Heavy Medal

I've participated in the Ravellenics three times now, twice during Winter Olympics (oh, wow, can I use that word?!? ha ha!), and once during the Summer Olympics. I think it's about time I had a medal to show for my work!

So I made one!

The idea came from Astri over at AppleBlossomDreams. She made my Fjord Beanie the day after I published the pattern, and I told her she should get a medal. She said that gave her an idea, and her comment on my comment gave me an idea. The race was on!

Who finished first???


I had planned to finish Welcome to the Jungle as a WIP (Work in Progress) Dance project, but alas, the Ravellenics doesn't have categories for sewing or quilting. I also was pretty busy at work during this year's Olympics, plus, I do still have to finish that quilt by the end of March if I hope to submit it in time to hopefully be juried into the Denver National Quilt Festival.

As a result, this year's Ravellenic projects were not huge, and none were horribly time-consuming, most made aboard the train during my daily commutes. I'm pleased with what I was able to crank out:

9 snowflakes
1 beaded snowflake
9 snowflake rocks
4 hats
1 cowl
3 necklaces
2 earrings
1 natural-dyed hank of yarn
and a gold medal!

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Finish Line

I probably won't ever do a big wool project during the Summer Olympics unless I live in a very cold place, but I'm very grateful I had the opportunity to challenge myself during a time when my spirits were low and my hopes on the verge of shattering. I'm excited to complete a project that took more time than snowflakes, and I'm glad I didn't settle for what would have felt like a lesser "medal" for me by setting it aside at the one-third mark.

I didn't know when I first selected the Lanesplitter skirt as my main project if I could complete it in two weeks or less, and I expected I would not be able to get much of anything else creative done during the construction.

I did get bored at one point and take a snowflake break, which gave me courage I might be able to complete a couple more projects, too, if I stayed on task. No other projects got in the way of the Lanesplitter until it was pinned and blocked on my spare bed.

The exhilaration of reaching that point powered me through yet another snowflake project. Plus, I can name this flake after the Ravellenics, and I'll never have to change the name!!!!! The adrenaline left in the wake of this snowflake kept me up until way to early the next morning finishing off the remainder of the 50 yards of hand-dyed thread in pink and orchid.

Note for future reference: 50 yards of hand-dyed thread can produce a medium-sized snowflake, a bear and three hearts.





The pink and orchid bear wanted company. I wanted yet another challenge. I made the tiniest bear I've ever made. In a day. On the bumpy train. Well, except for one little leg, which I quickly finished as soon as I got home from work.

After finishing the back seam of the skirt (via sewing machine) and knitting a ribbed waistband, it was back to the snowflake drawing board. Rock on! These two projects once again kept me up way too late at night, but I didn't care until I had to get up for work the next morning.



With a weekend of Olympics left, I still had time for just a wee bit more Ravellenic fun.








Then I had a choice of another test ride on the bike or finishing the crocodile-themed snowflake that had been in my head for more than a year. Only half a round remained. It would have taken about half an hour.

The bike won. No small fete. I rode 20 miles for the first time since June 27. Didn't see any bears or bighorn, but I rode 20 miles. Somehow, that feels worth more than any medal anytime anywhere.

Now it's time to move on to the next challenge. I have to drop a few pounds to fit into the Lanesplitter. Okay, it does fit, but being off the bike the last couple of months has left a few love handles I don't really want to show off in a skin-tight knitted skirt with diagonal stripes. I'd like the skirt not to be skin tight.

So I should have made the panel a little, um, wider???

I knew it was close. I don't want to stay this size. I'm betting the desire to wear my latest piece of art this autumn will help me get back down to my normal size 8. If finishing this skirt on a cramped schedule is any indication of where determination can take me, I'll be modeling my Chroma Lanesplitter by the time Colorado's aspens turn.

That's the next gold in my sight.

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Snowflake Monday

Two and a half years ago I made a snowflake during the Winter Olympics to earn a virtual "medal" on Ravelry. Last month I had to change the name of that snowflake because we (all two million Ravelers) are no longer allowed to use the name the competition went by then.

Today's snowflake will be called by the new name for the Ravelry challenge during the Summer Olympics, the Ravellenics, and I'll never have to change the name of this snowflake. Ha!

