@Kymberly@old.mermaid.town

Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Jun 06, 2026

Happy #Caturday, from a Johnny. He got a collection of new toys today, and his favourite is already the dog toy.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Jun 06, 2026

AI … the bubble needs to burst before it destroys everything. Because most are clearly incapable of understanding how this technology works.

The phrases from the news reporting of historical events in South Korea are naturally more heavily represented in the LLM training databases. So, of course, they will appear when using LLMs to generate slogans and marketing content.

LLMs are not aware of context.

The algorithms can’t and don’t “understand” anything. But when marketing employees are too young to remember and leadership is too lazy to even check what is generated …

You get a Starbucks chain imploding in South Korea.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Jun 06, 2026

How to force iCloud to sync reliably?

My mini, phone and tablet all refuse to sync regularly.

The mini (Intel) refuses because it is too hot … (70C according to monitoring as I always run its fans on full).

The phone (17) also complains about overheating, but can usually be forced to sync photos through it. Files refuses though.

The tablet (old 2nd gen Pro) is the worst of the bunch, and requires disconnecting and reconnecting from iCloud semi regularly before it even bothers trying to sync (and then often fails).

#iOS #macOS

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Jun 05, 2026

Best feel-good anime in a looooong time - ‘Tis time for torture, Princess.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Tis_Time_for_%22Torture%2C%22_Princess

#anime

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Jun 05, 2026

Apparently family and friends of the aunt who gifted me all the DDR yarn remnants that I wove into the scarf, have been telling stories to each other as they visit. They have used the same yarns, if not the main balls of the remnants I wove with, and have many stories about the items they made pre '89.

This scarf is prompting many special days for my elderly relatives!

#weaving #FiberArts

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Jun 05, 2026

Imagine how different things would be if LLMs were forced to refund tokens for illogical, harmful, wasteful, repetitive or plain wrong suggestions?

CEOs should really be demanding this of the AI corps, because, right now, it looks very much like intentional theft.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 26, 2026

Replying to @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town

And this evening’s dessert harvest of 500g more - this is a ridiculous amount of ripe homegrown strawberries *im Mai*. The next big harvest of strawberries might take a bit as something fungal has moved in with the heat. #BalconyGarden and #UrbanGardening are at the mercy of pests and infections

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 26, 2026

Replying to @Averecht@pixelfed.social

@Averecht more for the anorexics/bulimics in my follows than for the suggestive shapes (which I only just noticed by your insinuation!)

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 26, 2026

I am now expecting to see an apple-sized strawberry this year. We’re drowning in red deliciousness that floods in daily waves. These early ones are massive.

#balconygarden #balkongarten #growyourown

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 25, 2026

Celebrating two finishes today - the two embroidery kits, and the way too long intense edit mush of a large blog/FAQ website into docusaurus. Now, I can get back to writing, rather than reformatting/relinking/rewriting to fit the new structure.

And I feel much more confident of embroidering a dragon on my cat-ripped jumper front 🐉

Patterns are by Yumiko Higuchi, DMC kits needed 4-5 types of stitches and came with 6-7 full skeins with linen, hoops and needles.

My vision is currently borked but my shoulders sure feel much lighter.

#embroidery #FiberArts #freelancer #EditorForHire

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 25, 2026

Highly amused at the enhanced games outcome (yes, I was worried). But it seems the cheats were doing exactly that, trying to shortcut the hard work of being an olympian athlete.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 16, 2026

Replying to @CaramelizedShallots@ohai.social

@CaramelizedShallots@ohai.social I think that’s the contrast of the pure coloured clean yarns on the left and the fuzzy dark mohair on the right. Thanks!

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 07, 2026

Replying to @Paws2Spindle@sunny.garden

@Paws2Spindle@sunny.garden it’s an alluring slippery slope for sure - I was not strong enough to resist 😅

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 06, 2026

Replying to @wobin@aus.social

@wobin@aus.social it’s fascinating isn’t it? I love how the mohair rainbow shadow is only really visible against itself.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 06, 2026

Replying to @Paws2Spindle@sunny.garden

@Paws2Spindle@sunny.garden Thanks! Waffle was a lot of fun with the pickup stick, and finger manipulating small yarn segments or using the tapestry bobbin - very rhythmic and absorbing. Although the mohair yarn was less fun as it kept catching, stretching and breaking 😅

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 06, 2026

Replying to @FanCityKnits@troet.cafe

@FanCityKnits@troet.cafe thanks! It’s a floofy warm scarf, ‘cos of the couple of chonky wools and the mohair. Very pleased with it!

