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You know, no matter how much you enjoy and love your chosen craft I think there's always one or two things about it that are a bit of proverbial pain. The things that really bug you about it and become a bit of a bane for you. For knitters it seems to be things like knitting tension squares, sewing up seams or even weaving in ends. I don't really mind any of those things, for me my bane is pilling. 
Oh my lordy, how I shudder at the sight of pilled knitwear. I cannot stand the way it blurs the fabric and you lose the stitch definition. Lovely defined stitches are like sunshine. Pilling is a bit like an unmade bed for me, it's just one of those things I can't bear the sight of. I have to change it. Making beds is pretty easy but I have to tell you over the years I have battled the pill in a pretty major way. I've tried everything from picking them off to ezy-combs to razors to those little battery operated depillers you can get in the haby sections of supermarkets and big sewing stores. While I've had limited success it has been tedious though, mind numbingly tedious.AQnd given my love for super-soft merino yarns, that was a bit of a problem. 
And then I discovered something almost akin to magic. An Electric Depiller. An electric depiller that made the whole process bearable; not just bearable, but almost possibly pleasurable. There is something super satisfying in seeing your pilled knitted item rejuvenated and brought back to life, as if it was new again. Something oh so very satisfying. Perhaps even a little addictive. I love the ease of this little machine. I've given mine a really good work out over the years and I know I've blogged about it at least once and also raved on about it on Facebook and Instagram quite recently. I really do just love this little machine that much. It means my kids can wear my sample garments as much as they like, get them as pilly and dirty as they are want to do. A good wash and depill and they are ready for action again, or to even front up at a trunk show. THAT really is testament to how well this thing works. 
I use my depiller regularly. At the moment it has a semi-permanent place plugged in near my dining table. This week I've on a number of occasions given the kids jumpers a quick depill before they set off for kinder and school. I've depilled so well that in preparation for this post, I couldn't find a pilled garment anywhere. But I did find Lily's favourite rug. This rug is so loved and cuddled and snuggled; she can't sleep without it. If your kid is going to love a knitted rug so much it's probably not a great idea to knit it in a loose garter stitch in the softest organic merino you can find. It is oh so beautiful but it does pill like crazy. Hugging tends to do that. 
My electric depiller of choice is the Classic 50 Fabric Shaver from The Fabric Care Company, a company with a commitment to Australian products. What I love about this depiller is that you can buy extra blades, which means this becomes less of a disposable product. For me, both those factors about this company are important. I'd much rather purchase from a company with a commitment to quality production. 
The lovely people at The Fabric Care Company have generously given me a Classic 50 Shaver with a spare blade to give away to my blog readers. I was a bit stoked that they gave me a new one to keep for myself as well! To enter all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling me: What is the bane of your crafting existence? Entries will close in a week's time, Wednesday August 7th at midnight AEST. Entries are only open to residents of Australia and New Zealand. 
Paula
30/7/2013 05:03:46 pm
Hi Tikki, I do have to say that piling is a real bugbear of mine at the moment too ;-) (henniepennie on Ravelry)
Kelly
30/7/2013 05:04:54 pm
My bane is having to add bits to my finished item to finish it (zips, buttons and so on) I have just given away a pair of overalls missing their buttons, a hoody missing its zip and a pair of longies missing its drawstring tie that I knit for my now 2 year old son because I put them down to finish 'soon' ..... um yeah.
Rachel
30/7/2013 05:06:13 pm
Oh how I want one of these babies! 2 rough little boys and a love of soft yummy yarn means lots and lots of manky looking knits in my house!
Melanie Watt
30/7/2013 05:06:57 pm
I hate stitching seams! I can never get them right!
Kylie / Khai on Rav
30/7/2013 05:08:35 pm
Ooh, I need a depiller so bad!
Briony
30/7/2013 05:10:14 pm
The bane of my crafting is weaving in ends!!!! Sometimes an item will sit, practically finished, until those pesky ends are woven in. 30/7/2013 05:15:40 pm
Oh the bane of my crafting existent was seaming until I found seamless knits now it would be sewing in ends and an ever increasing case of cast-on-itis resulting in far too many WIPs. Thanks!!
Sandy
30/7/2013 05:21:51 pm
Sewing, anything that involves using a sewing needle, weaving in ends, seaming. I've even been known to use a crochet hook to attach pocket linings just to avoid the sewing lol
Adré
30/7/2013 05:39:09 pm
Katherine Bishop
30/7/2013 05:54:06 pm
Sewing up & finishing my knitted garments. Which is partly why I love Tikki patterns so much! :)
pyrrha
30/7/2013 06:01:35 pm
It seems odd, but for me starting a project is an issue. Making a decision of what I should make next from the millions of patterns out there, and what yarn to use from my stash - sometimes I spend hours just looking through patterns trying to make a decision. Then winding yarn, finding needles, swatching... 30/7/2013 06:46:26 pm
The thing I loathe is sewing together pieces! I have to sew seamless these days because piecing something together is tedious! A bit of kitchener I can cope with, but no mattress/whip stitching here thank you! And buttons...I'm terrible at buttons!
Julia aka j-j
30/7/2013 06:47:41 pm
I meant KNIT seamless, not sew. Sewing stuff up must've been on the brain! 1/8/2013 01:44:59 pm
I was thinking that sewing seamless must be a magical talent of yours ;) tehe
Trudi
30/7/2013 06:48:21 pm
The bane of my crafting existence? Having to do housework and go to work when I really want to be knitting instead.
Emma
30/7/2013 06:48:33 pm
Ohhh it would have to be seaming, I am far far too impatient to take the time to do it nicely (and therefore tend to avoid patterns that require too much seaming). Oh and sewing on buttons!
Robyn (RobM on Rav)
30/7/2013 06:55:29 pm
Well seaming used to be my bugbear but Ive discovered the joys of seamless knitting, loving your patterns for this reason among others (like theyre practical for small children, they are interesting to knit etc! lol) And pilling is my bugbear too. I have a pile of things in the back of the ironing cupboard that I wont put on my grand children or wear because they are so pilly!!!!
Emily
30/7/2013 07:02:02 pm
My Knitting bane is sleeves. I often complete a small knitting project, to mentally motivate myself, before knitting the sleeves.
Wendy
30/7/2013 07:06:02 pm
Seaming would have to be one of my biggest crafting banes, which is why your patterns are a God send.
Kelley
30/7/2013 07:08:38 pm
The bane of my crafting life is definitely in the finishing details. I've got a blanket that has been in steady use this winter that still needs ends woven in. I really need to get on to that.
Scruffy
30/7/2013 07:13:49 pm
For me, anything involves sewing just languishes. I even have a beautiful sweater I knit my husband sitting in my basket waiting for a zipper. It's been there for nearly 4 years.
Vivian
30/7/2013 07:18:58 pm
Sewing. Finishing off a garment is always a mission so I tend to do scarfs and beanies. But I am still 'con' into buying more yarn and patterns to do garments as nothing beats a hand knit. The bane of my everyday crafting existence is somehow managing to wear black clothes everytime I stuff a doll with fluffy white wool :/ The all time bane of my crafting existence was breaking a tooth due to 30 years of biting the sewing thread in place of cutting it. Don't do it people! :)
Leisl
30/7/2013 07:27:28 pm
Definitely the pilling. It makes my lovely knits look so scruffy.
Nicole
30/7/2013 07:51:43 pm
My knitting bane is tension. I knit a swatch (or three), find the correct tension and then in the end the garment's usually too big. This only happens when I knit for me. Everything I knit for others turns out perfectly.
Jessica
30/7/2013 07:59:46 pm
Actually finishing knits is my downfall! Sewing on buttons, weaving in ends and stitching seams together... Argh makes me frustrated just thinking about it! I don't even want to think how many "soclosetofinished" knits are in my 'to do' pile LOL
Sally
30/7/2013 08:01:38 pm
My knitting bane is my "knit first, research later" approach. I JUST finished knitting my Mum a 2ply mohair/silk shawl for her birthday...and was trying to figure out how to weave in the ends, and EVERY place I look tells me I should have joined the yarn before I knit it. Which, of, course, it is too late for now. :(
Melissa
30/7/2013 08:15:51 pm
Throwing my hat into the ring ... I was just today looking at depillers; I can't stand pilly woollens!
Kate
30/7/2013 08:27:41 pm
I'd have to say that it's knitting tension squares :) I usually only do it if I'm test knitting, otherwise I just jump in and assume that my tension is 'normal' - I've had to frog projects or give them away to other people after spending hours on them! Most of the time I get lucky though :)
Rachel
30/7/2013 08:31:09 pm
Definitely the lack of time available to me to enjoy knitting at the moment with new born twins!
sallyravels
30/7/2013 08:34:27 pm
The absolute bane of my crafting existence would have to be interruptions in the middle of a complex lace pattern. Which might explain why I don't often tackle them...and why I love tikki patterns that are designed with kid-interruptions in mind!
Red Riding Hood ;)
30/7/2013 08:39:19 pm
re skeining!!!!!!!!! its more wor related but crafty work so still counts ;) i hate hate HATE doing it but it makes up such a huge proportion of my job :P
trish watton
30/7/2013 08:57:36 pm
I'm not too good with seaming and I have a bad cast of 'want to knit everything' but not enough hours in the day!
Sally R
30/7/2013 09:37:23 pm
Oh that de-piller looks amazing! I have so many sad pilly looking knits that need to be brought back to life. Like so many others here, sewing in ends rates highly on my list of crafty pet hates. I often dread coming to the end of a project if it means there are lots of ends to sew in!
Maree McNulty
30/7/2013 09:50:29 pm
I love rainbow knits but very rarely have gradient yarn, so sewing in all the ends gets tedious and is my very least favourite thing! Apart from never having enough storage for anything, that is.
apwool
30/7/2013 09:52:12 pm
Seaming, swatching and of course, pilling!
Dawn Turner
30/7/2013 10:05:47 pm
The bane of my knitting life is never having enough time. I've got so many projects ready to go, just no time :-(
Rachelle
30/7/2013 10:06:53 pm
I have to admit that pills are the bane of my life too. How many hours have I sat at the dining table with my little battery depillers working over garments again and again. I think it's because you do have to work on the same item again and again that makes it my bane. I would much rather spend my time on some new project!
Jenny
30/7/2013 10:10:37 pm
The bane of my knit-life is waiting for a gauge swatch to dry!!!!
Nikki
30/7/2013 10:23:54 pm
The Bane of my crafting extistence??
the restless knitter
31/7/2013 01:08:55 am
Holes in my socks! Two pairs this Eeek! Darn, darn darn. ;-)
Carla
31/7/2013 02:51:37 am
Weaving in the ends, and I don't know why. I've had sweaters wait months for weaving in, when it only takes a few minutes to finish them.
Angela L
31/7/2013 03:14:43 am
The bane of my crafting existence - not having enough time to knit and craft - where can I get more time?!?!
Joanne
31/7/2013 05:27:01 am
The bane of my crafting life - not enough time! Or enough time in large chunks! When you get started on a project - knitting, sewing or spinning, and have constant interruptions ... or have to pack everything away after what seems like having only just started.
Nicola Petersen
31/7/2013 05:57:25 am
I actually hate starting the item, I love thinking about it, sorting the yarn for it, and then it is all sorted in my head, but I hate the initial set up rows :) And I find it hard to finish it as I have already done so imaginatively so it is difficult to for me to commit and finish when there are newer more exciting things to do :)
Julie
31/7/2013 06:19:57 am
When I get a nick in my Olfa cutter...drives me mental going back and manually cutting all the bits it missed
Maria
31/7/2013 07:57:28 am
I know my entry doesn't count as I'm in the US. But I just had to say that pilling is my bane too! As much as I dislike seaming and weaving ends, I can deal with those!
Kirsten
31/7/2013 08:10:46 am
Yes pilling! And actually finishing items. You know, all those fiddly little bits like weaving in ends and sewing on buttons. I'd much rather move on to the next project. Oooh, and blocking! I'm too impatient and once I've finished something I just want to see it being worn!
Danelle
31/7/2013 08:13:50 am
I'm similar to all the others in that time (lack of) is one of the banes along with sewing in ends and sewing seams. Seams I manage to avoid by knitting seamless garments (thanks to you Tikki) but I often have finished objects sitting around waiting to finish off. Would love to win one of these de-pillers, may mean a few more of my knitted items get worn again (husband, I am referring to you!)
Jen
31/7/2013 08:23:05 am
I think for me it would be seaming, it rarely looks as neat as I want it to. And I have a bad case of startitis. Thanks for the competition and the link to the product, it looks really good :)
Tracey
31/7/2013 09:53:24 am
The bane of my crafty life is "time", or lack thereof. Depiller looks awesome, as I too have been through a few in my time.
Natasha
31/7/2013 10:07:31 am
Oh I hat pilling too, but I have to say that I hate the way I always misplace my needles, cables and tips lol I always have the best of intentions to put them away as soon as I have finished but it doesn't seem to happen ;)
Roz
31/7/2013 11:06:12 am
The bane of my crafting existence, is not having enough time. And over committing to what I think I can do in a certain time. Starting to think about Christmas knits now, but even if I get going now, I'm still not sure if I can get them all done. Not to mention the yarn I've had sitting in my cupboard for a snowbird for me, that I haven't started in the last two years!
Brenda
31/7/2013 12:25:26 pm
Pilling rates highly as the bane of my crafting life, but number one would have to be the final finishing of knitted garments eg seaming, sewing on buttons, weaving in ends, etc
Lynley
31/7/2013 01:22:44 pm
Its rather strange - I kind of like sewing/ embroidery but add that onto something knitted and I often put it off for a very long time. A 5 minute job like sewing on buttons/ weaving in ends can take weeks.
Yvonne
31/7/2013 03:06:55 pm
Tight gauge I think is mine. I like loose knits like shawls. Jumpers and cardigans I'm not as happy with knitting and anything tighter...hrm.
Jackie (hermes on Rav)
31/7/2013 03:46:06 pm
Much like you Tikki, those little little wooly balls of pilling, also darning in too many ends. 31/7/2013 05:15:47 pm
I would so love an electric depiller!!
Roslyn Walsh
31/7/2013 06:38:32 pm
With seamless knitting these days, I find the weight of garment nearing completion tires my wrists. After all that effort (and pain) pilling on loved garments spoils my pleasure in them. I did not know these little machines existed, would love to have one.
Michelle
31/7/2013 07:00:58 pm
The bane of my existence is finishing things. It is so final. What if I discover it is wrong after all that work. I like to believe things are more work in progress ... Currently have two for me knits languishing one needs a cast off and buttonhole band, the other requires around 8rows of garter...ugh the finality....they are waiting.
Zoe (IrisRaine)
31/7/2013 07:06:19 pm
Until I found the wonder that is seamless knitting, the bane of my existence was seaming. It is now picking out buttons! I am a huge believer that buttons TOTALLY make a garment.. and picking the wrong ones can completely ruin it! I hunt high and low to find just the right buttons for everything!
Janelle
31/7/2013 08:04:10 pm
The bane of my crafting? Ooh. Possibly cutting out pattern pieces. It's tedious, slow going and I always get a back ache from leaning over our table.
Mel
31/7/2013 08:18:16 pm
Bane of my knitting existence is not having enough time to knit! That and wanting to knit every new pattern I see. :)
Carolyn
31/7/2013 10:07:36 pm
The bane of my knitting existence is not having enough time! But aside from that, joining squares together...I love the look of crochet blankets made up of lots of squares, but the idea of joining them all together at the end makes me want to cry. Oddly, I don't mind seaming. I must be very strange...
Felicity
31/7/2013 10:13:22 pm
For me it's definitely buttons. There is a cardi that's been sitting in my daughters drawer finished except for buttons as I just can't find the 'perfect' ones.
Heather
1/8/2013 08:59:48 am
Finishing off is my absolute bugbear - sewing in ends and sewing seams - that's why I love seamless garments.
I don't worry about weaving in ends, I just knit them in when I'm making it, wear things until they felt a bit and snip the ends off!
Kylee
1/8/2013 11:35:18 am
The absolute bane of my crafting is that I never seem to have as much time as I do the will to do it!! 1/8/2013 01:40:41 pm
What an awesome giveaway!! I have one of these and it is awesome, but if I win, I have a friend I will give this to :D The bane of my crafting life is that my children keep "borrowing" my tape measures!!!! :P
Krystal
1/8/2013 01:44:47 pm
Those nasty little ends that never end are definitely the bane of my crocheting experience. I hate sewing them in so much.
Lee
1/8/2013 01:55:08 pm
Not having nearly as much craft time as I need is frustrating. So many gorgeous patterns to try out but no where near enough hours in each day.
Jen
1/8/2013 02:27:33 pm
The bane of my crafting / knitting existence are mainly 2 things...
