what have you been crafting?

I know this isn't what you asked, but, I'll tell you anyway.

I don't sew much, mostly making COVID masks and shortening pant legs.
But, when I do sew, I use the machine my mom got in 1949 as a high school graduation present.

Phil Swindler wrote:I use the machine my mom got in 1949 as a high school graduation present.

I used to sew a lot.  I'm almost 6' tall and when I was younger there was literally no place for me to buy clothing that fit.  I learned on my mother's Singer machine that was about from the same time-frame as your mom's machine.  Had that machine forever but eventually it got to the point of being unrepairable.  Sad when it went, but surprisingly the modest price replacement I got about 15 years ago works fine.  Big 'however' is I no longer sew nearly as much as I used to.  And almost never make coats, jeans, and other really heavy hard to sew fabrics like I used to on the old Singer.

Dianne Justeen

And almost never make coats, jeans, and other really heavy hard to sew fabrics like I used to on the old Singer.

And either an ancient machine like that or a truly heavy duty modern one is nearly essential to get the needle thru multiple layers of heavy Jean material.

I sew in spurts. Then I'll crochet in spurts, or weave a rug, read for pleasure... all in fits and spurts. My life is one big collection of spurts of doing.

I admit to being a lifelong textile handler. Running fingers over a handful of many wares in display in stores. Fabric, yarn, it doesn't matter. Reviewing tools in stores also helps with when I might need to buy online.

Phil, Dianne and others: you can show your sewing machine in this thread:
https://permies.com/t/145954/sewing/fiber-arts/Show-sewing-machine  

Cindy Haskin wrote: ...
I sew in spurts. Then I'll crochet in spurts, or weave a rug, read for pleasure... all in fits and spurts. My life is one big collection of spurts of doing.
...

I am like that too. Now I am doing PEP BBs in spurts. That's why I have a growing row of different 'Air Badges' here

Cindy Haskin wrote: And either an ancient machine like that or a truly heavy duty modern one is nearly essential to get the needle thru multiple layers of heavy Jean material.

I agree on vintage machines.  I have an old pink Morse that I found in my maternal grandmother's house a few years ago. The motor was missing so I replaced it with one that unfortunately doesn't match, but it is a beast!  It sews much better than the modern Brother machine I have with a gazillion fancy stitches.  It's straight stitch only and my preference for piecing quilts.  I also have my grandmother's Singer 66 and a 15-91 that I picked up at a thrift store a few years ago.  Both need to be rewired and I'm anxious to try out the 15-91 as it's gear driven and rumored to be a workhorse on heavy fabrics.  

I've been using this time to teach myself how to sew clothing that fit.

That, and stitching by hand.  It's actually quite nice to have a portable project I can take with me and sew a little bit in my spare time.  

The problem is, I don't think I'm the only one learning sewing in these troubled times.  The thrift stores are out of sheets and fabric scraps.  But I have a lot of old clothes in a pile in the basement that I'm planning to upcycle into sewing.

I've been sewing face masks, although there are a couple of other projects trying hard to bubble to the top. I had an "back deck sewing day" planned with two friends, but got cancelled when one suddenly got an appointment - not much choice when your name comes up to see a doctor these days around here! Sigh... I really wanted another vest going into the winter.

'Back deck sewing day' sounds like fun! Maybe I should do something like that too. But now autumn and winter come, it will probably be indoors.

I started this in winter of 2019 and it is a long term project.  I am sewing a quilt top by hand using the English Paper Piecing method.
I have over 100 of the segments sewn together and I haven't decided if it will be a throw blanket or a larger blanket yet.  


These are each about 6" across.  The center hexagons measure 1" along each side.


Here are the individual shapes. You base the fabric around a paper shape to make sewing small complex pieces together easier.  Once the pieces are  sewn together you remove the papers and finish your project.  

I also made a few masks this spring but I mostly sew in the fall and spring when the garden and preserving the harvest  isn't eating up all my time.  This fall I have quilts to finish, bags, pot holders, cloth bins, and little girl dresses with twirly skirts that have pockets.  I am making most of my Christmas presents this year.

Learning to paper piece is another skill on my to do list.

I've sewn maybe a dozen masks for hubby and I, and gave several away to special people in my life. I've also started a strip table runner with Xmas prints.  
Earlier this year I completed a strip blanket for a young boy with special needs. I pieced the top, but skipped the middle layer of most quilts because I sewed it to a heavy, almost wool-like blanket, before adding a self made binding.  I'll have to edit this on my desktop to include pics of this project.  

Otherwise I've been mostly crocheting like a crazy person. I'm trying to learn new stitches, new methods of construction, etc. I'm not fond of following patterns/ written instructions except to learn the how.

I'm terrible at sewing but hope to convince someone who does to make me some harvest aprons.  Fingers crossed my sister is feeling generous

So we can show crochet and knitting here too? I'm more often doing such crafts then sewing. It's easy to do while watching videos or listening podcasts.
I discovered the technique called 'mosaic crochet'. Started with a large shawl. Then continued with squares, that will make an 'afghan' for my bed.

Start of the shawl

Close up of the shawl pattern

The wonderful wool I ordered for the afghan (all 100% real Dutch wool, dyed with herbs)

Some of the squares

To be continued ...

I am learning to knit socks recently. Did two in DPN cuff-down way and will start the 3rd one using circular needle.
I am also going through my wool scrap/stash to make my kids a minecraft blanket.

Got my workshop up so I can keep woodworking through the winter. Got the house foundation poured. My "craft projects" are on a little different scale than most ;)

I’ve been making pack baskets and leather shoes.  I got a great video from laughing Crowe for shoes and Jill Choate has free videos for basket making. The shoes are hard, you have to be meticulous and follow all instructions- no shortcuts.  Baskets were much easier to learn, I learned from the videos mentioned above about 2 years ago this last August. I started designing my own a couple weeks after buying a kit and watching videos, if you can do basic addition you can make whatever you need for a basket. Here are some photos of what I’ve done in the last few months: