I learned to do the Lover's Knot when I was 10 years old, just after my youngest sister was born. I made a dress for her with the sparkly white baby pompadour yarn popular in 1970... perhaps Sayelle or Caron. Back then, I did not have the vast selection of yarn available these days. I would save the money from two or three babysitting jobs... because back then, getting a quarter an hour was an awesome wage, and babysitting more than two hours at a time was a true luxury. I thought I was rich when I made more than 50 cents a week.
After saving adequate funds, I would walk a little more than a mile to our town's only department store, TG&Y, which my mom fondly called Turtles, Girdles and YoYos. A 4-ounce skein of Sayelle yarn back then was 99 cents. I think there were about 30 colors, and I loved to just stare at all the gorgeous hues.
A 1-ounce skein, which didn't offer as much variety, perhaps four or five colors, was less than a quarter. I can't remember how much I paid for the baby pompadour, which had a strand of shiny satin-like fiber, but it was the softest yarn I'd ever touched at that time. I ran out before the dress was long enough, and I had to save money for another three weeks before I could return to TG&Y to buy another skein. By the time I finished the dress, it wasn't big enough for my growing baby sister.
The top part of the dress was solid single crochet, with easy slit armholes, and the bottom of the dress was made entirely from the Lover's Knot. I hand-stitched a white button onto the back opening of the dress, then crocheted a long-skinny loop with the yarn for the button closure. I think I even put a white satin bow on the front to dress it up a bit. I wish I had a picture of it! I was so proud of my creation, even though Susie never got to wear the dress.
My younger sister, Jeanette, and I may have used the dress on one of our dolls; I can't remember. I don't know what ever became of the dress. I may have to create another one someday to show my female grandkids what they might have worn had I known them when they were born.
As I was playing with the prototype snowflake for today's pattern, I wondered if the Lover's Knot might be more attractive than a plain chain. Then I learned one of the names for this stitch is Hail Stone. PERFECT for a first snowflake design after a first snowfall of the season!!!
After I worked out the pattern, I noticed the rainbow reflection in one of the inner office windows at work that inspires me for 10 to 15 minutes almost every day in autumn. I couldn't resist taking LOTS of photos!
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: 6.5 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
Hail Stone Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), [1 dc in ring, ch 1] 10 times; 1 dc in ring, 1 hdc to form 12th ch 1 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: 1 sc overpost of hdc directly below, [ch 5, sk next ch 1 sp, 1 sc in next ch 1 sp] 5 times; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.
Round 3: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 12, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp] 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.
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Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * [ch 1, draw loop on hook big enough to insert hook in single back thread, insert hook into gap between single back thread and front chain and draw up loop; yo and draw through both loops on hook to form Lover's Knot, which is a sc worked into the back of the chain] 10 times (10 Lover's Knots made), 2 dc in next ch 5 loop, ch 20, 2 dc in same loop, work 10 Lover's Knots, sk over next 4 spoke sc and next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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.
At least the doll got to enjoy it, if you are remembering correctly haha 25 cents these days people just pass if they see it on the ground.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Pat. We take so much for granted these days...
DeleteI remember phone booth and it costing 25 cents to make a call and $1.40 bought a school lunch
ReplyDeleteI don’t remember the price of school lunches because I always took one, but do you remember milk for 5 cents, Trish?
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