Fiber Monday

 

In Which More Progress, however small, Has Been Made

When last we saw the Secret Project, it was getting super close to being done, and now we're even closer!

But not quite finished yet.

Today, I made three rings from copper wire and held them together with pipefitter's tape. Friction tape of any kind would work for this, including medical tape, but sticky tape probably wouldn't work well. See, making the rings small enough to function as a spot to join the strap to the body and serve as a front closure means there's not a lot of room to maneuver the tape without getting it stuck where you don't want it if it's sticky. If it's a friction-based tape like pipefitter's tape, then you can just cut lengths and they'll go through easily until you tighten the wrap.

Three Rings! They're each about the size of a nickel, possibly bigger.

You can use any kind of ring you want, and if you use premade ones, you (probably) won't even have to put tape on them! I Have the tape on mine because I didn't want the ends of the wire poking through the next step.

I also took this opportunity to finish the little hanging loop!

The hanging loop is a few slip-stitched rows of the red color, approximately 4" long. I folded that in half and then put 3 single crochet stitches through both ends, binding them together. After that, I made a ch1, then placed a single crochet in the back loops of each single crochet, turned, and went back around, making a sc in the remaining loops of those original 3 sc. After that, I increased from 6 sc to 12 sc by placing 2sc in each sc. At that point I tied off the loop.

This red ring will be for the closure!

To crochet over the closure ring, take your cap color and find a point on the ring, then put your hook through, yarn over, and holding onto the tail, pull the caught loop through to form a slip stitch. From there, treat the ring as though it was a magic ring, holding onto the tail. You don't have to be too terribly picky about how many single crochets you make around this ring, just try to minimize any gaps! Once you have covered the entire ring, slip stitch into the first sc made and fasten off.

A Finished Beige Ring

Cover the other two rings with single crochet in the same way as the first, using your body color (beige in my case). These will be used to sew on the strap!

All Three Finished Rings

When you've finished your rings, go back to that loop you made earlier and slip-stitch it into place on the top of the cap of the bag! Now you have a hanging loop!

The ridge left behind will eventually be covered up - stay tuned for next week!

I hope to have the bag 100% assembled and finished next week, but we'll see. I've been saying that for the last ten weeks haven't I? lol!

That being said, I've learned a lot from this crochet-together project, and I hope you all have, too! If you've been working along with me, I'd love to see some of your guys' progress! Feel free to, if you have Twitter, tag me in a picture of your work! If you have Instagram, I'm there, too, as Grumpmuffin89, so if you know what you're doing there, hit me up because I'm all the way out in the weeds and it's incredibly confusing.

That'll about do it for me tonight - I'm hot and sweaty and ready for beddy. If you have any requests for Thursday's art blog, please feel free to send me a Ko-Fi with a message telling me what category (refer to my "commission" page in the sidebar for categories) and don't forget to...

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

Behold: More Secret Project!

I know, I know, I forgot to post art on Thursday. I have no excuses - I worked on stuff all day on Thursday! However, despite Sunday being Easter, I was able to do more work on the Secret Project!

Here is the Pattern So Far!

Round 1: sc 6 into magic ring (6 sc)

R2: 2sc around (12 sc)

R3: [2sc, sc] around (18 sc)

R4: [sc, 2sc, sc] (24 sc)

R5: [2sc, sc in next 3 sts] (30 sc)

R6: sc around (30 sc)

R7: [sc in next 2 sts, 2sc, sc in next 2 sts] around (36 sc)

R8: [2sc, sc in next 5 sts] around (42 sc)

R9: [sc in next 3 sts, 2sc, sc in next 3 sts] around (48 sc)

R10: [2sc, sc in next 7 sts] around (54 sts)

R11: [sc in next 4 sts, 2sc, sc in next 4 sts] around (60 sc)

R12-13: sc around (60 sc)

R14: [2sc, sc in next 9 sts] around (66 sc)

R15: [sc in next 5 sts, 2sc, sc in next 5 sts] around (72 sc)

R16: [2sc, sc in next 11 sts] around (78 sc)

R17: [sc in next 6 sts, 2sc, sc in next 6 sts] around (84 sc)

R18: [2sc, sc in next 13 sts] around (90 sc)

R19-21: sc around (90 sc)

R22: [sc in next 7 sts, 2sc, sc in next 7 sts] around (96 sc)

R23: [2sc, sc in next 15 sts] around (102 sc)

R24: [sc in next 8 sts, 2sc, sc in next 8 sts] around (108 sc)