Last week's snowflake was a boredom break in my big Ravellenics project, a knitted Lanesplitter skirt. Today's snowflake was created in celebration of finishing the two-week skirt.

However, I was on the train when I made the prototype, jotting the pattern on my trusty smartphone as I worked (a brilliant idea given me by Raveler MrsAdriana), and unbeknownst to me, my service provider was having major difficulties and outages for three solid days. The pattern I wrote on my phone was lost in space. That's almost a good enough name for a snowflake, but I don't want to risk being forced to change another snowflake name due to trademark skittishness.

I recreated the snowflake by looking at the first one, the pink and orchid one above (my own hand-dye!), and I made a few changes I think improve the overall appearance. Nevertheless, it was heartbreaking to discover I had to write the whole pattern again! (Good thing it was a small snowflake!)

Better to rewrite a fairly fresh pattern than have to rename a two-year-old snowflake.

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: 3.75 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

Instructions

Ch 6, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Pull loop on hook nearly as tall as a dc and twist one time (counts as 1st dc of 4/dc cluster), [yo and draw up a loop through same sc as sl st, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and bring through all 4 loops on hook (starting dc cluster made), ch 4, * sk next sc, [yo and draw up a loop through next sc, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook] 4 times, yo and bring through all 5 loops on hook, ch 4; repeat from * 4 more times, sl st into starting dc cluster.
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 in next ch 4 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 tr in same sp, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, 1 dc in top of tr, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in tr, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in top of tr, 1 tr in same ch 3 sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, sl st in 4th ch from hook; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; 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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Bear Tracks

Several years ago, I began making crocheted bears. I don't know why I did bears instead of mountain goats or kittens. Perhaps because their shaping was so easy? Even though bears weren't my very favorite animal, in no time, I was addicted.

I had many yarn leftovers perfect for small projects, and little bears are small projects.

Setting up a bunch of bears for photos gave me new ideas. Initially I wanted to write "Hi!" with little bears. Later I decided to make a heart with bears. I even made a Christmas tree with bears!





After a while, I got brave and tried a bear of thread. Initially, I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull off the detail and keep the holes between stitches small enough to prevent the stuffing from showing. But once again, I was addicted.

So it was time to reduce the recipe and try for even smaller.

Now I was really in trouble. I had much more thread than yarn. And it takes far less thread than yarn to make a bear. The sky was the limit. No such thing as too many. I made a pastel rainbow of bears.

I built a portable bear factory to carry with me on the train every day.





I decided it was time to try my hand at a multi-colored thread bear. (I'd already made one of yarn, and it won honorable mention in a bear challenge!) Making a striped bear of thread proved very challenging due to knots and ends to hide. I didn't make any more striped bears.



The time came to really test my mettle. I wanted to see just how small I could go. Size 20 thread and a size 12 hook (the smallest one I inherited from my grandmother) produced what I thought was the tinest bear I would ever make. Because it was so difficult, I swore I'd never make one that small again. Ever.



Never again!

They were fun to pose, fun to shoot, fun to give away. Snowflakes took over the place in my heart the bears had occupied, and I didn't make any more bears for a very long time. Took plenty of pictures of bears, but no more making bears for what felt like forever.















Crocheters kept asking me for a pattern. So I finally wrote one (included in this year's Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society fundraiser snowflake booklet). Little Bear Peak Snowflake made me remember how much I love little bears.

This summer I was unexpectedly grounded from my bike and the stairs and all other fun athletic activities while my back adjusts to... changes. I had a whole bunch of new thread colors I hadn't tried out, so I began making bears again. Because I could. And because they make me smile.



Meanwhile, my macro lens is still in the shop being repaired (going on three months now!!!), and it's driving me crazy. I've got so many bear photos I want to take!

It's also Ravellenics time for just a little while longer. What could I do to challenge myself while I wait for the blocked Lanesplitter skirt to dry? What project would be difficult, mind-bending, finger-numbing, but so darned cute I couldn't resist? Well, how about size 80 thread and the size 15 crochet hook that hasn't yet gone through a proper workout??? Yes, I think that just might do.











Too bad I don't have the best lens to really show this little gal off!

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