Category: Craft

New direction

On By CarynIn Craft

The Singer 27 treadle sewing machine that I purchased for $50 and pulled put of barn where it had lived for years is going back to the original purposes for which I bought it. I just wanted the cast iron base.

After reading about treadle machines I had changed my plan and attempted a restoration, but there is just too much rust. So. Much. Rust. Cleaning and polishing teeny tiny parts is not my happy place, so the project sat for three years. I need the workspace back, so I’m going back to my original plan of restoring just the cast iron base to be a power source for different tools.

Photo description: cast iron Singer sewing machine base separated from the wood top that was rotting and painted a strange yellow

Lame sheath

On By CarynIn Craft

My lame (a blade for cutting bread) has been living inside the original cheap cardboard box for a few years now. I finally made a new leather sheath for it!

Photo description: piece of laser cut finished leather, lame (without blade), and a tape ruler
Photo description: sheath stitched up using waxed nylon cord and a baseball stitch, lame with blade attached

The lame fits inside nicely with the blade. I don’t know if I want to make a lid for the open end, it’s not like I’m cutting sourdough on the go. I really just needed something to keep it safe in the drawer.

Photo description: open end of lame sheath with lame inside

I really like my laser cutter for the ability to make precise leather bespoke items.

Magic braid

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve been fascinated for years with the magic braid done with leather where both ends of the braid are uncut. I found a good tutorial that uses reclaimed leather, and I had to try it.

Photo description: two pieces of leather reclaimed from an old recliner and cut with a laser cutter, the one on the left has been braided, the one on the right has not

I did not make these into bracelets as in the tutorial, but into key chain fobs, by folding them in half and adding a clip.

Photo description: magic braid leather key fob

Another square

On By CarynIn Craft

I forgot about this project. I started making every square in the book Granny Square Flair with fine alpaca yarn from Peru back in March. I was hoping it would be a travel project, but it requires way too much concentration as every row is different and I need to refer back to the pattern frequently. So I designated it a home project and it has sat next to my chair for a few months.

Photo description: completed “Ianthe” square made with teal alpaca yarn, laying on a calico cat

This is another forever project that will sneak in the gaps of other projects. I have no problem telling people my age, but asking how many open projects I have going will get you a flippant answer.

Black Welsh Mountain Sheep wool

On By CarynIn Craft

The Black Welsh Mountain Sheep is also on the Livestock Conservancy’s Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em list as a threatened heritage species. I have finished single spinning my 4 ounce sample. It is very nice to spin, and I was able to achieve a nice thin single. My challenge for myself in this spin was switching direction half-way through, so I now have half the wool spun in the S direction, and half in the Z direction.

Photo description: spun Black Welsh Mountain wool on two spindles and one center pull ball, sitting on the original bag from Camaj Fiber Arts, and another bag with a lock of unspun wool

My plan is to do some parallel experiments with the two different spins in weaving, knitting, and crochet, until I run out of wool.