Cactus correction

On January 1, 2024December 29, 2023 By CarynIn Flora

Did you know that there are Thanksgiving cactus and Christmas cactus? I did not until a reader kindly sent me a link. I thought I had a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) blooming for the last few years in my house, but it is actually a close relative, the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata). The easiest way to tell, for me, is the spikes on the edge of the leaves, characteristic of trucata, where bridgesii has rounded edges on the leaves. Care for both is the same, but truncata is a sturdier plant, which is good in my house. I did go back and update my previous posts with the correct information. I post often on this cactus, apparently!

Photo description: Thanksgiving cactus *(Schlumbergera truncata)* showing leaves, blooms, and twin buds

It is good to start the New Year with some updated information!

Negotiation

On December 31, 2023December 22, 2023 By CarynIn Cats, dog

Missy the dog’s favorite blue ball rolled too close to the cat. She brought him the red ball as a negotiation tactic. Thor the cat was unsure of the offer and was unwilling to throw the blue ball. Eventually Missy was able to obtain her blue ball through stealth and bravery.

Photo description: Gray tabby with a red holey roller ball and a blue one in front of him. Small black dog looking at the blue ball in supplication.

Good-bye 2023. May 2024 bring you all successful negotiations.

Getting back to the wheel

On December 30, 2023December 22, 2023 By CarynIn Cats, Craft

I pulled out my spinning wheel and realized that it has been a long time since I spun with it. Thor the cat has never seen it in action and he is nine months old. Hm. He was quite fascinated with the process, and after this photo had to be told to knock it off as he went for the wheel and the yarn.

Photo description: Gray tabby looking at a vintage wooden Befra Willy Spinning wheel, specifically at the yarn coming from the orifice.

Sleep caps

On December 29, 2023December 22, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

Awhile ago I made my Dad a nålbound wool cap with ear flaps. He recently had a haircut and found that sleeping in the wool was too hot, so requested a lighter version of the cap to be on his gift list. Nålbinding is inherently warm, and works best with wool or easily felted fiber, so I changed not only the fiber, but the method of construction. I had some very soft 100% cotton yarn, which is difficult to nålbind, but very easy to crochet. My favorite cushy crochet stitch is a half double crochet, so this is what I used to make a spiral round cap with ear flaps. The yarn was self-striping, and I used a shell stitch above the ears to start the flap then decreased before the flap, and increased around the flap. This was very much a stitch by feel construction.

Photo description: Striped crocheted hat with ear flaps on a table.

I had more yarn, so decided to make a second hat. I tried for a smaller size, but half-double crochet hats don’t narrow as quickly as double crochet hats, so the crown size needs to be significantly smaller. I forgot this fact, and ended up with a hat the same size, just without ear flaps. So I sent both to my Dad to try as after haircut sleep caps.

Photo description: Striped beanie style cap on a counter.

Adding a zipper to crochet

On December 28, 2023December 22, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

I wanted my owl bag to have a zipper, so I took a zipper from my stash and made a line of chain stitches a yarn needle and matching yarn on each side of the zipper.

Photo description: Purple invisible zipper with one side done with a line of embroidered chain stitch, in front of the bag to be zippered.

I then used a slip stitch to crochet the zipper to the inside of the bag, leaving one row as a lip at the top (mainly to help hide the zipper and stitches.)