Tag: cotton

Throwback Thursday: crochet bracelet pocket

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In August of 2016 I was in the throes of crocheting bracelets and anklets with small pockets. It started with being annoyed at my fitness tracker on my wrist. When I walked, I was pushing a stroller and my steps weren’t being counted because my arms weren’t swinging. I had the idea that I could put the tracker on my ankle, but there weren’t any bands big enough to go around, so I crocheted one. I had friends ask for one, so I made a bunch and started to sell them.

Photo description: eleven crocheted and braided bracelets with button closures and small mesh pockets made from pearlized cotton in various colors and lengths
Photo description: closeup of the pocket, with a key inside, quarter on one side for scale, and a fitness tracker on the other side
Photo description: bracelet shown closed

The problem with the crocheted cotton was that cotton stretches with time, and each strap was crocheted to size with no adjustment. The button also wasn’t a reliable closure. Sometimes brushing against furniture would pop the anklet open. I sold a few, but after the design problems became apparent, stopped making them.

Throwback Thursday: arm bag

On By CarynIn Craft

In July 2016 I made my first arm bag using my favorite fabric.

Photo description: vines and floral fabric bag with very wide “handle” that fits over the forearm and can hold a small skein of yarn

I have made many of these bags, and I love them. It is a way to keep my yarn close and still allow me to move around. I first needed it following kids around the house and playground, later I found it worked well for walks, and travel, and waiting rooms. I make mine reversible, and have added small pockets in later versions.

Throwback Thursday: New Year’s Day

On By CarynIn Craft

I went into my photo app and searched New Year’s Day for my throwback today. I found a quirky little project I did back in 2016, where I was experimenting with small alternating blocks of Tunisian crochet.

Photo description: four squares of Tunisian crochet connected as stitched, sometimes called “sew as you go”, made with red, green, and white variegated cotton yarn
Photo description: nine square swatch with a crochet border
Photo description: same nine square swatch, but labeled with the order number and if the rows were done from the right or left

I think the variegated yarn and Tunisian crochet made some interesting pooling variations. When I washed this swatch, though, it puckered and buckled aggressively, so I did not pursue the technique farther.

Happy New Year, may your year be filled with successful experiments!

Minimal wallet

On By CarynIn Craft

I designed a couple variations of minimal wallets by starting with paper mock ups.

Photo description: paper mock ups for two wallet designs, the bottom left has an angle access and a traditional quarter fold insert, the bottom right has a scoop access and an accordion fold insert, top middle is a credit card mock up

After getting my dimensions figured out with paper, I designed the leather cut out in Adobe Illustrator, and used a blue diode laser cutter to cut and emboss vegetable tanned tooling leather.

Photo description: leather with embossed design after cutting with a laser and rinsing with water, the folding

I stained the leather and let it dry, then applied a coat of resolene, which will make it water resistant.

I wanted the insert to have RFID blocking capabilities, so I used spray glue to adhere cotton quilting fabric to faraday fabric.

Photo description: cut cotton fabric glued to faraday fabric using spray glue on the back of the cotton

My favorite part of this project was learning a new-to-me edge stitch: triple loop lacing. It took a few tries on scrap leather to get the hang of it, but it was worth it. I love the braided edge look with the heavy waxed thread.

Photo description: using an awl to poke through the fabric using the precut leather holes as guides, the leather is secured in a book clamp
Photo description: close up of the edge stitching on two leather and cloth minimalist wallets
Photo description: finished wallets with gift cards in the center pocket. Each wallet has three pockets: front, middle, back

Macrame utensil storage

On By CarynIn Craft

At my Dad’s request, I knotted a macrame utensil holder for his handmade spoons. I used yellow recycled cotton cord from RockMountainCo, and a dowel. I like the geometric pattern made by the alternating rows of square knots.

Photo description: simple yellow macrame wall hanging hanging on a twining loom
Photo description: same wall hanging with spoons inserted into the holes between the knots, showing horizontal and vertical storage options
Photo description: leather tag sewn into a circle around a pair of cords on the wall hanging showing my mark, the other side says “recycled cotton”

Technical details: 4mm recycled cotton cord cut into 18 pieces, 90 inches in length, attached to a 1/4 inch dowel with lark’s head knots, then tied with square knots over two core cords in alternating rows. The ends were lashed together in groups of four, then untwisted and combed into tassels.

Photo description: wall hanging installed, holding three spoons, a spatula, and wood tongs