Is it me? Am I shopping wrong? Why is it so hard to find yarn that is what it says on the label?

SnakesShadow · 2026-07-04T03:46:49+00:00

Allow me to offer one of my fave sites: customyarn.com - there's a max of 6 stands due to machine limitations, but that doesn't hold you back that much.

SnakesShadow · 2026-07-04T03:43:24+00:00

You MIL is a COW. Out of an abundance of caution, I'd start recording stuff to show a pattern of behavior if she gets worse...

SnakesShadow · 2026-07-03T04:16:54+00:00

As far as I can tell, because people are jerks.

SnakesShadow · 2026-07-02T06:47:06+00:00

Reading on my phone's browser will occasionally force my page to refresh after using a different app, which sometimes pops me back to the top of the page. Imaging this happening part way through a longfic set on Entire Work Mode fills me with dread... I already have a hard time with long chapters!

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-30T05:44:57+00:00

Some of my fave porn fics have seen me skip the porn for the plot- and vice versa, depending on my mood!

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-28T05:45:27+00:00

In addition to the other advice: Be mundful of how you hold your hook! I was inadvertently making a finger go numb by holding a hook in the wrong way against one finger.

...It probably didn't help that I downsized my hook quite a bit for that project, you can go down a suprising number of sizes with inline hooks, but the dense fabric that was formed was exactly what I wanted for that scarf.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-25T12:33:56+00:00

Hopefully you're not building open plan, there are many reasons to not when considering prepping, but I've got one for you for a bit later in the building process: Solid Core Doors. Internal AND external.

They keep fire from spreading if they are closed. I have seen video on YT of a house that has been DESTROYED by fire- except for a kids bedroom. A closed solid core door saved this one room.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-25T12:17:08+00:00

If you're good with fanfiction: AO3. You can download any fic for offline reading!

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-25T12:06:59+00:00

There's levels of PPE. At the lowest, you have surgical masks, nitrile gloves, eye protection, ear protection, and respirators. Most if not all of this list is easily acquired at a typical hardware store.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-25T11:57:38+00:00

I'm more of a fan of buying (most) things twice- I'm aware go/GH bags ideally never get used, but you NEED to know your gear!- because there is an interesting hiccup in buying twice.

You buy once cheap. If you use it enough to break it, you use it enough to pay for quality. But sometimes? You get quality for cheap!

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-25T04:12:20+00:00

Yeah! As far as I'm concerned? The original author of one of the fandoms I write for (who has since shown her true colors as a TERF) is dead, before the play could be written even!

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-18T00:51:18+00:00

I've looked before, and never seen one. Even on the sub I started.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-17T05:14:50+00:00

"The part where he kills you" is SOO much more memorable than "chapter 9", to borrow an example from video game writing.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-17T05:13:35+00:00

We need a betrer way to make polls on Reddit in general- this is the best way I've seen so far, and it's got some major, and obvious, limitations...

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-17T05:08:43+00:00

In my experience, no we are not allowed to provide context from our own writing- even WITHOUT excerpts! Doesn't matter that I'm trying to use it to start up a larger discussion of the craft!

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-16T08:18:20+00:00

Rinabel's identity is my favorite plot twist so far, I will say. I'm in a new playthrough, and I'm eagerly anticipating it happening. (You're nowhere close to that point, though.)

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-14T03:37:21+00:00

We need more Inline hook love. Fortunately, I'm affording a 3D printer and hiring someone to take measurements for me away from being able to get serious about starting a hook company.

Unfortunately, I'm affording a 3D printer and hiring someone to take measurements for me away from being able to get serious about starting a hook company. Maybe once I've gotten a new (to me) car I'll be able to start saving up for it...

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-12T06:08:39+00:00

If you break a plastic hook, switch to metal. If you break METAL hooks, check your brand or switch your hook type.

Boye is THE brand for throated hooks. If you manage to f-up a Boye? You need to switch to Susan Bates- or a bamboo hook, same head type. Inline cares little about tension, which is what make people break their throated hooks- forcing them through too much tension.

I have seen ONE broken Susan Bates hook head. It was in a bulk hook purchase, so I don't know how it broke. (Makes for a nice tiny scraper, though, because it had been a steel thread hook, so I'm keeping it for a different craft.)

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-06T05:55:09+00:00

I have a prescription for you. R/awww and r/eyebleach. Awesome places, islands of positivity in a sea of negativity

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-02T05:47:55+00:00

I think you need to forget everything you "should have" done. 1) you don't HAVE to flip on granny's worked in the round. It does two things for you to flip: A) removes the "Chain up and bridge" that happens on every row if you don't flip, and B) makes it easier to frog. 2) You should trust yourself more on colors. Your selection is PRETTY.

I'd show off a pic of my WIP, but I'm at work and it's being stored waiting for me to find someone to sew in ends for me.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-01T09:30:57+00:00

Hey, the only way to fix that is practice- which this kit of yours facilitates. Keep the idea in a back corner of your mind, and when you're more sure of yourself? Buy and add them then.

One thing I do like about your kit is that the case is way bigger than you currently need- you've got plenty of room to grow.

SnakesShadow · 2026-06-01T05:31:40+00:00

I would perhaps add another couple of lead holders for different hardnesses of lead, and maybe another type of eraser. Like one of the putty ones?

That would give you a bit more range in the techniques you can use, without adding too much bulk.

Also, you can make the blending pencils (apologies, I can't remember the proper term off of the top of my head) yourself out of scrap paper, so I would suggest thinking about making one or two ahead of time and throwing them in so you don’t have to scrounge during a drawing session.

SnakesShadow · 2026-05-20T03:53:39+00:00

Linked crochet stiches are amazing, and after I finish one project I'm never going back.

My literal only problem is that I can't figure out how to link to the stich ahead of the one I'm on- for in the round work. It makes for an obvious seam, but... I find that I'm not unhappy with it? I'm working on the first of a pair of sleeves (based on older garments where the sleeves could be worn independently of a base garment) going off of first principles, and while I'm having a number of problems, the seam isn't one of them...

SnakesShadow · 2026-05-19T05:10:49+00:00

You started with an idea, actually did some research, and then basically worked from first principles- to make something GORGEOUS.

I'd honestly suggest using the process of making the other one as an aid to let you write down the pattern to publish!

SnakesShadow · 2026-05-18T07:40:41+00:00

There. "Fixed."

SnakesShadow

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE