I’m experimenting with crocheted flowers for my wreath. To make a mum-like flower I used four colors of acrylic yarn and made four layers of petals, each with the same type of “petal” but with different diameter centers and thus different numbers of petals.
Photo description: first three layers for the crocheted mum in shades of yellow and orange showing the difference in center size and petal countPhoto description: center layer in white acrylic yarn with no center and just three petalsPhoto description: the assembled crocheted mum with four layers of color from white to yellow to orange
To make the layers, half double crochet into a magic circle eight times, slip stitch to join.
Photo description: eight half double crochets into a magic circle, with the circle pulled tight and slip stitched into the first half double crochet
To make the petals, chain 9.
Photo description: yellow petal layer with the start of a petal with nine chain stitches
Skip the first chain and single crochet eight along the rest of the chain.
Photo description: single crochets along the chain to give the petal width
Slip stitch into the next double crochet on the round. Then make the next petal.
Photo description: four petals completed on the yellow round
For the other layers, add a round of half double crochet increases to the center before adding the petals.
In Barbershop singing, the initial pitch (note) is played on a small instrument called a pitch pipe. When performing, if the pitch piper doesn’t have pockets in their costume, the quandary of where to put the pipe after playing the pitch is a problem. Some pitch pipes are made of metal, so a concealed magnet under the clothing can hold onto the instrument, usually placed near the small of the back. Other pitch pipes have a plastic case, which, of course, is not magnetic. I discovered that a magnetic phone ring made for magsafe phones, is the perfect size for the Tombo pitch pipe as well.
Photo description: magnetic ring holder intended for a magsafe phones, but with the included metal sticker placed on the face of a Tombo pitch pipePhoto description: two Tombo E pitch pipes, the one on the left is original, the one on the right has a magnetic adhesive ring attached
The adhesive ring included in the package fits the face of the pipe perfectly. It still allows the label to be seen and doesn’t interfere with the blow holes.
To use, I am going to try attaching the main magnet to a belt that I will wear under my costume.
Photo description: magnetic ring holder clipped onto an elastic no-show belt
I finished nålbinding handles onto my loop-and-twist linen string bag.
Photo description: loop-and-twist bag made from twined flax and finished with nålbound handles
I thought I followed the pull strings that I installed originally, which split the top loops evenly. Hm. No. Not sure what happened, but the second handle had many more loops than the first.
Photo description: side view of the same bag showing the uneven split
The handles didn’t really work out like what was in my head either. The two handles work better as one handle, with access to contents from the sides. I actually think this would be lovely to hold my onions and garlic in the pantry. So while it didn’t fit my original vision, it still will have a use.
Note to my future self: a loose row of nålbinding as a top band, then two arced handles on the sides might work, like a tote bag.
When spinning with my literal stick and my newly purchased Romney wool, I wanted to know how it would look plied, because this is the lowest twist I’ve ever put in making a yarn. This was a good opportunity to experiment with plying bracelets. A plying bracelet is made by wrapping the yarn around your hand (or other object) in a certain pattern so that when it is slipped onto the wrist, it is easy to ply from both ends without tangles. It is pretty magical, really, and worth exploring. There are several different ways to wrap a plying bracelet, here is the one I used.
Photo description: two plied yarn wrapped around my hand to form a plying bracelet Photo description: plying from both ends of a plying bracelet to make a two ply yarn
The photos are a little out of order, I forgot to take a picture of the plying bracelet to make the two ply yarn, but then took that yarn and made another plying bracelet to make a four-ply cabled yarn.
This is an interesting technique and a nice little rabbit hole to explore.
When I forgot to bring my spindle on my trip, I also left behind my fiber, which gave me an excuse to visit a local weaving shop and get more fiber. I was pleasantly surprised that the Woven Art Yarn Shop in East Lansing had some natural colored roving options, and picked a bag of Romney combed top from Dorie the sheep, who is apparently “an independent soul”, according to the label.
Photo description: Bag of Romney combed top fiber from Cross Wind Farms with a single spun on a stick with the bark still on and a cup hook screwed to the top
I love Romney wool, it spins up easily and is soft. Since I spun with a finger twirled stick, I made a thicker single because it needs less twist to hold together.
Critters and Craft 