Category: Uncategorized

Potholder: twill

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

I’m running out of cotton loops for my regular sized potholder loom. I have enough for one more, and the colors are not what I would pick given infinite variety (which is why they are last). To maximize potential, I counted the loops and divided each color in half. I put them on the pin loom in blocks of color, so I didn’t come up short one color in a more complicated pattern. I did want to try a twill pattern, and chose a 2/2 twill, which means over 2, under 2. The start point of twill moves over one strand with each pass, which makes the diagonal lines.

Photo description: purple, red, orange, and pink loops on a potholder loom with a third of the twill weaving pattern started and the weaving hook inserted for the next pass
Photo description: twill potholder finished with a chain stitch
Photo description: six potholders made from one Harrisville Designs kit. From top left to right: plain weave with rainbow order chain finished, light green and dark green plain weave with alternating colors chain finished, twill pattern chain finished, twisted warm and cool colors three sides chain finished, warm colors vs cool colors with 90 degree wraps chain finished, and purple vs rainbow 90 degree wraps loop threaded finish.

Missed Anniversary

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Oops, WordPress helpfully reminded me that it was my 5th year blogging anniversary… on January 19th. The traditional 5-year anniversary gift is wood. I love carving wood and making shavings and sawdust, but I currently don’t have time. I thought I would have AI whip something up for me, but it kept wood burning the edges of the “5”, so I grabbed a leaf photo and some wood grain from my collection, then added a chiseled emboss and a drop shadow. The original picture of the leaves and the wood was nearly the same tone, so I played with a hue adjustment layer and fell in love with the teal. (I really wanted to do a color-shifting background in an animated GIF, but wasn’t sure it would work on the site. Future tests are in order.)

Photo description: Carved wood number 5 on a bed of teal colored leaves, completely Photoshopped.

I also just secured the crittersandcraft.blog domain name. My chickens are aging, and I’m not going to get more, so it seems strange to have a chicken and craft blog, when I don’t post much about chickens. Now to figure out how to make the switch and not break anything. Or maybe I already have. Technology is my frenemy.

Remarkable

On By CarynIn Cats, Uncategorized

It is remarkable when you’ve had a towel for at least 6 years and then find that the little plastic tags are still there. What? How did I miss this for so many years? They are scratchy irritating little things. Anyway, they are gone now. Here is a picture of Thor the cat trying to help (he loves fabric.)

Photo description: Colorful beach towel with plastic tag still attached. Gray tabby has his white paw on my thumb as I take the picture.

Confession

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Here is my confession: I do not craft everyday all the time. I do go and hide in a video game for extended stretches because sometimes I just need to go into a battle I’m confident of winning. The latest obsession has been Stardew Valley. First off, crafting is a heavy element in the game, so it appeals to my maker’s soul, and then there are the mines where I can cathartically destroy rocks and monsters. Creation and destruction coded into a beautifully addictive game. Oh, and there is fishing. Yay fishing! I have been so absorbed that I have reached end game, 100% perfection, as it is called. Yes, there are a million things to remake and rebuilt and rearrange, but the overarching goals have been met. I even have a golden chicken that lays golden eggs. Hm. Maybe it is time to get back to my real life craft room.

Screen shot of my Stardew Valley Statue of True Perfection

Adding color

On By CarynIn art, Craft, Tools, Uncategorized

I love, love my wood burned Celtic knot morning glories on my rolling pin, but I feel it could use some color. With the lines solidly established, I felt confident adding some diluted acrylic paint to make the design pop.

Adding acrylic paint to the wood burned design

I know from experience that acrylic paint does well under coats of tung oil, so I am not in fear of losing this design to mineral spirits. But I have a new problem. The old rolling pin handles are a different wood and thus a different shade than the new rolling pin center. Not pleasingly, either. Paint to the rescue. I sanded down the old finish on the handles to prep for paint.

One handle in the original color, one sanded down before painting.

I used the darkest blue acrylic paint that I used in the design to paint the handles. Next step, finishing!

(Part 7 of 8 in this blog series)