Snowflake Monday

We've just kicked off a new Tour of Duty (quarter) on Ravelry's Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps, and new missions for the month of October have been posted! I didn't get to participate as much the last two quarters as I would have liked due to internet issues, work responsibilities and vacations/road trips, but I hope to finish a bunch of projects for this coming month and quarter. Particularly in December, when many of the missions have WIP (Work in Progress) themes. I'm all for completing what I've started before I start more. I'm just not very good at avoiding new starts before finishing old starts. Too many ideas always swirling in my head!!!

I often am able to incorporate snowflakes into mission requirements. A recent science mission entailed:

"Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D have been assigned to settle a dispute between two species regarding the territorial rights to Phoenar Prime, a planet which appears to be in ruins from a civilization long ago. Captain Picard, with his archaeological interests, has some expertise in this area. The Caldonians claim a right to the planet based on cultural and architectural markers, and Aldeans claim Phoenar's plant life is remarkably similar to their own. We have been called to assist the Enterprise-D in their objective judgment of the situation, which both species have agreed to respect.

"We have detected some unusual readings on the surface of Phoenar. In certain chambers of the ruins, there have been some strange energy readings. Additionally, charting the planet's orbit has shown it passes through an area of intense radiation every several hundred years or so. This type of radiation has never been studied by Starfleet. This month we will study the radiation and its effects on living organisms, and we also will investigate why the Aldeans and Caldonians are acting strangely in regard to it.

"Investigate the energy readings by using the spectral analyzer to find its color signature. Reproduce the energy by imprinting its color signature on a piece of yarn, fiber or fabric in your stash."

The science mission assignment was to make something in the round, in a triangle, or with stripes.

I managed to work all three into one project!

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 inches from point to point
Materials: 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

Science Mission Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, remove hook, insert through 2nd ch of starting ch 2, and pull loop through 2nd ch (popcorn stitch made), ch 9, 5 dc in ring, remove hook, insert through 1st dc and pull loop through 1st dc, ch 9, 5 dc in ring, remove hook, insert through 1st dc and pull loop through 1st dc; ch 4, trtr in top of starting popcorn stitch to form 3rd ch 9 sp of Round. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr over post of trtr directly below, 3 dc in same sp, 3 sc in same sp, ch 3, [3 sc in next ch 9 sp, 3 dc in same sp, 3 tr in same sp, ch 3, 3 tr in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 3 sc in same sp, ch 3] 2 times, 3 sc in in next ch ch 9 sp, 3 dc in same sp, 3 tr in same sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 4th ch of starting ch 4 to form 3rd ch 3 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 3: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, 1 hdc in same tip, 1 dc in same tip, 1 tr in same tip, 1 dtr in same tip, 1 trtr in same tip, [1 trtr in next ch 3 sp, 1 dtr in same sp, 1 tr in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, 1 dtr in same sp, 1 trtr in same sp, 1 trtr in next ch 3 tip, 1 dtr in same tip, 1 tr in same tip, 1 dc in same tip, 1 hdc in same tip, 1 sc in same tip, ch 3, 1 sc in same tip, 1 hdc in same tip, 1 dc in same tip,1 tr in same tip, 1 dtr in same tip, 1 trtr in same tip] 2 times, 1 trtr in next ch 3 sp, 1 dtr in same sp, 1 tr in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, 1 dtr in same sp, 1 trtr in same sp, 1 trtr in next ch 3 tip, 1 dtr in same tip, 1 tr in same tip, 1 dc in same tip, 1 hdc in same tip, 1 sc in same tip, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 dc in gap between next 2 trtr, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in gap between next 2 trtr, ch 3, 1 dc in same gap, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, [ch 3, 1 dc in same sp] 3 times; repeat from * around 2 more times, omitting last 2 ch 3 and last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form final ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 5: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 12, sk next 3 ch 3 sp, 1 tr in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, ch 12, sk next 3 ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, [ch 3, 1 dc in same sp] 3 times; repeat from * around 2 times, omitting last 2 ch 3 and last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form final ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 6: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 16, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, [ch 3, 1 dc in same sp] 3 times, ch 16, sk next 2 ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, [ch 3, 1 dc in same sp] 3 times; repeat from * around 2 times, omitting last 2 ch 3 and last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 7: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 7, 1 dc cluster over Round 5 and Round 6 chains below, ch 3, sl st in top of cluster, ch 7, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp (middle ch 3 sp), ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc and last ch 3 sp of Round; sl st into 2nd ch of starting ch 5; 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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Fall Blaze Hat

