28 September 2012

Teal Friday

traffic lights galore

Pink Fridays begin next week, and this is the final Teal Friday of the year. For this project, I used colors representing cancer awareness (yellow), ovarian cancer awareness (teal) and breast cancer awareness (pink).

Stop Cancer Light Lip Gloss Cozy

You may do whatever you'd like with lip gloss cozies and key chains you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Stop Cancer Light Lip Gloss Cozy

Stop Cancer Light Lip Gloss Cozy
Finished Size: 3 inches long, 1 inch wide
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in four colors (I used charcoal, yellow, teal and pink), size 8 crochet hook, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, paintbrush, lip gloss, 1 lanyard hook

Instructions

Cozy

With gray or main color, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 12 dc in ring; sl st across starting ch 2 into starting dc. Pull magic circle tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 1 dc in same dc as sl st, 2 dc in next dc, * 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of 18 dc; sl st across starting ch 2 into starting dc.
Round 3: Ch 2 (does not count as dc). Working into back side of disk, 1 dc around post of each dc all the way around. Sl st into starting dc.






Rounds 4-10: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 1 dc in each dc around; sl st in starting dc. Check fit by inserting lip gloss. Tube should be one round shorter than lip gloss body up to but not including cap.
Round 11: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 1 dc in each of next 9 st, to form button for closure ch 3, 8 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in starting dc of button, ch 2, * [yo and draw up loop through next dc, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook (4dc dec made); repeat from * 1 more time (button for closure made); sl st in top of 9th dc of Round (last dc worked before beginning button); 1 dc in each of next 9 dc; sl st in starting dc.
Round 12: To form cap, 1 sc in each of next 2 dc, ch 20, sl st in 11th ch from hook to form button closure loop, ch 9, 1 sc in each of last 2 sc of Round 11; sl st in starting sc. (The 4 sc form the joint between the cozy and the cap.)
Round 13: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 1 dc in each of next 2 sc, 1 dc in each of next 9 ch, 1 dc in joint of button closure loop making sure to catch 2 threads to prevent pull, 1 dc in each of next 9 ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 sc; sl st in starting dc.
Round 14: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), work 3 dc dec around, work 2 dc dec across final 2 dc of Round; sl st in starting dec.
Round 15: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), work 3 dc dec 2 times, 1 dc in final dc; bind off. Weave in ends. Use a 2-inch piece of main color thread to tie down button if desired, and weave in ends.

Lights

Make 3, one in each of three remaining colors, A, B and C.

Round 1: With color A, B or C, ch 2 (does not count as dc), 12 dc in ring. Sl st in starting dc. Bind off.
Round 2: With main color, 1 sc in any st, 2 sc in next st, * 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around for a total of 18 st; sl st in starting sc.
Round 3: 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sc, 1 dc in each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Stiffen all pieces if desired. (I stiffened the lights and cozy lid only, and I used full strength water soluble school glue.) Finger shape lights to form hoods. If stiffening parts, allow to dry thoroughly. Apply glue to backs of lights and position on cozy. Allow to dry thoroughly. Attach lanyard hook to cozy just below lid joint. Insert lip gloss, and proudly show your Stop Cancer spirit!

Stop Cancer Light Lip Gloss Cozy

Friday Funny

The best use for credit cards to date:

24 September 2012

Snowflake Monday

almost all white high in Washington state
Everything was white during my first trip to Washington state in mid-December of 1981. Naively, I thought that's how Snoqualmie Pass and Snoqualmie Falls got their names. (I thought it was spelled Snowqualmie.) Snoqualmie was, at the time, one of the most beautiful words I'd ever heard.

Snoqualmie, I would later learn, actually is the name of an Indian tribe in Washington that at one time included more than 4,000 members but now has only about 650.

Somewhere in my collection of paper photos from my very first 35mm Pentax camera, I have photos of the snow-coated landscape surrounding the raging Snoqualmie Falls, but I have not gone digging in the basement to look for them, and I seriously doubt the mostly white photos would scan well. So you'll have to ooh and ahh over photos by someone other than me if you would like to see the spectacular Falls.

Snoqualmie Pass was the route I first traveled into Seattle, and it is one of three mountain passes kept open through winter in Washington. To give you an idea of how much more snow Washington gets than Colorado, my (currently dry and autumn-hued) home sits at more than double the 3,022-foot elevation of the high point on Snoqualmie Pass!

We didn't make it up to the Falls or the Pass during our recent trip to Washington; I think I could have spent an entire month there without meeting everyone I hoped to meet, seeing everything I wanted to see and doing everything I wished we could have done. I guess we'll just have to go back one day.

Today's little snowflake is named for two of the little places I wish I could have spent time last Labor Day weekend. By request, I've once again included instructions for covering a rock in this pattern.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Snoqualmie Snowflake
Finished Size: 3.5 inches from point to point
Materials: To make a snowflake for hanging, size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line; to make a snowflake cover for a stone, size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, clean 4-inch round stone no greater than one inch thick

NOTE: Icelandic translation located here, graciously provided by Ólöf Lilja.

