#or crochet with wool yarn

[smile-files]

rant alert!!!!!!!!!!!

something that's been really bothering me lately is how capitalism is hardcore exploiting our generation's desire to explore/create identity

like aesthetic culture is nice on paper but in practice it just means buying a butt load of stuff that we don't need. like, say i like cottagecore, and by extension the strawberry shortcake franchise. it isn't enough for me to just say i like them aesthetically, or whatever -- i have to buy clothes and merchandise or what have you for that part of my identity to feel tangible. i need to be able to embody this aesthetic in every part of my being for it to feel real

and i've interacted with enough brand instagram accounts (such as the strawberry shortcake instagram) to know that companies are all over creating aesthetic, nostalgic nonsense to sell to us, knowing we'll buy anything cutesy that panders to us and the things we like. and we can't help but feed into it. and they act all relatable and gen-z-core too which doesn't help

consumerism drives me nuts, all the more so because i actively partake in it. i love collecting stuff, especially stuffed animals, but adding to the collection with new items involves spending money on a bunch of plastic and polyester things that take up space and will end up in a landfill someday. like, sure, i like them, and people know for sure that i love stuffed animals when they know i have over 100 of them and keep buying them, but if i'm being completely honest i don't get as much out of them as i'd like to think i do. i'm considering making a photo/drawing catalog of all of the plushies i have now and donating the ones who'd do better in a different home! the same applies to all of the toys i have as well

when i was little i used to collect rocks and sticks and pine cones... things in nature that are just as cool and give me just as much joy as my stuffed animals and toys but a) don't take up a huge amount of space b) don't cost money c) don't hurt the environment and d) don't feed into the capitalist, consumerist black hole that's quickly eating us all

honestly... and this might be a hot take... but the whole concept of "aesthetics" that's been on the internet in recent years that has compelled ourselves to shape our wardrobes and possessions in favor of a pretty, inhuman ideal that supposedly affirms our identities is likely just a project by Big Consumerism to get us to buy more stuff that we think makes us feel more like ourselves. like yeah we all deserve to have our own style and our own tastes but that should not necessitate buying 15 billion new outfits from your local target to prove to yourself or anyone else that it's your style and tastes. buying a dropshipped mushroom nightlight off of amazon does not make you any more of a cottagecore girly than someone who doesn't. we shouldn't all be trying to fool each other over instagram reels that we all perfectly fit this aesthetic with our cool clothes and knickknacks and random decorations and be constantly jealous of each other

and it all just feeds into fast fashion and non-sustainably-made products and all that... like if companies know we'd buy anything that fits our aesthetic they'll throw out any notion of making lasting goods that aren't made of plastic and garbage and the blood of innocent baby animals or whatever. we keep eating it up. and we keep buying more and more of it to create an every-expanding hoard of objects that supposedly reflect every facet of our soul

(and i know it's the companies' fault at the end of the day! but i do think we, as individuals, have to think about how we happily succumb to it!)

i'm starting to think that my happiest life would be one lived with a small handful of cool clothes (as it is, most of the clothes i find cool are old ones my aunt sends me or ones i thrift), a small handful of stuffed animals i have a genuine love for (e.g. barry, any homemade plushie), and a gargantuan collection of nature stuff like rocks and sticks and pine cones. i can't help wanting to collect -- i'm like a dragon! but what i can help is what i choose to collect, what system i choose to feed into. i have a huge love for stuffed animals, but if anything, i'm doing a disservice to them and my appreciation for them by repeatedly buying new, low quality ones which i ultimately don't care much about -- and having fewer of them by no means diminishes how much they mean to me. one should not judge a fan by the amount of merchandise they've bought, after all

we are trying to live vicariously through our stuff, which isn't surprising given the hellish socioeconomic landscape, but it only makes us languish and look at devices all day and buy useless stuff and not try to make our lives actually good. this is what capitalism wants!!! augh!!!!

also... folks can't buy sustainable stuff because it often costs more and is less widely sold. but whose fault is that? capitalism!!!!! they could make wool cheaper than polyester for all they cared!!!!!!! they could get rid of money altogether!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i don't really know what i want to say in all of this... but i care about nature and i care about being genuinely happy and digging my own grave in an aesthetic landfill does nothing for that

[ancient-art-of-craft]

Yarn for Christmas?