I designed this hat using a yarn colorway called Tiki the first week of April, but the mathematical aspect was more of a challenge than I could compute while bicycle-brained. We had a 16-hour round trip drive to Durango at the end of September, and I needed to finish a WIP (work in progress) for brig points during the Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps fall break. So I took along the hat, a skein of hummingbird-colored yarn and my pattern notes to work on in the car.

I got zero crocheting done the first six hours of the drive because I couldn't peel my eyes from the gorgeous golden autumn leaves. I filled a memory card taking pictures about every 15 minutes or so. "Oh, can we stop here?" "Please, let's stop again!" "That's spectacular! Can we please stop one more time?" "Oh, look! Oh, we HAVE to stop here!"

This put us in danger of missing our Fall Blaze packet pickup, so The Lizard directed me to crochet and not look at the leaves from Ouray to Durango, the most scenic part of our drive.

I finished the hat that night in our hotel room and then cleaned up the pattern so I could photographically turn the project in for my Ravelry points, then rode 47 miles the following day to benefit the Fort Lewis College Skyhawk cycling team. My ride included 20 seconds alongside 4th place USA Pro Cycling Challenge (Tour of Colorado) finisher Tom Danielson! After a good night's rest, The Lizard and I hit the road again, and I shot a ton more pictures between Durango and Ouray, filling another memory card. I didn't miss out after all!

When I first designed the hat, I was going to name it Tiki after the colorway. That name didn't fit the second hat in peacock blue, pink, emerald and violet, and I wasn't too enthusiastic about naming the hat Hummingbird. I like naming my designs after places I've been and want to go, so I tossed around a few ideas before seeking a second opinion. Because the pattern was finalized during our mini vacation, I asked The Lizard if I should name the hat Durango, Animas (the river flowing into Durango) or Fall Blaze. The Lizard really took to Fall Blaze. I decided it would be cool to make a third hat in autumn leaf colors before publishing the pattern.


Back home, a skein of Online Supersocke was the closest thing I had to fall hues. We do not have many pink leaves in Colorado, but October also is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so pink and shades of quaking aspens go hand in hand this time of year. And this is one of the coolest colorways I own. Definitely Fall Blaze!

The stitch used in this pattern coordinates with Cowlin' Around, Susie Socks and Spring Stripes fingerless gloves.

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


Fall Blaze Hat

Materials: 1 50-gram ball of self-striping sock yarn (I used Felici in Tiki colorway for the first hat, Felici in Hummingbird colorway for the second hat and Online Wellness II in 1202 colorway for the third hat) and, if desired, a small amount of solid sock yarn in a coordinating color for knitted ribbed edge (I used Palette in Conch colorway for the Tiki hat), size 3 dpns, size B crochet hook. NOTE: 1 50-gram ball of sock yarn is sufficient for one hat and same-color knitted ribbed edge. Using a solid color for the knitted edge leaves enough of the self-striping yarn to make a pair of matching fingerless gloves.

NOTE: This pattern now includes three crocheted edging options for non-knitters.

Finished Size: 8 inches from top to bottom, 11.5 inches across widest point, folded in half
Gauge: 14 dc=2 inches or 5 cms; 6 dc rows=2 inches or 5 cms
Pattern is worked in multiples of 8 stitches.

Instructions

This project is worked in the round and has no seam.

Using crochet hook and main color, ch 4 or make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (does not count as dc on this round), 12 dc in ring, sl st across starting ch 2 into 1st dc. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), *1 dc in next st, ch 2; repeat from * around for a total of 12 dc; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 5.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same dc, 1 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 instead of last dc of final repeat, for a total of 6 ch/2 points.

