Twine as you go

On By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized

I’ve been twining with plant bast fibers (the long ones from the stems of plants), and wondered if I could twine long wool. I selected some Teeswater from my stash that has a staple length around 5-8 inches, grabbed a sponge and a spray bottle of water, and started twining. There was a bumpy learning curve, especially since I decided to learn to twine left handed to get an opposite twist. I wanted an S twist direction because my current favorite nålbinding stitch has a bias Z twist, and I thought the opposite twist yarn would help. It didn’t really.

Photo description: twined Teeswater wool and the beginnings of a nålbound pouch sitting on my jeans in the car while waiting in the pickup line

As I write this post, I’m wondering if the twist in my work is the stitch, or the method of construction I’m attempting. I’m working in the round, which is typical for nålbinding, but I’m working around a long base chain, which is a little different. I’ll keep on and see if things even out, either as I go, or after I block the finished work.

The exciting part of this project is there are no joins in the yarn, rather, the yarn is created as I go.

Antler nål

On By CarynIn Craft

Awhile back I rough shaped several needles for nålbinding from deer antler I purchased from a neighbor. I need a smaller diameter nål for a new project, so did the final shaping and polishing with progressive grits of sandpaper on one.

Photo description: nål made from deer antler, approximately 7” long with curve and two holes for yarn

To make the nål I used a bandsaw to split the antler into narrow sections, then used a band sander to shape. The holes were drilled with a drill press. To get the elongated oval hole, I drilled two circular holes next to each other and then used the drill bit to mostly remove the remaining points. To finish, I shaped it using 120 grit sandpaper, then refined with 320 and finished with 400 grit sandpaper. I tested the smoothness of the holes and sides by running it through a wad of unspun wool.

Throwback Thursday: coin pendant

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

In May of 2017 I made a custom wire wrap so that a coin could be worn as a necklace.

Photo description: Black Belt coin with gold colored wire wrap on a leather cord with loop and knot closure

The wire wrap is constructed with three circles of wire just slightly larger than the coin, wrapped together at four points. The top circle crimps inward to hold the front of the coin, and the bottom layer crimps inward to hold the back of the coin, leaving the center circle to frame the coin. At the top I made a loop for the leather cord.

Sock experiment #2

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Previously I tried making a pair of spiral socks, where the spiral rib fits the heel without having to make a gusset or turn a heel when knitting. This kind of sock also is independent of foot length, making it a great choice when shoe size is unknown, or you are dealing with growing feet. It worked, so I started a second pair. About half way through the second pair, we discovered that the first pair didn’t stay up very well. The spiral fit the heel, no matter how the socks were put on, but tended to slide down the foot. I have to admit that I lost interest in the project for a while. Eventually I came back to it and decided to just finish off the sock in stockinette stitch and do an even decrease to make a round toe.

Photo description: blue and yellow socks with a spiral rib ankle and heel and stockinette ball of foot to the toe, ends not woven in

I wove in the ends and had my youngest try them on.

Photo description: socks on feet with a good fit, ends woven in

The socks look strange, but fit well. I feel they will have the same issue sliding down the foot without some modification. For the next pair, I plan to make the ankle a standard rib, use the spiral rib for the heel, a rib across the arch, and a stockinette toe with round finish. The goal is to have a sock that can be put on easily without having to align a heel, but still stays in place.

Four-leaf clover preservation charms

On By CarynIn Craft

I’m trying to forever preserve some of my clover from my four and five leaf clover patch in the yard. I selected one five-leaf clover and four four-leaf clovers and pressed them between layers of wax paper for a couple weeks. I purchased round bevels with loops and put an initial layer of clear two-part epoxy resin down inside.

Photo description: 5 gold plated bevel cups half filled with 2 part expoxy

When the epoxy set, I used Modge Podge to attach the pressed clover to the epoxy, then put another sealing coat on top of the leaves.

Photo description: five-leaf clover decoupaged to an epoxy base in a gold plated bevel cup

Once the glue had dried, I put a final layer of epoxy on top.

Photo description: real pressed clover preserved in epoxy resin in gold plated bevel cups

I chose gold plated bevels because I think four-leaf clovers should be on gold, but also because epoxy resin tends to have a yellow tint. That yellow blends in with the gold, mitigating the problem.