ripple throw progress report(s)

Blanket drive ripple: dunzo! It's been finished for more than a month now, but I was dealing with some meds side effects at about the time I finished it and could barely sit upright there for a while, so I only just now got some pictures taken.

I like this blanket a lot. Choosing each color spontaneously as I made it definitely made the process more interesting -- not that I at all mind repetitive tasks. I kind of thrive doing repetitive tasks. But something about juggling colors I had a lot of versus colors I was running low on and getting to make color choices every time I worked on it was fun. The loosey-goosey approach -- whilst still sticking to a "palette" -- was something I hadn't done since my very first ripple throw.

Because I finished this, I have since picked up another ripple WIP that I may or may not donate to that same blanket drive, depending on a) the progress I make with it, and b) how ugly it turns out.

I've been calling this the "ugly ripple." As in, I started making it intending for it to be ugly, using dingy colors. Browns, beiges, mustards. Note the swath of gray. I have sort of mentally updated to calling it the "spices ripple," because it puts me in the mind of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, basil leaves! It sort of reminds me of a certain soup I like to make with a Mexican flavor profile, which has a lot of vegetables in it. Makes me hungry just looking at it, to be honest...

We'll just see how this comes along in the coming weeks -- whether it stays ugly or becomes more of a cohesive vintage cabin vibe. I'd really prefer to use only yarn I already have to progress on this, but I will probably end up depleting myself of the required palette and buying more yarn anyway. Many of the yarns are Big Twist, a Jo-Ann brand, and I'm not sure about whether I can replace the precise colors. Hopefully that won't matter too much.

Another ripple WIP in my near future is making one in shades of purple for my bestie K! She asked for one and I need to confer with her about what sort of style to go for. Color block? Random? Some particular repeating pattern of stripes? It will be really fun to work on something for someone specific again.

Read More

small projects: flowery mini amp handle

I don't believe I've ever posted about my mini amp here, except for the Christmas where it was on my wish list! (Wow, did I really get this thing in 2014??) As you can see, I ended up getting it, and I have had it since! For almost eleven years!

As I've mentioned before, I haven't used it much, although I like it. One reason is that dealing with the thick, lengthy, tangly, heavy black guitar cable is a pain, especially for such a little teensy amp. Another reason is that I had a different electric guitar for a long time -- this one -- and I didn't enjoy playing it to the same extent as I enjoy my current electric guitar. But I've been trying to use the amp more lately, since I want to become more accustomed to hearing myself play electric. I'm still getting used to being plugged in and on mic.

As though Karma is working her magic, one of my new guitar buddies has recently changed my game by giving me a little wireless system! It basically removes the need for that thick cord. Pop one dongle in the guitar and one dongle in the amp, and there you go! It transmits what you play wirelessly to the amp!

What a gift, I know!!! He said he got static interference with it and didn't like it, and if I wanted to use it, I could have it. It's actually perfect for me. I have limited space, and removing the guitar cable from the situation is a huge advantage for me. And it sounds really great on my teensy amp, imo. I recorded this little clip on my phone for the guy who gave me the wireless system so I could show him it worked, and so I could thank him for it:

As you can see, I was on the verge of watching Drawfee.

Also as you can see, the wireless dongle is there on the corner of it, where the jack is.

And also also as you can see, in this video, the little black handle that ought to be on the top of the amp is missing. Said handle recently broke into several pieces. I guess it was brittle from age? Again, "pleather" is the worst. But I soon decided, "I bet I can crochet myself a handle." And thus I arrive at the actual reason for this post.

I wanted to crochet around something that would provide the handle with some shape and resilience, and landed on a pipe cleaner. I bent the pipe cleaner in two so it would be doubled up, inserted each end into the metal tabs where the old handle had been attached, and crocheted around the whole biz. Worked perfectly.

And OF COURSE I put some matching icy blue-green flowers onto the handle!

It's actually very secure and sturdy-feeling, but not to the extent where it would be difficult for me to snip the handle right off again, if desired. The amp is very small and light -- I tend to plug it in rather than use batteries, so I'm not worried at all about toting it with this handle. I think it'd be fun to make a variety of handles, perhaps beaded or braided or embroidered ones. But for now I'm really pleased with its new flowery handle, and really pleased I have been using the amp more in general the last month.

Read More

small projects: flowery charging cable covers

Just wanted to post the result of a little endeavor that's been in the pipes for a while: sewing little crochet flowers onto phone charging cables that I've crocheted to look sort of like leafy vines. I first did this in early 2024 and used that cable -- which was already on its way out -- until it finally died several months later. Then I missed it, because it was very easy to spot amongst other cables in my room, so I decided to crochet around another. ... And then another. ... And then another! So in total I have made four of these now. And I finally decided to add some flowers onto a couple of them.

(I've linked this before, but here's the pattern I used for the flowers!)

Above is just a regular little iPhone lightning cord with some flowers done in a couple of different shades of pink. It makes me sooo happy when I see it! I use it a lot in conjunction with a pastel green external battery that I carry around in my bag, and the whole look is basically too presh. Sometimes this flowery cord is spilling out of my bag and it just tickles me. It adds some whimsy and softness to something that's otherwise irritating and techy to be carrying around.

I have some six-foot long braided charging cords too, so I vined up a couple of them in different greens. To one I added some blue and white flowers:

It was fun to use a couple of different yellows for the center of the flowers.

I gotta say that it takes longer than you'd think to crochet all around a charging cable, especially because I don't want the cover to be too gappy. So I really pile a lot of stitches on there. I also do the leaves as I go. The six-foot ones take me several sessions of working my way along. Hours, I wanna say! But it's just really fun to take something from being a bit of an eyesore to something cute. It's also easier to tell what cord is what at my charging stations; it's easier to spot amongst other cords. I don't have to verify whether the cord I'm picking up is the right one with the right dongles; I know what I am reaching for.

I also crocheted a small handle for something using this method/aesthetic lately. Post upcoming!

Read More