R25: [2sc, sc in next 17 sts] around (114 sc)

R26: [sc in next 9 sts, 2sc, sc in next 9 sts] around (120 sc)

R27-30: sc around (120 sc)

R31: [2sc, sc in next 19 sts] around (126 sc)

R32: [sc in next 10 sts, 2sc, sc in next 10 sts] around (132 sc)

R33: [2sc, sc in next 21 sts] around (138 sc)

R34: [sc in next 11 sts, 2sc, sc in next 11 sts] around (144 sc)

R35: [2sc, sc in next 23 sts] around (150 sc)

R36-40: sc around (150 sc)

R41: [sc 2 together, sc 23] around (144 sc)

R42-47: sc around (144 sc)

R48: [sc 11, sc 2 together, sc 11] around (138 sc)

R49-55: sc around (138 sc)

R56: [sc 2 together, sc 21] around (132 sc)

R57-64: sc around (132sc)

R65: [sc 10, sc 2 tog, sc 10] around (126 sc)

R66-74: sc around (126 sc)

R75: [sc 2 tog, sc 19] around (120 sc)

R76-84: sc around (120 sc)

R85: sc around, sl st to first sc (120 sc)

R86: ch3 (counts as 1st dc), dc in each sc around, sl st in top of ch3 (120 sc)

R87: ch3 (counts as 1st dc), dc in next 10 dc; yarn over, insert hook into next dc, pull through 1 loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (does not count as 1st foundation dc), foundation dc next 96 stitches, then (being careful not to twist) dc in the 12th dc from the end of the round, dc to the end of the round (24 dc, 96 foundation dc = 120 dc); sl st to top of ch3, fasten off.

You should now have something that looks like a hinged ring or a handle attached to an odd, pear-shaped pouch. Now we’ll begin the underside of the lid (this is going to be weird, I’m sorry).

Form a magic ring from the same color as you’ve been using. I use a double-magic-ring for added security but you can start this in the round however you like.

R1: ch3 (counts as 1st dc here and throughout), dc 11 in ring, sl st to the top of the ch3 (12dc)

R2: ch3, fpdc in same dc, (dc in next dc, fpdc in same dc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (12dc, 12fpdc = 24st)

R3: ch3, dc in next st, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 2 st, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (24dc, 12fpdc = 36st)

R4: ch3, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (36dc, 12fpdc = 48st)

R5: ch3, dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 4 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (48dc, 12fpdc = 60st)

R6: ch3, dc in next 4 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 5 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (60dc, 12fpdc = 72st)

R7: ch3, dc in next 5 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 6 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (72dc, 12fpdc = 84st)

R8: ch3, dc in next 6 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 7 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (84dc, 12fpdc = 96st)

R9: ch3, dc in next 7 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 8 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (96dc, 12fpdc = 108st)

R10: ch3, dc in next 8 sts, fpdc in fpdc (dc in next 9 sts, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st to top of ch3 (108dc, 12fpdc = 120st)

Take your hook out of the disc you formed (which we will now refer to as the “Lid”), then choose a spot to attach it to on the weird flap/hinge part of the first piece (which we’ll now refer to as the “Body”). With the ridged pattern facing downward (towards the open mouth of the Body), insert your hook back through one stitch of the Body’s hinge/flap and back into the loop of the Lid. We will be making our stitches through the hinge/flap stitches and back into the Lid for this round.

R11: ch3 (pull the first loop all the way through the hinge/flap stitch to make your 1st ch), dc in next 9 dc going through the corresponding flap/hinge stitches as you go; on the next stitch, do not go back through the hinge/flap stitch to make your fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 10 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around until the last fpdc, which is basically impossible (if you figure it out, great!) so just fake it til you make it; sl st in top of ch3. (120dc + 12fpdc = 132 sts)

You should have something that looks a bit like a sand dollar stuck in a ring.

R12: ch3, dc in next 10 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 11 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (132dc + 12fpdc = 144 sts)

R13: ch3, dc in next 11 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 12 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (144dc + 12fpdc = 156 sts)

R14: ch3, dc in next 12 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 13 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (156dc + 12fpdc = 168sts)

R15: ch3, dc in next 13 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 14 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (168dc + 12fpdc = 180sts)

R16: ch3, dc in next 14 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 15 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (180dc + 12fpdc = 192sts)

R17: ch3, dc in next 15 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 16 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (192dc + 12fpdc = 204sts)

R18: ch3, dc in next 16 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 17 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (204dc + 12fpdc = 216sts)

