[Nfb-krafters-korner] classes and crafts

Sun Jan 9 12:20:06 UTC 2011

Hi Jean,

Here are some ideas to consider.

Finger knitting:  Sort of like loom knitting on a very short loom.  There
are no tools involved.  You use the fingers of one hand as if they were the
pegs of the loom.  You use the fingers of your other hand to wrap the yarn
around your fingers and pull the loops off.  This produces a long narrow
strip that can be attached to other strips to make a wider fabric.  You can
braid or twist strips together to make belts, bracelets, headbands, straps
for purses and other bags, and much more.  Here is a link that might be
helpful in helping you get a better concept of how this works.
http://pretty-ditty.blogspot.com/2008/07/finger-knitting.html

Macramé:  You can use yarn, twine, rope, ribbon, etc. and no tools except
for accessories that are specific to the project you are making.  Some
projects that can be made include flower pot holders, pouches to be hung on
the wall to hold things, purses and bags, belts, necklaces and bracelets,
and much more.

Knot tying:  Knots can be made using the same materials as macramé.  Macramé
does use knots also, but there is a world of knots that are outside of
macramé.  Knots can be practical items for holding things together, they can
add a decorative element to packages and such items as hats, purses and
bags, etc.  I have a toy for my dog guide that is a rope tied into a knot
called a Monkey's fist.

Woven Pot holders:  These use a square plastic loom and loops of material
that are placed on the loom and woven together.  One finished square can be
a pot holder or hot pad for under a hot pot.  Many squares attached to one
another can be used as a larger hot pad or a placemat. 

Hope this gives you some information to consider.

Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jean Parker
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 2:12 AM
To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] classes and crafts

Susan, Henrietta and others:

In answer to your question I am 10 and a half hours ahead of eastern time at
this time of year.  When America changes to day light time it changes to 9
and a half.

About what kind of crafts I like to do, this is a little complicated.  I did
some crafts growing up but nothing in quite some time.  That is why I joined
the list, to find out what other blind people do and learn some things.  I
feel the need to do something creative.. 

There are many things I have to consider when deciding what to take up.
Although I have electricity much of the time these days we do have problems
with it so a craft or activity should be something that is not reliant on
power.  It should be something where the instructions are either accessible
already or where they can easily be made accessible.  Although I have a lot
of sighted assistance, their reading abilities in English are not
sophistocated enough to explain paterns or detailed and complicated
directions.  Somehow I doubt that Joanne's and the like have their patterns
and directions translated into Hindi or Marathi.  It should be something
where the equipment and supplies are available locally or easily obtained
from abroad.  Electrical equipment for a craft or hobby purchased in America
is the wrong voltage so the expense of a voltage converter must be
considered.  .  Sending things to India is prohibatively expensive so
typical mail order is not an option for us.  With
 the safety pin beading kits for example, Joyce and I are exploring the
possibility of having them despatched through the US Embassy in Bombay as
her daughter works for the State Department.  Since they are small and light
this might work nicely.  Even if things or equipment is sent from abroad
there are customs fees to be paid and often things go missing in customs as
well.  So sometimes after patiently waiting several months for something to
arrive it never does appear.  Fedex etc provide better assurance but like I
said the expense is so high only the corporations and wealthy people can
afford it.  It used to be that things could be brought in personal luggage
but new restrictions have made this difficult as well.   

Another aspect is whether something can be replicated here.  If I have a
safety pin kit for example, I can take that to the market and get the
correct size of pins and so forth for future projects.  I am terible at
metric conversions so it's better to show someone what is needed rather than
to ask for it by number.   

Another reason I was interested in classes on this list is because even if I
identified a craft I wanted to do, finding someone to teach it to me is very
difficult.  Classes for such things are huge.  This is a country of well
over a billion people annd everything is done in a crowd.  

It should be portable.  I have to move house often and travel a lot.  Having
a setup for making candles for example would be a real problem.  We live in
close quarters here, space is at a premium.  With some sort of beading I can
have a container fabricated to hold everything in place and slide it into a
back sack. These and other questions have to be considered when deciding
what craft to work on.

So that is a long answer to what I'm sure was meant to be a simple question.
I am not complaining, I choose to live here with all its challenges, for
reasons beyond the scope of this list.  But that in a nutshell, is why I
joined the list and was interested in taking classes. 

Jean
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