Noro Days

(Can't you just hear Bruce singing Noro Days?!? Now it will be in your head, with modified words, all day!!!) More than a decade ago, probably closer to a decade and a half ago, I was on a sock yarn kick. I bought every clearance skein I could find. I knitted or crocheted socks for all my female friends for Christmas. I still to this day have bins of luscious yarn, sometimes in color combinations that don't really tickle my toes anymore. At one time, though, those hanks of crazy sock colors were like buried treasure every time I found a new sale.

Noro definitely was my favorite. I bought quite a bit (not sock yarn) in one colorway fully intending to knit a sweater that winter. I also have a bunch of gorgeous purple silk sock yarn which also was supposed to be a sweater. They go together so well, perhaps I can craft something using both stashes one day...

During sleepless nights, I sometimes dig through my sock yarn bins and work up little Etsy projects with that exquisite sock yarn – in sometimes unusual colors. I was kind of looking for a project I remembered starting but never finishing a long, long time ago. I can still remember how that yarn used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance, I could make my crochet hook dance. And maybe I'd be happy for a while... (And now you'll have THAT song in your head, with modified words, all day long!)

I remembered designing this purse back in 2010 or so, and I would hunt for it whenever I had a few minutes of nothing else to do. I finally found it a few weeks ago, but not in the sock yarn stash. It was buried beneath a pile of beautiful black, satin-like vest lining leftovers. Along with a second purse I didn't even remember making!!!

Both were crafted with Noro highlights left over from projects I made back in my Noro days. Both needed to be lined, and both were stashed safely away for the day I could get around to hand-stitching a lining. That day has come. I cut linings for both this week, pinned the linings in place, then packed the unfinished bags in my neat little quilted crochet bag (formerly carried weekdays aboard the commuter train) so I can hand stitch the linings into place whenever I get a chance. I'm really hoping I'll be able to list them in my Etsy shop soon! Because they are so totally unique!

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Snowflake Monday

Today was going to be another No Flake Monday because I didn't have time to work up a new pattern last week. Amidst a plethora of (routine) medical appointments for Lizard last week, I ordered some white glow-in-the-dark yarn from Amazon to crochet a bat for the 7-year-old in my Sunday school class who is turning 8 tomorrow. (I've crocheted bat appliques for her birthdays the last three years because bats are her most beloved animal.) That means she's getting baptized this weekend. Hence the color white. And the glow symbolizes the light of Christ.

The yarn arrived Friday night, and I actually finished the bat before bedtime that night. We had snow on Saturday, and I once again spent way too much time shooting snowflakes I'll likely be editing for the next two or three weeks. :) No complaints. After church on Sunday, I worked up this quick and easy flake because this yarn is so awesome! It isn't too splitty (some of the glow yarn I've tried is darn near unworkable), it really glows, and the snowflake I made doesn't need to be stiffened!!! Oh, and there's enough yarn left in the skein to crochet a snake for my next 8-year-old-to-be in February. (Each of the other kids excitedly told me their favorite animals after they saw the bat, so I will have to order more yarn for March's unicorn, October's rooster and cat, November's polar bear and December's unicorn.) Click the yarn photo if you'd like to check out the yarn. I don't receive any compensation for sharing the link. I've fallen helplessly in love with the yarn, and the kids absolutely love the bat!

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! (Yes, I'll share photos of the bat on Thursday, so make sure to come back!)

Finished Size: 2.25 inches from point to point
Materials: Size E (or desired size) crochet hook, fingering or light sport-weight yarn OR glow yarn OR size 3 crochet thread

Nimble Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; sl st tightly in starting sc. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 1), 1 sc in next sc] 5 times; ch 1, sl st tightlyin 1st ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [2 sc in next ch 1 sp, 1 sc in next sc] 5 times; 2 sc in next ch 1 sp, sl st tightly in starting ch 1.
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 4: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 5 times; 2 sc in next sc; sl st tightly in starting ch 1.