An open PSA to anyone with crafting friends (and isn't really sure what they like):

DON'T BUY THEM YARN

Part of the hobby is the purchasing yarn, which some might argue buying yarn and using yarn are two different hobbies. "But OP," you might argue, "I just know they'll love the Red Heart Super Saver I got on sale at Joann's! One skein should be plenty, and they can make me a sweater!"

This is one of those rare cases where a gift card to their favorite yarn store is more personal. First off, nothing against Red Heart, but if they're a yarn snob, it's going to collect dust. If they're a project-oriented purchaser, it's going to collect dust. If they like to buy yarn, then it's just mean.

Also, NEVER imply that your crafting friend should make something for you. If they love you, they will. If they don't, then you're not close enough to be making expensive demands.

[littlealienproducts]

Organic Earth Inspired Yarns by MeliorFiberStudio

[pigeonsparty]

Full Bloom

If you liked this video, consider buying me a coffee!

Link below~

[itscolossal]

In ‘Wharenui Harikoa,’ Lissy & Rudi Crochet a Māori ‘House of Joy’ From 5,000 Balls of Wool

[ezekiellsplayground]

Completed crochet shawl made using my handspun. Yarn is WoW Dragons Breath colourway which is 80% merino and 20% mulberry silk.

Pattern is the Darjeeling Tea shawl by RedTeaPotAtelier.

[saltedsnailstudio]

@gloryhands booth for their first Massachusetts market looked so damn incredible, had to share these shots. I watch them make absolutely wild stuff every day and it looks so pretty all laid out together!!!!!!

[freshstitches]

[nim-lock]

progress on making a blanket for my grandmother :0

[knithacker]

Clever Crafter's Wool Cheat Sheet - Which Animal Produces What

[tiahnaparisart]

🧡🩷 GROOVY BABY! 🩷🧡

This was my second ever foray into crochet and quite a bold project, both in color and scope. So, so many ends to weave in, and no set pattern for this one, though there are others online who have given recreating from the screen a go and who have been very helpful - see my Ko-Fi post (link in bio) for more details, including my attempt at writing it up.

Though definitely shagadelic, it's not perfect - l'd love to try blocking it to get some of the trim to sit with some more flounce but ran out of time before the event I wore it to. I may add a layer or two to the sleeves to make them more dramatically 60s flared, but for now, I'm thrilled!

I secured the dress to my shoulders with clutch fashion glue (not sponsored, just happy to have a product that works!) and it seemed to work a treat- can't wait to have a play with this some more, especially for temporary hemming and other fun textile work.

[mysticbatmakes]

Finally picked a project to make with my Haunted colorway, so I had an excuse to cake them.

And then also broke down/remembered to buy a black light to take pictures...

Did I mention that Haunted is UV reactive??

[i-am-mysticbat]

I dyed this to pair with Haunted, and named it Batty.

I dyed these as they were twisted up, so the black and grey would not get to everything... I originally wanted to dye pastels into the white spots, but liked how smokey this felt.

50g sock yarn mini.

[pigeonsparty]

Ahhh I haven't really been focusing on my spinning lately, and my other crafts don't really lend themselves to filming in the same way.

Nonetheless please enjoy a break from my regularly scheduled Invader Zim posting for a spinning video!

[mothyandthesquid]

“Turquoise Sea”, a new batch with slightly a bluer overall appearance. This is the aran, but it’s also available on sock. I have dyed plenty of yarn to bring to @thewoolmontyshow, buying in extra to make sure I have an amazing selection. The shop is stocked to bursting with beautiful colours so now is a great time to look if you won’t be at the show.

[ezekiellsplayground]

Finished crochet snails! Beetlejuice snail is heading for the soft toy category in the 2025 Royal, because I think it’ll look hilarious sitting amongst a bunch of crochet teddies/dolls. Mini skull snail is made using a mix of leftover shawl yarns and last years xmas advent yarns.