Hobbies and Tips and Tricks

I very rarely post on here so don't know whether there has been a recent thread regarding this. So I will be bold and ask if we can start a thread telling each other about our hobbies and what accessories we use and find helpful or would recommend either because of our limited disability (have weak wrists and painful elbows and shoulders which cause my muscles to tire quickly) or just find useful. Also to ask for any recommendations too.

So I will start off, I do a bit if sewing, I sew mainly dog coats.

I use a travel iron to press seams but if anybody could suggest a ‘proper iron’ that is lightweight also a good sturdy iron board that is lightweight but sturdy.

My main tip is instead of using pins or the expensive clips I use hair grips and the metal hair clips which you can buy really cheaply

I also read an interesting tip from a blog that I have yet to try that instead of using weights to hold down your pattern use table knives instead! I will try that this week so watch this space ..

So what hobbies do you have and spill the beans about accessories you have found really works and can recommend or tips regarding your hobbies?

[sylvi]

I do adult colouring in books and i use glitter gel pens instead of crayons. We have a press to do our ironing, best investment we ever made.xxx

[Boxerlady in reply to sylvi]

I've started using my husband's old Kindle; he suggested me getting one ages ago but I resisted thinking that I'd miss the sensation of holding a real book. However, I was struggling to hold a book when reading in bed last thing at night so tried it and it's great; nice to be able to change the text size too. Then discovered the free mags (we have Prime) so read those on the tab during the day.

I like doing the puzzles in the i every day but sometimes struggle to hold a pen. As we're subscribers, we get the online version as well as vouchers so I can do the puzzles on the tab on bad days.

[Pippy25]

Im currently revisiting jigsaws, not good with the 1000 piece ones but more the larger size piece puzzles that I can handle better. I love arrow words and the Yours magazine which since the virus I have subscribed to for a year. You can but the digital version too, but I prefer a physical copy. I enjoy colouring and making memory books of visits, holidays, with pictures, photos physical objects and writing, but that has come to a standstill at the moment. I love craft in general, but know for me pacing myself and doing little spurts works best. Again as to gadgets and gizmos it's always best to experiment as to what works best for you when doing an activity. Thanks for posting Crazydog and take care.

[Gnarli]

Hi Crazydog. When the wrists allow I enjoy crochet but the main hobby is knitting. I find it keeps my hands supple and if they're sore I don't do it for too long at a time. Having just finished a larger piece I'm currently doing blankets, cardigans and other bits and bobs for premature babies.

[Bookworm55 in reply to Gnarli]

Yes I’m a knitter - mostly baby blankets at the moment. Can’t do it when my hands are really sore but find it’s good to keep them moving otherwise. Stop when hands start to ache!

[Gnarli in reply to Bookworm55]

Oh lovely! I like doing blankets as it's so calming I find. Almost like meditation

[Hidden]

I used to love knitting, I would do dog coats for a rescue centre and. Put ‘please adopt me’ on the coats. I started knitting when I was in the ‘Infants’ and we all made teddy bears and continued till I was about 45. Knitting kept me sane through many hospital admissions through my childhood and adulthood. When I was young I would knit dolls clothes and my family fingerless gloves and jumpers but hated sewing them up. My Mum spend a lot of time dutifully sewing all the item I churned out.

I don’t know if anybody remember them, but I used to get these spanish dolls which you had to pin sequins on to make up their clothes. Childhood summers laying on a sunbed occupying myself with those.

I had to eventually give up knitting, I went from needles to knitting on a round ‘loom’ but even that got too painful so now I sew.

I still do dog coats but for the Cinnamon Trust , although in very limited numbers.

Gnarli - I’ve always wanted to crochet but my fingers are like sausages and never could get the knack of it - my one crafting regret is never being able to crochet, I tried so many times but just wasn’t meant to be.

[Gnarli]

You can't be good at everything can you? My Nan taught me more years ago than I care to remember. I'm not that proficient but I do enjoy it. Tunisian crochet, though, is a different thing altogether. I don't get that at all. You Tube is brilliant at demonstrating these things

[Hessie5]

I haven't any main hobbies but a couple of days ago decided to open my mum’s old sewing machine, it's about 40 years old brand Necchi - I remember as a child she was always on it making clothes - the smell of the material still wafted wonderfully as it was revealed. Now I can't sew for toffee and keen to learn, it appears to still work 😃

So may take up a my new found hobby just need to learn how to thread it, use a bobbin etc as well as sew he he, any tips welcome ☺️

[Gnarli in reply to Hessie5]

You Tube. It's amazing what is on there. I hope the manual is still with the machine because that would be useful. Keep it simple with cushion covers or similar to start. Enjoy

[weymouth321]

Cake Baking - just lodge down the grease proof paper in the tin with 2 knives crossways - as this will hold its shape until time to spoon in the mixture ( saving time not having to grease the tin first )