I stole this idea from… somewhere? It seems everything has a similar scrolling format, so I’m not sure if I was in Pinterest or YouTube or what. Anyway, it is a great idea and works well to use Command strip hooks inside the cupboard to hang attachments for a stand mixer. They drive me crazy rattling around in the drawer and getting stuck.
I made this necklace in March of 2008, and it was featured in a FireMountain Gems catalog. I always meant to write up detailed instructions on its construction, but didn’t, so I’ll give you a short run down here.
The 13 cylinders are made by doing beaded crochet as a tube with waxed silk thread. I assembled each section with a cylindrical turquoise bead at each end, and ran a 20 gauge wire sterling silver wire down the middle, securing each end with a wire spiral. To connect the sections, I ran the same gauge wire through the sides of the cylinders, making sure that I went through the stitching inside, and made a spiral at each end. The clasp is a custom add-a-bead barrel style clasp, and I did have to ream out the bead hole to get the clasp into the bead.
I setup my small sprang loom again, this time with hand spun pineapple fiber. I followed SolRhiza Arts’ video on how to do “interlaced horizonal ribs.” The technique alternates right and left hand twists on each row, which I hoped would solve the curl issue. The weave started out beautifully.
I finished with the chain method across the middle, which I still don’t like. When I removed the work from the loom I had a shock: it didn’t have the stretch effect I expect from sprang. It stretched, the horizontal ribs disappeared, and it didn’t return to the original shape.
Upon closer inspection, I had done a twill (over two, under two) weave at a diagonal. I’m not sure if this is the intended result, or I somehow missed something in the instructions. It is an interesting effect, and one that might work for a different project. The fabric certainly doesn’t curl.
I have been expecting Magic the hen to shuffle off this mortal coil for probably around two years. She would injure her leg and not be able to get up on the roost, loose weight because it was hard to get around, heal because she had taken weight off the injury, then fatten up again. She repeated the cycle probably a dozen times over those two years. She was the head of the Faverolles, and the most vocal for treats when she was feeling well. She passed away while we were traveling and our friend watching the animals was faced with dealing with her body (they did great). Because of course she would go when I wasn’t there.
We are down to five hens: three Faverolles and two Black Stars.
For the Sunday drive of my Singer 66 treadle machine, I’m continuing to sew quilting scraps together. Sewing regularly with the antique machine keeps all the parts running smoothly. I’ve started in on log cabin patterns: starting with a short piece and adding on longer and longer strips. I was distracted by something during sewing (not unusual), and messed up my intended pattern. I soldiered on anyway, and at the end was a little surprised that I ended up with a spiral pattern with the cream and red fabrics. Huh. Going to save this one, and try for it intentionally next time.
I noticed as I posted that the colors of the fabric also coordinate with the sewing machine. Who even am I?
Critters and Craft 