Twine as I go

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve started a new project using the processed flax fiber from Sally Pointer’s twine kit. I’m making a twisted loop bag and twining the cordage for it as I go.

Photo description: two strand twined cordage made from flax fiber (in the background)
Photo description: the start of a twisted loop bag made of flax cordage, approximately six hours of worktime

I started the project as a car riding diversion. I like the twining because I can do it mostly without looking, which allows me to watch the scenery going by.

I learned to twine with a Z twist, which is opposite of the S twist that Sally Pointer demonstrates for beginners. This is fine, but when I went to start the twisted loops for the bag, the technique makes Z twists for each loop. I thought my bag would be happier (less twisty) if I made S twists to balance the Z cordage, so had to adjust the way I made loops by going in the opposite way from the video. It took some brain power, and I’m going to have to be careful going forward to keep the same stitch direction, but I think it will be worth it.

I’m not using a needle for this project, just flax and my hands. I started with a nalbinding needle, but it kept slipping off, which was irritating, but the newly made flax cordage is stiff enough that if I fold the end, it is easy to thread through the loops.

Last thought on this post: flax cordage is strong. The line I’m making is fairly thin, about four-five strands doubled, but I cannot break it with my hands.

Throwback Thursday: Basket weave crochet

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In February 2015 I finished a crochet project for my Dad that has a basket weave looking texture for a hat and scarf.

Photo description: black scarf and hat crocheted with black wool yarn

The technique uses front post and back post double crochet stitches in sets of three. It is actually an easy texture to achieve, but I recommend not using black yarn while trying to learn to count the stitches and rows. Also, size up any wool hats, as wear causes light felting, which shrinks the hat.

Hibiscus bloom

On By CarynIn Garden

I thought the Hibiscus didn’t make it through the last winter, but it bravely grew up through the Gregg’s Mistflower and managed a bloom.

Photo description: White Hardy Hibiscus bloom with pink edges and a dark red center

This front flower bed gets the most sunlight of anything in our yard, but it still isn’t enough for the Gregg’s Mistflower not to get leggy, or for the hibiscus to grown to its full might. We are, again, considering different options once the summer is done.

Miffed

On By CarynIn Cats

I recently rearranged some baskets in the house. I had a large square basket that used to live under the utility sink full of rags. I had a stack of dog blankets and towels that the basket was more suited for, so I put the rags in an old egg basket. Izzy the cat is miffed that I messed up one of her (many) nap spots. She tried to lay in the new rag basket, but did not care for it.

Photo description: Calico cat trying to curl up in the top of a rag filled wire egg basket

She doesn’t fit, so she does’t sit. And she is now mad at me.

Cookie fail

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

I wanted to make cookies and my youngest wanted to make brownies, so we went looking for a brownie cookie recipe (the cookie brownie recipe will be for another day.) We found a recipe that called for piping the dough onto the cookie sheet to make perfect circles, which seemed intriguing. It was a fail. The cookies did not spread into perfect circles, but stayed in their piped form.

Photo description: brown cooked dough in piped spirals that look more like poop emojis than cookies

I think that I didn’t whip the sugar and egg together well enough. The “cookie” was grainy. They also didn’t taste all that great. Back to the drawing board.