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Too much time was spent inside a vehicle Saturday, but the result was more than worth the journey.
I finally got to see a knitting machine in action, and I even got to try someone else's machine myself. I learned how to set up the machine, thread the machine, cast on, remove the carriage and untangle the yarn because I e-wrapped too tightly, adjust tension and bind off. Baby steps, I know, but that's how I learned to walk, too, and I've mastered the art of one foot in front of another.
I won't be able to set up my own machine until after I finish my quilt and my taxes, but I got to try the process hands-on. Better odds of actually remembering what I learned!
The two-hour meeting seemed like an entire college semester. I learned so much. So many tips, so many shortcuts, so much helpful information, so many fascinating demonstrations, so much drool during show and tell.
And best of all, when I walked into the room, other club members exclaimed, "Oh, you're the snowflake lady!"
I used to get that kind of greeting when I was a journalist. I would walk into a meeting, and someone invariably would blurt out, "Oh, the newspaper is here." Or, "Oh, it's the newspaper." It. Not she. Not writer. Not photographer. Not even human. I was "the newspaper." I was "it."
I also received an interesting welcome many years before I swam in the media pool. In a prior life, I hosted birthday parties in a caboose. Back then, everywhere I went, little kids would shriek, "It's the birthday party lady!"
Those piñata and Styrofoam-sandwich-box-standing contest days are filled with fun memories, and that was so much warmer and friendlier than "the newspaper" or "it," yet I think I like Snowflake Lady better.
Prior to the long journey north for knitting machine madness, we had a dynamite sunrise, just what I'd been looking for every morning for a snowflake backdrop for more than a month. I hung a snowflake in a tree on a bluff to capture the grandeur, and the wind, uninvited and unwanted, made a crash landing. The snowflake went sailing.
Determined not to lose the opportunity, I tackled the snowflake as if I was playing a game of full-contact football, and then tied it to the tree branch. It swung and danced while I tried my best to get a shot. Suddenly, the wind went silent, I focused, pressed the shutter... and nothing happened.
What a great time for the camera battery to die. I'd left the camera bag, with three spare batteries, fully charged, at home. That'll teach me.
We tried to do a bicycle ride Sunday morning before church, but that killer wind made yet another appearance. 48 mph was just a little too much to stomach. I tried to stick to my 2011 mantra: go further than I think I can. All I got was 13 miles. Felt like 50. Calories burned, right?
The shortened ride did provide a little extra quilt time. I'd finished the quilting last week and began crocheting around the edge. Now that I've made it past the first row, the process is more fun than I've had in a long time, and I can't wait to get home and work on it some more.
Short mileage was compensated for Monday when I logged an extra seven miles during my commute, which was much more pleasant than the weekend ride (read: windless) and featured more daylight than my last attempt at riding to work.
The best part of Monday's commute was the company of The Lizard, who completed his first metro area workday bicycle commute. With a very heavy pack!
Karen Elyse White sent notification of her current show yesterday. One of her featured pieces is based on one of my photos.
A reader in Belgium took note when I mentioned I grew up in southern New Mexico. Emails were exchanged. Turns out she went to school with my youngest brother. Talk about going around the world to find someone who just about grew up with you!
A package arrived yesterday from Switzerland. A writer had asked for permission to include some of my garden terrorist photos with an article she is writing for a Swiss magazine. Turns out she spins (the writer, not Pierce). With locks from her own bunnies and sheep. She sent handspun angora, which is WAY better than getting paid!
My final paperwork needed for tax return filing also arrived in the mail at the same time. Guess which package I opened first!
The Lizard on a late spring training ride up Independence Pass
with Mount Champion peeking over his shoulder
I've been wanting to do an Easter-themed snowflake, but I must finish my quilt and taxes before I take on anything new. So my Easter idea may have to wait until next year.
This snowflake was named via a bit of wishful thinking on my part. I initially designed this flake for my Spindrift quilt, and I named the snowflake Mount Champion in the hope the quilt might actually make it into the Denver National Quilt Festival. Last week, I learned it did!