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 06, 2026

Replying to @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town

Hah, I did see a missed float row in this photo, now added. 😅

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 05, 2026

Replying to @AutisticDoctorStruggles@mas.to

@AutisticDoctorStruggles@mas.to thank you! It was at least one waffle repeat of each yarn remnant from an aunt’s stash. ☺️

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 05, 2026

Good distraction from the prep today - finishing the asymmetrical double rainbow DDR remnant wool scarf. This is before wet finishing, so it’s a bit loopy and uneven. But then again, all the yarns are different too.

#weaving #FiberArts

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · May 05, 2026

Replying to @earthmothering9@aus.social

@earthmothering9@aus.social *many hugs* and sympathy for your loss ♥️

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 24, 2026

Replying to @futzle@old.mermaid.town

@futzle that sky!!!

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 13, 2026

Replying to @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town

@weaving@fedigroups.social Happy to say Ashford are sending me a replacement pawl (that broken handle thing on the back beam). They had had a batch where the tongue in the middle was molded too long and wouldn’t snap past the metal pin- they reckon this was one of those and will replace them when asked. So … maybe the solution to make both looms easier would be to file the tongues down on the other pawls? Something to think about after I finish this scarf. #Weaving #AshfordLooms

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 10, 2026

Replying to @minxdragon@wandering.shop

@minxdragon@wandering.shop Heheheh ... I am not the person to discourage rabbit holes. Absolutely possible - there are printed looms and maybe some files available on Etsy. Thingiverse has heaps of weaving (and knitting) tools, including various looms.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 10, 2026

Replying to @minxdragon@wandering.shop

@minxdragon@wandering.shop There's an awful lot of force on that nubble as it shoves past the metal pin, so I'd guess resin would not be strong/flexible enough (and is exposed to sunlight as I weave in glass doorways - good light!) Thank you! At the moment, I think I'm going to trial solutions that don't require that forceful shoving to save my hands - removable pin, clamp, bungee cord to engage the pawl.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

Hand clamp on the back brake is holding very well, and nicely parks the pickup stick when its not forward. So, I’ve been able to power through the yellows, oranges and greens. And the tapestry shuttle/bobbin is coming in so handy for the short lengths in the weft.

Mohair (the right thin yarns) is awful in the warp though it looks nice (and I wanted it because it’s a dark rainbow yarn, shadowing the bright rainbow on the left) 😅

#weaving @weaving@fedigroups.social #FiberArts

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

Replying to @nika64@social.vivaldi.net

@nika64@social.vivaldi.net Definitely an option for designing a different solution with a removable pin if needed -- would a resin printer work stability/strength wise? I've never considered printing structural components on our resin printer ...

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

Replying to @triffen@beige.party

@triffen@beige.party Yeah, Ashford's knitter's loom is different to both the table loom, the rigid heddle, and the sample-it loom (their other models). I can get a replacement from my normal shop easily enough (a kit with the plastic wheel and metal pin -- those things don't break!?!) But I agree with you, right now, I'm going to see how the clamp works and look at the removable pin solution, perhaps with a little magnet in the depths to make sure it doesn't fall out when moving the loom around.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

Replying to @Steveg58@aus.social

@Steveg58@aus.social @weaving@fedigroups.social that was my thought too. I’ll need to see where there is enough wood to reposition the pin or if I need to move the lever. In the mean time, a small clasp clamp to the rescue!

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

Replying to @futzle@old.mermaid.town

@futzle@old.mermaid.town would metal make the clipping/unclipping easier? It’d definitely reduce the breakage risk. In the mean time, woodworker’s clamps to the rescue (I suspect this might actually be my permanent solution, if I don’t need the warp to be full width! 😅)

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

Replying to @web_goddess@aus.social

@web_goddess@aus.social yeah, I probably should have borrowed a few different brands before investing in the table loom - my hands hate this clippy thing.. I now also have a large Kromski Harp forte rigid heddle - the metal braking mechanism is so much nicer. But the loom itself feels flimsier and the heddles are definitely not as smooth or solid. The Kromski was also broken on arrival - two of the wooden beam handles had split (the way they positioned the wood grain ensures it would always be a risk), but they quickly sent me replacements.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 09, 2026

The Ashford knitters loom has broken on its fifth project - that little plastic clippy nubble on the back beam brake is a part that is *designed to break*

It is also the main problem I have with weaving on this and the table loom as my arthritic hands can’t easily force those levers/clip over those metal pins.

Have to wait for a replacement if I can get one at all - the Ashford table loom brake is a different direction and size so I can’t even cannibalise my own looms for a repair.

Anyone have a temporary fix idea? Or a permanent upgrade?

Can I remove the project for safekeeping (leaving the heddle and back wooden stick in place perhaps) to retie on that stick to the back beam when a replacement arrives?

