31 August 2018

Friday Fortius

28 August 2018

B9


In about June, I noticed a new mole. At the time, I thought it was a scab because it was flaking. Between my neck and my chest, I couldn't see it without looking in a mirror, and it was so small, I couldn't see it without my reader glasses I use for crochet now.

I didn't think to check it regularly. I'd forgotten last year's lesson that people my age shouldn't get new moles or new freckles. Busy summer ensued.

One of my friends had four moles removed about three weeks ago. One turned out to be a squamous cell carcinoma. That reminded me to check my newest mole.

It was pretty alarming to discover it had tripled in size in just two months, and it was still flaking, too.

I called my doctor, expecting to be asked for my availability that week. The receptionist asked if I could come in right away.

I think that was scarier than the mole!


An hour later, the mole was gone. My doctor informed me that if this one was like the last one, I would now have "a history" because I had two bad boys in less than a year and a half. She said I would need to be more diligent in checking for new moles because "these little guys grow on you." She also scolded me for waiting two months to do anything about it.

She said it looked like a squamous cell carcinoma, and she asked if I'm using sunscreen.

YES! It also was in a location that doesn't regularly get exposed to sunlight, especially when riding my bike. Plus, most cycling jerseys these days have built-in sunscreen.

About 20% of squamous cells are complete mysteries because they aren't caused by UV exposure. I want to believe that's the category into which this latest little chunk of skin falls.

Two days later, I was notified this baby was benign, one of my most favorite words these days. Time to celebrate!

I'd informed my parents of the mole the day it was removed. So I quickly fired off a B9 email to my dad, who initially thought I was talking about aircraft. He provided his research, which I found at the time to be most humorous.

"When I saw the subject, I couldn't remember there being a B-9. I looked it up, and there was indeed a B-9. The official nomenclature was the YB-9 Bomber in 1931. It was the first all-metal Bomber manufactured by Boeing, and it's nickname was Death Angel."

So I just had a Death Angel removed from close to my heart!!!

27 August 2018

Snowflake Monday


I LOVE this week's Moda Blockheads pattern (even though I haven't finished all those teensy, microscopic triangles yet)! I couldn't wait to dive into my scraps to craft my own interpretation of Jace.


I love this block so much, I decided to do it again, this time with modifications and a new snowflake.


This is the first time I've tried using the puff stitch in a snowflake. When I first began the snowflake, I wasn't intending to use primarily the puff stitch. I used this stitch a lot in college because it makes extremely warm scarves and hats, especially when made with a super soft yarn. Remember Dazzleaire yarn?


I once bought about 10 skeins of the turquoise because it was the prettiest color of yarn I'd ever seen. I still wear the hat I knitted with that turquoise Dazzleaire back in about 1980. I am not sure whatever became of the puff stitch scarf. Perhaps I literally wore it out!


About 10 years ago, one of my co-workers asked if I could figure out a pattern stitch she saw in a photo. I used some Dazzleaire scraps to work up this little curly piece that has never found a purpose. Perhaps it can be a doll blanket for a granddaughter one day.


I just rifled through my stash, and this is all that remains of my once rich treasure of Dazzleaire…


The puff stitch in thread isn't nearly as soft, and boy, does it use up a lot of thread! However, the puff stitch is like magic for a snowflake. Here's a flake you don't have to shape or stiffen! Also, the back looks just like the front.

Plus... if you make a rock covering using the puff stitch, it absorbs a ton of water to nurture your garden on hot days!

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: 3 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

Puff, the Magic Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2, [yo and draw up loop through magic ring] 4 times, yo and draw through all 9 loops on hook (starting puff stitch made), * ch 3, [yo and draw up loop through magic ring] 5 times, yo and draw through all 11 loops on hook (puff stitch made); repeat from * 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting puff st to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Starting puff st over post of dc directly below, ch 1, * puff st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, puff st in same sp, ch 1; repeat from * around 4 times; puff st in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in starting puff st to form 6th ch 3 sp 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 3: Starting puff st over post of dc directly below, * ch 2, 1 sc between next 2 puff st, ch 2, puff st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, puff st in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 2, 1 sc between next 2 puff st, ch 2, puff st in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting puff st to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.
NOTE: Binding off here makes an adorable Mini Magic Puff!


Round 4: Starting puff st over post of dc directly below, puff st in same sp, * ch 2, sl st into same ch 3 sp, ch 2, sl st into sc, ch 2, sl st into next ch 3 sp, ch 2, [puff st in same sp, ch 3] 2 times, puff st into same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 2, sl st into same ch 3 sp, ch 2, sl st into sc, ch 2, sl st into next ch 3 sp, ch 2, puff st into same sp, ch 1, 1 dc into starting puff st to form 12th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 5: Starting puff st over post of dc directly below, * ch 1, puff st into next ch 3 sp, ch 3, puff st into same sp, ch 2, sl st into same sp, ch 2, sl st into Round 3 ch 3 sp, ch 2, 1 sc around next sl st and sc, ch 2, sl st into Round 3 ch 3 sp, ch 2, sl st into next ch 3 sp, ch 2, puff st into same sp, ch 3, puff st into same ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last puff st of final repeat; sl st into starting puff st; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: This one doesn't have to be stiffened! Yeehaw!!!


Linking up with Anja Quilts and Busy Hands Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict and My Quilt Infatuation.
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