Author: Caryn

Cotton is heavy

On By CarynIn Craft

I have it in my mind to make a practical macrame hanging to store small musical instruments. I had the macrame cord and a quarter inch dowel already, so my start cost was zero. The twisted rope I knotted for the hanger went well, and I hung the dowel up in a small hallway on a utility rack. I then started adding long strands of cotton cord.

Photo description: wood dowel with many doubled strands of cotton cord tied on hanging on the wall from a wire rack, dowel arcs down from the weight of the cotton

As I neared the number of strands of cotton I wanted, I noticed that the dowel had a visible bend. Uh oh. The slim dowel could barely hold the weight of the cotton, and certainly wouldn’t take more weight. I have to get a bigger dowel. Hm.

Photo description: same pre-macrame set up, but with all the hanging cords tied in a large loose knot to reduce the cat risk

To keep the long dangling cords from becoming cat toys, I tied them up while I process my intentions.

Macrame helper

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft
Photo description: gray tabby with arms in ready-to-get-the-string position on a leather lounge chair that has a twisted macrame rope in progress draped over the back, with my nest of crafts and books on the floor next to the chair

My love triangle: I love yarn projects, and I love cats, and cats love yarn. Sigh.

Throwback Thursday: wire frame

On By CarynIn Craft

I was tasked with making a trophy for a duct tape contest back in December of 2009. I found a block of wood from my stash, imbedded several hanger wires, then shaped them into a chalice.

Photo description: wire armature chalice set into a finished block of wood with routed edges

I covered the whole thing in strips of standard duct tape, then forgot to take a final picture. Hm. When it was presented, though, it was deemed way fancier than the requester envisioned. That’s what happens when a crafter gets their hands on duct tape.

Macrame: joining

On By CarynIn Craft

I wanted to make a macrame twisted rope with precut pieces. My center strands were long enough, but the decorative outside strands ran out after about a foot of knotting. I found that laying new strands into a knot in the same direction as the old strands then tightening the knot, trimming, and sealing with white glue made a near invisible join.

Photo description: half macrame knot shown open with new strands laid in, the ends pointed up are the new strands, the ends pointed down are the old strands
Photo description: knot tightened and several more half knots added, the four ends are shown sticking out
Photo description: same join area with the ends trimmed flush and secured with white glue (I used Elmer’s school glue). Calico cat in her favorite box on the table in the background.

Since the knots are decorative and the un-spliced center strands bear the weight applied to the rope, I’m not concerned about the ends unraveling.

Toothy

On By CarynIn Craft

When picking a new fiber to spin as I walk, I wanted something easier to spin than Tencel. I had a “Mint Top” sample in my stash, gifted to me by my sister that looked like it had some nice texture. I started spinning it on a drop spindle and it is dreamy, and the descriptive word “toothy” keeps coming into my head. The fibers grab each other with the help of the twist, but don’t clump up, and it drafts nicely.

Paradise Fibers gives it this description:

“A very new Biodegradable cellulose fiber which is infused with Mint powder extracted from Peppermint Leaves. Contains natural cooling and antibacterial properties. This is a very soft and lustrous fiber that is a natural off-white/golden color. The fiber gives a natural smooth and cooling feeling with excellent moisture absorption.”

Photo description: mint infused cellulose fiber sticking to my hand, spinning into fine single spun on a wood drop spindle, calico cat in the background waiting for pets

It doesn’t smell minty to me. It will be interesting to see if the products made with the yarn feel cool.