Round 4: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), *1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, sk next 3/dc group, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc, ch 3; repeat from * around, ending with 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch of Round 3 instead of last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6 for a total of 18 ch 3 spaces.

Round 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), 1 dc in starting ch 6 sp of Round 4, ch 1, 1 dc in next sc, ch 1, 1 dc in same sc, ch 1, *1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next sc, ch 1, 1 dc in same sc, ch 1; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 4; total of 42 dc.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st around for a total of 84 dc; st st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. (OR, Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch 1 sp, 2 dc in next ch 1 sp and in each ch 1 sp around for a total of 84 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.)

Round 7: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around, increasing 6 dc and 6 ch 1 spaces evenly spaced around for a total of 48 dc and 48 ch 1 sp; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 4.

Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *sk next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same dc, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc; repeat from * around for a total of 12 ch/2 points, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 instead of last dc on final repeat.

Round 9: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), *1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, sk next 3/dc group, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc, ch 3; repeat from * around, ending with 1 dc in final sl st of Round 8, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6 instead of last dc/ch3 of final repeat for a total of 36 ch 3 spaces.
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 10: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), [1dc, ch 1] in each ch 3 sp and in each dc and in each sc around, increasing 18 dc and 18 ch 1 spaces evenly spaced around for a total of 84 dc and 84 ch 1 sp; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 4.

Round 11: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st around for a total of 168 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. (OR, Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch 1 sp, 2 dc in each ch 1 sp around for a total of 168 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.)

Round 12: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 84 dc; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 4.
Round 13: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *sk 1 dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same dc, sk next dc, 1 dc in next dc; repeat from * around for a total of 21 ch/2 tips, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 instead of last dc of final repeat.

Round 14: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), *1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, sk next 3/dc group, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3; repeat from * around for a total of 42 ch/3 sp, ending with sl st in 3rdnd ch of starting ch 6 instead of last dc of final repeat.

Round 15: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next sc, ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 84 dc, ending with sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 4 instead of last dc on final repeat.

Round 16: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st around for a total of 168 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. (OR, Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch 1 sp, 2 dc in each ch 1 sp around for a total of 168 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.)

Round 17: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 84 dc; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 4.
Rounds 18-22: Repeat Rounds 13-16; change to coordinating color if using a solid color for knitted edge.

Round 23: With knitting needles, pick up 1 st in each st around, skipping every 7th stitch (pick up 6 stitches, skip one stitch) for a total of 144 loops on needles.

Rounds 24-35: *K 2, p 2; repeat from * around.

Round 36: Bind off; weave in ends. Wear and stay pleasantly warm!




UPDATE: Many non-knitters have requested a crocheted edge, so I’ve worked up three options. Instructions follow below.


Roll-up Brim (Tuque)

This is the warmest option but also requires the most yarn. If you are using a 50-gram skein or hank of yarn, you probably won’t have enough left over to make fingerless gloves, too.

Rounds 23-32: Turn and work from inside of hat. (I did not do this in the sample shown because I didn’t think of it until I finished and realized it would look better that way.) Repeat Rounds 13-16 twice (or 3 times for a wider brim).

Round 33: *1 sc in each of next 7 st, sk next st; repeat from * around; sl st in starting sc.
Round 34: 1 sc in each st around; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends. Fold up about 2 inches of rim of hat twice.


Crocheted Rib Brim

I did not finish making this edging because I don’t like crocheted ribs. I’ve included this option, however, because it is a popular stitch among non-knitters. An excellent front post double crochet tutorial is available here.

After Round 22, ch 8. Turn
Row 1: With inside of hat facing you, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 4 ch, yo and draw up loop through final ch, insert hook into next hat body dc (go in through right side of hat) and pull up loop, draw through 2 loops on hook, insert hook into next hat body dc (go in through right side of hat) and pull up loop, draw through 2 loops on hook (1 joining dc made); sl st in next hat body dc (go in through right side of hat), turn, sl st in next hat hody dc (go in through inside of hat). These 2 sl st count as the ch 2 beginning of the next row you would be making if you weren’t attaching the rim to the hat as you go.












Row 2: Fpdc across; do not forget to do the first and last st so you will have a total of 6 dc when done. Ch 2; turn.




