Fandom Snowflake Challenge

[queer_scribbling]

Day #3: Create a wish list of fandom things (podfic, graphics, playlists, canon recs, translations, research help, vids, sky's the limit!) that you'd like to receive.

Area: Fan Crafts (specifically knitting). What would you recommend to someone thinking of trying this out? Do you have more experience with fan crafts based on something in canon, or have you made a fan craft inspired by another fanwork?

Feel free to share community resources for multifandom or panfandom knitting projects, Ravelry specific tips, personal experiences with not relying on a pre-existing pattern, experiences with knitting something in a fandom event that includes 'fan crafts' as an acceptable fanwork type, or something reasonably on topic.

Area: Fanwork Recommendations. I'd like to see what people can rustle up for Ghosts - either the UK show or US show. It can be a fanfic, your favourite piece of art, a lovely gifset, podfic, meta, a fanmix for a particular character, or whatever you feel like sharing in the comments.

Area: Financial Support. Please consider donating to Miraheze's fundraiser, or if you are unable to do so, please share info for the fundraiser with others. At the time of making this post, they're at 14% of the way and have raised 1,376.89 USD out of a goal of 10,000 USD. You can use DonorBox, Github, Ko-Fi, or PayPal.

Comments

[muccamukk]

I'd never heard of Mirahaze before! It's so much nicer than that stupid fandom.com wiki with 9000 ads and the jankiest editing function in the world.

[queer_scribbling]

I heard about it on Pillowfort in the Web Discussions community.

I think I first saw it mentioned in a post about the Indie Wiki Buddy extension, which can automatically redirect you to or just notify you that an independent wiki has an alternative to the Fandom Wiki or Fextralife page you're looking at. (It also supports BreezeWiki, which stops ads on Fandom Wiki.)

[marginaliana]

I've done a lot of fan crafts (both cross-stitch and knitting) and I think my number one recommendation is that if you're not used to making your own patterns, start with something existing and then adjust to make it what you want. It's much less daunting if you don't have to reinvent the wheel! Start with an easy shawl pattern and then figure out a design to add and how you want to do it. Change a color, switch to purl instead of knit for a more subtle look, etc.

Also, it's going to take longer than you think, no matter what the project is. In my opinion it's not a good idea to do fan crafts for a deadline, especially if you're the kind of person who goes through multiple rounds of "oh, and also it would be neat if I..." (I am very guilty of this!) Have it be something you make because you enjoy the making, first and foremost.

[queer_scribbling]

Thanks. I think I'm still more in the stage of following someone else's pattern, but I'll try to keep this in mind if I branch out to adapting a pattern for fannish details in the future.

I'm not really used to trying to get my knitting sphere and my fandom sphere to meet, but I probably won't try to make something for an event as my first potential fan craft. I imagine it can't be too different from making a gift for a relative before Xmas, but I've also had the ability to take however long I need in order to finish gifts.

Wish Granted!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Fan Crafts (specifically knitting). What would you recommend to someone thinking of trying this out? Do you have more experience with fan crafts based on something in canon, or have you made a fan craft inspired by another fanwork? <<

I recommend thinking about your skill level, and what about your favorite fandoms will be instantly recognizable to other fans. Garments worn by characters are often easier than actual soft-sculpture knitting.

Definitely check out crafty on DW.

My fan crafts have more often been sewing or jewelry, but I love looking at friends' fibercrafts.

You can't go wrong with a classic Dr. Who scarf. Easy for beginners.

Freeform Knitting
Suitable for any skill level. Choose colors from your fandom, and even geometric shapes, then scribble with yarn.

Wednesday Addams Vest Knitting Pattern
Intermediate, not as crazy as soft sculpture knitting.

13 Witchy Knitting Patterns
Variable skill levels.

Star Wars Knitting Patterns
Variable skill levels.

Fantastical Creature Knitting Patterns
Mostly intermediate to advanced.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Dish Cloth Knitting Patterns
These are fairly simple.

Crochet a hyperbolic coral reef. It looks crazy complicated but is actually as simple as stuffing two new stitches into one previous stitch. Perfect for math, geometry, fibercraft, or nature fans.

Chemistry nerd? Nature fan? Try dyeing your own yarn with natural materials. Does not have to be fancy, I used to tie-dye T-shirts by throwing handfuls of fallen mulberries in a plastic bag with the cloth.