crafty folks of Perth

[Nyxkat]

Hi!

So we are looking at relocating to Perth in late August this year. I am a crafter and very much into my crochet and sewing, as well as recycling and upcycling etc. (I have made coasters out of the seams of old jeans etc).

I am looking to get out and be social with other crafters ans I am curious if there's anything like a what we tend to call a stitch and b*ch (you get the idea) where people meet up and do crafts and socialise.

Pic for posting about crafting tax hehe

Edit: I should probably add we will be around the fremantle area for our first year ish.

TIA

Nix

Edited March 25, 2021 by Nyxkat
Edited To Add area

[Quoll]

Can’t help you with WA specifically but lots of stitch and b*tch sessions around here!  Try FB or Ravelry to see if there are groups on there which may meet in person - they’re often called “knitting” groups but usually generally much more eclectic.  If you can find a craft/yarn shop in the vicinity they’ll know where groups meet - around here they tend to meet in clubs, craft shops and even libraries. 
If you have a favourite type of yarn for crochet (like style craft dk) then stock up before you come. You’ll find Lincraft and Spotlight stores for supplies which are like Hobbycraft and there are some WA local yarn shops which sell on line so there will likely be bricks and mortar ones. 
 

I found that craft groups were my way into social connections when I went back to U.K. and then returned here.  You might even find that there are some Zoom craft groups going which might start you off in the area you’ll be heading for (maybe email a craft shop in the area and ask if they know of any Zooms (we have a couple in Canberra but the time difference is a pain!)

 

[ali]

A colleague at work does this - I think a google or FB search would probably give you a few hits.

[newjez]

My mum belonged to a craft group.

You seem to get a lot of that sort of stuff in the hills in Perth. I remember there being a craft fair.

There is a fantastic pottery shop in Guildford too, they get their stuff from local potters.

Edited March 26, 2021 by newjez

[Nyxkat]

Thank you, there's some great advice here! The only thing I am struggling to cull ruthlessly is my crafting stuff haha.

I know there's a couple of crafty shops in freo so they will be a good place to start too.

I have been frantically crafting to use up my materials rather than sell or donate them haha. The made goods will be gifts for the several birthdays we have coming up before we go.

I just finished this last night

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by Nyxkat

[newjez]

4 hours ago, Nyxkat said:

Thank you, there's some great advice here! The only thing I am struggling to cull ruthlessly is my crafting stuff haha.

I know there's a couple of crafty shops in freo so they will be a good place to start too.

I have been frantically crafting to use up my materials rather than sell or donate them haha. The made goods will be gifts for the several birthdays we have coming up before we go.

I just finished this last night

 

Card making is popular too.

My parents both make cards. That is one thing you will struggle to find in Perth shops, decent cards at affordable prices.

[Nyxkat]

19 hours ago, newjez said:

Card making is popular too.

My parents both make cards. That is one thing you will struggle to find in Perth shops, decent cards at affordable prices.

That's interesting to know. It is something I didn't really notice a lack of when out there both times on holiday but I suppose that's not what you look for on holiday. I haven't really got into card making but I have a friend here who makes them and teaches classes, perhaps I should do a couple haha.

[Marisawright]

On 03/04/2021 at 23:40, Nyxkat said:

Thank you, there's some great advice here! The only thing I am struggling to cull ruthlessly is my crafting stuff haha.

Have you thought about how you're going to ship your stuff?  If you're getting your own container, then don't cull your crafting materials - pack the lot and bring them.  I'm not a crafter but I've heard that materials are more expensive here, especially yarns.  

Ditto if you're getting a Movecube (which comes highly recommended here).   You pack that yourself, and you will find you have lots of odd nooks and crannies to fill.

[Quoll]

I agree with Marisawright - don’t cull your craft stuff, especially not yarn, beads or fabrics! I brought 35kg of yarn over in our movecube and if I’d known then what I know now, I’d  have lashed outa day put in another 35kg! 

[Nyxkat]

I will have to investigate a move cube, never heard of one.  Thanks for the info.

Fabric wise I don't have a massive amount. Probably around 7 to 10 kilos I'm just slow to sew it up. I am planning on shipping the good quality stuff I have left over but not the cheaper stuff or scraps. I will likely be getting a fair bit of fabric at op shops too reusing materials etc.

Re my yarn it definitely needs a reshuffle at least. I bought a lot of balls when I first started but only one of each design so it's not enough for bigger stuff and is very bits and bobs like. I'm working on a few projects to use some of these up and I try now when I buy wool to get at least 3 skiens of yarn to be able to make something decent with it .