R19: ch3, dc in next 17 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 18 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (216dc + 12fpdc = 228sts)

R20: ch3, dc in next 18 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 19 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (228dc + 12fpdc = 240sts)

R21: ch3, dc in next 19 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 20 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (240dc + 12fpdc = 252sts)

R22: ch3, dc in next 20 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 21 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (252dc + 12fpdc = 264sts)

R23: ch3, dc in next 21 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 22 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (264dc + 12fpdc = 276sts)

R24: ch3, dc in next 22 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 23 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (276dc + 12fpdc = 288sts)

R25: ch3, dc in next 23 dc, fpdc in fpdc; (dc in next 24 dc, fpdc in fpdc) around, sl st in top of ch3 (288dc + 12fpdc = 300sts)

You'll have a nice big weird ribbed disc now, but we're not done yet!

R26: ch3, insert hook through back loops of next dc - by this I mean the back loop usually used and there should be a very small wrapped section just below that loop that you can wiggle the hook onto. If you cannot find that, don't worry, just work in back loops only to the end of the round, otherwise, dc into both loops around, change to your second color in the end of the last dc, sl st in top of ch3 to join. (300 sts)

R27: ch3, dc in next 74 dc, hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, sl st in next 146 dc, sc in next dc, hdc in next dc, dc in last 75 dc, sl st to top of ch 3 to join. (150 dc, 2 hdc, 2sc, 146 sl st = 300 sts)

R28: ch3, dc in next 74 dc, foundation dc 150 stitches, skip the sc, hdc, and sl st, dc in next 75 dc, sl st in top of ch 3 to join. (300 dc)

R29-32: ch2, hdc around, sl st in top of ch2 to join. (300 hdc)

After this row, work in a spiral without joining

R33-47: sc around (300 sc)

At any point in these single crochet rounds, you should start to sew in your zipper!

R48: [sc2tog, sc in next 23 sc] around (288 sc)

R49-60: sc around (288 sc)

R61: [sc in next 11 sc, sc2tog, sc in next 11sc] around (276 sc)

R62-73: sc around (276 sc)

R74: [sc2tog, sc in next 21 sc] around (264 sc)

R75-80: sc around (264 sc)

R81: [sc in next 10 sc, sc2tog, sc in next 10 sc] around (252 sc)

R82-87: sc around (252 sc)

R88: [sc2tog, sc in next 19 sc] (240 sc)

R89-94: sc around (240 sc)

This Week:

R95: [sc in next 9 sc, sc2tog, sc in next 9 sc] around (228 sc)

R96-98: sc around (228 sc)

R99: [sc2tog, sc in next 17 sc] around (216 sc)

R100-102: sc around (216 sc)

This Picture was taken at R100

As you can see, this baby is getting pretty darn tall! soon we'll be cinching in the top, and then we'll be adding closures to the pale dangly part and a few other things, but we'll probably be done in the next few weeks!

Thanks for all your patience, guys. If you've stuck through this project from the beginning, you've got more patience than me lol!

I'll probably work more on this tomorrow, since we'll be having a wind & rain storm here, and I won't be going outside at all. At least Wednesday's supposed to be sunny... it'll just also have gusts up to 34mph (54,7kph)!

I have a few ideas on what to do for my next Big Project on here, too, based on some discoveries I've made...

Anywho, that'll do it for me today - I've got a shower to take and some music to listen to!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I Am... Not Done.

Now, usually, when y'all are kind enough to visit my blog while I'm working on art, I have the art finished, or at least presentable for you. This is... not the case today. That's nobody's fault but mine! I embarked on another "let's experiment with colors, math, and pixels" journey and... it's really neat looking, but it's barely half finished.

So I figured I'd give you guys a peek at how this particular image is going!

"Squares ver 0.1" digital art; 2022

No, you resolution isn't off, it's just TINY for now. I'm going to fix that once I'm done by decreasing the white space and increasing the pixels-per-centimeter, but for now it's tiny and blurry. The blur is intentional (sort of) because it's something of a color study! I'm pretty stoked about how it's coming along, and eventually, Squares ver 1.0 will release lol.

As for why it's going up so late on Thursday, that's because I'm kind of frazzled this week. I have no excuse for that besides the wind. It's been windy as heck up here.

The threat of possible nuclear war certainly isn't helping me sleep either, but I'm not gonna talk much about the situation in the Ukraine because I'm not a journalist or an expert on European geopolitics. I am anti-war, pro-democracy, and I'm getting really sick of constantly having the world change for the worse. That's where I am on that subject.