Snoqualmie Snowflake (and Rock) Instructions

Ch 5, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Do not pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sc, * 2 dc in next sc, ch 5, 2 dc in same sc; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in same sc as starting dc, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form final ch 5 sp.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same sp, * 3 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 7, 3 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 3 dc in same sp as starting dc; ch 3, 1 dtr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form final ch 7 sp.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp, 3 hdc in same sp, 3 sc in same sp, *1 dc between next 2 3/dc groups, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, 3 sc in next ch 7 sp, 3 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 3 hdc in same sp, 3 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 dc between next 2 3/dc groups, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, 3 sc in next ch 7 sp, 3 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
To cover a 4-inch stone, do not bind off on Round 4. Clip thread end from start close to stitching or weave end in. Continue with Round 5.

Round 5: * 1 sc in same st (or dc at top middle of next shell in repeats), ch 7, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in middle dc of next 3/dc group, ch 5; repeat from * around 5 times; omitting last ch 5 of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form final ch 5 loop.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 6: 1 sc in loop just made, * [ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp] 2 times, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 loop; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 5 and sc of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form final ch 5 sp.

Round 7: 1 sc in sp just made, ch 5, *1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5; repeat from * around until final ch 5 sp of round (18 sp total); for final ch 5 sp, ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc.
Repeat Round 7 until snowflake fits snugly around rock. (For my rock, I needed only one more Round 7 to fit snowflake around rock.) From this point on, crocheting around the rock will be more challenging until you are accustomed to balancing the rock as you work without scraping the hook against the rock. Take care not to scrape the hook against the rock. It will happen, and a few times won't seriously damage the hook, but frequent scrapes could bend or break the hook.

Round 8: 1 sc in sp just made, ch 3, *1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around until final ch 5 sp of round (18 sp total); for final ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc.

Round 9: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), * 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1; repeat from * around ; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.

Round 10: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * sk next ch 1 sp, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp; repeat from * around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in end.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

Snoqualmie Snowflake Rock

Snoqualmie Snowflake Rock Back

21 September 2012

Teal Friday

Think Teal

After it was too late to change last week's introductory Yellow Friday pattern, I learned something pretty cool. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. So a lot quicker than expected, the project is changing color to keep up with the seasons.

This project was designed last spring when I broke my right wrist in a bicycle booboo. I couldn't crochet with a small hook very easily, and I needed easy-to-dive-into clothing with plenty of arm room for a cast. I converted an easy, three seam tent dress into a fashion statement by creating my first-ever (intentionally) fulled project: a crocheted belt that just happens to have a bit of teal to match the dress.

no tents here

You may do whatever you like with the belts you make with this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

There be teal!

Finished Size: 2 inches wide by 51 inches long (not including the loops), depending upon personal length preferences
Materials: 1 50-gram skein of worsted weight wool yarn that will full or felt (superwash or acrylic yarn will not full or felt but may be suitable for this project if the fiber stiffening process of fulling is not desired), size G crochet hook or size to obtain tight stitches (gauge is not critical in this project), pillow case or sealable mesh bag for felting (fulling), washing machine, measuring tape
NOTE: I used Noro Kureyon yarn for my belt.

Instructions

Measure your waist or hips (or anywhere in between), depending on where you like you’re your belts to ride.

Ideally, a belt should be as long as the circumference of your waist, plus 6 to 12 inches, depending upon personal preference. I like a very long leader to wrap around the cinched belt and hang down (because I haven’t outgrown the ‘80s and ‘90s), so my belt is 51 inches long, about 18 inches longer than the circumference of the lowest portion of my waist prior to my hips.

Belt Loops: Ch 25; sl st in starting ch to form ring. 35 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc, ch 20, sl st in starting sc to form 2nd ring, ch 1, turn. 28 sc in 2nd ring, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc on 2nd tier of 1st ring, ch 1, turn.

Row 1: 1 sc in each of next 8 sc. Ch 1, turn.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Repeat Row 1 for desired length of belt.
Next Row:: To begin forming point at end of belt, work 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 dc in each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, ch 1, turn.
Next Row: 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in next hdc, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next hdc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, ch 1, turn.
Last Row: 1 sc in each of next 5 st, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: To full the belt, place in pillow case and tie a loose knot in top of case, or place in mesh bag and seal. Wash in washing machine using a standard agitation cycle, not gentle. I washed mine with jeans. Twice. I also used a couple capfuls of hair conditioner the second time around to soften the wool.

To be safe, you should check the process of your fulling as it goes. Another method sometimes used is to microwave (or heat in a double-burner) the belt in water, then follow with a cool water rinse. It is advised to carefully monitor this technique as the cold water is what shocks the wool into fullness, and it can go quite quickly.

After washing, pin and shape the belt and allow it to dry. I pinned mine onto my spare bed, with a sheet and towel beneath to protect the bed. Mine needed only minimal shaping, mostly to keep it from curling. It has held its shape all these months with no further attention.

After the belt dries, try it on, and send kind thoughts and lots of prayers out to those who are battling ovarian cancer.

Noro belt

Friday Funny

This week's theme has been Puget Sound and Mount Rainier, and summer officially ends tomorrow, so it is only fitting I incorporate some Pacific Northwest humor, particularly because all of the beautiful accessories in this cute corporate greeting card are knitted, and some of them even feature snowflakes! (Yes, I'd wear every single one of them -- except for the package one.)

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