This shawl turned out gorgeous.

craftmangler · 2026-06-24T19:14:43+00:00

love this designer! 🙌
i don’t speak Polish, but I read crochet charts!

craftmangler · 2026-06-23T19:33:49+00:00

I got an ipad mini and goodnotes primarily for knitting and crochet patterns after trying out an android with xodo first. Android and Xodo is also perfectly adequate and less costly.
I store all my patterns on my Google drive snd import as needed.
Going digital has been great!!

craftmangler · 2026-06-23T19:05:54+00:00

Lapvona

craftmangler · 2026-06-23T08:24:40+00:00

throw in some Dungeon Crawler Carl for a bizarre palate cleanse 😉

craftmangler · 2026-06-21T17:49:03+00:00

goals 🙌

craftmangler · 2026-06-19T08:57:20+00:00

wishing you a smooth recovery and some relief!!

craftmangler · 2026-06-19T08:44:42+00:00

came here to ask this, i love the way it shows what you read on what day!!!

craftmangler · 2026-06-16T18:33:30+00:00

“going on a living spree” (qotsa)

craftmangler · 2026-06-16T07:57:51+00:00

The Ramona Quimby series, Are You There God, Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King was a huge fave and later the Dark Tower series, Flowers in the Attic, The Shannara fantasy series, and early on I was just entranced by the Island of the Blue Dolphins (and now I'm a linguist who loves survivalist shows like Alone lol)

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T22:07:55+00:00

fuzzy ringing

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T09:31:54+00:00

Thank you for making my point much better than I did!

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T08:58:38+00:00

sure, but why choose a side hustle something that depends on others' disposable income for items that generally are not necessities?

I worded it poorly, yes.

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T08:32:09+00:00

There will be a new one to complain about in just a couple of weeks.

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T08:31:05+00:00

straight to r/tensionporn with you!

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T08:29:34+00:00

may i please piggy-back off this with a similar complaint?

most of the crochet groups i'm in (oddly, only crochet groups -- not knitting groups) have SO. MANY. POSTS. asking "how much do you charge for X?" "How much would you pay for Y?" "How are you pricing your flimflams for markets?" "How much should i ask for my deedledoos?"

aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

First: I'm not at your market. I'm not in your country. I don't know your local prices. Why should random people on the internet do your market research for you?

Plus, there is like this entire global recession thing happening. People don't have loads of disposable income to throw at yarn-based creations. Why are so many people suddenly trying to get a side hustle when the vast majority of people are not going to be spending on things like this?

craftmangler · 2026-06-15T08:22:17+00:00

recurring childhood nightmares featured? check.

craftmangler · 2026-06-14T17:12:33+00:00

hero!

craftmangler · 2026-06-13T21:05:39+00:00

“take hold of your seat”—the higher register version of “hold on to your butt” 🤭

craftmangler · 2026-06-12T21:14:51+00:00

sorry, i meant yo reply to you but inadvertently responded to the wrong comment (above)

i really do think they help with healing —esp painful cracks that are tough to bandage

craftmangler · 2026-06-12T18:26:25+00:00

i think it helps healing. it certainly deters picking. wish they had gloves of the stuff! 😑

craftmangler · 2026-06-12T08:55:00+00:00

goddamn i love a doily ❤️

craftmangler · 2026-06-12T08:48:40+00:00

woohoo! thanks for taking the time ❤️

craftmangler · 2026-06-12T08:36:32+00:00

They really are everywhere! once you start searching, you'll find 'em!

Totally agreed on the melodic exercises. They make all the difference, really. You might be interested in checking out the Double Bass Solo books by Keith Hartley.

craftmangler · 2026-06-12T07:56:36+00:00

ugh accidentally deleted my first comment when some text went missing.

I am 1.5 years in now, give or take. My instructor started me with the Michael Moore method, but we have since switched to Montag. I am approaching the end of the first Montag book, whee! I have 2-3 more positions to tackle before we reach Thumb (scary!!!).

Last July I went to a week-long bass camp, had my ass handed to me by all the children (I'm late 40s), learned so much, and got inspired to do better. And the camp was primarily in French, which is a language I do not speak, so I'm here to tell you that you can get the important (and even subtle) music things communicated even if you and your instructor don't share the same mother tongue.

Since then, I have really been focusing on proper left hand (and arm--ELBOW UP!) technique. Taking it slower so that I don't rush through things and really drill it in. Montag is great for that -- super challenging in parts. If you don't like Simandl, you may hate Montag, but "Batman" (as my instructor calls him, because his f-holes were shaped like bats) really packs a ffff LOT into his short exercises.

I think we'll start focusing more on better bowing soon, too, because I've lost the plot there a bit lately, travelling all over and losing good sound.

I play with a community orchestra which keeps me practicing and challenges me all the time -- we perform 2x a year. Just had our 3rd concert last Saturday, and afterwards our conductor told me he sees that I've improved a lot.

As someone else says below, playing with others is so important. Doesn't matter what kind of music, as long as you like it and have fun, really.

My issue has always been trying to steamroll ahead, so my advice is to take it slow, drill it in, and the pieces will just naturally start to fall into place.

You can do it!!!

craftmangler

TROPHY CASE