd Jude. I'm assuming the mesh is fairly firm?

Yes its quite firm, thanks Island:))

Off to finish it now:)

jude

Annx
I didn't put my pieces in a pillowcase but if I remember correctly i put in a towel with the wash.
Mine were knitted in a very fine lambswool that had been machine knitted on a loose tension.
It felted beautifully but mine were large pieces for a coat and a cloak. The coat was sold but I still have the cloak.
Good luck with project. Look forward to seeing the photos.
Take care
Von

Nice to see this thread going. If anyone wants anything put on the blog would you send to Jude for the moment as I am in Tenrrife and the Internet reception can be iffy

Not doing any craft work while here in Tenerife but it was interesting to go to a local car boot sale/market and see the crafts on offer. Some lovely hand made cards, and jewellery. But it was an English church sale and the cards were from an English person. Selling for at least 2 euros50 each. Yesterday another local market and lace being made, good to see their crafts not dying out. :-)

Please see the book thread by genes at the top and the replies and comment if you think a hobbies and interests board would be useful

Von,

You were brave felting big items like a coat! I have felted my bag now at 40 degrees with the Filzi wool and it has come out really well. Six of us in the class I go to all used the same wool and bag pattern and all of our bags turned out well but differently!! I packed mine with big soup cans in a polythene carrier bag to get a good shape with a 'bottom' so it stands up on it's own. I still need to sew on the flowers to finish it and will then send a pic for the blog. I was in Cornwall last week and haven't managed to get it done yet, what with weeding etc before we went.

Ann I have ideas for making a necklace with lace so would have been interested in all the lace you saw in Tenerife. As you say it is good that crafts carry on elsewhere too.

Ann
Pleased to hear bag turned out well.
Look forward to seeing the photos.
Take care
Von

Well, it's done now so I've asked Ann to put a pic on the blog.

Love the bag Ann and the photo is on the craft blog.

Hopefully I have just added some photos of our garden to the photo blog. It was a horrific jungle and oveergrown with hardy geraniums when we got home last Wednesday. Pleased with it now after we worked on it for 3 days. OH just gone to the dumpt to get rid of a lot of the garden waste that won't fit in the garden waste bin.

Can anyone give me advice on the tension settings for a sewing machine please? Mine is at 3, although Ive experimented with all the numbers - and still the thread snaps and gets tangled, and the material gets stuck. :-( I have so many things I want to make but it seems impossible. Hand sewing will take way too long and Im quite slow at that.

I can't help but hopefully somebody will be able to RomanyS.

Which machine have you got? You could try thoroughly cleaning the machine. Change the needle and make sure that you have the same threads in the bobbin and top thread.
Does it need oiling? All these things can affect the machines performance.
Do you have a manual? It might have a trouble shooting page.
Von

Thankyou ladies! Its an Argos one, but its got good reviews. Ive kept the manual so I'll look, and give it a bit of a service. Hopefully I'll have some luck.

Is it new? If so, maybe you can contact somebody to ask advice. Maybe there is a forum if you put the machine name into search on google.

More garden photos on the photo blog.