More waiting

On By CarynIn Craft

The crochet blocks for Warm up America have become my favorite waiting room activity, and I really enjoy the diagonal block stitch (also called corner-to-corner (CTC)). It has just enough variation that it stays interesting, but I don’t have to watch a pattern.

Photo description: three 7×9” two color crocheted blocks sitting on a waiting room chair

I am also using up yarn odds and ends to make the blocks, which is why one block has an outlier. I ran out of cream colored yarn one stitch from the end of a block. I think next time I will rip out that last block for the color change. Hm. That gives me another idea for color switching.

I forgot to pack a yarn needle, so I wove in the ends when I got home.

Throwback Thursday: Octopus eye

On By CarynIn art, Craft, throwback

In June 2018 I was in the height of my “eyes on rocks” painting period. This octopus eye was one of my favorites.

Photo description: printed photograph of an octopus with a river river rock painted like the eye of the reference photo, paint brush laying next to the rock
Photo description: back side of the rock showing a spiraled tentacle end

This rock was put out in the wild for someone to find.

Limping along

On By CarynIn Garden

I was ready to let the cucumber vines go for the summer, they were getting crispy in the intense heat and the cucumbers strangely shaped, and as I collected the watering bags, a large American Bumblebee visited the remaining flowers. Ok. I’ll keep the watering bags coming.

Photo description: American Bumblebee visiting cucumber flowers

Hem stitching: rib knit

On By CarynIn Craft

The whip stitch is very useful for putting hems on finely knit items like t-shirts or soft pants. Because fine knits are difficult to unravel, you don’t need to fold over the edge twice, you can stitch over the cut edge, which also gives the hem a lower profile. If you are hemming a ribbed knit, lining up the ribs helps keep the fabric even and gives a nice gauge for stitch size!

Photo description: hemming fine ribbed knit pants with a hand-sewn whip stitch

I started at a seam, and hid the thread knot in the seam fold. Then I put the needle through the pearl side (indent) stripe on the inner layer, and just picked up a couple loops on the next rib of the outer layer. To keep the stitches at the right tension, after stitching a few I pulled open the ribbing to draw in the thread. This leaves the stitches loose so they won’t show and are less likely to snap when the fabric stretches. Pulling the stitches tight would result in a visible stitch line that would break the first time the fabric stretched.

Photo description: finished hem that is nearly invisible

Still deer

On By CarynIn Wildlife

We do still get deer through our back woods, as evidenced by pictures from the trail cam.

Photo description: night vision side view of a doe White Tailed Deer