Woven Tencel

On November 26, 2024November 23, 2024 By CarynIn Craft

I was only able to get three swatches from my Tencel sample, knitted, crocheted, and woven. I wove this swatch on a Clover mini loom, with the warp doubled. To finish it I ran the warp back up through the weft passes. I like the edge the method makes, but I don’t like how wonky this piece came out.

Photo description: plain weave swatch made on a Clover mini loom with three ply hand spun Tencel yarn

Photo description: same woven swatch after blocking, but still wonky

I’m going to blame the spin on this one.

P.S. Sorry if you received this post twice by email. I usually schedule my posts about three days out, and I hit the wrong button, tried to retract it, and put it on the proper schedule. I wasn’t fast enough and the email went out. It bothered me to have this series of posts out of order, so I fixed it for the blog, but those emails may have a duplicate or not resend. Ah, technology.

Crocheted Tencel

On November 25, 2024 By CarynIn Craft

I did my go-to coaster crochet pattern for the Tencel swatch using a F hook. The crochet handles the unevenness of the yarn much better than knitting.

Photo description: crocheted coaster made from three ply hand spun Tencel yarn and a F (3.75mm) ergonomic hook by Clover

Photo description: crocheted coaster after blocking

The openness of the lace stitch also is complementary to the uneven yarn. I think if I had done an even crochet stitch, such as a single crochet every row, it wouldn’t have looked as nice. That is a good thing to know: lace or sculptural crochet is a good choice for imperfect yarn.

Knitted Tencel

On November 24, 2024 By CarynIn Craft

I knit my hand spun Tencel yarn with size 4 Prym needles. I like to do a stockinette stitch with garter stitch border to help it lay flat since stockinette alone likes to curl.

Photo description: knit swatch of Tencel with the knitting needle because sometimes I forget which size I used

Photo description: same swatch after blocking which only improved the shape slightly

My knitting tension is even, the wonkiness of this swatch comes from the uneven spin of the yarn. Tencel was a tricky fiber for me to spin. It is shiny and lustrous, but likes to clump and doesn’t draft evenly. The finished swatch is soft and has a lovely sheen, but I’m distracted by the strange pooling of uneven yarn.

Tencel Top

On November 23, 2024 By CarynIn Craft

My chain plied Tencel yarn sat on my niddy noddy for (ah hm) awhile. I am deliberately not counting the number of in progress projects I have right now. I finally rolled it up into a center pull ball, and it is very shiny, but more uneven than my usual spins. I think I have said it before, but Tencel will not be on my spin-again list.

Photo description: three-ply Tencel yarn wound nostepinne style on a rolled piece of card stock, black dog in the background staring up, her very own ball not pictured

Throwback Thursday: necklace pins

On November 21, 2024 By CarynIn Craft

These necklace pins are from September 2010. I like dual purpose pieces, and these pins that are also a necklace focal are some of the best I’ve made. I crafted the pins from sterling silver wire and Swarovski crystal beads; one represents a Bluebonnet and the other Queen Anne’s Lace wild flowers.