As I type this pattern, I am contemplating giving up crochet for a few weeks. Some heavy photoshopping in March has left me with mouse elbow, similar to tennis elbow and probably not that much different from knitter's elbow or crocheter's elbow.
I used to get this every November during the Makeover Madness project. I'd spend around 78 hours retouching, and I'd be sore for a month or more afterward. I typically wasn't riding my bike too much then because, well, because of winter.
This time, I'm trying to get ready for Ride the Rockies, and this tender elbow is driving me mad! I've invested in vertical mice (ergonomic for all future mousing), I've been massaging the tender joints, I quit sleeping with my arm under my pillow, and I'm icing instead of heating. I've done (almost) everything I'm supposed to do, and I'm making progress, but riding is still difficult, and I'm at the point I really have to starting building miles and consecutive days in the saddle to be ready in June.
The doctor says if it hurts, don't do it. Crocheting is beginning to hurt. I'm stocked up for a few weeks in advance, so I might not miss any crocheted Snowflake Mondays, but I do have a couple of non-crochet snowflake ideas churning in my head, just in case and just for fun.
Today's pattern was inspired by an impromptu Easter egg covering I whipped up for my little granddaughter. I wish I could be there to see her open her package of 60 filled Easter eggs and three crochet-covered Easter eggs. I bet I'd fill a memory card. And then I'd want to spend hours photoshopping...
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!
Finished Size: 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 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
Retouched Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), [1 dc in ring, ch 3] 5 times, omitting last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp] 5 times; 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 3: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, [ch 9, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp] 5 times; ch 4, 1 trtr in starting sc to form 6th ch 9 sp of Round.
Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of trtr directly below, [ch 5, 3 dc in next ch 9 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp] 5 times; 3 dc in next ch 9 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 5: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, [ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp] 6 times, omitting last 4 ch and last sc of final repeat; 1 tr in starting sc to form 12th ch 7 loop of Round.
Round 6: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, [ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 7 loop, ch 3, 3 dc in same loop, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 7 loop, ch 3, 1 trtr in same loop, ch 5, 1 trtr in same loop, ch 3, 1 dc in same loop] 5 times; ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 7 loop, ch 3, 3 dc in same loop, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 7 loop, ch 3, 1 tr in same loop, ch 2, 1 tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 6 to form 5th ch 5 tip of Round.
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 7: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, [1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 sc in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 sc in same tip, ch 5, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, 1 tr in next ch 5 tip, ch 5, 1 tr in same tip, ch 3, 1 dc in same tip] 5 times, omitting last ch 3 and last dc of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends.
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.
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That has to be the way. Have to think if you ever want to do it again. For if you keep pushing the injury it will get worse and can become permanent. So best to take a break and then go back and partake.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! Must confess, this was written five or six weeks ago, so things have changed a bit, but there may be hope on the horizon. Just have to get through one more test... I hope it's the last one!
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