Combing alpaca

On By CarynIn Craft

I decided to try my new wool combs with the alpaca fleece that I washed and dried a year ago. I love them! Combing removes so much more vegetable matter and short cuts than carding. The fibers pulled off the comb are light and airy and beautifully aligned. I do get much more waste; I’m putting that in a bag to put out for nesting material for the squirrels and birds. I was going to comb all the fibers then spin, but the preparation was so fluffy I just had to spin it right away and not risk compaction in storage.

Pulling combed alpaca off a comb

I tried spinning directly off the comb, but my skills are not that advanced yet, so I pulled off the fiber then spun on my vintage Befra Willy wheel. I now see how the yarn on a Irish tension wheel (flyer is slowed down) has to be thicker. There is more strain on the yarn and thinner yarns snap. I’m still pleased with the thickness of the yarn for multipurpose projects, but this will not be lace yarn.

Spun alpaca fiber on the bobbin of a Befra Willy wheel

Cutie

On By CarynIn Wildlife

I think it is the bright button eyes, the large head to body ratio, and the fuzzy appearance that make High Eyelashed Jumping Spiders so cute. I don’t mind bugs, but they don’t usually hit the “cute” note for me. This one does. It was also calm and inquisitive for the photoshoot, which I always appreciate.

High Eyelashed Jumping Spider

Stitch marker necklace

On By CarynIn Craft

I thought I would make up stitch marker necklaces for the stitch marker swap at the Fiber Fest. I’m good with wire, but not entirely sure that wire is the right material for hand made stitch markers. It seems they would catch on the yarn. So I made holders instead. I have a large spool of square copper wire (20 gauge) that looks awesome twisted. I used satin cord for the necklaces with a simple slide knot so the length is adjustable.

From top to bottom:
Form a loop at one end of the wire,
twist the wire using the loop and a bent angle,
form a hook at the opposite end of the wire,
form a circle and catch the hook around the base of the loop
Many stitch holder necklaces

Full disclosure, it has been awhile since I’ve done wire work, and it took my hands a few rounds before they remembered the moves with efficiency. I also didn’t make it to the swap meet. I was quite ambitious of me to attempt a four hour stretch at my first festival in many years. It is OK I only made it an hour and a half. Next year I will plan better. And make markers like these:

Stitch marker made from satin cord (objects in the image are smaller than they appear)

Fake pockets

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

In the realm of clothing, there is nothing more abhorrent than a fake pocket. All the hard work has been done, with the fiddly finish and neat corners, why couldn’t the designer just add a real pocket? And not one of those shallow useless pockets, but proper pockets. I’ve heard the line “it changes the line of the garment,” well, then they are more concerned with themselves than with their customer. Ok, rant over. Let’s fix the issue.

Fake pocket in women’s pants, with a simple cotton pocket ready to sew in
Clip the seam keeping the fake pocket closed, so it opens
On the wrong side, sew in the pocket over the pocket opening. You can fold in the raw pocket edges, and fold the pocket top out if you want to get fiddly. Sew along the front and back of the pocket opening, don’t worry if there are small gaps at the end of the seams, they will be at the top of the pocket.
Pocket insert installed. Crises averted. Wrongs righted. Balance restored.