Category: Craft

Muddle

On By CarynIn Craft

mud·dle /ˈmədl/ verb

  1. bring into a disordered or confusing state.
  2. mix (a drink) or stir (an ingredient) into a drink.

I like both of these definitions of muddle from Oxford Languages, but today we are specifically talking about muddling an ingredient into a drink. To muddle, it helps to have a muddler, which is a hand-held specialized pestle for gently crushing ingredients in a glass. I made this muddler out of a blank of ash wood by turning it on my lathe. First, I did a sketch of my desired profile, then roughed out the blank, refined it, and sanded down from 80 grit to 600. I used the parting tool to separate the muddler from the blank (which is nervous as this is done while the lathe is turning). I did need to sand the ends to remove tool marks.

Muddler sketch, with turned muddler
Muddler rinsed with water to raise the grain and get an idea of the finished color

This muddler needs a few coats of tung oil and some curing time, then it will be ready to send for testing.

New to me publication

On By CarynIn Craft

New reading material! On a branch in one of my internet rabbit hole dives I found mention of “Wild Fibers” publication. It is now sitting next to my chair along with my Spin Off magazine.

Photo of the cover of “Wild Fibers” Vol. 16 Issue 1

So much fibery goodness.

Clun Forest

On By CarynIn Craft

Ah, I bought more wool. I saw that one of the breeders participating in Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em had four ounce bags of Clun Forest Roving ready to ship. I haven’t spun any of that kind of wool. I caved. Even though it has been washed and carded, it is still spending a couple weeks in the freezer, just in case something hitched a ride. Along with the whole alpaca fleece I haven’t yet processed. Hm.

Another skein down

On By CarynIn Craft

I have finished a full skein on my Grandma’s blanket. This time I was able to estimate how much yarn was left a little better so I only have a small bundle, rather than enough to make a ball.

Smaller yarn amount left at the edge

I also laid out the blanket as it stands, and I can’t immediately tell where Grandma stopped and I picked it up, so that is a relief.

Grandma’s blanket in progress

I think I will take a picture after I finish each skein, just to have progress notes.

Notch

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve added a notch to the whorl of my student spindle. I make these from a 5/8” hardwood dowel, a cup hook, and a toy wooden wheel. Using a belt sander, I shape the ends of the dowel slightly; the top to accommodate the screw-in cup hook and whorl, and the bottom to make a point so it can be used also as a bottom whorl spindle. I read that beginners should also look for a spindle with a notch in the whorl to help hold the spun yarn in place. That is easy enough to add with two quick cuts with a small saw and some progressive sanding starting with 120 grit and working down to 400 grit. I had to test the new feature, as you do, so spun up some Shetland wool. The notch lines up to the back of the hook to help prevent the yarn from spinning around the whorl. I am past that learning hurtle, but I can see how this might help a beginner, so I’ll continue to add the notch.

Small amount of two-plied Shetland wool made to test the notch in the whorl