This is not the kind of blog that hyperfixates on the state of the world regarding COVID or ongoing wars. I'm just trying to make art and sometimes banana bread.

I hope that's alright.

Anyways!

So I'll be continuing to work on Squares, versioning it up until it's 100% done, and then I'll post the finished piece!

It's been snowing a lot here, so the plows have been going by a lot, and between the noise of the plows & the wind, and the yo-yo temperatures, I'm constantly wiped. I'll be back on schedule soon, though, I think! Can't wait to tell you all the stories of my cat, the ducks, the crows, the deer, and just general blatheriness!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

In Which I Did More Work On the Bag

It's a nice, chilly day. The sky is pale blue, the trees are slowly browning from our unfortunate drought (of which we've had more drought years than fine ones in my memory...), and my toes are cold in their thick cotton socks. It's a crisp 60℉ (15.5℃) with 26% humidity. Perfection. I'm happy with this weather, though I still have that sense of unease that too long without rain brings. I'm not even an outdoorsy type of person, but even I can feel that something is off with the weather.

I spent this morning examining the insides of my eyelids, sleeping in until about 11AM, so I apologize for the lateness of this blog but I needed that sleep. I was beginning to feel the exhaustion of my insomnia in a very uncomfortable way - it felt like my body was bruising. I feel much better today. More settled. More myself. More human.

There was a short moment this morning, as my mother got home, where things got a little crazy, but it was in a good way. Our toaster oven hasn't been toasting properly for a few weeks now, so she's picked up a new one. The cat is thrilled lol.

A blurry shot of the new toaster oven

An Equally Blurry Shot of the Cat Going Nuts in Her New Box

The mass of yarn in my room is slowly becoming more organized, too! Thanks to the ball winder my awesome partner got me for my birthday, I've been taking apart the tangle of my horde and putting it into neat(ish) balls. I still haven't mastered the winder, so occasionally, the yarn will slip and coil around the top of the ball instead of actually winding properly, but for the most part, it's going well.

Also, my younger sister was awesome and surprised me with two balls of Red Heart's It's A Wrap: Rainbow yarn a couple days ago in both "Seaglass" and "Couture". They're awesome and I immediately started looking for shawl patterns for them. I didn't expect them to be such a loose twist (there really isn't any twist to them, it's a bunch of very fine threads that are all clinging to each other with static and hopes and dreams), so there's a bit of struggle with splitting, but once you have the rhythm down, the cotton/acrylic blend works really nicely and feels great in your fingers. I've already done one pattern repeat of a butterfly-themed shawl in the "Seaglass" and I'm planning on doing something a little more nocturnal for the "Couture" (maybe moons? Stars?).

As for that little yellow bag?

It's Coming Along :)

I really like the basketweave pattern on this, and despite the fact that the yarn ball is now the size of a tennis ball, I think I'll keep going. If I have to use the red sock yarn as a contrast for straps & closure, that's what I'll do lol.

How are your guys' projects coming along? Are you getting your rows in? Your wordcounts down? Your colors laid down? I'm rooting for you!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday - Wafflebag

 

In Which Progress Is Waffled... er... made...

I'm a wee bit tired, as of late. I've been staying up too late, waking up later, and just generally feeling run down and sleepy constantly. I'm 99% sure it's because I'm moving around more during the hours I'm awake, but there's always the worry that it could be a hormonal response or worse - my depression creeping back in. Which would be weird, since this is the most hopeful I've been in a while! My future is open wide, after all!

So I distract myself from my brain not understanding how to person.

And I do that with two things: Entertainment and Work.

For Entertainment, of course, I read (I'm working my way through Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest right now), I play video games, and I watch lots and lots of YouTube videos.

For Work, however, you've seen a lot of what I do. I'm writing a novel (which, let's be real, takes up 75% of my Awake Time because that's what I want my JOB to be!). I draw (both digitally and on paper). I crochet.

And Right Now, I Am Crocheting A Bag!

The bag I'm crocheting right now is done using a basketweave pattern, but because the word "basket" likes to hop out of my brain like a frog from a log, I end up calling it a Waffle Weave bag, despite Waffle Weave looking like this.

Currently, the bag is about 3.5" (~8.9cm) tall, and I'm debating whether to make it a proper bag or to convert it into some kind of zippered clutch. What do you guys think? Purse with straps or zippered clutch?

