Craft binge temptation often hard to resist

I’m doomed. I have all the symptoms – I’d rather craft than eat. I’ve begun thinking in multiples of the number of items I can make in any given crafting session. I lie awake at night calculating how many lavender sachets I can get from X amount of silk fabric and how many packets of beads I will need to embellish the edges of the sachets. I’m a victim of binge crafting.

When I first heard of binge crafting from Heather, one of the members of my Stitch ‘n Bitch group, I thought, “NEVER! I’m too wise to get caught up in THAT. I’ll just say NO.” Yeah, right.

I have been unable to determine who invented binge crafting, but if Heather didn’t, then she most certainly has perfected it. She admits to bingeing on beeswax candles, kitchen angels – the ones with bay leaf wings, cinnamon stick arms and legs, and cloves for hair – cross-stitch Christmas ornaments, and baskets she made by the dozen.

If you are worried that you are or may become a binge crafter, ask yourself these questions:

. Is your glue gun plugged in 24 hours a day?

. Do you hide your craft supply stash from your children so you don’t have to share?

. When you make a gift, is it impossible for you to make just one, you make enough for everyone in your family, everyone at work and still have enough to donate to a church fair?

. Do your assembly line techniques make those at automobile manufacturers look like they’re designed by novices?

. Do you do it, as Heather said, until you can’t stand it anymore?

If you answered yes to one of these questions, you’re on the binge-crafting edge. If you answered yes to ALL these questions, you’re doomed. Get used to it. Or get help – because binge crafting is a whole lot more fun if you can enlist the aid of a few of your crafty friends.

If you’ve identified yourself as a binge crafter, you may not want to continue reading, because now I’m going to tell you how to make lavender sachets.

You will need lavender buds which you can buy at craft stores or online; small amounts of elegant materials such as lace, linen, silk and-or taffeta; embroidery floss or narrow silk embroidery ribbon to harmonize with the fabrics you select; and seed beads in luscious colors.

Cut out rectangles of fabric measuring about 61/2 inches by 4 inches. Hem one long edge, which is the top of the sachet. Fold the fabric in half and stitch the bottom and side closed. Turn it right side out. Fill with lavender. By hand and using embroidery floss or silk embroidery ribbon, gather the fabric with a running stitch near the top edge. Tie tightly. Sew beads at intervals around the top edge. Embellish in other ways, if you desire – and believe me, as a binge crafter, you’ll want to.

Snippets

Cross-stitchers, don’t despair. Although Joanna Wilhelm closed her shop, In Stitches, in Bucksport this summer and moved to Tennessee, her shop will open on the Web in September at www.institches-online.com. Meanwhile, she suggests that stitchers try these shops:

. Mainely Needleworks in Winthrop, 377-8280.

. Stitcher’s Corner in Wiscasset, 882-4141.

. Willow’s End in Boothbay Harbor, 633-2880.

She also suggests online shops: www.stitchesnthings.com, www.threadexpress.com,

www.homespunsamplar.com, www.wyndhamneedleworks.com, and www.shakespearespeddler.com.

Here’s an openwork rib pattern for knitters. Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches.

Row 1: *Knit 3, purl 1, repeat across row.

Row 2: *Knit 1, purl 3, repeat across row.

Row 3: *YO to make 1 stitch, sl 1, knit 2 tog, YO, purl 1, repeat across row.

Row 4: *Knit 1, purl 3, repeat across row.

Ardeana Hamlin welcomes comments, suggestions and ideas. Call her at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.