Craftycrafter

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Pretty sure that everyone who follows this page is a Stashmatician ❤️

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Have you heard of the 'Terrible Knitters of Dent'? Nowadays Dent is a tiny, quiet little hill village near Sedbergh in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, instantly recognisable for its whitewashed cottages. Until the 19th century, Dent would have resounded with the clickety clack of hundreds of knitting needles! In those days knitting wasn't an activity associated with women or hobbies - it was something done by men, women and children and was an essential way to supplement meagre incomes.

Whether from farming or lead-mining families, most Dales inhabitants were poor and needed to supplement their income. The solution was to knit at every opportunity. Children were sent to live with cottagers in Dent so they could learn the trade, in an early kind of sweat shop, being cajoled or whipped to knit as quickly as possible. Women knitted as soon as their housework was done. Men knitted on their way to and from work. The Dales knitters were known for their incredible dexterity.

They used a simple tool called a 'knitting stick', a wooden stick that was tucked into a waist belt, which anchored needles and enabled knitters to knit with just one hand. This meant that knitters could do two things at once, perhaps churning butter as they knitted.

So famous were the astoundingly quick knitters of Dent, people still talk about the "terrible knitters of Dent".

The Dales Countryside Museum has a great collection of knitting sticks. Some of them are quite plain, whereas others are more decorative and probably made as gifts for sweethearts. You can also find out more about them at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh.

Groups of people would often gather in one cottage to save fuel for fires and light, knitting and telling stories or singing as they worked.

Knitters were brought yarn by merchants who also collected the socks, stockings, mittens, hats and jackets they knitted and took them off to market.

​Each Dale would have had their own distinctive patterns, a bit like Fair Isle where complex patterns were handed down from family to family.

A shout out to my trusty yarn winder. Bought 10 plus years ago. Made in China, delivered to America and followed me back to SG. It has withstood the thinnest, most slippery yarn. It has had to bear the weight of chunky monster yarn and put up with my crazy ideas like trying to ply 3 strands into 1. It has been mounted ……. 😉 I have to give it a name. She is family. Yarndie? Yandy? …. Hmmm, must consult a Fong shui master. 😂 Happy 2024, Everyone!

This is what desperation looks like. Winding up a skein and no extra hands to hold skein. Alpaca, low twist, single ply. Probably kettle dyed. From Argentina. Gifted by hubby donkey years ago before he realise my yarn habit will be a problem. Planning to knit a jacket.

Yarn - this kettle dyed sock yarn bought in Cape Cod a decade ago started as a star shaped shawl that didn’t quite make it, was frogged and crocheted into a flower scarf. When lain flat, is slightly curved and you can see distinct 3 flowers trailing on the edges. But when worn, the scarf edges look like grape like clusters. Still beautiful but different. Not for people who need symmetry. You will spend a lot of time rearranging this scarf!
Modified from this pattern - https://pin.it/2kQYq3v

Sewing - patchwork organza samples swatches. I am a sucker for this. Let’s hope it works. I am envisioning a curtain.

Sewing on elastic - nerve wracking. Fortunately it worked out fine this time. No broken needles and uneven gathers. Phew!

Sewing - Woo Hoo! Something for myself

Yarn - just wanna show off the crocheted point shoe protector I made. Been making it for years for the ballet school. Now it’s the girl’s turn to do point. She better not complain about it!

Copied from a fellow ho**er 😂

Me and mini me

Yarn - Finally finally finished 2 charity scarf and sending them off!

What a privilege to have the time to crochet and create. It’s been a hectic few weeks.

Yarn - upcycle - check out my wheels! ⚙️⚙️⚙️

Totem pole - who would have known ….. On theme decor for a school function. Definately from a new civilisation ….

Yarn - Soda tab crochet. The things I do ya ….

Leaning tower of totem…… why do I do this? Stay tuned

Charity patchwork. It’s been a long process. There were so many things competing for my attention. So glad it’s completed. On to the next patchwork! …. Cos my cupboard is always filled with cloths of good intention😂😂😂 Just realise the middle rectangle which was supposed to be my feature design is placed on landscape instead of portrait 🤦🏻‍♀️Oh well …. It will still keep someone warm!

Along with crafting is Cleaning of tools & Equipment. It doesn’t happen often. Who wants to be cleaning when they can be crafting! But it needs to be done. Very satisfying. And then to craft somemore! Ooo the possibilities!

Sewing - squeezed in a non-costume project. Batik wrap pants! Totally impractical but oh so trendy and cool. Just don’t go to the toilet. Surprisingly easy to draft and sew. Added darts for the front and behind waistline to fit my, uh, curves. A short bit of elastic at the back to provide better fit and prevent gaping during wear. Very little to sew as I have decided to leave the edges raw - which is acceptable with batik and no one will sniff and say I do shoddy work. 😉

Same but different. What do you do when you need 4 more head dress but there’s no more Material?

Sewing costumes - Oooo the tails I can tell 😆 More arriving next week.

Sewing - the thing about Taobao is you never really know what you will get. So we got many tutus that are short and stand right angle from the waist and then we have this thin 1 layer tutu that flop down. Doesn’t help that it goes to the tallest and biggest girl. Not fair. So in comes tutu godmother who added more netting layers. Attached it to the already sewn costume …. At this point I hate netting. They r scratchy, unwieldy, makes me sneeze …: urgh!

Concert costumes - Country chic-k. I’ve been sew, sew busy. From extending trouser width to refashioning head covering. Not too sure why I am doing this but it’s been ….. lemme find the word when I am actually done.

We no Angels. In fact we are crows, crazy-ass crows in metallic pants.

Gosh! I’ve not been posting! These are …. Dance ribbons streamers. Yup, another dance concert that I have managed to waddle into. In the thick of it right now.

Sewing - I should have ironed first …. Nope, not bothers. as long as they don’t fall off the person, is not too tight or too long …. We r good.

Sewing - I love sewing pants. I probably can draft pattern for a pair of pants or shorts directly on the cloth. The things is I am also lazy so nope …. No zipper front or side. All elasticated. I might allow darts in front for a more tailored look. Pockets …. Now they are really useful but a darn-nation to sew. Especially hidden pockets. So this time, I guess I put in a lot of effort to make these 3 pairs. All with hidden pockets and one is even lined so I don’t have to think about what underwear I am wearing when I put it on😉 The green fabric with the lace edging is a nice challenge. Given by a friend. TBC in next post

Yarn - WIP. Sigh! The things I do for my craft - including posting unsightly pics of my armpits. First pic - the result when I follow a pattern (sort of) but use the wrong thread thickness and needle. Pic 3&4 after rectification (added more rounds to cover up the enormous armhole. Moral of the story - anything can be made better. You need perseverance and numerous failed projects and wardrobe malfunctions - gotta tell you about my toga top someday. Also write down what modifications you have done otherwise you can’t repeat for the other armhole. Post of completed work will come when it comes.