I'll let you know how I plan to complete this project (if it's a zippered clutch, I'll probably have to line it...), and you'll continue to see progress shots :)

I think that'll about do it for me today - I gotta run downstairs and get some fresh water and maybe a sandwich!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday 310: The Lady Grows Some More

In Which I've Done A Lot Of Work On A Lot Of Projects

I promise I worked on the shrug, but I've also been working on other projects, so it's not as impressive as it usually is :|

The Progress
also my feet lol

I've been working for a while on making some vintage lace to turn into a lovely choker, which I've finally finished (for the most part - I still have to weave in the ends and clip the extra string)!

The choker

I also get to practice my Blocking with this project, which is a first for me. I've never blocked before, so I hope I've done it more-or-less correctly and that it comes out well. I don't need it to be perfect - I just want it to work.

A closeup of the blocking. You can't really see it, but it's quite damp right now.

The other thing I'm working on (as winter wraps up, of course) is a snuggly brown sweater. It's a top-down affair in a thick worsted acrylic with a pattern from the Yarnspirations website. The pattern calls for zig-zags, but I think I'll just work down to where the pattern starts being solid (probably right at the armpits, tbh) and then make some sort of repeating pattern - maybe Fairisle, maybe something nerdy, idk. But for now, we're barely at the shoulders!

It's a much darker brown in real life. My phone eats color :(

So that's what I'm up to this week in projects! How about you guys? What are you up to?

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Thursday Art Walk 302: Work In Progress

In Which I'm Working on More Bubble Art!

Guess who nearly dodged out the door without actually posting today's art? This dingdong, that's who. lol

Sometimes I spin too many plates at once and forget one of the things I'm supposed to do. That's what happened today!

I was:

• running a load of laundry,
• cooking up a batch of leftover fries,
• making coffee,
• drawing a picture,
• drying a separate load of laundry, and
• attempting to follow some LGR videos (specifically his thrifting videos)

Because of this, I:

• Rewashed half a load of laundry because it was sitting in the washer before I got there
• overcooked my fries
• made pretty good coffee, actually
• forgot to dry the socks at first
• completely missed 65% of the videos, and
• uh... didn't finish the drawing.

Then again, I didn't expect to finish the bubble art today - those generally take me at least 8 hours to complete.

Have a moody, 90s-style black-and-white preview of what I'm working on, anyway :P

So I'll finish this when I get home tonight, maybe work on a couple of other things, and I'll see you tomorrow for a movie review!!!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 245: A New Pumpkin

In Which I Make Another Gourd

It was mentioned to me in passing that a pumpkin centerpiece might be nice for Thanksgiving, so I looked around for a new pattern, and I chose this one.

Here's my progress so far:

I'm not 100% sold on the size hook I'm using, but I'll keep going until things are done, and if it's too big, I'll start over with a smaller hook, like a 5.00mm or less, maybe :)

That'll do it for me today!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Thursday Art Walk 236: The Pumpkin Spice Cometh

Today is really pretty, which is a vast turnaround from yesterday's wet and dreary day. The sky is blue, the birds and crickets are singing, it's a gentle 62℉ (~17℃) with 55% humidity, and I have plans to attempt a chicken Mole after my blog is up :)

Really, the only downside of today is that I couldn't sleep at all last night, but what are you gonna do? Sometimes sleep just... doesn't happen.

So, since yesterday was such a bust, weatherwise, I did some art that I'm going to share with you now, as opposed to working all day today on it.

Spoopy times are upon us indeed.

For the first piece, I just took a piece of legal size printer paper and tore it carefully in half. Yes, that's torn. I worked over the crease with the ends of several pens and markers to make it easier to tear.

It may be hard for you to see the undersketch above, what with my camera not loving pencil marks in cloudy lighting, but never fear - I inked this puppy:

Look! It's a spoopy punkin! Maybe not so spoopy, but still!

I had... many ideas for how to color this, but none of them worked the way I wanted, so here's just the basic shading I attempted:

basic shading is very basic.

Now, the second thing I'm showing is a massive project that I've started on some truly, outrageously large sketch paper. We're talking the size of the silverware drawer or bigger, here. I'm tentatively calling it "Spooky Scary Psychedelics", for reasons that may become clear to you if you're a hilarious nerd.

Now, clearly, this isn't going to stay this sparse, but this was only the first section I worked on.

Now, usually, when I'm making a bubble drawing, I use a simple code to determine where to put my dots. I've actually got my format sheet right below, so if you're good at puzzles you'll probably figure out what the design is based on.

Photo because Print Screen is for people who've slept and can remember the Quick Keys...

That's all the art from this nerdy birdy, so I guess that just leaves one last thing to say:

Go Enjoy Something!

FC