Crafts
I find a lot of pleasure in doing needlework (which is quite odd seeing as I couldn’t stand it when I was at school and went out of my way to avoid doing any). Then I was given a tapestry kit one christmas and I was hooked (if you will excuse the pun!). That led on to doing cross-stitch as a step forward (although those charts can send you blind!) and now many stitches (and many accidental finger stabs) have passed along the way and I am more hooked (pun intended!) than ever.
My main interest used to be fantasy and Celtic themes and while I still enjoy those, I find funny cat ones really appealing. Along with the other sewing fads, I also make medieval and fantasy costumes for us in Live Action Roleplaying. It can prove very tricky getting the right look but it is very rewarding when you see (and wear) the end result.
In the past I’ve help make chainmail armour from split steel washers and that was extremely hard work! Recently a friend showed me how to make my own links from steel wire and I made him some gauntlets, bracers and a coif using that method – and I’m pretty darned pleased with myself at the result! I did start making Tony a shirt using the same links but I’m not happy with that look. So I scrapped it and will make him a shirt from carbon steel links.
All I can say is you need *strong* hands! and to survive the callouses you develop from twisting open thousands of links and then twisting them shut again with a pair of needlenosed pliers takes dedication and several good movies!
Below are some good resources I’ve found along the way for Cross-Stitch, Tapestry, Costume and other related Crafts.
Please mail me any links you may have come across and I shall add them gratefully (as well as having a nose along there myself!)
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