A crafty, crafty girl

(Credit: Someecards)

I never took any Home Ec classes in school. It just wasn't my thing. I didn't want to learn to sew, to bake a cake, to properly wrap gifts.

But I probably should've taken at least one class. I am terrible at wrapping gifts. I suck at cooking -- unless it's from a box, and even then it's 50-50. And my method of sewing on a button was, well, just put the thread through the holes any which way a few times and pray the button stays on.

A few years ago, I took up knitting. It's a nice thing to do while watching TV -- at the very least it stops you from reaching for the potato chips. But it's also relaxing, very Zen: the repeated motions, the constant click of needles. And at the end of the night, you've made progress on something other than burning through shows on the DVR. Plus, start early enough and you've got presents for everyone! See the ecard above for thoughts on that.

Knit baby blanket
and matching robot for
my best friend's son. (Credit: Me)

And don't think I make doilies or the like; I don't knit  "Look what my Grandma made me" things. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just like more modern designs. 


My thing has been baby blankets: I make a different one whenever a friend has a kid (and these days, there's one every year); it's never the same blanket. But, funny story: I took a class this winter in which the teacher informed me I was doing the knit stitch wrong. Oopsie! So, to everyone has gotten something knit from me in the last few years: Sorry, it could've been better!

It's Ten! Doctor Who
crochet doll for my sister.
 (Credit: Me)

After knitting, I tried crochet, which I'm not very nimble at, but it goes a lot faster than knitting if you don't factor in the time I spend confused about something.  And you only need one needle! It also seems better for more structured gifts: rounded mug cozies, for example, or a David Tennant/Doctor Who amigurumi doll. But it's not my forte.




Then last year I took up sewing after my sisters and brother-in-law got me a sewing machine. There's a great studio that offers classes here in D.C. -- the owner must be like: "What is up with this chick? She's here like every month!" But I've really learned a lot, though I'm not nearly as confident at it as I am with knitting, or heck, even crochet. 

Look! My first dress!
(Credit: Me)

There are good days, like yesterday, when I finished my first dress from a pattern! It was a six-week class, working through each step for two hours a week. And lemme tell you, friends, it was hard work. I'm not good at cutting fabric or, you know, figuring out the math. But with much help from the teacher, it turned out super cute, if I do say so myself. 


Then there are bad days. These come more often than the good days. The other week, when I went all lone wolf and made a Nook case without a pattern from an old Comic-Con bag I had. There were tears (of frustration), a little bit of blood (so that's what thimbles are for!), and lotsa sweat (figuratively, at least). The result is precariously functional and not at all pretty. So I'm going to try again after I get this year's bag.

Upcycled Comic-Con bag Nook case.

A for effort; C for execution.

(Credit: Me)

The next sewing class I'm taking is Intro to Quilting because I really want to make a T-shirt quilt. Upcycling clothes and bags seems so cool if done right. This way, I can take all the old geeky shirts I own and make something cute. And then I can buy new shirts to wear. Heh.
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I keep meaning to come up with a cute label for the things I make, but I can't think of a fun name. If you think of one, let me know. Sometimes I think, "Hey, you know what? I could open an Etsy shop!" But: (a) I often get patterns from other crafters online, and it is not cool to make money off others' ideas; (b) I'm not good enough to come up with patterns on my own; and (c) if I opened a shop, then I'd actually have to make whatever I sell, and then it just becomes work. Where's the fun in that?


There's something great about making a skirt or a dress or bag. You feel all accomplished at the end of it, even if it didn't turn out like you wanted it to. And you learn from your mistakes. One of the best things about being a crafter, which I never thought I'd be: I've made lotsa friends my age who do all these things too! So yay for that! 


What will be my next craft? Scrapbooking? Nah, I made a book for my superduperawesome train trip through Great Britain a few years ago, but other than buying some pretty paper, I just can't get into it. And there are cooking classes I wouldn't mind taking. After all, my knife skills are spectacularly lacking. Or jewelry? I can imagine spilling beads all over my floor.


Or, hmmmm, I wonder if there are gift wrapping classes.... 


Eek. This all reminds me: I need to start thinking about Christmas gifts. *runs off to find some inspiration*