Round 5: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [1 sc in next sc, 1 fpdc around post of Round 2 sc directly below, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st tightly in starting ch 1.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 sc and ch 1), sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 4 st), in next st work (1 sc, ch 1, sl st in sc just made, 1 sc)] 6 times; sl st tightly into 1st ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

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

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Mini Tree Monday

Our lovely fiber optic tree has not been displayed every Christmas the past few years. During our busier and/or darker days, I opted to put up simple decorations instead because taking down the tree (and the hand-crocheted snowflakes!) in January or February was so depressing for me. I treasure the love and compassion of Christmas, and I wish it could last all year. One of the tools I've developed to combat depression is seeking more daylight (seasonal affective disorder used to own me), and another is to not do things that bring back or cause new painful memories.

This year, I think the whole world needs an uplift. Possibly every day, or maybe even every hour. Or even every minute.

So when I found myself stressing about whether to put the tree up (because I love to see my snowflakes twirl on it) or not because taking it down likely will be miserable, I had to factor in a couple of new motivations this year.



I have less room this year because I brought in so many tomato plants for the winter. The tomato plants are taking up the space the amaryllises would occupy (and the amaryllis bulbs are coming up out of the basement one at a time each week to provide me with blossoms of joy throughout this winter), and I'm struggling to find room for amaryllis pots each week! (I may end up with an amaryllis in each room this year!)

I've had to remove all handmade rugs (mostly oversized snowflakes!) and clear paths throughout the house this year to enable Lizard to move around freely without tripping over or bumping into things. Our tree might not be Parkinson's friendly. I literally do not have a safe space for it to reside and not interfere with Lizard's at-home physical therapy.

I still get to admire my beautiful snowflake lamp every single day, so I'm not as worried about not being able to hang snowflakes on a tree this year.







And yet, I'd like to put up something more than just my nativity, our stockings and one string of lights. My pink foil tree (along with three other little lifelike artificial trees) is at work. I'm still incredibly thankful I get to work from home, but if I had that little pink tree, it would have been set up at home last Friday.


I did an internet search for mail order mini trees but wasn't irresistibly drawn to a single finding. As those who have followed me through the years know, I don't Christmas shop anyway. (Well, maybe a good yarn or fabric sale... Ha ha ha!)







I've made quite a few mini trees in the past. I've shared patterns for mini trees. (Click the crocheted mini tree photos in today's post to get the patterns.) I've given away every single mini tree I've ever made. Not a one remains. But boy, do I have a fresh supply of cardboard cones! So perhaps it's time to make a new mini tree! Or more than one... Ah! I could have a crocheted mini tree in each room to go with each amaryllis!!!

Daffy Tree

Scrappy Tree

Macaroni Shell Tree










Butterfly Tree







More than a decade ago, I fell victim to a sock yarn addiction. I literally bought every skein I could find on good sale. Shops closing. Discontinued colorways. Even thrift shops! As a result, I have an unbelievable sock yarn collection. I've filled two huge plastic bins plus more than a handful of PIGS (Projects in Grocery Sacks). Oh, and then there's the baby girl collection I bought when my granddaughter was born going on six years ago now. At the time, I intended to make her a baby fashionista. Unfortunately, only three lacy dresses were finished in time before she was too old to wear them.






When I began collecting sock yarn, I was as addicted to sock knitting and crocheting as I am to snowflake designing and crocheting. I think if I picked up a size 2 circular knitting needle, I'd be buried in unfinished socks in no time! It took quite a while, but I made socks for all my girl friends that second sock yarn year! Oh, those were the days! But where in the world did I get the time?!? Oh, yeah, I wasn't quilting as much then... Sigh. Something always has to give, right?

Well, I'm going to take a chance on reigniting my sock yarn addiction, at least the using-up part, and create a sock yarn tree for my kitchen. And who knows?!? If I love it way too much, perhaps I'll have to make one for each room of the house! That would use up a few hanks!!! Oh, but then I'd have to replace them, right?!? Ha ha ha!

