Author: Caryn

Spindle case

On By CarynIn Craft

I wanted a travel case for my tiny Turkish style spindle, so went digging through my cupboards. I found a stainless steel can cozy that was just the right size, but didn’t have a lid.

Photo description: metal can cozy with open lid, curious dog in the background

I measured the space and used my laser cutter to cut and engrave a piece of thin birch plywood. I sealed the wood with modge podge (white glue), which also holds the circle in place.

Photo description: same can cozy with a wood insert graved with my logo of a tree and roots

The can fits nicely in the bottle pocket on the side of my purse and fits a handful of wool and the spindle inside.

Photo description: Femto spindle by Turtle Made inside the repurposed can cozy

And yes, I really did pull it out and do some spinning waiting in the line at grocery store!

Photo description: spindle with in progress spinning with a grocery cart in the background

Tiny spindle

On By CarynIn Craft

Squee! I ordered a femto spindle from Turtle Made on Etsy, which is a 3D printed Turkish style spindle that is teeny tiny!

Photo description: 3D printed spindle with dark green shaft and neon green arms sitting on my hand

With a spindle this tiny, the obvious choice is to spin as thin as possible. I have some green dyed Corridale mix wool from AnnieWhere that I used to get started.

Photo description: same spindle, wrapped with single spun green wool thread

The spindle works amazingly well for something so small. I plan on finding a case for it and have it be my emergency spinning kit. The emergency would be if I am out and about without a project! Or need to meditatively spin anytime, anywhere.

Texas snow drift

On By CarynIn photography

This is a Texas “snow” drift. My weather app says we received 10 inches of snow. I think that maybe, if this were small fluffy flakes instead of ice pellets, it might be 10”, but it is not. We have maybe 2 inches overall of hard pack. Yuck.

Photo description: looking out the front door at a small white mound in the entryway

Yes, that is a solid mound of ice, after I took the picture, I tested.

He looks guilty

On By CarynIn Cats
Photo description: large gray tabby in a blanket lined basket tucked into the closet

I deliberately put a basket in the closet as a cat bed. I found Thor the cat in the basket and he looked like I caught his paw in the cookie jar. Silly kitty.

We are hunkered down for the storm. It has been raining ice. Yuck.

Poncho fix

On By CarynIn Craft

To make the poncho that I made from a free blanket wearable, I used inexpensive acrylic yarn to do a blanket stitch around the neckline, then crocheted into the blanket stitch.

Photo description: single crochet into a blanket stitch, video here

I then alternated rows of shell stitches, 3 on the first row, two on the second, and decreased at the V on each side.

Photo description: crochet added to the neckline of a 2 rectangle poncho

I don’t know why one side has more stitches than the other, but I didn’t count, so that is probably the cause of the error. The crochet did help keep the poncho on, but I still hate wearing it. I even tried wearing it sideways with a “V” on each shoulder. That was better, but the corners on my hands were annoying.

Photo description: same poncho, but turned 90 degrees with the V neck on the shoulders

I’m very glad I did this trial with inexpensive materials, and did not put in hours knitting something that I would hate wearing.