Deanne Flenley
1/8/2013 02:36:25 pm
Not enough time (with 4 little ones to knit for) and of course pilling once they finally are knit!
charlotte
1/8/2013 03:46:34 pm
Pilling is a rain but the thing i have the most is recognise. I will now specifically look for projects in the sound to avoid it
Aste
1/8/2013 04:26:18 pm
My bane is Gauge. Always Gauge. I've been knitting for 30 years, and I've never ever been able to knit a decent garment to gauge. No matter how much I swatch, block, change needles or pray to any Deity that would listen, I just can't seem to get it right. But, it does mean I am an expert in knitted hats, scarfs, socks and beautiful lace shawls, that I may not have tried knitting otherwise.
Sandra Kay
1/8/2013 08:41:43 pm
Cutting out patterns! I just want to get in to the fun stuff already! And hand stitching..
Mary
2/8/2013 10:14:35 am
Ooh pills are always a nuisance, but certainly not my biggest crafty problem. Had a good think abut this and there are lots of lots of things but they are more to do with my own procrastination. The real bane for me is that we live with two very beautiful, affectionate and wonderful indoor Burmese kitty cats that also like to craft. One likes to chew paper and pencils, not such a biggy for me more a problem for the kids. However the other has a thing about spinning wheel drive bands. Now this would be no big deal if my wheel was an oldie that had a basic string band, but it isn't. It has a stretchy green rubbery sort of band that is apparently perfect chewing texture. This cat has cost me a lot. We also need to be very careful that all pompom adorned garments are stored inside out, as pompoms are an obvious threat that must be attacked and dismembered on sight.
Nic
2/8/2013 04:16:15 pm
The bane of my crafty existence is having to stop knitting to do those oh-so mundane tasks - like cooking, dropping off/picking up kids, cleaning lol!
Annwen
2/8/2013 05:34:21 pm
That depiller us doing some amazing work on your knits! I too hate the pulling that occurs with beautiful knitted items. I also dislike too much seaming or finishing. Designs like yours suit me perfectly!
Kathleen Hansen
3/8/2013 11:22:36 am
The bane of my crafting is my sleep apnea and chronic fatigue as it makes me sleepy for hours each day, taking from the productive time I have. Lucky me has two sleeping sicknesses, yay. Anyway, good luck to all.
Trudie
3/8/2013 12:01:43 pm
Housework.. and/or anything else that gets in the way of knitting time ! :)
MrsHappySnow
3/8/2013 01:31:44 pm
The bane of my crafting is people expecting me to make them stuff at a whim; often at my cost!
Leanne
3/8/2013 01:44:53 pm
I've been coveting one of these depillers for a long long time!
Leah
3/8/2013 04:40:35 pm
For my knitting life, it's a tossup between seaming and winding skeins. Quilting, it's the limitations of my machine.
Sarah Hill
3/8/2013 06:35:47 pm
Finishing adults garments is a chore. After knitting so much for my kids, it seems sooo much longer when I want to knit myself something. I'm probably alot more particular too because I am investing alot more yarn!! Recently borrowed a de-piler for the first time and found it almost magical!! Did a fantastic job. I'd love one for my own!
Sarah
3/8/2013 06:52:06 pm
Sewing on buttons. Ugh!!! ;)
The major bane of my crafty life is having limited space to store my stash. I have taken over the tops of all 4 wardrobes, and the shelving in one of them. I love to see the spare queen bed covered in a selection of skeins when I'm considering a new project.
Sharron
5/8/2013 05:28:47 pm
My biggest bug bear are sewing on buttons and seaming! Things will sit for months if I don't get buttons on them straight away!! Would love a depiller as I have numerous items both knit and not that are in desperate need of a refresh!!
Sarah
5/8/2013 06:55:13 pm
I would have to say tension squares, but then also unpicking ugh. Also HATE pilling (which can be an issue as I can often only afford to work with acrylic, and soft acrylic PILLS!). It's funny what difference a good pattern makes though - have never had to unpick a tikki :)
Cordula
5/8/2013 09:21:24 pm
My bane of my crafting life ? 5/8/2013 09:55:58 pm
Ug, I hate sewing knitting together and weaving in the tails. Definitely the worst part of a knitting project!
Alison
6/8/2013 04:00:47 pm
I get really excited about finishing a knit/crochet item, and do the dreaded task of weaving in ends... Comments are closed.
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Who am I?Craftin' Mummy about the house to the always gorgeous and very silly Miss Lily Rainbow and very snuggly and smiley Toby Milo, wife of the adventurous Andy, underwater man extraordinaire. Print Patterns for LYS available from:
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