Row 3: Fpdc across the first 5 st (don’t forget to do the first st), yo, draw up loop from beneath post of final dc, insert hook into next hat body dc (go in through right side of hat) and pull up loop, draw through 2 loops on hook, insert hook into next hat body dc (go in through right side of hat) and pull up loop; draw through 2 loops on hook (1 joining fpdc made); sl st in next hat body dc (go in through right side of hat), turn, sl st in next hat body dc (go in through inside of hat).


Repeat Rows 2 and 3 all the way around, joining Row 1 to final Row by pulling 2nd dc loop through corresponding stitches on Row 1 and bind off; weave in ends; OR work final Row normal, bind off leaving a long tail. Use tail to sew up ribbing. Weave in ends.


Cloche Brim

This is my favorite of the crocheted edgings.

Round 23: Repeat Round 17, increasing 8 dc evenly spaced around for a total of 92 dc.

Round 24: Repeat Round 13 for a total of 23 ch 2 points. Bind off. Weave in ends.


Of course, I still think the knitted rim is the best!

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Apple of My Eye

What do you do when your Ravelry Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps ship is traveling to Deep Space Nine, and one of your assignments is to create a wormhole (such as a cowl or fingerless gloves) when you're busy preparing for the biggest ride of your life?

You create a wormhole, of course.


What do you do while pedaling up Cottonwood Pass to prevent upcoming big ride nervousness from sabotaging your training?

You design an apple in your head to encase said wormhole, of course.


What do you do in the car to keep from nervously fidgeting wildly while your husband drives to the biggest ride of your life?

You crochet said apple, of course.


What do you do when you can't sleep on the eve of the biggest ride of your life?

You crochet a worm to fill the wormhole, of course.

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Friday Funny

Bet you didn't know I'm a science officer serving in navigation aboard the USS Kitchener NCC-606 or that the real reason I'm so scarce here these days is because I'm cruising at warp speed en route to a mercy mission on Maranga IV in the Klingon Empire. The colony there is being evacuated due to volatile changes in the planet's atmosphere, and my shipmates and I are crafting items to offer comfort to the colonists.

Actually, the Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps has nothing to do with my real-life commitments, but pretending and make believe take away some of the sting of everyday stress.

Ravelry is full of all kinds of optional fun challenges. There are the annual Ravelympics, coinciding with the Olympics, and there are off-season challenges catering to every fad, such as Harry Potter, Hobbits, Tardis and Fantasia. Theme challenges are a fun way to keep the mind purring by figuring out a creative way to fit whatever you're making within inventive guidelines.

One of this month's Starfleet challenges is to make something for charity or to give away, but participants are using the Maranga IV Mission fairy tale above to cloak their projects with imagination and make them more fun. A neighbor of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and she opted to shave her head instead of letting the chemo slowly tear her hair away. Temperatures in Colorado can still get rather cool this time of year, and sometimes rapidly and unexpectedly. She had red hair. So I designed a curly-haired and jeweled red hat for her.

One of last month's missions was to create something to demonstrate diplomatic goodwill between Earth and the planet Vulcan. My Ice Mountain Snowflake Rug transformed via written word into a star chart of a previously unexplored region of the universe called the San Juan Solar System (San Juans being the name of the Colorado mountains where I wish I could spend a great deal more of my time).

I enlisted in Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps because I love Star Trek (and Star Wars, Avatar, Flight of the Navigator, Space Camp... have I ever mentioned I grew up in the shadow of the International Space Hall of Fame and near an active air force base?!?) and because I'm always making something. I thought the challenges would be great journalistic aerobics, especially given the nature of things I must write each day off-blog far from fantasy or imaginative and much more along the lines of... well, boring.

I didn't know there would be monthly contests. I didn't know my Ice Mountain Snowflake Rug was named one of the top projects for last month. And I didn't know until I got earburned that I'd won a prize! I won a custom cartoon!

Kristy Davenport drew the cartoon below, incorporating many of my favorite things. I've never even met her, but she is so on target! Winning a prize is so cool, and doing it so out of the blue is beyond words, but when said prize is so personalized, well, it just makes my toes tingle!

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