30 min series: woven cord

On By CarynIn Craft

I have read about weaving a round cord, and I’ve been wanting to laser cut a heddle to experiment more with back strap weaving, so I combined the two with my 30 minute series.

Photo description: laser cut rigid heddle and shuttle, with yellow worsted weight yarn woven into a cord

I cut 13 lengths of yarn and threaded them through the slots and holes in the rigid heddle, then tied knots at each end of the yarn bundle. I secured one end to my foot, and the other to my belt. I loaded the shuttle with yarn and started weaving. To weave a round cord the weft thread only goes one direction, rather than back and forth for a flat piece. It took a little time to get my rhythm, but once I learned to pull the weft yarn nice and tight, the cord making went smoothly.

Photo description: yellow woven cord with knots and tassels at the ends made from worsted weight cotton yarn

In 30 minutes I made 27 inches of cord. The cord is strong and dense with 6% stretch (27” stretched to 28.5”). Unlike i-cord or lucet cord, though, this type of woven cord has a limited length because the yarn needs to be cut before weaving begins. This is the kind of cord I would want for bag handles or load bearing clothing elements. It is also possible to weave around a core, which gives more strength and body options.

Schmoo

On By CarynIn chickens, Coop
Photo description: three hens from left to right, Seashell the Faverolle, Schmoo the Faverolle, and Wing Ding the Black Star

Molting season is almost over for my three hens, and I can say that the mystery chicken’s name is Schmoo. I wasn’t sure if she was Jade or Schmoo, but Jade had a distinct molting pattern, which I did not see this season. So Schmoo, Seashell, and Wing Ding are my remaining chickens. I have to say they have done remarkably well in our month of 100 degree weather. I did have a foot bath filled with water for them, but did not add ice, and the fan in the coop went out, but I’ve had the people doors open, which gives the coop a breeze. The back door of the coop is covered in hardware cloth, which has kept the raccoons out. So my advice for new chicken keepers is to not have a coop fan, but do have adequate ventilation (but have draft free zones), and in the summer have a large shallow pan, like a large plant coaster, for a foot bath, but don’t worry about icing it. Make sure there is plenty of shade as well. My hens are roughly seven years old.

Throwback Thursday: mixed afghan

On By CarynIn Craft

My grandmother had an unfinished afghan when she passed. It looked like she missed a pattern switch and the next step would be to rip out a whole section and she just decided not to and set it aside. I took the partial project and rather than rip out any stitches, turned it into a mixed method project, using different sections of knit and crochet to tie it all together.

Photo description: artful photo of the folds of the afghan which show all the different panel textures using knit, crochet, and Tunisian crochet
Photo description: finished afghan spread out on a King-sized bed

I deliberately made the afghan long at my Mom’s request, because most blanket throws can’t be wrapped around our feet and shoulders at the same time (we are taller than average). I couldn’t find the exact same yarn and dye lot, so added in a complementary olive green yarn to make it obtain the extra length.

This was a personal family project, but there is an organization called Loose Ends that helps families with unfinished projects that their loved ones have left behind find skilled craftspeople to complete the projects so the family has a final memento. You can visit the website or follow them on social media. Grab your tissues.

30 min series: knit i-cord

On By CarynIn Craft

I-cord is traditionally knit with knitting needles. It is possible to make an i-cord of many different gauges and densities depending on the yarn weight and needle size, which makes this method of i-cord making the most versatile. I started with cotton worsted weight yarn and one size 8 circular needle (two double pointed needles work as well).

Photo description: i-cord being knit on a circular size 8 Prym needle with blue cotton yarn, back side, showing the gap from knitting a small round object on a straight needle

There is a little gap that happens at the back of the knitting where the yarn is brought back to the front, but this disappears when the cord is stretched and worked and the loops settle in. Somehow, near the end of the cord I added a stitch to have five instead of four. Hm.

Photo description: knitted i-cord made from blue worsted weight cotton yarn

In 30 minutes I made 18” of cord, which has a little more body than the crocheted and dolly knit versions. It has 25% stretch (18” stretched to 22.5”).

I think I will experiment with yarn weight to needle size variations of i-cord. I actually prefer my cordage to not have much stretch. Experiments will continue.

30 min series: crocheted i-cord

On By CarynIn Craft

Crocheting i-cord is possible, if you really don’t like any other method than crochet. It involves having two live unsecured loops while you go back to the first loop with your hook. I find it fiddly and difficult to get going. I also tend to make my loops bigger so I don’t loose them.

Photo description: crocheting an i-cord with a size K crochet hook and blue cotton worsted weight yarn, dilute calico in the background

In 30 minutes I made 39” of cord. It is very loose and squishy, but fairly uniform. It has 30% stretch (I took twenty inches and could stretch it to 26 inches.) With practice and bravery, I could probably use a smaller hook to get a tighter cord, but honestly I will always choose a way that doesn’t have loose live loops if I can help it.

Photo description: loosely crocheted i-cord made from blue cotton worsted weight yarn

This is definitely my least favorite cord making method so far.