Category: Craft

Dogapult

On By CarynIn Craft, dog

Missy the dog is obsessed with fetch. To give our arms a rest, we thought about purchasing a ball throwing machine. Then saw the prices. Ouch. So next came investigating DIY versions. There were many variations using windshield wiper motors, and sensors, but I wanted something basic I could make with things around the house. Ah, the catapult.

Basic catapult made with household items

I used a paper bowl, a yard stick, a section of pool noodle, and duct tape. The yard stick does not have much strength when full length, and testing kept breaking off bits, until we ended up with about a two foot section. The pool noodle acts as a fulcrum and allows the catapult to roll back to the starting position after launch (so it resets itself). Everything is connected using duct tape.

Teaching Missy to put the ball in the bowl, then use her paw to launch the ball is the next challenge. She is not mechanically inclined, which is OK, she is a dog. We can get her to put the ball in the bowl sometimes, then she knows the command “paw”, where she puts her paw on my hand, then if I put my hand over the end of the stick, we can launch. This is going to be a process. Still, she enjoys the attention, my eldest enjoys the challenge of teaching her, and if we ever get it all together we’ll probably have a viral video.

Learning to use a catapult is exhausting work!

Managing rainbow spaghetti

On By CarynIn Craft

I have embarked on a new long-term knitting project: a rainbow scarf in brioche knit with vertical stripes of color. The yarn is from Wanderlust Fiber Co in Dallas TX, and it was purchased through a fundraiser through JuJu Knits for #LGBQTSaves. I reached out to the yarn dyers for more of the sparkly white so I had enough to back all the color in the scarf. The most terrifying thing about this project is if all those beautiful colors get tangled (seriously, the horror). So I devised a method to keep it all from turning to rainbow spaghetti. Enter one of DIYers top three multipurpose supplies: the pool noodle. (Which has a close following to duct tape and hot glue.) I cut a length of pool noodle, then slit it down the side to make a clamp for the center pull balls of yarn. The pressure on the yarn keeps the balls from rolling or swinging about, and since they are center-pull, the yarn feeds out easily.

Another use for the ubiquitous pool noodle: yarn holder

The colors came in mini skeins, which, once they are wound into cakes, are a perfect size for a pool noodle clamp. As I knit the colored rows, I do need to watch carefully which way to route the yarn, but if I do mess up, I can take the tangled yarn out of the clamp, untangle, and slide it back in place. No worries.

Getting started on the rainbow scarf

The sparkly white stays out of the clamp, because it runs its rows independently of the colors. It is working quite well. And the pool noodle sits along my thigh when I sit in my chair and stays put.

Izzy watching rainbow spaghetti

This is definitely not a travel project, it stays in the knitting bag by my chair. So it will be in process for while. I’ll post updates as construction continues.

Swatch again

On By CarynIn Craft

I attempted another cotton swatch, and tried again for doing brioche knit, vertical stripes, and cables. Uh no. You can see the one row of failed experiment in the photos. I did not rip out this time because it would have been demoralizing (and it is just a swatch that will go in the wash cloth bin). The combination of all the things is possible, but not at my usual level of concentration, which is always split at least two ways. (I am very distractible, if you haven’t noticed.)

Cotton brioche knit with vertical stripes and failed cables
Opposite side

This swatch was a learning experience for certain. I’m getting better at recognizing which way the brioche knit stitches go, and can read the knitting rather than relying on a pattern for each row. Most importantly, I have decided that the next project will use vertical color stripes, but not cables. Brioche knit is not easy (for me) to rip out partially, and cables introduce too many opportunities for error that I don’t catch until many rows later.

Try again

On By CarynIn Craft

I actually ripped something out. Yes, it was just a cotton test swatch, yes it was headed to the washcloth bin any way, but felt I was taking on too much and had to simplify. So instead of trying brioche knit, vertical stripes, and cables, I took out the vertical stripes and concentrated on understanding cables in brioche knit.

Horizontal color change with cables in brioche knit, cotton swatch
Opposite side

The cables in brioche knitting are intriguing, but I really don’t want horizontal color changes in the next project. I’ll try a different swatch.

Passing the knowledge

On By CarynIn Craft

I’m so excited to pass on the knowledge of wire tree making to my eldest. She used a cut agate geode as the base, floral wire for the tree, and labradorite chip beads for the leaves. No glue was used on this piece at all; the wires wrap the stone.

Wire tree (photo credit to my eldest)

I haven’t made any of my own wire trees in awhile, mostly because they are a serious investment in time and space (totally worth it, but still). I have several ideas saved in my sketch book for the time I do delve back in. It was good to see my eldest engaged in the process, though. Making wire trees can be meditative, and is similar to bonsai training, but with no worry about forgetting to water.