Throwback Thursday: play mat

On By CarynIn Craft

Now we are getting into the children years for Throwback Thursday, at least digitally. Maybe someday I will flip through my pre-digital era, but for now now, we’ll just move forward. In January of 2006 my first child had started to crawl, so I attempted a large play mat with animals, tracks, and habitats.

Photo description: large cotton sheet with drawings of a bear, beaver, deer, duck, rabbit, and squirrel on the left, and corresponding tracks leading to drawings and f habitats on the right

I took some unbleached cotton fabric and made iron-on images with my printer. The idea was cute, but the thin cotton didn’t hold up well to a new crawler, and all of the images washed out when I laundered it. I still have the fabric, it became a drop cloth for art projects.

As an interesting note, my eldest is now in college with a major in wildlife. Hm.

Microkits Theremin

On By CarynIn Craft, music

I love musical instruments, and have a collection of sound makers. Newest to the collection is a tiny DIY Theremin.

Photo description: the unboxed parts from Microkits to make a Theremin

The kit was very well assembled and the directions were easy to follow. Within a half hour I had a small working theremin and could change pitch within an octave and control the volume with a motion of my hand.

Photo description: finished Theremin with the wire sensors and exposed breadboard

I have a few ideas for a case, to add to the sound quality and aesthetics, as well as contain all the parts.

Ah

On By CarynIn Craft

I started the cat hammock using polyester craft cord. Using the hook size recommended on the label (which is smaller than my test swatches), I made a chain the length I needed for the narrow side of the mat. (Don’t do this, chain length is drastically different than the length after a couple rows. I should have swatched (ironic), obtained gauge and done a chain based on the calculations.) I did my first row of single crochet stitches in the back loop of the chain. There are many ways to insert the hook in a chain for crochet, this is my favorite and uses the bump-like loop on the back of the v-like chain. It makes a very symmetric first row.

Photo description: crocheted band of craft cord after the first row of single crochet, a very aesthetically pleasing result with the parallel opposing chains.

Testing crochet stitches

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

I really like to make swatches, which probably puts me in the minority of crocheters and knitters. I like to see how different stitches, yarn, and needle sizes affect the overall fabric. This test involves polyester cord. I want to make more hammocks in the catio, and polyester is more UV resistant than other man-made fibers and even natural fibers, and is mildew resistant. I have made hammocks using outdoor fabric, but they retain water for quite some time after the rain. I’m hoping a crocheted hammock will let the rain pass through and dry quicker. I had some left over polyester macrame cord and did two test swatches, one with a simple single crochet repeat (American terminology), and one with alternating single crochet, chain one, repeats.

Photo description: two small rectangles of crocheted cloth, on the left a single crochet pattern, on the right a single crochet, chain one pattern. K sized crochet hook above the swatches.

Even though I really like the texture and look of the single crochet and chain one fabric, the holes are a little bigger than I think the cats will like when weight is applied. The holes are about toe bean sized, which seems uncomfortable. I do like that this cord has some shape memory, and retains a curve when stretched.

Next for a full-sized version.

Washi music

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack, music

I do like washi tape, and have found it does better than cellophane tape on areas that need repeated folding. I prefer my sheet music to lay flat, rather than stapled, because it makes it easier to set on the piano or a music stand. Scotch tape or cellophane tape just doesn’t make a good hinge, as it easily tears lengthwise.

Photo description: washi tape used to hold together sheets of music on the long edges

I start with a 1-2 millimeter gap between pages to allow for the fold, then apply a strip of washi tape on both sides of the gap. I trim the edges with scissors after applying.

As an added bonus, washi tape comes in pretty colors and patterns.