Category Archives: Mini Posts

Craft, Creative Process, Mini Posts, Tapestry, Tools and Equipment

A Bobbin Box

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So I’m a bit of a scrap hoarder. I have a bin for wood scraps, a bin for leather scraps, a bin for wire scraps, et cetera. This drives my boyfriend crazy. But as you crafters know, all that stuff comes in handy one day. And it’s so rewarding to find just the right thing without having to run to the store and spend your entire craft budget on some silly little part.

Right now, I am working on a tapestry. (That’s a post for another day.) I tried various methods of wrangling the pile of mini-cones on which the fine wool weft was wound, none of which were working quite right. Then a lightbulb went off!

I got out the scrap bins.

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A bit of doweling, a plywood tray, and eight might miniature flowerpots later, I am totally organized slightly less disorganized.

Craft, Creative Process, Historical, Inkle & Tablet, Mini Posts, Weaving

A Tablet Weaving Hammock

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Some weave structures and yarns are difficult to manage on a fixed-tension tablet or inkle loom. The tablets like to sneak out of position while you’re weaving, and if you prefer to take the tension off the loom between weaving sessions (as I do), the weight of the cards can damage the threads.

To keep everything orderly, many tablet weavers clamp their weaving to a board (for example, the one pictured here). This isn’t a particularly comfortable way for me to work. Luckily, I had an epiphany:

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This is my prototype weaving sling/hammock/thing. The dowels hold the fabric to its full width, and the elastic tying the dowels to the loom keeps the fabric at just the right tension to hold the cards steady when not in use.

So far, I’m very pleased with the results, but there are sure to be refinements in the future!

Craft, Creative Process, Mini Posts, Sewing

My spring wardrobe

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Okay, it still needs a bit of work:

I’m also expecting a big batch of linen solids. Some of these are earmarked for my 16th-century lacemaker outfit, which I’ll tell you all about soon!

(You may have noticed I’m experimenting with short photo posts in lieu of my usual monstrosities. Let me know if you like this format, or if you’d rather I save up content for longer posts.)

Bobbin Lace, Craft, Creative Process, Historical, Mini Posts, Sewing, Spinning, Tools and Equipment

Just a Little Post

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I’ve been sick the past few weeks, which has had me mostly miserable on the couch with hands idle. I have been working on a few small things, like Dorset buttons and cotton spinning:

And I’m sampling laces for a reproduction Elizabethan hood:

Other than that, things have been as quiet craftwise as they ever are around here. But once I’m up and around again, there’s a laundry list of things to be done, so I am trying to enjoy the break while waiting for spring to arrive.

Knitting, Mini Posts, Tools and Equipment, Uncategorized

Still here, still crafting

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It’s time for the annual Christmas gift roundup, but it’s going to have to wait until after the workshop I’m giving this weekend to my weavers’ guild. In the meantime, here’s a sock I accidentally made.

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Oops.

Started just this weekend and finished… yesterday. Amazing! I gave those tiny Addi Turbo circulars a try, and I don’t think I’ve ever knit anything (certainly not a sock) so quickly.

I’ll post again after the workshop. Wish me luck!

Mini Posts, Off Topic

Archimedes and Sir Gawain

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I can’t show you anything I’m working on (happy December, guys!) so I thought I’d write a post about my guinea pigs.

If you recall, I have two of the little beasties. Both are furry, friendly, and possessed of an unfortunate penchant for nibbling on yarn.

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Archimedes J. Pig.

Archimedes, often referred to as the Arkenstone, is technically my significant other’s pig, although he (the pig) and I have a certain bond. He loves to sit and cuddle on my lap, and nuzzles and flops and purrs and is remarkably endearing with his crazy little feet dangling all over the place. But once back home with his cagemate Sir Gawain, he transforms into a grouchy little monster and hogs all the food. My boyfriend claims he’s an intellectual recluse, but I suspect he’s just a bit of a jerk.

Sir G, on the other hand, is my very own pig, and lives up to his namesake: he is bold and chivalrous and maybe a little less bright than Archimedes. He has a tendency to jump on top of or into things whether or not they are structurally sound, such as his hay rack. While not the cuddliest guinea pig, Sir G makes happy noises whenever he sees me coming, and enjoys “popcorning”, which is what they call it when a guinea pig suddenly jumps several inches straight up in the air, twitches crazily, and then zooms gleefully around his pen.

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If I hadn’t previously read about the phenomenon, I would have thought there was something terribly wrong with him.

So those are my furry friends. I’ll update you on everything else at the end of the month… if I make it that long.

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Craft, Creative Process, Mini Posts, Spinning

Picture of the Week II: A Homemade Turkish Spindle

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Very easy to make! The shaft is just a dowel that’s been tapered with sandpaper. Even though I had to get creative with the holes (an awl and a wood-burning tool were involved), you could make this spindle in about five minutes with a real drill. The arms of the little guy above are joined with a simple lap joint carved with a craft knife. However, the spindle is a bit too light for my purposes, so I’ll have to add a bit of extra weight. Either with washers… or some sugru.

Just a quick cop-out post update! Things have been pretty busy over here, so I don’t have a full post for you yet. However, things have been busy on the crafting front.  I’ve been spending too much time around knitters: apparently, these things are contagious! I started a Henslowe of my very own last week, and revived my somewhat stale Ravelry account. There must be something in the air that brings out this interest in spring knitwear. Details are forthcoming.

In other craft news: I’m still plugging away at the experimental warp on my loom, and should be on to more serious projects soon. Spinning is proceeding at its usual leisurely pace. I had hoped to squeeze enough yarn out of the Sweet Georgia roving to manage the Henslowe mentioned above, but no such luck. Finally, the treehouse project and the tapestry continue, although I need a day to sit down at the workbench to make some real progress.

So, enjoy the holiday weekend, and I’ll be back with you soon. Thanks, everyone!