Shapes

On January 3, 2021January 4, 2021 By CarynIn Craft

This weaving had a two fold inspiration. My sister loves bees, and my daughter recently has been drawing the cutest simple bees. I did ask my eldest if it was OK that I borrow her bee style!

Things I like: My eldest suggested the bee abdomen have thicker stripes, which really turned out well with the thinner hatching stripes on the wings. Steaming also helped smooth things out.

Things I learned: I need to work on consistent angles. I used a cartoon (pattern), but decided to do the angle mathematically, up two over one, rather than follow the line. Or maybe I need to adjust my math.

Details: approximately 8”x8”, 100% cotton weft, warp suspected cotton (from stash), woven on an 8 sett frame loom. First and last pass twined. Warp drawn through piece to finish.

Curves

On January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

My next finished experimental weaving where I tried curves and hatching.

Things I like: Still like hatching. The curves are fun! I split the ends to be woven in, which made a huge difference on the neatness of the back.

Things I learned: Taking the time to do a continuous string heddle saves time and frustration especially when unweaving. Using a line drawing taped behind the loom as a guide is very helpful as well, however, I need to make sure I use the same viewing angle each time I reference the cartoon.

Details: approximately 8”x8”, 100% cotton weft, warp suspected cotton (from stash), woven on an 8 sett frame loom. First and last pass twined. Warp drawn through piece to finish.

Happy New Year! May this year be better than last (asking little). I have a few more wrap up items for posts from the holidays, then exciting new things for the new year!

Wooden ergonomic crochet hook

On December 30, 2020December 25, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

Well this was fun! I made a crochet hook out of a chunk of mesquite. Rather than a straight dowel (which are harder to hold and manipulate), I made a handle shaped to my hand, then chiseled out an indentation for my thumb. Then I shaped the actual shaft and hook. It took me a couple tries to get the length right (I used some scrap cotton to test), but found a good length and refined the head. I sanded down to 400 grit and sealed with tung oil. The shaft is a size K hook. I could probably have gone smaller, but we’ll see how this one performs. I sent it off to my Mom for the holidays!

Back of crochet hook with wood burned lettering

Hatching

On December 28, 2020December 24, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

I finished the first experiment with weaving with hatching.

Things I like: Hatching! Neat, neat technique with so many possibilities, and solid joins between colors.

Things I learned: Pay careful attention to each pass. Finding a missed warp thread four passes later is frustrating. No, I didn’t unweave, this is a learning piece. Also, weaving in the ends makes lumps on the back. Also, marking the warp threads with washable ink means you have to give the item a proper wash, not just a blocking. Even that doesn’t guarantee the ink will wash out of the white areas.

Details: approximately 8”x8”, 100% cotton weft, warp suspected cotton (from stash), woven on an 8 sett frame loom. First row twined to space warp threads. Warp drawn through piece to finish.

Wooden tongs

On December 26, 2020December 25, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

And the reveal… wooden tongs! I made wooden tongs as gifts this year. I used mesquite wood for the blades and wedge, but wasn’t confident with glue joints so learned to set brass pins. I posted on that previously, but didn’t show what I was actually making (spoilers).

Mesquite wood tongs shaped and sanded to 400 grit

After shaping and sanding, I did my usual water rinse to raise the grain, and was quite surprised that the mesquite was still quite smooth. I ran over everything with 400 grit again, just to be thorough. I added some embellishments with wood burning, then sealed with butcher block conditioner (which is a food safe mix of oils and wax).

Critters and Craft

Category: Craft