I tested the pattern with rainbow-colored thread a few days after I made the sock yarn snowflake, after I finished most of the quilt. I really love how the colors in the thread snowflake pooled on the final round without any advance planning by me. I did not get a chance to make this snowflake in white, but I will when I get caught up with everything else because to me, this is a fun flake.
13,646-foot Mount Champion, just east of Independence Pass, is a bicentennial peak, meaning one of the tallest 200 in Colorado. The route over Mount Champion is part of the Trooper Traverse. On the peak's east slopes, just a few miles southwest of Leadville, silver, gold, quartz and ore were once mined in abundance. Shipping to Leadville, however, became too expensive, and the Mount Champion Mine was closed in 1919. Some of the original structures remain, although they are weathering with time. The Mount Champion Mine included a 6,100-foot tramway, one of the first to pass over the crest of a 13,600-foot ridge.
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: 4 inches from point to point in thread; 4.75 inches across in sock yarn
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread and size 8 crochet hook OR sock yarn leftovers and size B crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line (NOTE: I did not stiffen the sock yarn snowflake.)
Mount Champion Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), *1 sc in ring, ch 2, 1 dc in ring, ch 2; repeat from * 4 times;1 sc in ring, ch 2, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 5. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch, *2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 2 dc in same ch as starting dc, ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 3 (counts as final ch 3 sp). (NOTE: Stopping here and binding off makes an attractive tiny flake.)
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: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) 2 dc around post of final dc of Round 2, *ch 1, 1 sc between next 2 2/dc groups, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 1 sc between next 2 2/dc groups, ch 1, 3 dc in same sp as starting 2 dc; ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc around post of final dc of Round 3, *1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk next sc and next dc, 1 sc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 4 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in top of final dc of last 4/dc group worked, 4 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 more times; 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk next sc and next dc, 1 sc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 4 dc in same sp as starting 3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in top of final dc of last 4/dc group worked, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3; 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. Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. 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.
I haven't thought of myself as particularly fashionable for many, many years, but I won a contest on YuLian Knits last week for saying I try to match my cycling shorts and jerseys to my socks and for trying to match my helmet to my bicycle.
So maybe I do have just a tiny bit of fashionista in me after all!
Another thing I like to do is design matching accessories. So if I find a sock pattern I really like, I like to design gloves, a hat and a cowl to match.
I recently designed a cowl that seems to have become a real hit, and I like the stitch, striping and texture, too. So I haven't stopped designing with that cowl in mind. These gloves were designed to coordinate with my Fall Blaze Hat, Cowlin' Around and Susie Socks.
This pattern includes knitted cuffs and bands around the top of the fingers and top of the thumb. If knitting is not your thing or you are unable to knit and don't want to learn, omit the first steps and first 13 rounds and chain 48, joining with slip stitch, to begin 14th row. Finish before the final knitted rounds as directed on the fingers and thumb without changing over to knitting needles.
The thumbhole extension also is optional.
If these fingerless gloves, worked in stitch multiples of 8, are too small and adding 8 more stitches would make them too baggy, consider using a larger size hook, such as C or D. Moving up to a thicker yarn, such as sport weight, and using an appropriate-sized hook also will increase the size without having to alter the pattern.
I've written the instructions for two colors, but this pattern also may be worked in one color instead of two if desired. I've used sock/fingering yarn from KnitPicks.com. The solid color for the cuffs and finger bands would be a great way to use up leftovers.
Felici is one of my favorite sock yarns. It is very, very soft, the colors spectacular, and I love limited colorways because that's a great way of ensuring any project isn't going to be duplicated ten million times. I like to be unique, and I like my projects to be one-of-a-kind. Which means don't make your fingerless gloves identical to mine!
You may do whatever you'd like with the gloves you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!
Materials: 1 50-ounce ball of self-striping sock yarn (I used Felici in Tiki colorway) and a small amount of solid sock yarn in a coordinating color (I used Palette in Conch colorway), size 3 dpns or a size 3 circular sock needle (the cuffs also could be worked on two full-sized circular needles similar to the technique used on socks), size B crochet hook. If you want the gloves to match perfectly, make sure to start the crocheted section of the second glove with the same portion of the colorway used for the first glove.