#weaving #AshfordLooms @weaving@fedigroups.social

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 07, 2026

Replying to @maru@sunny.garden

@maru@sunny.garden it’s probably about 2m - I don’t tend to measure anything 😅 and had no idea the length or suitability of any of the yarns either. I’m also not that worried that I miscounted some of the pickups, skipping three instead of two. It’s a scrappy project! I snuck in some weaving before back started screaming - the colours will be finger woven as they are really scrappy short lengths of yarn (good for one repeat or so). So pleased! #weaving #FiberArts

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 07, 2026

Replying to @maru@sunny.garden

@maru@sunny.garden it is! I’m antsy wondering how the colours will look in the weft, but need to take a back-rest break for a few days 😅

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 06, 2026

Replying to @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town

And it’s weaving up nicely, although making a clean shed is troublesome - did not realize a few were grippy. But, I don’t want to change the colours, so I’ll take it slow. Waffle weave as all the yarns are different types and weights, so texture will add to that. #weaving #FiberArts

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 06, 2026

Replying to @Paws2Spindle@sunny.garden

@Paws2Spindle@sunny.garden thanks!

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Apr 06, 2026

A remnant rainbow scarf now warped onto the rigid heddle, and my new favourite tools - the arm of my treadmill and these one-hand woodworking clamps.

The wool/cotton/acrylic remnants were gifted from my partner’s ailing aunt - the bundle was her mother’s and grandmother’s. Quite a lot were very short stretches tied together, or multiple strands held together - not good enough for warp yarn. Some will go into the weft though.

Seeing as I wouldn’t buy yellows and oranges for myself, I’m taking this opportunity for a rainbow ☺️

#weaving @weaving@fedigroups.social #FiberArts

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Mar 23, 2026

Not going to try to fix the rust stains on this tapestry (please don’t staple when framing, at least, not with rustable staples).

I’m pleased with the repair - there were many blank spots as the wool started to break down, or was cut too short. I used only the old wool that Grandpa used in other tapestries, so the colours (and textures) don’t match 100%, but I couldn’t have achieved as good a result with new tapestry wool - dye lots, age of fiber and all that.

It’s now been (finally!) washed and blocked, and will be laced onto a new stretcher frame when done.

#tapestry #FiberArts @fiberarts@fedigroups.social

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Mar 21, 2026

Replying to @frogglin@theblower.au

@frogglin@theblower.au the multi-strand one? Good luck! And thanks ☺️

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Mar 21, 2026

Two looms warped and threaded and tensioned this week. That’s a record.

Using up the horrid rayon chenille on Kitty (knitter’s loom) for a scarf, and a jersey rag rug cotton warp is on Wally, the new wide rigid heddle.

Have to say, the chenille is horrid to weave, but feels gorgeous to wear. And Ashford certainly feels more robust and has nicer heddles than Kromski. That metal ratchet on the Kromski is lovely though, but it should have been on the outside to avoid the card.

@frogglin@theblower.au’s fault. 😉 WIP Wednesdays make it feel much less daunting. Thanks!

#weaving #FiberArts @fiberarts@fedigroups.social @weaving@fedigroups.social

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Nov 13, 2025

Replying to @FanCityKnits@troet.cafe

@FanCityKnits@troet.cafe yup, I typically move the shuttle a little bit to the left or right each beat (rather than back and forth). It seems to give more defined waves that way. Need to not agitate when washing though - the waves (unless a little felted) can fall out of the fabric quite easily. Thanks! I did get the handi handles with the first loom hoping they would help with arthritis pain, but the turning isn’t the problem - it’s that darned clip mechanism. It needs so much force to operate. Worse, the position on the little rigid heddle is off by a few mm so that a flat screwdriver is needed to force the clippy bit past its metal post.

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Nov 13, 2025

Replying to @Katztronaut@treehouse.technopagans.de

@Katztronaut@treehouse.technopagans.de I’m hoping it’ll be super soft and light - the Petra is the fluffiest cotton yarn I have found!

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Kymberly @Kymberly@old.mermaid.town · Nov 13, 2025

New on the rigid heddle - I reckon it works as a scarf. Soft black DMC Petra cotton yarn in two weights for the warp (I lost at yarn chicken), and remnants of 6 different handspun yarns (predominantly merino+silk) with a teal Mongolian cashmere tabby from Herders to Home for the weft. Wiggle shuttle to compensate for unevenness in tension and handspun thickness, but with these colours, it’s wonderfully oceanic.

Considering getting a second larger rigid heddle (80cm), but which brand … my hands really dislike the plastic Ashford locking mechanism on this rigid heddle and my table loom. But I have heard bad things about tension-maintaining on Schacht and Kromski rigid heddles.

#weaving #FiberArts @weaving@fedigroups.social

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