How to "Escape" in 2020- Weaving Edition

Hello everyone! I've been feeling the need to come back to serious crafting for a bit now. My brain is full of ideas with little time to implement them, but it's time to make time. One of my goals has been resurrecting the blog. I need an escape from the real world, and let's be honest, you do, too. So, let's talk crafts!

In the last few months I have had much less crafting time than I would like. This has resulted in me reading and researching crafts more than normal, and I'm actually loving it! Lately I've been obsessed with cute weaving tutorials. Check out these links for some that I'm excited to make in the coming months:

The new home of Mollie Makes magazine (which I still love!) has some great free tutorials- https://www.gathered.how/arts-crafts/weaving/ 

Hello Hydrangea has some paid video weaving classes/tutorials that I'm drooling over- https://www.hellohydrangea.com/shop

The Weaving Loom had a free lace weave-a-long that I'm excited to try- https://www.theweavingloom.com/weave-along-part-1-double-warp-your-loom/

Schacht is currently hosting a free pillow sampler weave-a-long- https://www.schachtspindle.com/blog/pillow-sampler-weave-along-day-1/

Schacht had a free tapestry weave-a-long last spring that I participated in, and I had a blast! The instructions are still up- https://www.schachtspindle.com/blog/explore-tapestry-weave-along-week-1/

Flax & Twine has some paid video classes available that largely follow along with her books (which I own and adore!)- https://www.flaxandtwineshop.com/collections/video

Purl & Loop has some free patterns/tutorials on their website, and I'm not sure how much longer they'll be available (they're discontinuing their business), so get them while you can- https://purlandloop.com/collections/books

All of these tutorials and classes above use a combination of different tools. For example, some of Flax & Twine's classes don't even use a loom, or use one that you make out of cardboard. One of the Mollie Make's tutorials is weaving on a plain crocheted background. Most of the tutorials above use simple frame looms, and some even have instructions to make one! The Schacht tutorials use different looms- the pillow weave-a-long uses a rigid heddle loom and the tapestry weave-a-long uses a tapestry loom, although you could certainly adapt these for different types of looms. 

I hope you get some inspiration from some of the links above. I sure do! Please note- I haven't tried most of the links above yet, and I'm not a paid sponsor by any of the companies. Enjoy at your own risk.

Happy crafting! 

-fuzzydorff

It's Been a Long Time

Sorry to be silent for so long. Life has thrown a huge curve ball.

I regret to inform you that one half of FuzzyDorff Creations, my mother, passed away early this month after a brief battle with leukemia.

Due to this and the impending arrival of my little one, I am taking the Etsy shop offline and I probably won't be updating this blog much.

If you would like to stay abreast of anything going on in the business, please follow me on Twitter- @fuzzydorff or like my Facebook page: Fuzzy Dorff Creations. If I post something here I will put links in both of those places.

I still have antiques and handmade goods, made by myself and my mother, at the store Emma Rae's Antiques and Uniques. We also have barn boards available from our family's 100+ year-old barn that we are taking down piece by piece. Find me on Twitter or Facebook if you are interested in learning more.

Thank you for your support.

Happy Groundhog's Day

Apparently the groundhog did not see his shadow this morning, so shorter winter! It's very dreary here today, with lots of snow, sleet, and rain all mixed today with a lot of wind. The perfect day to curl up with some crafts and put your feet up.

Last month I started a beautiful beaded scarf, and I hope I finish it this month so I can show it off! I'm very excited about how it is turning out.

A lot of my time went to that, but I got a few smaller projects completed as well:

A couple blanket squares for a "someday" afghan using my Schacht Zoom Loom and some super soft acrylic blend:

A dishcloth with a Valentine's theme in some old leftover navy blue cotton:

A woven tapestry wall-hanging from a Mollie Makes (a UK magazine that I adore!) kit:

And a mini-skein (20 yards) of 2-ply Lincoln wool yarn that I spun on my new-to-me vintage Louet S10 spinning wheel:

I've got high hopes for crafting this month! Work has finally slowed down a bit, so here's hoping I have a lot more things to show you at the beginning of March!

Don't forget to check out our Etsy shop! My mother made some beautiful jewelry that we now have for sale there, we hope you like it!

Happy crafting!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Hello!

Back from a long absence. I spent the majority of December with different variations of colds and flus, and then January took off with a vengeance at work! I have been absolutely swamped. It's nice to get a chance to talk about crafts.

