Stitching Kits for Christmas

Most of my family & close friends know of my rekindled interest in handicrafts and all forms of stitching in particular so it was not a great surprise to receive some kits for Christmas!

I received these two kits which I'm looking forward to getting on with.

The one on the left is a long stitch tapestry which looks like it will be lovely to do and a fantastic picture too. I've never attempted a long stitch before so I think this looks like a great one to start with, not too complex and a picture I like!

On the right is a counted cross stitch Kit. This one is rather complex looking and slightly daunting when I look at all the different threads! However as I'm not new to cross stitch I'm looking forward to the challenge and taking my skills to the next level. Cross stitch is the one thing that I've done loads of times over the years, although often quite simple ones.

Kits of course can only take you so far in rediscovering handicrafts, but they will really help me along the way!

Crochet Confusion! UK and US Crochet why do you have to use different terms?

I decided to have a go at learning to Crochet again. I did what a 21st century girl does and I Goggled it and

watched some YouTube videos. This is where my confusion started!

I originally learnt to crochet from my Great Nan about 30 (?) years ago. I was never very good at it and always seemed to end up with the stitches so tight I couldn't even get the hook in for the next one! Not very useful to doing anything and very frustrating when you are a kid too.

Turns out I was getting mixed up between UK and US terms for crotchet stitches! Why cant they just be the same? When half of what I'm reading or watching mean one thing by "double crochet" and the the other something else no wonder I nearly gave up. Until I found this excellent comparison on FreshStitches.com which helps so much!

UK v US Crochet stitches - helping me to sort out all the confusion!

Now I just need to check if the book, pattern or video is using UK or US terms and I'm fine!

Does anyone else find this confusing? I'm from the UK by the way so will be using the UK terms primarily, mainly because if I get a pattern or magazine in a shop that's what's used. Same at local craft classes!

Knitting - the first attempt

So today I had a go at knitting. I thought it would be a good first handicraft to have a go at because I did learn to knit sort of as a child, but it just never really stuck with me. I figured I might as well start somewhere reasonably familiar - well it felt like I'd never picked up the needles before! Oh dear.

Knitting first attempt

Okay so it's not that bad really.

But I have a way to go before I can knit some of the wonderful designs I've been seeing around the internet!

All I've done is 6 rows of garter stitch, so I've only used the knit stitch so far. I used the knit cast on which didn't seem too easy, then I rang Mum and she told me how to do it properly so i started again :-)

What is Handicraft Roaming?

I have a confession to make. I've love all kinds of handicrafts, crafts or old fashioned stuff - whatever you want to call it - my whole life.

But the real confession? Despite how much  love them I never really mastered any of them! So that's the whole point of Handicraft Roaming. I am on a mission to finally learn!

Crafts here I came!

But now I have a problem. Where do I start?

To name a few of the most well known ones that I'm thinking of....

• Knitting
• Crochet
• Papercarft
• Cross Stitch
• Sewing

There are so many!!  How do I choose?

Well Handicraft Roaming is my journey as I investigate handicrafts, I'll be roaming around discovering what suits me!