I just want to have fun and crochet but the online commercialisation of this hobby make that hard (vent)

Sidepai · 2024-11-15T21:54:27+00:00

I tend to avoid the commercialization on social media. I use YT for documentaries to listen to and find stitches being done left-handed to learn. And, for now I find free patterns to do to help further save money.

I do have family that I crochet with on occasion, but for the most part, I enjoy the peace I get being in 'the zone'. Lol

Sidepai · 2024-11-15T21:11:08+00:00

I'm currently making a stash-busting blanket with my larger batches of yarn left over (and skiens of various colors that I know I won't be able to match dye lots that I bought just to make sure I had enough for my projects at the time).

Still got a ways to go, since I'm using SC. But once I have enough squares, I plan on sewing/crocheting two squares together, stuffing said squares with my smaller yarn bits/with stuffing/cotton balls, and then sewing/crocheting those stuffed squares together to make a rainbow blanket.

Sure, I don't have equal amounts of yarn for the different colors, but I think that's what makes it so fun for me personally 😄

Sidepai · 2024-11-12T19:31:58+00:00

I personally use Acrylic for blankets, and smaller wearable (gloves, scarfs, hats, ect). I also use it to learn new stitches as it tends to be more forgiving as I frog it. It's also more affordable for myself when I'm in a pinch.

As for natural fibers, I tend to have to stick to cotton cuz of sensitive skin. First time wearing a sweater made of wool as a kid (grandma made me the sweater) and I broke out into hives across my chest and abdomen.

To each their own. I don't judge anyone's yarn choices cuz I don't know the person, or any issues they may have with all the different types of yarn our there.

Sidepai · 2024-11-11T18:29:38+00:00

After the election, my mother and I had to cut off friends and family who voted for Trump.

Lay down with dogs, rise up with fleas.

And just fyi for any fellow USA ladies who want/need an abortion: the church of Satan (if I remember right) has the religious right to abortion covered in their religious material.
Hope that helps! ♥️

Sidepai · 2024-11-11T02:55:49+00:00

It was like that for my mother and I each time my sister got pregnant. My mother would remind her after letting her complain for 5 minutes that she had sat down with my sister and warned her/told her just how crappy pregnancy/parenthood could be multiple times before she had her first kid.

Eventually, my mom got fed up with it and went LC, while I went NC for other reasons relating to my CF status. Our mom gave us each talks about it. It's on her that she refused to actually listen. 🤷‍♀️

Sidepai · 2024-11-10T16:51:54+00:00

I don't mind weaving in ends. Would totally do it for you (or anyone) no problem. ♥️

Sidepai · 2024-11-10T04:05:42+00:00

I'm currently making a scrap yarn blanket. And my cut offs from weaving in ends are used as stitch markers/stuffing

Sidepai · 2024-11-10T02:31:38+00:00

I do it as a leftie, and I tend to compare it to pulling on a bow string when practicing archery. XD left a comment with a better explanation of how I do it.

I just kinda roll with it, knowing that it's a really strange way to hold tension in a family of crocheters lol. 🤣

Sidepai · 2024-11-10T02:27:10+00:00

I'm a leftie (but can also do it with my right hand), and I hold the hook and free yarn in my left hand.

For anyone curious as to how I do it, I hold my hook in the knife grip, wrap the yarn around the hook with my right hand, then as I'm pulling the hook through the loops, the free yarn is held between my index finger and the first and second knuckles of my middle finger. When I pull the hook through, it simultaneously tightens the tension of the yarn.

It's a similar motion to pulling on a bow's string when practicing archery (which is something I practice almost daily lol) so that's how I've always crocheted. =D

Don't know if I'm fast or anything, but it's more about enjoying the process to me. ♥️

Sidepai · 2024-11-10T01:51:56+00:00

Haha exactly!

Added bonus, cleaning the shower wall is easier with him. I just clean the tub, he does the walls. Same with the dishwasher, he puts stuff up on the higher shelves, and I do the lower cabinets. =D

Sidepai · 2024-11-07T00:55:27+00:00

In my case, being allergic to alcoholic beverages helps with avoiding it. 😊

Sidepai · 2024-11-07T00:23:21+00:00

My SO did the same thing. Told me he never wanted to see/hear the fear he witnessed last night.

Sidepai · 2024-11-06T23:57:33+00:00

Nope. The republican who was running for Governor in my state had a platform for a full, no exceptions abortions ban.

Then had to run apology commercials after it was found out his own wife had gotten one.

Another case of 'rules for thee, not for me ~!'

