Snowflake Monday

The prototype for today's snowflake has been sitting on my computer desk for at least five or six years. After dusting last week, a task long, long overdue – but not five or six years' worth of dust, thank heavens – I looked (unsuccessfully) through my directory to see if this snowflake had ever been published because I couldn't find a pattern.

Upon closer inspection, I realized I had to bind off on the 4th Round and start again to get my 5th Round stitches in the right place without a string of awkward and bulky slip stitches. I'm hoping that's why I never seem to have written the pattern. I needed to figure out a better way to end the 4th Round and start the 5th Round.

A few years later, a little bit more experienced and perhaps a lot more creative, I've solved the dilemma, and I proudly present the new and improved method for making a fun snowflake which never saw the light of day until now.

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: 5 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

Flying Eaves Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 sc in ring, ch 10] 5 times; 1 sc in ring, ch 5, 1 trtr in starting sc to form 6th ch 10 petal. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as 1 trtr), 2 trtr around post of trtr directly below, [ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (2 dc in 3rd ch from hook in repeats) (dc picot made), ch 4, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 6 trtr in next ch 10 petal] 6 times, omitting last 3 trtr of final repeat; sl st in 5th ch of starting ch 5.

Round 3: Sl st in each of next 2 trtr, 1 sc in each ch of next dc picot, sl st in next 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 4: Ch 13 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 12), sk next dc picot, next 6 trtr and next dc picot, 1 sc in next ch 1 between dc picots] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 13.

Round 5: [In next ch 12 sp work (3 sc, ch 3, 8 dc, ch 5, 8 dc, ch 3, 3 sc)] 6 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 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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Friday Funny

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Perpl-hexed

Spending 14 days in the hospital with Lizard following his back surgery gave me some time to catch up on hand-sewing I hadn't touched since... well, probably at least 2015.

When I first started this project, using leftovers from two favorite dresses I made for work, I think I intended to make a quilted vest, or perhaps even a crochet bag to haul my snowflake projects on the bus each weekday, to coordinate with the two dresses.

My, my, my, how things change!

Both of the dresses are now in the scrap pile. I literally wore them out. The hexie batik dress was ripped down the back of the skirt when I went through one of the rotted stairs in our rotted but now removed patio. (Our house is a fixer-upper. The patio, which appeared to have never been maintained, came with it.) I patched the dress using some of the leftovers in the hexie project and continued wearing it for several more years until the fabric in high-contact areas (primarily the seat and under the arms) wore so thin, it was nearly transparent.

I don't have to ride the bus now for who knows how long, and I get to dress down every day because I'm working from home for the foreseeable future. So I don't really need fancy clothing, fancy bags or commute distractions. I must confess: I am very tired of T-shirts, shorts and jeans. I'm ready to dress up again. I dress up each Sunday for home church. But we aren't going anywhere else where fancy clothing would be in order.

Even though I am thoroughly enjoying this project, I have no idea what do do with it when I'm done. I don't even know how big to keep going. Sometimes I think I could just keep going and add in all my leftover batiks and hand-paints and one day have a full-sized quilt. But I also would like to finish this because it's been on my WIP challenge list for at least six years, and perhaps longer than that. (I just looked it up, and I made the dress in 2012. I don't know when I made the first little hexies from the leftovers, but I suspect around 2014.)

When I first decided to take along this project to work on while Lizard was in the hospital, I dug out another batik scrap I thought might make a great background for the hexie flowers. The turquoise gradient is leftover from another dress, this one barely getting any wear at all because it was a lot cooler in my head than it looked on me when finished. I'm not even sure I wore it once, longer than to see how tenty it looks on me. Ugh!!!

While working on the hexagons in the hospital, I ran out of the gradient leftovers. I briefly entertained the idea of cutting up the dress because I probably won't ever wear it, but then I decided the dress might be a nice gift for one of my granddaughters when they get older because they all like snowflakes. And they aren't pear-shaped like me, thank heavens! I think they'd like it because it's different and because it's handmade.

And while I was working on the hexagons in the hospital, I ran out of templates. I had started the first flower with paper templates. That really was no fun at all. I read somewhere that templates could be made from plastic milk or juice cartons, and I read somewhere else that punching a hole in the middle of the plastic templates gives you something to grab onto when it's time to removed them from the project.

I made seven plastic templates from a used but clean milk bottle, and I guess I never imagined needing more than that. I replaced the paper templates, and the project got buried away for too many years.

After learning our three- to five-day stay in the hospital would actually be 14 days (the therapists wanted 21 days, but we were able to talk them down!), I picked up a few groceries from a store within walking distance (back when the sky was nearly black with smoke), and I recycled the hot chocolate and popcorn boxes into more hexagon templates! When I ran out of the gradient fabric, I decided to cut and pin as many hexagons as I could with the scraps I had with me to keep the project alive until I can decide what to do next.

I have tons of batik scraps in all kinds of colors, so I'm thinking it might be fun to work the background motifs into a rainbow gradient of leftovers and just keep going until I'm bored with the project. Then make it into something that would be suitable in that size. I'm thinking of using the checkerboard blocks for the backing, and I could make that sort of gradient in scheme, too, because I have plenty of 2.5 strips left over from all kinds of projects over the years.

No plan yet and sometimes frustrated by the absense of direction, but perhaps inspiration will hit me as I sew one snowy night, after all the heat and forest fire smoke are gone and Lizard is getting around more independently. (He's making really good progress, tiny little improvements each day!)

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Live Loop Cables

Sue Perez has been updating me on the progress her "innovative crochet technique" book for at least three years now. When she finally reached the publishing finish line, I think I was first to order a copy!!!

Lizard was still in acute rehab at that point, so I ordered Live Loop Cables in Crochet via my phone. The print-on-demand book was waiting in our mailbox when we finally got to go home. I could not wait to try Sue's crochet cables.

I absolutely love to crochet, but I am a knitter, too. I've never really cared for one-hook ribs or cables because I can do them beautifully and efficiently with two sharp needles. But Sue always comes up with awesome stuff, and her drawings make me green with envy. So, of course, I HAD to try my hands at a live loop snowflake hexagon.

Now I know why all Sue's samples are squares. I probably will give this a try again sometime, but I'm not sure it will be this year.

Once I got the hang of the basic method, I did finally get into a groove. Once my sample got big enough to really look at, I mean, without a microscope, I realized my six-spoked 3D was embedded on a five-sided pentagon instead of a six-sided hexagon. I have a pretty clear idea how that happened, but it's not something I want to frog and do over. I'll just do over one day, fresh from scratch.

Nevertheless, this is one cool book, and there are designs in here I think would make lovely socks and sweaters. An afghan with each of the blocks would be beautiful, too.

And perhaps therein lies the key... don't try this technique the first time with a tiny hook and thread. And probably wise not to try a hexagon right out the gate. Use yarn, and make a nice, thick project you can see without straining your eyes!

Sue, I really do love your book!!!

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Snowflake Monday

The prototype of today's snowflake is my 80th completed snowflake this year. I am tickled white because I've finished my goal of 80 snowflakes for my mother-in-law's 80th birthday in November. I've been afraid to count my snowflakes all summer because with my turtle shell slow-down, I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish that many snowflakes. I'm shocked to have met my goal... and early to boot!

Alas, I still have to string them…

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: 5 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

Octogenarian 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), 2 dc in same ch as sl st, [1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 5 dc in next dc] 3 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same ch as sl st, [1 fptr and 1 fpdtr around Round 1 ch 2 directly below (or next Round 1 dc in repeats), sk next 2 Round 1 dc, 1 fpdtr and 1 fptr around next Round 1 dc, 3 dc in next Round 2 middle dc of 5/dc group, * ch 3, 3 dc in same dc] 3 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 3 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 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [3 dc in next gap between fp groups, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip] 3 times, omitting last ch 2 and last 3 dc of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round. NOTE: Working Round 3 in a different color and binding off here makes a super cute little snowflake!

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [2 fptr around next Round 3 fptr, 2 fpdtr around next Round 3 fpdtr, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip, 2 fpdtr around next Round 3 fpdtr, 2 fptr around next Round 3 fptr, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip] 3 times, omitting last ch 2 and last 3 dc of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 6: Ch 12 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 10), 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 1 dc in same tip] 6 times, omitting last ch 2 and 1 dc of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [2 fptr around next Round 3 fptr, 2 fpdtr around next Round 3 fptr, 2 fptrtr around next Round 3 fpdtr, 2 fpqtr around next Round 3 fpdtr, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip, 2 fpqtr around next Round 3 fpdtr, 2 fptrtr around next Round 3 fpdtr, 2 fpdtr around next Round 3 fptr, 2 fptr around next Round 3 fptr, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip] 3 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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 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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Friday Fortius

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Pumpkin Spice

Bump, bump, bump, another one bites the dust!

Still practicing my longarm skills, and this top was layered and ready to go, so it was next up on my Simply Sixteen, nicknamed Ringo.

I initially had very different plans for this quilt. I'd purchased individual Grunge fat quarters in autumn hues to make my own bundle, and I'd planned to piece various leaves using just the Grunge. But then I found this adorable panel on sale somewhere. I still planned to do leaves around the edges with the grunge, but then I found an old stack of fall fabrics from about a couple of decades or so ago. I had cut them into 7-inch blocks to make a disappearing nine-patch a couple of years ago or so. I decided I needed to use them up before cutting into something new.

Initially, I thought I'd put a row of on-point blocks on each side of the panel, but I really liked the off-balance look with blocks on just one side. Then I used almost all the rest of the blocks in a disappearing nine-patch backing, using up the leftovers of one of the orange solids in my stash left over from another project in about 2015 that I never thought I'd use up. While piecing the backing, I ran out of that orange, so the final row of nine-patch blocks was not a nine-piece but precisely pieced from the small remnants from the rest of the blocks. I thought I was going to have to use a different color to finish the last block, but I eeked out just enough of that Kona Mango. I think I have one two-inch strip left now!

The binding is the leftovers of the only autumn print I had enough of to cut the 2.5-inch strips.

I did simple chevron lines with the longarm just to practice doing straight lines. My lines aren't perfect, but each time I use Ringo, I gain a little tiny bit more confidence. I keep hoping one day I won't be so nervous about quilting with the longarm!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Gard-end

I've brought in what I could from my garden, and I've covered my corn, hoping it might still get a chance to mature. But much of my outdoor garden will be gone today, after a high of 89 yesterday. Today's forecasted high is 28. And snow is falling.

I dug up my ghost pepper, which didn't put out a single blossom this year. I was tempted to dig up some of the dahlias because they were about to bloom. I cut some sunflower and hibiscus buds, hoping they will open in a vase.

There are so many things I didn't get to see what they would be! And my first glads ever didn't get a chance to bloom!

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Snowflake Monday

I wasn't sure I was going to try to finish a new pattern today because after being in the hospital with Lizard for 14 days, or the last six months of his waning independence, I have so much that needs to be caught up on at home. Plus, I had to take 11 more vacation days from work than I expected. So work was behind, too. My day job pays the house payment, utilities, medical bills, for craft supplies, for food…

On Saturday, the only time last week I might be able to work on a snowflake pattern, my daughter made a pretty desperate plea for me to make more masks for my granddaughter to wear at school.

I think someone must have already lost (or traded away?!?) a mask or two in just one week of kindergarten!

I ended up cutting out 14 masks and seven dresses (because I'd intended to make clothing for her prior to school's start, not knowing how 2020 this whole year was going to be), and I'm trying to get all of that, plus unused diapers from the hospital (because grandson #6, or #16 counting all siblings) arrived a couple of weeks before Lizard's surgery) in the mail to her tomorrow. So not much crocheting time exists in the Snowcatcher household!!!

However, after self-quarantining for 14 days prior to Lizard's surgery to make sure we didn't take any unwanted baggage with us to the hospital, then an unexpected 11 extra days (for a total of 14 days) in the hospital (for which I am eternally grateful I was allowed to stay with Lizard due to our special circumstances), and now another 14 days of self-quarantining to make sure we don't share any unwanted hospital souvenirs, then his slow yet remarkable healing progress, Lizard and I are in need of some serious celebration.

(Both of us have tested negative, and we hope to keep it that way.)

First, though, I have to acknowledge, all the hospital staff works extremely hard to provide safe and sanitary conditions for every single patient and visitor/guest. I do think both Lizard and I are going to be okay. But I was duly reminded during our stay of what was going on in the outside world, from which we were sheltered, and I don't want to be the one who spreads the virus.

One evening while we still had forest fire smoke-enhanced pink fireball sunsets, I asked if there was a window from which I could take a photo. The head nurse winced just a bit before telling me, "There might be a couple of good vantage points, but I don't really want you to leave this floor because COVID is on some of the other floors. This is the safest floor for you to be."

Needless to say, I have a couple of phone sunset photos from the 9th floor. I went home for one hour five times in 14 days for clean clothes, and on the first trip home, I grabbed my little point and shoot and kept it with me the entire rest of the stay. As a result, we never got to see another fireball sunset during the remainder of our stay. Of course. If I'd left my camera at home, I probably would have seen sunsets and sunrises galore!!!

I abhor what causes these dramatic sunrises and sunset, and I'm grateful we were likewise sheltered from both the relentless heat and thick smoke during our hospital stay, but oh, have I seen some simply incredible silhouettes caused by the awful fires.

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All the fires in Colorado really suck, but the sunsets are a slam dunk! #sunset #smokysunset #slamdunk

A post shared by Bob McNair (@bobs_bells) on Aug 25, 2020 at 8:51am PDT

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Our California sun caught between layers of fog and smoke. #sunset #smokysunset #fog #california #norcal #sfbayarea #sonomacounty #wildcalifornia #smokysun #summer #landscapes #landscapephotography #nature #horizon #layers

A post shared by Shelby Erickson (@ericksondesign) on Sep 4, 2020 at 3:38pm PDT

And here's my hospital window, dinky phone zoom contributions to the August 2020 Colorado collection…

When we tell people we are self-quarantining because we spent 14 days at the hospital, the first question they ask is, "Were people there coughing?"

Um, the sky was sometimes very dark gray with smoke. Yes, people were coughing. But no one we came in contact with was sick. I think by law they have to notify us if anyone we came in contact with becomes sick within that 14-day self-quarantine we are observing.

Acute rehab was one of the most difficult things either of us have ever endured, but it helped Lizard so much. The extra 11 days were challenging in many ways, but Lizard has reaped the blessings because he stayed. Freedom will always have a richer meaning for us now. How fitting for this discovery to occur the week of September 11.

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: 3.5 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

Special Stitches
3 dc cluster: [yo and draw up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook

Freedom Flake Instructions

Make magic ring.

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

Round 2: Ch 6 (counts as trtr), 1 trtr in same ch as sl st, [sk next dc, 2 trtr in next dc, ch 8, 2 trtr in same dc] 5 times; 2 trtr in same ch as starting trtr, ch 4, 1 dtr in 6th ch of starting ch 6 to form final ch 8 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2, yo and draw up loop through sp below, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (beginning dc cluster made), [ch 3, 8 dc in same sp, 8 dc in next ch 8 sp, ch 3, 3 dc cluster in same sp, ch 3, 8 dc in same sp] 5 times; 8 dc in next sp, ch 3; sl st in top of starting dc cluster; bind off. Weave in ends.
Please go here to see the original.

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 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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Feelin’ Zitty

Where were fashionable masks when I was in seventh grade, back when Steve would tease me every day about my complexion?!?

"Oooooh!!! You got measles!!!"

"ACME Acne, at your service!"

"You look like a ring of fire! You've got volcanoes all over your face!"

Every friggin' day. I used to wonder how I became so shy. Now I understand.

My mom used to assure me every time I came home in tears that one day I'd be thankful for my oily skin. "One day you'll be the one laughing because all those kids who pick on you are going to have wrinkles, and you're going to be the only one who still looks like a teenager!"

Mama never told me I'd still have break-outs in my golden years!!!

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There Be Dragons!

Last of the first round of gratitude quilts for my neighbors, who have been helping me with landscaping and also taking care of my garden while Lizard was in the hospital and then acute rehab. I owe these guys more than I can ever repay.

They have some older grandkids, and I want to see if I can finish off some quilts for them by Christmas...

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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