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

Finished Size: 7.5 inches tall
Materials: 50 grams of sock or fingering yarn, size B crochet hook, cardboard cone-shaped yarn center or suitable stuffing (great use for quilt scraps or clean recycled socks/underwear
NOTE: Sport or worsted yarn may be used with a larger-size crochet hook, but the finished tree will be much larger

Sock Yarn Tree Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring. Pull magic circle tight.
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 2: [Ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sk next dc, sl st in next dc (branch made)] 6 times.
NOTE: Oh, look! Binding off here makes a funny snowflake!

Round 3: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), working from behind and between Round 2 sl sts (skipping sl sts), [2 dc in next Round 1 dc, 3 dc in next Round 1 dc] 3 times for a total of 9 dc. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 4: [Ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sk next dc, sl st in next dc] 9 times.

Round 5: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), working from behind and between Round 4 sl sts, work 2 dc in each Round 3 dc without a slip st around. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Rounds 6-32 (or desired tree height): Repeat Rounds 4 and 5 16 times (or until tree is desired height), increasing 3 dc (and thereby increasing 2 branches on every following even Round) evenly spaced apart on every third uneven Round. This pattern is not rocket science. Don't stress about counts at all. Just work in a couple of extra branches as you need to widen the base. Finished branch count will not matter, as long as you are happy with the shape. Bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Place tree over carboard cone or stuff with desired filler. Display proudly where it can make you smile often. Lizard asked me if I'm going to decorate mine. I think I like the self-striping sock yarn colors as decorations, but you might like to stitch on buttons or beads, or maybe even tiny snowflakes, on your Sock Yarn Tree!

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TP Cozy Monday

Ooh, Elsa Blue,
Lives her life from inside of her room,
Hides inside when she sees someone come.
Ooh, Elsa, you're not so dumb.

You liked your life in a germ-free style;
You'll take an inch of TP but you'd love a mile.
There never seems to be quite enough
Floating around, and it's making you gruff.

Ooh, Elsa Blue,
What's the matter, Girl, if you cannot flush?
Your toilet will be filled with mush.
Ooh, Elsa, try not to blush!

Don't try to tell me that you're not aware
Of what you're doing and that you don't care;
You say it's easy, just a natural thing
Like playing music, but you never sing.

Ooh, Elsa Blue,
Making wishes that never come true,
Searching places for TP anew,
Ooh, Elsa Blue, must stock your loo!

Ooh, Elsa Blue,
Lives a dream that can never come true,
Making doo is sad with no tissue;
Ooh, Elsa, it slips through... PU!

Every day, in your indigo eyes,
I watch the sunset, but I don't see it rise.
Moonlight and stars in this new world of ours,
You'd take some TP, but for now it's more showers.

Ooh-hoo-hoo, Elsa Blue,
Lives her life from inside of a room;
Makes you think TP-less is a drag -
Ooh Elsa, no reason to brag!
Ooh, Elsa!
Ooh, Elsa!
Ooh, Elsa!
Ooh, Elsa
Hey, hey, hey, hey...


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


Finished Size: 4 inches tall, 5 inches wide
Materials: One skein of sock or fingering yarn, size B crochet hook, clean jumbo roll of TP, if you can find some. Doll, half a doll, or make your own, to stick in center TP tube when done.

Elsa Blue TP Cozy Instructions

Ch 30. Taking care not to twist ch, sl st in starting ch.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc on this Round and on each succeeding Round), [2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 4 ch] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat, for a total of 36 dc. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Turn.

Round 2: Ch 2, [2 dc in next ch, 2 dc in each of next 2 ch] 12 times, omitting last dc of final repeat, for a total of 48 dc. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Turn.

Round 3: Ch 2, [2 dc in next ch, 2 dc in each of next 3 ch] 12 times, omitting last dc of final repeat, for a total of 60 dc. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Turn.
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 4: Ch 2, [2 dc in next ch, 2 dc in each of next 4 ch] 12 times, omitting last dc of final repeat, for a total of 72 dc. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Turn.

Round 5: Ch 2; working in back loop only, 1 dc in each dc around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Turn.

Rounds 6-14: Ch 2; 1 dc in each dc around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Turn.

Bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Place around clean roll of TP, insert appropriately sized doll or stuffed animal in toilet paper roll. Or use finished project as a messy bun (not to be confused with messy bum) hat.

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