Category: Uncategorized

Throwback Thursday: long Turks-head knot

On By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized

This throwback only goes back two years, in 2024 I made my Dad a long Turks-head knot pencil grip with hemp string.

Photo description: hemp string wrapped around a yellow pencil in a woven pattern made in June 2024

I asked for hints for his birthday and he mentioned that the pencil grip doesn’t fit on mechanical pencils.

Photo description: same pencil grip on a new yellow pencil two years later next to a plastic mechanical pencil

So I made him some more.

Photo description: mechanical pencils with different colored hemp knots in different patterns

I’m still not confident with knot naming. The pencils in the photo above are laid out in the order I made them, from left to right. Rather than name the knots, I’ll tell you what went wrong. The first one I forgot to split the third time around so ended up with a different pattern. The second was too tight and I was not able to double the knot. The third was a little looser, so I doubled most of the knot, but couldn’t squeeze in the final doubling. The fourth I changed color and was still only able to double most, but not all, of the knot. The fifth I deliberately didn’t split the third pass. The sixth I was able to double some, but not all. The seventh, ah the seventh, came out as I wished, with all passes doubled.

Here is the video I referenced to make my knots: A Long 4 Bight Paracord Turk’s Head Knot (21 lead 4 bight)

Crocheted leaf cluster

On By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized

To crochet a simple leaf, my favorite method is to make a foundation row, then crochet in the back loop back down from tip to stem. The foundation row is regular crochet stitches with a single chain added in the middle of working the stitch. This gives a chain-like structure on both sides.

Photo description: crocheted leaf made in two “rows”

Here is a video, and below are written instructions.

Instructions for the leaf (American notation):

Stem: chain (ch) 5

First Foundation Half Double Crochet (ffhdc): yarn over (yo), insert hook in second chain from the hook, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through three loops.

Foundation Double Crochet (fdc): yo, insert hook through two side loops, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through two loops.

Fdc again.

Foundation Triple Crochet (ftc): yo, insert hook through two side loops, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through two loops.

Ftc again.

Two fdc.

Foundation Half Double Crochet (fhdc): yo, insert hook through two side loops, yo, pull up loop, ch 1, yo, pull through three loops.

Foundation Single Crochet (fsc): insert hook through two side loops, ch 1, yo, pull through two loops.

Ch 3.

Single crochet in back loop (scbl).

Double crochet in back loop (dcbl).

Dcbl.

Triple crochet in back loop (tcbl).

Tcbl.

Dcbl twice.

Half Double Crochet in back loop (hdcbl).

Slip stitch down the initial chain.

To make a sharper leaf tip, slip stitch the ch 3 together. To make different shapes, combine different numbers of stitches. You don’t necessarily need to match fdc with a dcbl.

To make a cluster, finish a leaf, then chain again without tying off. Vary stem lengths. clusters of three work well.

Photo description: cluster of crocheted leaves

Cactus terrarium update

On By CarynIn Flora, Uncategorized

Of the original planting of my tea jar terrarium, I had three varieties survive. It was looking rather sparse, so I added succulents from another pot we had hanging in a window.

Photo description: top down photo of my tea jar terrarium with six varieties of succulents and two carved stone figurines

I’ve increased the artificial light from 9 hours to 12 to see if that makes the cactus happier.

Paper serendipity

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Sometimes, not very often, when I’m wrapping presents the paper pattern and the box size coincide and the fold at the back is a perfect continuation of the pattern. Ah.

Photo description: “let it snow” wrapping paper that has been wrapped around a box with the two ends meeting up to complete the snowman pattern

Next pair

On By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized

I’ve cast on a new pair of spiral socks. This time I’m trying a 3×3 offset rib. The yarn I purchased years ago, tried to make a sweater, but frogged the whole project, so am now using the yarn for socks.

Photo description: top down spiral socks in progress using variegated blue and yellow fingering weight super wash wool and nylon yarn

I do think it is an interesting phenomenon that the spiral rib presents the garter stitch, while a straight rib shows the stockinette as predominant.