Finished Size: 4.25 inches across at widest point, 7.75 inches from fingertips to cuff edge
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
Using dpns or circular needle(s), cast on 60 stitches.
Rounds 1-12: Working in the round with coordinating color, *k 2, p 2, repeat around. Change to main color.
Round 13: Using crochet hook and main color, 1 sc in each loop (or ch if beginning on this round) around; sl st in starting sc.
(If omitting the knitted section, begin here with ch 48; taking care not to twist, sl st into starting ch, ch 1.)
Round 14: Ch 2 (does not count as dc on this round), *1 dc in each of next 4 sc, yo and draw up through next st, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through next st, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook, yo and bring through final 3 loops on hook (dec made); repeat from * around for total of 48 st. Sl st across starting ch 2 into 1st dc.
Round 15: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 24 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 16: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *sk next 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 6 ch 2 points; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 17: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 sc tightly in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, *sk next 3/dc group, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 sc tightly in next ch 2 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.
Round 18: Ch 3 (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 same sc (inc made), ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 30 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 19: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st around, increasing 1 dc 4 times evenly spaced around for a total of 64 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 20: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 32 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 21: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *sk next 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 8 ch 2 points; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 22: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 sc tightly in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, *sk next 3/dc group, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 sc tightly in next ch 2 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.
Round 23: Ch 3 (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, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 32 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 24: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st around for a total of 64 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 25: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 7 times, ch 7, sk 15 dc to form thumb hole, *1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc; repeat from * around for a total of 25 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 26: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [sk next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same dc, sk next dc, 1 dc in next dc] twice, sk 3 ch, 3 dc in next ch, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch, sk next 3 ch, 1 dc in next dc, * sk next 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 7 ch 2 points; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 27: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 sc tightly in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, * sk next 3/dc group, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 sc tightly in next ch 2 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.
Round 28: Ch 3 (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, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 28 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 29: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st around for a total of 56 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Change to coordinating color.
(If omitting knitted edge, stop here, bind off and weave in ends.)
Round 30: With dpns or circular needle(s) and coordinating color, pick up 51 st around for a total of 52 loops (sk 1 st 4 times evenly spaced around).
Rounds 31-35: *K 2, p 2; repeat from * around. Bind off after Round 36; weave in ends.
without thumbhole extension
Optional Thumbhole Extension:
Round 1: With crochet hook and main color, holding glove with finger edge facing you and wrist edge facing away, working thumb hole in the round, work 2 sc in 2nd ch 3 sp, work 2 sc around post of next dc, 1 sc in each of next 15 sc, 2 sc around next dc post, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp for a total of 25 sc; sl st in starting sc.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *sk 1 sc, 1 dc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 12 dc; ch 1, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.
Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *sk next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same dc, sk next dc, 1 dc in next sc; repeat from * 2 more times for a total of 3 ch 2 points, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 instead of last dc on final repeat.
Round 4: Ch 5 (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, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 instead of last dc on final repeat. Change to coordinating color.
(If omitting knitted section, stop here and bind off. Weave in ends. You're done!)
Round 5: With dpns or two circular needles (this section is too small to use one circular sock needle), pick up 19 st around for a total of 20 loops.
Rounds 6-10: *K 2, p 2; repeat from * around. Bind off after Round 10; weave in ends.
This snowflake was inspired by the bag I use for commuting during winter. Because the bag is purple, I decided the snowflake gets the name Purple Mountain. Which means I also had to make a purple snowflake!
I also got to play with beads for this snowflake (because the inspiration looks as if it has beads on the tips). Denise recently asked how I stiffen beaded flakes without getting glue on the beads or if I wait and bead after stiffening. I bead as I crochet, and I use a Q-tip to clean glue spots off my beads after painting the pinned flake with watered-down glue. If you have different words of advice, please share! We all benefit by pooling our techniques and preferences.
I have long wanted to climb a mountain near 12,958-foot Purple Mountain because of the name: Oh-be-joyful Peak, which stands about 500 feet shorter. Purple isn't a bad name, though. Purple Mountain shares its name with nearby Purple Peak, which is a mere 146 feet shorter.
