Now that I have some homemade yarn I need to do something with it. I cannot knit. However, I have made a loom before, but it was small and not very useful.
Today’s post is a much larger DIY frame loom. I enjoy using a drop spindle. Spinning is something I do that relaxes me, but unlike the loom, it does require me to pay attention.
Making a loom does not have to be expensive. A few years ago I reviewed a PVC loom how to manual that I thought was brilliant, but I never quite got around to making one.
This is a simple loom that can be made for under $20 and is a great way to see if you enjoy textile arts.
I used a simple set of canvas stretcher bars that I made into a frame, then marked and drilled small holes one centimeter apart in a line at the top and the bottom of the frame.
Next I tied string from the bottom nail to its partner at the top of the frame.
I should have probably tied each pair of nails together individually, but I took the easy route and ran a single strand up over and down going back and forth over each nail head.
Once the loom was strung, I simply took me yard and wove it between my strings, alternating up and down.
The video is pretty simple, and I am probably doing everything wrong, but in the end, I had a pretty cool start to a wool “rug”.
Learning how to use a drop spindle has been on my “list” for several years. Probably longer than my boy has been alive. However, textile arts don’t seem to be a good fit on a gun guys blog. I am more than just a gun guy. Besides, I like having socks with no holes and warm clothes. This makes learning how to make wool yarn and weave an interest of mine.
I find this is something I can do almost on autopilot. It gives me something to do while I explore that nothing box in my brain.
Now, the fiber art aficionados, will be quick to point out my technique is wrong. It is. You are supposed to drop the spindle not spin it in your hand. However, I finally got around to trying this during recovery from ear surgery. I am off balance and higher than I ought to be. Be aware, my wife was amazed I could talk. I do not do well with pain narcotics.
A Drop Spindle is an easy thing to make, its nothing more than a dowel stuck inside a weight. One end is rounded, and the other has a hook.
Using it is pretty simple also, here are the basic steps:
Tie the yarn to the dowel under the weight and pull the twisted roving over the weight and hook it into the hook
give the spindle a twist to get the yarn twisting while pinching the roving tightly a few inches above the hook. This keeps the twist from running up the wool
Once the yarn is twisted tightly move up the roving a few inches to let the twist run up the roving
spin it again and repeat the steps until you have a foot or so of yarn
Unhook the yarn and wrap it on the spindle under the weight
Rehook and begin twisting
Once you have enough yarn it is important to wrap the yard into a skein (I wrap mine around a piece of wood) and soak it in warm water. by rubbing the yarn under water the fibers felt and the yarn becomes permanent.
This article shows how to build a computer with your kid using the Kano OS and a Raspberry Pi. The kit cost $70.00. However, if you have a USB wall charger and a HDMI cable you don’t need the kit. You can do the same basic thing for the cost of the chip alone ($35.00).
If you want a cheaper kit with a little less functionality the Pi zero kit is less than $25.00.
I got the more powerful Pi 3 because I was not sure if this would hold my boy’s attention. If he discards it I want to make a network attached storage (NAS) server so that I can store all my prepper files in a intranet.
My goal is to put all my files in a WordPress setup and run that from a blackberry pi so that when we move to the land (the land without internet) I can access my documents from wherever I am teaching or working at.
So far though, my son is having a good time watching youtube and exploring the features in the KANO operating system.
The kit I bought has a micro SD card preloaded with the typical operating system used on raspberry pi builds, but I wanted to use the kid friendly Kano OS. In a later post I will show you how to load that on a micro SD card.
Snapping this kid built computer together is pretty easy. Simply install a couple of heat sinks, snap the board in the case, plug in a power supply, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. Stick in the micro SD card with an operating system and its ready to go.
The hardest part of this build was doing it and holding the camera. Somehow my tripod broke so please forgive the wonky footage.
How to Install the Kano Operating System
Buy at Amazon a Kano
The process to download and install the Kano OS is very well documented on the actual Kano website. I recommend just buying their setup. It is not that much more expensive than DIY, but the kit and the kit documentation is much more kid friendly.
You are not going to find a better kid sized keyboard than you will from Kano.
I used my own because I wanted a Pi for a NAS setup and this give me the opportunity to use it for my own stuff later.
First thing you will need to do is to get a micro SD card, a computer adapter and download two programs,
Next, insert the micro SD into the adapter and plug the adapter into your computer
Open the etcher software and follow the prompts.
The image you are using is the Kano OS you just downloaded
Make sure the only SD or memory device you have plugged in is the one you want to install the Kano OS on. It will permanently wipe the drive selected.