I currently have a spinning project on the wheel, two knitting projects on the needles, and a crochet project on the hook, plus two more knitting projects and a weaving project ready to go at a moment's notice. This isn't even counting a couple of long-term WIPs that I have in a blanket and a shawl that are currently languishing. They'll get done someday when I darn well feel like it. :-)

All I finished in December was a small cross-stitch project that I failed to photograph. It is one of those small kits with the circular plastic frame, and it has a cute baby bear asleep with a blanket and it says "Sweet Dreams". There is a picture at this website, which is not my own, but mine looks very similar to it. It is in the second row, right in the middle, titled Sweet Dreams.

I spent the rest of December trying out different techniques and stitch patterns. I'm going to be working on some new projects this late winter, and I wanted to be sure I knew what I was doing first. Lots of warm accessories are on the way!

I made a fun purchase last weekend. I found a knitted hat kit that came with a stuffed giraffe head topper- here is a picture of a finished one- that I'm looking forward to making for my own little one! I will be welcoming my first child in June. :-)

I look forward to showing you the beautiful projects I am currently working on! Check back soon!

Happy Holidays!

It doesn't feel like winter here today (our norm is 37 degrees F, today our high is 52 degrees), but I'm still getting in the holiday spirit. I still have shopping to do, eep!

As for crafting, there are a couple things I would like to get done for Christmas, but I'm not willing to craft myself to death to accomplish them, so we'll see what I can finish in a nice, leisurely way before then. :-)

Last month I made...

These cute crochet charm bracelets:

Some polymer clay buttons:

This cactus wall-hanging:

And some handmade soap and jewelry that I failed to capture in picture form. Foolish me! We'll see if I can snap a pic the next time I'm at Emma Rae's, the store where all of the jewelry is currently located, and the next time I'm home, where the soap is currently located.

I'm currently craft dabbling in the best way- I've got a cross-stitch WIP, a weaving WIP, and the yarn and needles for a pillow that are all being carried around in my craft bag. I hope to show you at least a couple of these by next month!

Stay warm, stay cozy, and stay happy! Happy crafting!

Tardy!

I am so sorry for my tardiness! The end of October was very busy, and then November didn't get off to any better of a start! I've been running ragged getting things done at my "real" job (darn real life getting in the way of my crafting time!) and the blog has just gone by the wayside. I'm here to remedy that!

In October I...

Finished knitting and assembling this cute flower pin:

Crocheted this dainty necklace for a beautiful fused-glass pendant:

Crocheted this tiny "horn" as a gag gift for a friend:

Spun up some recycled silk/wool blend yarn:

And continued working on the giant afghan I have currently on the hook. So much time on one item!!

I'm currently turning my attention towards Christmas presents, although I am going to make very few this year. My goal is to buy as many presents as possible on Etsy from other sellers. I need to support my fellow craftsperson!

What do you have on the needles or hook right now? Maybe you're weaving something amazing? Tell me about it! It's show and tell time! I want to hear about your crafty adventures.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I WILL be back here in no more than a couple weeks, I will!!

Happy crafting!

Leaves and pumpkins and ghosties, oh my!

Last weekend was the Pumpkin Festival, and it was a great experience! It was a little chilly and quite windy, which meant we couldn't display some things the way we really wanted to, but we were pleased with the turnout considering the conditions. We made money, and that's what counts, right?! :-)

On to the monthly wrap-up for September:

I made this colorful cotton dishcloth- $5 gets this beauty sent to you!

I made this neat wet-felted necklace for a class at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. So cool!

I knitted this hat from shiny red and black eyelash yarn to wear for the local school's football games. Go team!

I crocheted this reflective ear warmer- it can be yours for the low price of $15! Great for walking/jogging in the early morning or evenings.

I finger-knit this pretty braided scarf that can be sent your way ASAP for $15.

I finally finished knitting this cute monster for a friend. It's a bit tardy, I planned to give it to her in March, didn't start it until May, and didn't finish it until last week! Didn't it turn out cute?!

I started knitting a flower brooch, but I didn't finish by the end of the month. I got it done early this week, but you'll have to wait til November to see it's finished form! The petals were adorable and not nearly as much of a pain to sew together as I thought they would be. :-)

That's all for now. I made three contacts that I got excited about at the Pumpkin Festival, but I'll save that tale for another day.

Happy Crafting!