Colors are treasured in this mountainous area, called the Ruby Range. There's also a Ruby Peak. From the top of Purple Mountain, views of the Maroon Bells and Cinnamon Mountain combine with Treasure Mountain and Treasury Mountain to demonstrate just how rich a visit to this string of high peaks can be, even though a descent may bring you to Poverty Gulch. However, a traverse of the Ruby Range ridge in the opposite direction will land you at the Paradise Divide.
When researching Purple Mountain, I had a difficult time coming up with information. The name Purple Mountain also belongs to a seemingly more famous mountain in Wyoming and a more well known mountain range in Ireland. Stick a number on the front of the name, and it looks like a street address, but it's actually the name of an asteroid belt, so named by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China.
Purple Mountain as a phrase probably is most familiar to Americans, however, when sung to the tune of "America the Beautiful," written with a different peak in mind. Katharine Lee Bates penned the verse in 1893 as a poem, "Pikes Peak," and the poem was first published two years later to commemorate the Fourth of July. Samuel A. Ward borrowed a friend's shirt cuff to write the music in 1882 that Bates' poem later was set to. He died in 1903, seven years before the poem and music were combined, so he never knew the status his "off the cuff" song would achieve.
I even found a discontinued yarn by the name of Purple Mountain! It also is the name of the 17th most popular Crayola Crayon color.
I love this snowflake, and I love my purple commute bag. Now that spring has sprung and it's almost Easter, however, I probably ought to use a different bag until November!
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: 4.75 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, 6 beads (I used different size beads for each flake, seed beads, 6 or E beads, 6mm beads and 8 mm beads), empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line
Purple Mountain Snowflake Instructions
String 6 beads onto thread. (NOTE: If you prefer not to use beads, just eliminate this step, and do not to the ch st before and after the bead in the following instructions.)
Ch 144; taking care not to twist chain, sl st into 1st ch. 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 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of next 5 ch, *2 dc in next ch, [insert hook into middle loop of last dc worked and draw up loop as if to make a linked dc, yo and bring through both loops on hook] twice, 1 dc in same ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch, [insert hook into middle loop of last dc worked and draw up loop, yo and bring through both loops on hook], ch 1, slide 1 bead up to hook, ch 1, capturing bead in ch, repeat [ ] once, 2 dc in same ch (NOTE: squeezing 5 dc into 1 ch will pull the next ch tight; take care not to accidentally skip next ch so count will be accurate), 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 2 dc in next ch, [insert hook into middle loop of last dc worked and draw up loop, yo and bring through both loops on hook] twice, 1 dc in same ch, 1 dc in each of next 6 ch, dec across next 5 ch (meaning, [[yo and draw up loop in next ch, yo and draw through 2 loops]] 5 times, yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook, dec made), 1 dc in each of next 6 ch; repeat from * around, ending with dec across final 5 ch on final repeat; sl st across starting ch 2 into 1st dc; 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. Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. 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.
Exactly a week after I mailed my quilt entry forms and photos, I received an email notification I didn't make it into the 2011 Quilts at the Capitol. My quilt is 6 inches too short.
I briefly wondered if I could crochet six more inches around the edges by March 31 and resubmit...
One more row of fabric squares (rectangles, actually) might have changed the outcome.
Nevertheless, I still have an awesome quilt, and at least it wasn't rejected because the judges didn't like it.
I believe my initial quilt show failure heightened my senses and robbed what self-confidence I did have. I expected to be rejected again by the Denver National Quilt Festival. Many pins and needles jokes were made and endured to survive yet another week of waiting.
Then, on April Fool's Day, the verdict was delivered. And this is no joke. I truly did get accepted into the Denver National Quilt Festival! I have a number and label! I'm IN!!!
Ravelry randomly places hats on member avatars (or Ravatars) each April 1. Last year, I got a sombrero. Rather fitting, I thought, originally being from southern New Mexico. This year, I got something even better. I got a halo! I think that means I've earned my wings!
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