Author: Caryn

Tension

On By CarynIn Craft

There are many ways of doing most things. Finding what works best for you is usually a series of trials and errors. I have been knitting with fingering weight yarn the same way I knit with thicker yarn, but have been having trouble keeping even tension because the thinner yarn slips through my fingers more. I tried wrapping it three times around my pinkie, but it had more tendency to bind. I recently tried a new finger wrapping method, going clockwise around my pinkie, the counterclockwise around my ring finger. Bingo. I have more control of the yarn without binding or excessive yarn drop.

Photo description: In process knitting photo showing the working yarn wrapped around the fingers of my left hand.
Photo description: view of yarn wrapping from the top of my hand.

This little change helped increase my knitting speed as well as reduced frustration with what seemed to be uncooperative yarn.

Honored

On By CarynIn Craft

I follow an Inkle band weaving group on Facebook that is under new administration, who are trying to clean up the site and get it back to Inkle weaving (and not a repository for spam). They asked for submissions for a new banner image, and my rainbow tablet weave won by popular vote!

Photo description: Private Inkle Band Weaving group on FB with my rainbow band as the banner image.

They said they would change the image frequently, which is also good. I’m excited that mine was the first picked!

This band went on to become the strap for my ukulele.

Cactus correction

On By CarynIn Flora

Did you know that there are Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus? I did not until a reader kindly sent me a link. I thought I had a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) blooming for the last few years in my house, but it is actually a close relative, the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The easiest way to tell, for me, is the spikes on the edge of the leaves, characteristic of trucata, where bridgesii has rounded edges on the leaves. Care for both is the same, but truncata is a sturdier plant, which is good in my house. I did go back and update my previous posts with the correct information. I post often on this cactus, apparently!

Photo description: Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) showing leaves, blooms, and twin buds

It is good to start the New Year with some updated information!

Negotiation

On By CarynIn Cats, dog

Missy the dog’s favorite blue ball rolled too close to the cat. She brought him the red ball as a negotiation tactic. Thor the cat was unsure of the offer and was unwilling to throw the blue ball. Eventually Missy was able to obtain her blue ball through stealth and bravery.

Photo description: Gray tabby with a red holey roller ball and a blue one in front of him. Small black dog looking at the blue ball in supplication.

Good-bye 2023. May 2024 bring you all successful negotiations.

Getting back to the wheel

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

I pulled out my spinning wheel and realized that it has been a long time since I spun with it. Thor the cat has never seen it in action and he is nine months old. Hm. He was quite fascinated with the process, and after this photo had to be told to knock it off as he went for the wheel and the yarn.

Photo description: Gray tabby looking at a vintage wooden Befra Willy Spinning wheel, specifically at the yarn coming from the orifice.