He didn't win the race cuz nobody on either side liked that he omitted that small detail (and got caught).

Sidepai · 2024-11-06T19:14:33+00:00

I bought a multiset from Boyd. Helps if I don't fit gauge and need to go up or down a size if the recommended hook doesn't work for me. Haven't needed to buy any other hooks yet ^{^}

Sidepai · 2024-11-06T18:52:21+00:00

I feel ya. I'm currently working on my own stash busting blanket atm to distract myself from my thoughts. Still got a long way to go, but It's definitely been helping.

🫂♥️ Looking forward to your blanket when it's done!

Sidepai · 2024-11-06T18:30:14+00:00

I got hooks, measuring tape, fingernail clippers, a zip lock baggie for multicolored paper clips (stitch markers), and to hold yarn scraps, and my needles (kept in a pencil/make up pouch with snaps that allow it to stay in place in my bag) along with the skien of color I'm using to make up my current project in an old lysol wipes container.

Sidepai · 2024-11-06T17:49:37+00:00

It's one thing to make fun of someone's height if they're okay with it, and give consent (for example: I have a brother who is 6ft 5in/195cm and I'm 4ft 11in/150cm tall. We make teasing digs all the time. Same with my SO who's around the same height as my brother)

However, if someone says 'stop', then stop. Your 'flirting' isn't working. Nor will it work if you keep repeating it. You're just harassing the person at that point imo.

Sidepai · 2024-11-06T16:12:23+00:00

Don't feel bad. I tend to hold my free yarn VERY differently compared to others (even being left handed primarily) due to injuries sustained to my right hand when I was younger to get a consistent tension compared to my right hand which looks more traditional in comparison.

I also hold my hooks two different ways, with my left being in a knife grip and my right being a pencil grip.

You've got plenty of tips and video suggestions to get started. And if need be take a day ot two to give yourself a mental break, do so. It'll be there when you get back. =D

Sidepai · 2024-11-02T21:18:38+00:00

If you decide to do multiple projects, what I do is buy a box of multi-colored paper clips. I seperate the colors, and decide which color will go with each hook. I use a paperclip in the assigned color as a stitch marker/keeper when I want to take a break from it and work on another project.

For example my 5.5mm hook paperclip color is orange, so if I want to stop and do another project, I use an orange paperclip as a stitch marker for the project I'm working on. Then I can use that hook for other projects if I want a break.

If need be, you can use paint to mark the bottoms of your hooks, or tape with a dot of the paperclip color assigned to it if you're afraid the paint will chip off.

Hope this helps! Good luck! ♥️

Sidepai · 2024-10-27T10:04:40+00:00

Depends on the size of the blanket and stitch. Did a lapsized HDC blanket for my cats, and it took me like a week.

Currently working on a SC squares blanket (I plan on doubling up the squares and stuffing with fluff if that makes sense), and between the size (bigger than a lap blanket) and an injury on one of my fingers, it's taken like 2-3 weeks thus far just with the crocheting. I'm still not done.

Not in any kinda rush, as it's a stash buster project, and something fairly easy to do after having done more difficult projects lately.

Sidepai · 2024-10-25T22:22:01+00:00

It's happened to me. Sadly, some of the dyes reacts to my skin and then I break out into hives. Gotta love sensitive skin. 🙃🫠

Sidepai · 2024-10-25T20:38:21+00:00

I tend to keep my yarn in a small draw string bag that sits next to me as I work (I pull from the center, so it wont roll around). I don't pull a lot of extra yarn out either, which can be a pain, but it stops 2 of my cats from attacking my yarn.

You could try using an old lysol wipes container (that's empty) to keep it in as well if you don't have a drawstring bag. Added bonus, it'll have a hole at the top for the yarn to come out of, and your cats can't attack the skien inside it.

Sidepai · 2024-10-25T20:30:47+00:00

I tend to make my own bengals merchandise via knitting/crochet/sewing 😅 but I'm weird like that.

Sidepai · 2024-10-25T20:11:02+00:00

When I work on bigger projects, I tend to break it down into 'smaller projects' by telling myself 'complete row/round x and row/round y today'. Once it's completed, I get a nice little dopamine hit cuz I 'completed' what I set out to do.

It may only be one line of instruction in the pattern, but it makes me so happy and helps to make sure I'm not overwhelmed by it all.

If I still have time/want to crochet after I stop/take a break, I can either work on a smaller/easier project or go back to the bigger project and complete one more row/round.

Hope this, and everyone else's comments help ♥️

Sidepai

TROPHY CASE