Author: Caryn

Not that I’m excited

On By CarynIn Craft

I have signed up for a steeking class. Steeking is cutting knit material; the trick is to do it without having the whole mess unravel. The class instructor promises to show us several methods to accomplish this feat. Several methods. Color me eager. We have homework before class starts, make a knitted tube. I have used some hand spun Clun forest yarn because I over spun it and it is rough to the touch, so I have to no aversion to cutting into it.

Knit tube of hand spun Clun Forest wool yarn

And because I’m me, I also made a second tube out of scrap cotton yarn. I blocked both pieces and when they are dry I’ll be ready for class… in a month.

Blocking knitted tubes

Crane fly rest

On By CarynIn Craft, Wildlife

I found a crane fly resting on my door wreath.

Crane fly on paper flowers

It is spring, so there are crane flies every where. The first year I moved to Texas I was alarmed at the size of the “mosquitos”, until I found out that these long-legged beasties are not blood suckers. Most varieties only live in the adult stage for about a week; long enough to look for a mate to make new crane flies, but not long enough to bother about eating.

Year 2 on my origami wreath

I am most impressed that the wreath has held up. I made it last year and it stayed on the front door for many months. The paper flowers are just wired in, so I can reuse the grapevine wreath, but it looked so good when I pulled it out of the closer that I just hung it back up. Where it hangs there is no direct sunlight, and it is sheltered from wind and rain.

Grape hyacinth

On By CarynIn Garden

Another sign of spring, our volunteer grape hyacinth have bloomed! These have established themselves at the base of a cedar elm near the driveway. There was one plant five years ago, now there are several clumps in the area.

Grape Hyacinth

Purpose of the shoe loop

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

How very considerate of the shoe designer to put a tension loop on my sneakers. It is just right for anchoring a braid so I can use my foot to apply tension so the braid comes out even and straight. I do appreciate thoughtful design.

Tying the end of a braid to a shoe loop to apply even tension

Container garden

On By CarynIn Garden

I picked up basil, pepper, and oregano plants at a local nursery for my container garden this year. I usually start with seed, but didn’t get the seeds in this year, so went with a short cut. I amended the soil with chicken compost from the bottom of my compost bins, which was nice and dark and crumbly, and used the wheel barrow to mix an equal amount of dirt from the container with the compost. I’ve set up the frog habitat again too.

This year’s container garden

I’m hoping that I didn’t plant too soon. It has been cold this week, and basil doesn’t care for temps under 40. Hm.