There's definitely going to be a discussion on shipping and a potential yarn shop if its really that expensive out there for yarn. I have a lot less stuff and if he does take the car I might be able to convince him I can just fill the back with wool 

 

[Marisawright]

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/moving/movecube

If you're taking the car then you're taking a container all to yourself, so you should have plenty of room unless you're a real hoarder.  However most cars arent worth bringing, so be sure to post in the car section to check it out:

By the way, I see you have cats. Have you got quarantine organised?  It's booked out months in advance, to the point where you're now advised to book your pets in first before you try to bok your own flights.

[Nyxkat]

33 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/moving/movecube

If you're taking the car then you're taking a container all to yourself, so you should have plenty of room unless you're a real hoarder.  However most cars arent worth bringing, so be sure to post in the car section to check it out:

By the way, I see you have cats. Have you got quarantine organised?  It's booked out months in advance, to the point where you're now advised to book your pets in first before you try to bok your own flights.

Yup! kitties are being taken care of by Pet Air. They are working on the import permits now then will be booking quarrantine for the kitties. We're not going until late August as the cats would not have been ready to fly until early August anyway. 

Thank you for the links I will investigate those.

[Quoll]

Bringing a car, unless it is something very special is likely to be a waste of time and money.  Yarn on the other hand - if your go-to yarns are Stylecraft, Drops, Rico, James C Brett then bring loads because they’re all great yarns and you can’t get them here (not easily anyway). 

[Nyxkat]

On 05/04/2021 at 22:46, Quoll said:

Bringing a car, unless it is something very special is likely to be a waste of time and money.  Yarn on the other hand - if your go-to yarns are Stylecraft, Drops, Rico, James C Brett then bring loads because they’re all great yarns and you can’t get them here (not easily anyway). 

Yeah he is mulling that over to be fair. It's a BMW convertible so apparently very desirable over there. It's more whether it's worth the hassle.

Honestly I haven't got a favourite brand as such for yarn, though stylecraft has always been nice. I go by colour and texture mostly.  I do have a soft spot for cake yarns though (like Caron cakes) as I love the ways they colour shift. I have a bunch of stylecraft tweed super chunky xl I may get some more of as it is so soft. It crochet and loom knits up a dream.

[Quoll]

1 hour ago, Nyxkat said:

Yeah he is mulling that over to be fair. It's a BMW convertible so apparently very desirable over there. It's more whether it's worth the hassle.

Honestly I haven't got a favourite brand as such for yarn, though stylecraft has always been nice. I go by colour and texture mostly.  I do have a soft spot for cake yarns though (like Caron cakes) as I love the ways they colour shift. I have a bunch of stylecraft tweed super chunky xl I may get some more of as it is so soft. It crochet and loom knits up a dream.

Interestingly, not very many convertibles here at all. Most people don’t want the exposure to the sun when driving and much prefer to drive in air conditioned comfort! 
You can get Caron cakes and the like from Spotlight and Lincraft have their own version.  I’ve found an almost Stylecraft replacement in Fiddlesticks 8 which crochets up quite nicely but marginally heavier. Although on the other side of the country from where you will be Bendigo Woollen Mills has a reputation for being good workhorse yarns (and their back room in person has some nice little gems!) and they do online although the demand because of COVID means they’re a bit overwhelmed at the mo. 

[rammygirl]

We brought our Audi TT convertible and love driving her round the Adelaide Hills. Unlike in the Uk it is possible in winter to drive with top down too. We see quite a few convertibles up here and have been asked many times if we want to sell. She is getting old now though and a little temperamental!

We used Iron Chef to organise and didn’t put her in a container but sent her via car transport. 

[Nyxkat]

Yeah I think he is settled on using iron chef if he moves the bratty car (long story but I swear his car dislikes me lol).

I plan on going to the Saturday craft market in freo if it is still going when we arrive and pass quarrantine. I can locate yarn crafters and sew types there to ask too. And I know there's at least one crafty artisan shop.

I am also hoping I can take my crochet hooks and some wool with me on the flight so I have something to do in quarantine. I know there's some restrictions on this sort of thing and they would go in the hold not my hand luggage.

Edited April 17, 2021 by Nyxkat
corrected typo

[Quoll]

13 hours ago, Nyxkat said:

I am also hoping I can take my crochet hooks and some wool with me on the flight so I have something to do in quarantine. I know there's some restrictions on this sort of thing and they would go in the hold not my hand luggage.

I take knitting needles all the time and never had a problem. Not tried a crochet hook but i should think if you've got a wooden or bamboo one you dont mind losing, take that in your carry on rather than a nice metal one. Dental floss boxes double for scissors unless you've got a clover cutter.  You'll defo need yarn in quarantine - vacuum packing it takes less space!