Category: Craft

Setting pins

On By CarynIn Craft

I have learned a new skill! Hurray! I have probably been watching too much Forged in Fire; I had a desire to learn to set a pin in wood, which they don’t actually show how on the screen. Turns out, it is not that difficult. Getting the holes set evenly is another matter!

Drilling holes

First, I drilled holes the size of my brass wire. My drill bit was the exact size, so I had to ream it out some to get the wire through. When drilling, support the back of the piece with scrap wood. By drilling into the scrap wood, you reduce the chance of blowing out the back of the hole (that is experience talking!)

Wire inserted through the holes and trimmed 1/8” inch on each side

I cut my wire flush and to about 1/4” longer than the width, so that when fully inserted, the wire sticks 1/8” out each side. The fit of the wire should be snug; I used a hammer to drive it through.

Flattening out the ends of the wire with a ball peen hammer

I took the work over to the vice, because it has a small anvil area. I used a ball peen hammer to mushroom over the ends of the wire. By hammering a few times, then flipping it over, I was able to flatten out both ends of the wire. I hammered around the edge of the wire (mostly, still practicing), rather than straight in the middle. This pushes the metal outward to round the end and wedge it into the wood.

Sanding the pins smooth with a band sander

To finish, I sanded off the top of the pin so the top was smooth. The resulting brass circle is larger the than the initial hole, and fills the hole completely, so I’m fairly confident it will hold. Fun! Now what else can I pin…

String Heddle

On By CarynIn Craft

A heddle is something in weaving that holds threads of the warp to make it faster to weave. Rather than picking over and under each warp thread with the weft, heddles can be arranged to lift (or lower) alternate warp threads so the weft yarn can pass through (the tunnel created is called a shed). Heddles come in many forms, but I learned how to do a continuous string heddle when I was reading about back strap looms. I decided to try one with my frame loom.

Frame loom with continuous string heddle at the top, and a cartoon (pattern) attached behind

I used the same thread as my warp (I’m still working away at the found ball in my inherited stash), and used a slip knot to start, then looped the thread around every other warp thread, securing each loop with two half hitches. I used one of my pick up sticks for the alternate threads. It took awhile to secure all the loops, but now that it is set up, it is much easier to switch sheds. Weavers call the drawing used as a guide a “cartoon”. My cartoon is helping guide my curve work.

Opening a shed with a continuous string heddle, then using a pick up stick to hold the shed open
Shed kept open with a pick up stick to make space for the warp thread
Opposite warp threads lifted with a second pick up stick

Things to consider

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft
Cat on my lap as seen through the warp

I’m trying some slightly thinner yarn on my frame loom and it is working much better with the sett (how far apart the warp strings are). I’m also experimenting with hatching (as seen in the picture above where the blue and white mix). As I consider buying or making a loom that is heddle bar friendly and has adjustable tension, I also need to consider lap space. My cat has started to reclaim lap time after the arrival of the puppy, and she doesn’t much care what I am doing as long as she can lounge!

Braided dog toy

On By CarynIn Craft, dog
Rainbow fleece material

I found some boldly striped rainbow fleece material to use for dog toys! I cut the bold stripes apart to make strips, and since there were six colors, learned to do a six strand round braid. It was much nicer to buy one yard of this material than several yards of different colors! The dogs approve of the finished tug toy. I stuffed some extra strips of fleece material into their rubber toys, and they enjoy destuffing those too!

Griffin seeing the braided fleece dog toy
Ball stuffed with fleece
Missy with two braided toys, a fleece stuffed toy, and her favorite chew bone

New book!

On By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized
My newly purchased book and my loom to practice the new things I’m learning!

I’ve been happily pouring over my new book “The Art of Tapestry Weaving” by Rebecca Mezoff. I’ve been following her blog for awhile and it was there I saw the upcoming release and so pre-ordered it. I had every intention of reading it cover to cover then go back to weaving. It lasted one chapter before I was too excited and had to warp my loom and try what I was reading about. But, being me, I’m not starting with a tapestry, I’m making dish clothes, because again, even an imperfect dish cloth is useful. Oh the ideas I have for weaving alpaca though!! But first cotton, and the loom I own. (Then later make my own with bits and bobs from the hardware store. She has instructions on that in the book too! Joy!)