UFO Discovered

On June 3, 2022May 30, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

I was digging through my yarn stash and found yet another inherited unfinished object (UFO). This one I found in my husband’s paternal grandmother’s basement, along with the yarn.

Not sure why the project was abandoned with only one sleeve left. A bit of trial and error led me to US size 6 knitting needles, and I could feel the seam in the other sleeve, so knew it was knitted flat then sewn up. I counted the visible stitches and added two for the seam. I knitted the sleeve from the top down, ending with a few rows of ribbing.

There was more mystery about the little cardigan; the inside was very, very fuzzy. Was it brushed? What was going on? Some insight occurred when I knit the sleeve. The yarn had a long halo (fibers that stick out from the spun yarn), and when knitting the garter stitch, those long fibers hung out on the purl side of the garment because of the mechanics of forming the stitches. So the inside was significantly more fuzzy than the outside. Some time rumbling about the bottom of several yarn stashes probably helped the condition as well. After finishing the missing sleeve and blocking the cardigan, I decided the fuzzy must be embraced. I turned the sweater inside out and gave it a brush to raise and align the fibers. It is so fuzzy, the inside out seams don’t even show.

Finished sweater, inside out, blocked, and brushed

The cardigan has a very mossy look. There was just enough yarn to complete the sleeve and sew up the seams; I trimmed about 3” of waste once the ends were woven in.

Spin walk

On May 31, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

I’m still nursing my achilles tendon back to health. PT helped with the surrounding muscle strength, and I was approved to start taking walks again! My first walk I paid close attention to the road, so did not take my spinning. The second walk I grabbed my spindle and fiber! I still have quite a bit of build up to get through to take the long walks I used to, by at least I’m back on the road.

Framing the Abyss Shriek

On May 28, 2022 By CarynIn art, Craft

Several months ago my eldest designed a vector graphic of the Abyss Shriek, which is a spell in the game Hollow Knight. (Very very cool graphics in this game; it is a platformer, so I suck at it, but I love the texture and feel of the world.) She used the Cricut to cut out the image in permanent vinyl, then carefully (oh so carefully, so many teeny tiny lines) she weeded out the vinyl. I found a piece of glass in my stash that set off the image nicely and applied the vinyl to the glass. Then it sat. And sat. I had ordered the parts to make a hanging frame for it, the parts had arrived, but it required a bit of soldering. Soldering and I have been historically wary companions. So it sat some more. Finally, when I was avoiding cleaning where the art was sitting, I decided to give the frame a go.

The glass had one rolled edge, which both my eldest and I liked, so the idea was to create a frame that left the top open. It was short work with a jeweler’s saw to cut the came to length, even with the angles, and also easy to drill small holes at the top for the chain. Then came the soldering.

Soldering the back first in case everything went pear shaped

I did a test solder first on some scrap came, and was pleasantly surprised when the soldering iron and solder did was it was supposed to do. The tip cleaned well on a bit of brass wool, the came heated up nicely, and the solder flowed well from the tip to the piece. Color me shocked. So I moved onto the actual piece, but the back, in case my usual soldering skills came to fore. They didn’t. I was able to solder the back two joints, then flip the piece and solder the front of the joints. I did use a small file to clean up the sharp edges, but the joints were holding! Huzzah!

Abyss Shriek hanging (art work by my eldest, frame by me)

I did add a bit of super glue to the top of the frame. The chain holds everything in place nicely when it is hanging, but when it is not under tension there is a risk of separation, so a little insurance helped. It took hardly any time to put the frame together and get the art hung finally. Embarrassing really, that it sat so long, but I’m glad it is now done. And perhaps, perhaps, I may attempt more soldering in the future.

Keychains

On May 23, 2022 By CarynIn art, Craft

Recently finished up a custom order for a favorite customer. I designed the flamingo graphic first in pencil, then refined it in Adobe Fresco, then cleaned it up in Adobe Illustrator. Using my Cricut, I cut out the pattern on permanent vinyl (I did try removable vinyl, but needed the extra stick for those teeny, tiny eyes). Weeding these 1.75” circles was an exercise in patience, but I think they came out well!

Transferring the design to the inside of the keychain cover, and as an aside, my favorite weeding tool

As a bonus, my youngest loved the extras because her basketball team this spring was the “Pink Flamingos”. (I always make extras because there are inevitably errors or scratches on purchased blank keychains. I don’t want those to go to my customers.)

Starting small

On May 21, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

I was curious about how a top down cardigan might be constructed. I purchased a knitting pattern, but was quickly overwhelmed reading through. I decided I needed to start small, with scrap yarn, so found free instructions on how to knit a cardigan for a doll. I don’t need as much yarn or time for doll clothes as I would for human-sized apparel, it gives me a good idea on how construction proceeds, and it makes my youngest happy.

So a raglan sleeved cardigan knitted top down is a brilliant thing. There are less seams to match, and it is easier to do custom sleeve and body lengths (which my entire family needs). My doll sweater has some mistakes, but the purpose was to understand, not be perfect. I’m quite pleased with the knowledge gained.

Finished raglan cardigan with pink buttons on a 16” doll

I have made human sized garments, but they have been mostly ill fitting. But I feel my knitting skills are improving, and I am ready to move on from hats and scarves. I do have two in-process projects to wrap up before rushing onward, perhaps this idea will provide motivation.

Critters and Craft

Category: Craft