Crocheting of the Green

My green collection of solar-dyed, hand-dyed crochet thread has been getting a workout this week. We've had a few medical appointments with long waiting room crochet opportunities.

I have far fewer greens than blues. I have been battling the temptation to dye more shades and gradients all week long. I'm not trying to use up everything I've got before I dye again, and I really miss dyeing. But solar dyeing is a time hog I'm not sure I should invest in right now. Most satisfying and rewarding, but just too demanding right now.

I have five old crochet bags I used to tote on public transportation when I was working. I haven't touched them since 2019 or perhaps even earlier. I went on a scavenger hunt to see if there was any more hand-dyed green in any of those old bags. I should have snapped a post-hunt photo because the tiny little balls I found are gone now.

Three of the tiny little balls barely made one disc each. I found six more tiny balls of blues, too, so after I finish the greens, I'll finish the blues again.

I still haven't decided what to do with the hearts or scraps yet, but I'm hoping some magnificent inspiration will trigger one sleepless night, and I'll come up with the coolest jewelry ever.

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Blue is My Love

(affiliate link to my GCU shop)

Six weeks later, I've finally finished making a heart from each of my hand-dyed, solar-dyed blue crochet thread colors. I remember the days when I could complete a project like this in just a couple of weeks... But, no more bus and/or train commutes for me!

It may have taken a while, but it was a labor of love. Double love, actually. Nothing says love more than hearts! Well, except maybe chocolate...

I think when I first began this project, I was intending to make a necklace of crocheted blue hearts. I got impatient the first couple of weeks, though, and made a five-heart necklace. It turned out okay, I think. I'm not so sure I'm inspired to make another blue heart necklace.

(affiliate link to my Etsy shop)

I took short breaks to make four other blue crochet thread necklaces for my Etsy shop. I'm really glad I did. But now, six weeks later, I'm a little tired of blue. Hard to believe! Never in a million years thought I'd ever grow tired of blue!

(affiliate links to my Etsy shop)

Before I finished the hearts, I photographed what I had so far for a few greeting card images. That was inspiration enough to keep me going to finish the project.

(affiliate link to my GCU shop)

I don't have as many of each color family in the rest of my hand-dyed, solar-dyed crochet thread collection. That makes it a little easier to contemplate repeating the feat with green, reds and pinks, then purples. (There probably aren't enough oranges or yellows to make an Etsy project.) When I first began my blue heart project, I was determined to make a heart from each color of thread I've dyed. Like I did with my little owls back in 2019.

I just remembered I made butterflies from all the colors in my hand-dyed stash back in July of 2018.

(affiliate link to my Spoonflower shop)

I just realized somewhere there are two or three empty gum Altoid tins full of dragonflies. I never got to finish them. I think that was right before Lizard's total knee replacement, which would be an acceptable excuse for never finishing. Except now I'm going to kind of be craving that...

Oh, my heavens. That made me search. Hadn't planned on that when I started this blog post. But now found. I think the challenge may be effectively renewed now...

Also found was another long-forgotten project in the same hiding place. I don't know if I planned to make one of every color in my hand-dyed stash, but my goodness, they are so darned cute, how can I resist???

I've gifted about half of my little owls in the last year. The kids I teach on Sundays love them. As do my grands. I'm not so sure any of the boys would be as fond of hearts. I can see eye rolls and hear "Eeeeewww!"s and "Ick!"s without even showing the boys. Yet, the yearning to create and photograph never stops surging through my soul. I'll probably do the green hearts next because the new me is driven to finish what I start before I take on anything new. At least that's the goal...

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Snowflake Monday

I've been collecting the clipped ends of my hand-dyed crochet threads from assorted projects for years. A couple of times, I've actually tried creating something with what has now become an almost overwhelming collection. (Packrat, be gone!!!)

one of 11 Altoid tins (and 4 gum containers) of crochet thread clippings

One of my favorite clipping projects is a technique I have yet to master but which I believe will one day be glorious.

I recently created some crocheted jewelry using all 45 remaining colors in my blue hand-dyed, solar-dyed crochet thread stash, which left me with quite a collection of blue thread ends. Enough with which I might be able to to do something creative...

My first attempt (gluing thread pieces together to form a heart) wasn't as beautiful as I hoped, but perhaps with practice, I can improve my technique and create masterpieces. That's the goal.

My second attempt (meticulously tying all the ends together for form a small ball of thread) bowled me over. I think this is one of the most unique and personality-filled snowflakes I've ever created! And, get this. No ends to weave in on the scrappy version. Ha ha ha!!! I might try this again with another shade of my hand-dyed, solar-dyed crochet threads!

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 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

Shaggy Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

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

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc direct below, ch 10, 1 dc in 7th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 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 4: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 2), in next ch 6 tip work ([1 dc, ch 3] 2 times, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, [ch 3, 1 dc] 2 times, ch 2, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 4; bind off. Weave in ends.

Alternative Round 3 for smaller flake: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc direct below, ch 10, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 5, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook, ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, working back down spoke sk over 3 picots just made and next 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, 2 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

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 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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Bluetiful Crochet

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Purple Needle Eater

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