Category: throwback

Throwback Thursday: crochet bracelet pocket

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In August of 2016 I was in the throes of crocheting bracelets and anklets with small pockets. It started with being annoyed at my fitness tracker on my wrist. When I walked, I was pushing a stroller and my steps weren’t being counted because my arms weren’t swinging. I had the idea that I could put the tracker on my ankle, but there weren’t any bands big enough to go around, so I crocheted one. I had friends ask for one, so I made a bunch and started to sell them.

Photo description: eleven crocheted and braided bracelets with button closures and small mesh pockets made from pearlized cotton in various colors and lengths
Photo description: closeup of the pocket, with a key inside, quarter on one side for scale, and a fitness tracker on the other side
Photo description: bracelet shown closed

The problem with the crocheted cotton was that cotton stretches with time, and each strap was crocheted to size with no adjustment. The button also wasn’t a reliable closure. Sometimes brushing against furniture would pop the anklet open. I sold a few, but after the design problems became apparent, stopped making them.

Throwback Thursday: doodled fish

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In June of 2016 I was experimenting with the 3Doodler, a pen shaped device that extrudes hot plastic, like a 3D printer, but hand driven rather than computer driven. I decided to make a walleye fish, for my Dad, to experiment with construction.

Photo description: getting started, with the 3Doodler pen on the right, doll eyes, sheet of glass for flat components, and a glass drinking glass for curved components, along with a reference illustration
Photo description: body constructed and onto the fins, it worked best for me to make the component, then attach it to the base rather than build up from the base, especially for the fins
Photo description: fish complete, but I wanted a better position than it resting on its pectoral fins
Photo description: translucent blue “waves” doodled flat then added as a base for the fish
Photo description: finished piece titled “Hooked” made from extruded plastic with a 3D doodler pen, red and white lure also doodled with plastic, then melted smooth, and plastic doll eyes

The biggest frustration with the project was the tool. The version of 3D doodler I was using needed more breaks than I did, and I would have to walk away and let it rest, which is not ideal in the middle of a creative storm.

Throwback Thursday: crocheted helmet

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In March of 2016 I crocheted and embroidered a Roman military helmet with face guard for my sister, who teaches ancient history.

Photo description: yellow crocheted hat with face guard and red crest in the style of a ancient military helmet

I did not record my sources, so am not sure what specific style I was emulating, if any. It did amuse me greatly to make it.

Throwback Thursday: library sign

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In October 2015 I was volunteering at my kids’ elementary school library. They had stacks of old dust covers for books and we had the idea of making a library sign using the colorful printed paper. I selected portions of book covers with coordinating colors and made each letter of the word “library” a different color of the rainbow.

Photo description: large paper based letters spelling “library” and two cartoon owls made of book dust covers and chip board hanging on the wall of the library office
Photo description: closeup of the letter “R” showing how many individual book covers were used for their colors, and outlined with black chip board

I did write on the back of each letter the names of the books that went into making up the color. The owls were made to coordinate with a backdrop of a collection of owls that was already displayed at the library.

Throwback Thursday: PSA

On By CarynIn Life Hack, throwback

In August of 2015 I was assembling cube shelves and kept whacking my fingers with the hammer driving in tiny finish nails. “Necessity is the mother of invention” and I came up with a different way to hold the nails to have less swearing. I felt so strongly about it I made graphics and probably shared it on social media. Here the public service announcement is again today: how not to hold a small nail.

Photo description: how not to hold a small nail showing pinching the nail between finger and thumb and the edges and of the fingers above the head of the nail with a large red circle and slash over the hand
Photo description: a better way to hold a small nail, between two fingers with the hand flat on the surface well below the head of the nail

In either case, if you completely miss the nail head, your fingers are going to suffer. Another alternative is to use a needle nose pliers to hold the nail, keeping your fingers completely out of the way.