Author: Caryn

Weaving

On By CarynIn Craft

As I’ve been trying more and more ancient crafts, I realized that I haven’t done much weaving. I was reminded when we pulled out my youngest’s loop loom (Harrisville Designs makes Friendly Looms and cotton loops that actually fit, and are of great quality). I helped her through the process, which planted the idea in my head. So I started researching the next step in weaving. There are many! I didn’t know how I would like it, so I didn’t want to invest much money in buying, or much time in making, a loom. In my curiosity delving into the internet, I also found reference to fringeless weaving. Yes please! I’m not a fan of the fringe. This train of thought took me to Purl & Loop, a small Oklahoma based company that produces portable mini looms. Again, yes please. My projects need to be portable, even if it is only to be carried from the living room to the backyard. I chose a 12” loom because I figured I could make smaller on a larger loom. I have a stash of cotton worsted weight yarn, so I asked Purl & Loop and they said they had success with the number 8 with worsted weight. What am I going to make? Wash cloths. This is my go to project for learning a new yarn craft. Even a wonky wash cloth is useful. And my washcloths will be wonky for awhile. All my crocheting, knitting, and nålbinding yarn skills don’t translate to weaving!

First attempt at weaving, I need practice

Putting on the warp (up and down static yarn) went smoothly. I used bulldog clips to hold the ends of the yarn. I started simple (I thought) with a plain weave. I had read about making sure the ends of the weave weren’t too tight, but somehow I ended up with loose ends and a tight middle. So more research is needed. I may even have to resort to watching a video.

First fringeless washcloth, wonky but useful

I am pleased with my purchase. The loom pieces are laser cut and sanded, so are very smooth. They are sturdy, but light and definitely portable. Izzy even tried some lap time while I wove, but was bapped too many times with the loom! I did get a cute picture before she gave it up as a bad time for lap time.

Izzy lap time

Momma Wolf Spider

On By CarynIn Wildlife
Female Wolf Spider with babies

Ok, so now that you’ve shuddered after imagining all those babies on her back making a run for it, you probably don’t want to read further about the Wolf Spider. So I’ll let you look it up. I will share that my husband found her, we all paraded out to see her, because, wow, and my youngest, upon seeing it, said “We need to move.” Yes, the spider was on our house, hanging out in the shade of the honeysuckle (the bricks are 2 3/4″ tall high). I took the image with the longest lens I have, and although I wanted the image to be sharper, no way was I going to piss her off by getting closer. Sleep tight! (And as a final note, wolf spiders are a beneficial species, so we just left her alone.)

Stick horse

On By CarynIn Flora
A branch that looks quite like a horse

When working from home, my husband spotted this branch out the window that looks very much like a rearing horse. He spotted it at the beginning of all the quarantine stuff, and I just pulled the image off my camera. How is your routine going?

Fish

On By CarynIn Wildlife

So my eldest was taking pictures in the back woods for a school art project and found fish in the tiny stream! I’m not sure how the raccoons haven’t caught them; there isn’t but a couple inches of water. In fact, as she was looking, one of the fish beached itself trying to get away. She helped it back into the water.

Beached minnow (photo credit to my eldest)
Minnow under a stick (photo credit to my eldest)

Fawn Alpaca Fleece

On By CarynIn Craft
Washed fleece (top left), darker fawn carded (top right), lighter fawn carded (bottom)

For my next yarn color it was time to use Donna Bella’s fleece (a fawn colored alpaca from Alpacas of Aledo). I was not planning on blending this round, but as I was carding I noticed a distinct color difference in some of the rolags (the roll of fiber that comes off the carder). So I separated the lightest and darkest colors and will spin them separately. I’m also going to reduce the number of rolags I spin per spindle to 10 to lighten the weight when I ply the last bits. (I used 12 rolags per spindle for the dark brown and fawn blend.)