Shetland wool

On November 5, 2021November 5, 2021 By CarynIn Craft

I found some more Texas grown spinning fiber! I was connected to another spinner through our local coffee shop, and she sent me many resources, including the name of a Texas rancher that raises Shetland Sheep (https://baizeshetlands.weebly.com/). Shetland sheep were developed in Scotland to be competition for Italian Merino wool. These sheep are also thriving in the Davis mountains of Texas! I ordered a prepared batt, since I wanted to see how the fiber is supposed to handle before I delve into the raw fleece. In the box with the wool was a passport stamp for the Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em initiative by the Livestock conservancy. So of course I ordered a passport for my new sticker. There are many breeds of endangered sheep in the passport, and so many opportunities to learn about different wool!

Shetland wool batt from Baize Shetland Sheep with my new wool passport

The Shetland knitters are known for “wedding ring” shawls; large lacy knitted fabric that is so fine, it can be passed through a wedding ring. I am awed by their skill. I read more and found out that the lace uses only knit stitches, no purl stitches so it is double sided. I am not fond of purl stitches, so this might be a way for me to enjoy knitting. I don’t intend on embarking on a wedding ring shawl, but maybe trying some of this lace on a small project. It seems only fitting to try Shetland knitting with Shetland wool. Oh, and knitters in Scotland historically used a knitting belt, which allowed them to walk and knit. I have my work cut out for me.

Pumpkins for chickens

On November 4, 2021November 2, 2021 By CarynIn chickens

When we carved our Halloween pumpkins, we waited until the day before, and did not treat the carvings with bleach or other preservatives, so after Halloween the hollowed out vegetables could go to the chickens. The chickens love it. We didn’t put all the pumpkins in the run at once, but are spacing them out and replacing hollowed out pumpkin with a carved pumpkin (after checking for mold).

Chickens tucking in to a jack-o-lantern (photo credit to my eldest)

The rivet worked

On November 3, 2021November 1, 2021 By CarynIn Craft

Riveting the head of my drop spindle worked. It took a dozen drops, but I eventually dropped the spindle on its head and cracked it again. The rivet held. I was able to continue spinning for the rest of my walk, then when I was home, I put a little glue in the crack and tightened up the rivet with a few careful hammer taps. In mitigation, I was pushing the amount of yarn I could load on the spindle, so it was heavy and starting to get unwieldy, so my lesson is to keep the cop of yarn smaller so I reduce the chance of another drop to the head.

Crack barely visible on the neck of the spindle

Yarn cop that is too big for this spindle

Missy would really like for me to stop taking pictures and kick her ball already.

Bean feast

On November 2, 2021 By CarynIn Garden

No, no bean feasts here. Three. Three green beans from the bean bush. Granted, the bush does not get enough sun because the melon vine overshadows it, and I don’t think it really likes being in a container. I stuck the beans in my pocket and then forgot about them, discovering them hours later when I was running errands. At that point there were only two. Someone, somewhere in town is wondering why there is a single green bean on the ground.

Dog wings

On November 1, 2021October 30, 2021 By CarynIn Craft, dog

We had some extra EVA foam and foam clay, so I thought the dogs needed bat wings. Just one set, just to see how sculpting with the clay goes. It was good I only made one; Griffin thought it was cool and pranced about, Missy looked like I was attempting homicide. The black foam clay dried to gray, which defeated the point of black wings on black dogs, but I suppose I could spray paint it, if I wish. I cut the wing shape from the sheet foam, then laid on the finger bones with thin snakes of clay. The clay and sheet foam didn’t have the same color, so I rolled out thin sheets between layers of wax paper and applied that between the finger bones. I attempted to imprint stretch marks like the skin of bat wings, but the foam clay self leveled somewhat and the lines all but disappeared. Interesting. I hot glued a wide elastic strap underneath so it would stay on the dog.

Critters and Craft

Month: November 2021