Once selected hit the flash button to get started – it takes a while, this is a big program on a small card
Once its done, close it out and insert in your device to get started with your kid built computer.
How to Set Up the Raspberry Pi with the Kano OS
Buy at Amazon a Kano
This is my son and I powering up his blackberry pi mini computer and setting up the Kano OS.
Once again, the footage is wonky. My wife was holding the camera and as this was the first power up of the computer neither of us knew what would happen on screen.
Our only problem with this device and the operating system is that while it is very kid friendly my kindergartner can’t read well enough to navigate on his own. However it is simple enough he thinks he does not need help in using his computer.
This leads to a lot of him pressing buttons and not really knowing what is happening. As long as he is exploring and having fun on his own I try to bite my tongue and let him use it his way.
Setting up the Kano OS did not take long. It is pretty simple. This makes sense as it is designed for kids ages 6 and up. Basically, all you have to do is follow the screen prompts and type what is asked.
It allows the child to tell the computer the name they want to be called. They can also set up the avatar they want to use.
My son made a zombie looking blackbelt, no surprise there.
Once your done setting up the kano OS, the child can set up an account to share their creations with other children online.
We then spent some time playing with the Kano, exploring how to code minecraft and play pong.
It is very difficult for normal people to buy their own camping van because of its high price.
To reduce cost you may try to build your own camping van. DIY is trickier but at the same time, it makes it more affordable.
It is advisable for common people to choose the second option. i.e. building their camping van and spend the rest of the money in other amenities.
It requires too much patience and hard work in making camper cargo trailer and so on the blog below; there is a mention about the same.
Building the Exterior Vehicle
While you are preparing the base vehicle for your camping van, the very first step involves cleaning the entire vehicle.
At the same time, it is important for you to check if there is the presence of rust, dents, paint or any other kind of body damage. If there is then you have to make sure to repair it entirely. Also, if you are thinking of getting camping, lab-roof top tent then do it right now.
Doing the Interior Work
It is usually seen that the delivery vans come along with bulk heads following the front row of the seating. You can fasten some of the bulk heads with the help of screws. However, some of them need welding.
Now is the time for insulation. This is important as it protects the van from the exterior noise and temperature.
For perfect insulation, you can make use of:
Armaflex
Rock wool
Natural sheep wool
Completing the Water Work
Normally a camper van comprises of a simple cold water running system along with extra water canisters that are stored under the sink. Also, there is a presence of submersible water pump that will pump the water up when the tap is turned on.
The water tanks are available in different shapes and sizes. Additionally, you can store them as per your need and design of the van. Lastly, it is very important to connect everything with the help of flexible housing.
Finishing the Gas and Electricity Work
It is highly important to note that the gas and electricity installation work should be done by professionals only. If you install propane gas in your van, you can use it for cooking, heating and also run a three-way fridge.
It is very important to store the propane gas bottles in a separate space and vent the place from the bottom. It is necessary to vent the bottom place as the weight of propane gas is more than air, and so it will tend to go down.
Building your camping van like a pro is not at all an easy task but requires too much patience and hard work. At the same time, it requires a little amount of money, and you can easily spend the rest of the amount in other necessities. To make your van you have to consider many things and follow the step by step guide. Starting right from the exterior work to building the furniture, every small step is very important.
I am not messy, but I am a little clumsy. My wife is always getting on to me about spilling things. When I saw this DIY Fridge Mat Pinterest, I jumped at the chance to show the wife some projects of mine can make HER life easier also. It is all well and good to be handy.
However, f you can’t wow the wife occasionally then you won’t have anyone to be prepared for.
To make a fridge mat simply use plastic place mats on your fridge shelves. If they get dirty it is much easier to take them out and clean them than it is to clean the actual shelf.
As you can see this is a simple little project, but it does wonders for making your fridge easy to clean. If the mats get too dirty, simply lift them out and throw them away. The stains and spills will go with them leaving your fridge shelves protected and clean.
This DIY Fridge Mat is about as easy as my microwave cleaning trick. It is not hard, try it and see if it makes your life easier.
However, textile arts don’t seem to be a good fit on a gun guys blog. I am more than just a gun guy. Besides, I like having socks with no holes and warm clothes. This makes learning how to make wool yarn and weave an interest of mine.
This article shows how to build a computer with your kid using the Kano OS and a Raspberry Pi. The kit cost $70.00. However, if you have a USB wall charger and a HDMI cable you don’t need the kit. You can do the same basic thing for the cost of the 
The process to download and install the Kano OS is very well documented on the actual 
I am not messy, but I am a little clumsy. My wife is always getting on to me about spilling things. When I saw this DIY Fridge Mat