Almost Wordless Wednesday

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I'm in love!!!

I tried playing with artificial intelligence again one morning in an attempt to recreate the neighborhood black bear frolicking in our lavender garden.

Every motivational cliche/proverb I've ever shared applies!

Never give up. Patience is a virtue. The best things in life are worth waiting for. Keep going. Be happy.

I still hope to draw what I see in my head one day, but for now, these work fine!

Don't you wish you could have been peering out my living room window too now??? :)

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Autumn Leaf Monday

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far away, I crocheted a bunch of autumn leaves. I think I was addicted to the hand-dyed threads I'd purchased online back in about 2010 or so (and a small ball of aspen gold I tried to dye myself), but I'd also just finished my annual fall leaf road trip, and I wanted to re-create what I'd drooled over in the high country.

I think I had a project in mind at the time, but I don't remember. I remember staring at leaves I'd shot and trying different stitch combinations to shape my crochet to match my favorite autumn leaves.

I pulled my crocheted leaves out earlier this year, and I've been staring at and studying them for months now, wondering what I should do with them. Now that our leaves are beginning to change hue, it feels like a good time to play with autumn-colored thread again. I didn't make a white one, and I didn't make a teal one, but I did re-create one and write the pattern to share with you today!

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

Finished Size: 2.5 inches long
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, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Sweet Gum Leaf Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, ch 3, [2 dc in ring, ch 3] 6 times for a total of 7 ch 3 sp. Sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Sl st into next ch 3 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, 1 sc between next 2 dc, [in next ch 3 sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc), 1 sc between next 2 dc] 4 times, 3 sc in each of next 2 ch 3 sp, 1 sc between next 2 dc, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: In next ch 3 sp work (2 sc, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc, 2 sc), sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next sc, sk next 2 dc, in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc), sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next sc, sk next 2 dc, in next ch 3 sp work (5 dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2n ch from hook, 5 dc), sk next 2 sc, 1 scc in next sc, sk next 2 dc, in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc), sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next sc, sk next 2 dc, in next ch 3 sp work (2 sc, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc, 2 sc), sk next dc, 1 sc in next sc.
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: 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 10, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, 1 sc dec across next 3 ch, sl st in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: This project does not necessarily need to be stiffened, but here are instructions, in case you choose to preserve its shape. Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin leaf 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. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow leaf to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel leaf from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to stem, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch leaf twirl freely whenever you walk by! Leaf also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Friday Funny

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Dip Dyeing Away

The avocado pit dye jars are empty, possibly for the season, and the yarn and thread are ready to be crocheted into projects!

I'd started a new batch of dye back in spring because I needed freezer space that was being hogged up by avocado pits from the last year or so. I stuck a new hank of wool yarn into the dye in May but then had to transfer it to a new container in July after the neighborhood bear played soccer with the plastic pretzel jar I'd been using for avocado dye projects for years. I used two first dips, meaning I used fresh dye twice, on this hank of yarn, hoping to get a really rich color. Now that a ton of tint has been absorbed, oh, how I hope this hank holds its color!!!

I'd stuck a hank of crochet thread in with the yarn in the recycled glass canned peaches jar with fresh avocado dye that had soaked in the sun (in the living room window during winter and on the porch as soon as overnight frost danger passed) for about seven months, hoping to get a darker hue on both the yarn and the thread. The thread, which initially was dipped in a jar of avocado pit dye that had already been used at least twice, really needed more pigment. Now it looks awesome!!!

All my dyed fibers get a Synthopol bath followed by a strawberry Suave shampoo bath followed by a strawberry Suave conditioner rinse. The Synthropol supposedly helps the dye cling to the fiber, and the strawberry (or cherry blossom or peach or whatever fragrant Suave products happen to be on the grocery store shelves) makes the washing process fun because it smells so good.

Now all the ammonia and crushed avocado pits are nurturing soil and flowers in the garden. The thread is dried and wound into a ball. The yarn is on the drying rack and will be wound into a ball as soon as it dries. I think I discovered the cure to drought... Set the drying rack outside to help speed the process, and the rain comes a tumblin' down!!! Ha ha ha!

When I finished washing the yarn and got ready to hang it on the drying rack, I found another hank of avocado-dyed yarn from last year hanging there that somehow had been forgotten.

Now it's in a ball and waiting with 11 other wound balls to be crocheted into a poncho I've had brewing in my head since my second trip to The Wave on Valentine's Day 2014. Yes, I've been avocado pit-dyeing wool yarn one hank at a time for eight and a half years to create my dream project!!!

The thread project has been in progress for three years. It's really slow-going. I used to work on it during my weekday train commutes and then while I had to wait in the car during Lizard' physical therapy during the pandemic. I haven't totally figured out a routine new block of crochet time. Yet I think this project is going to be SO beautiful. The pattern will be on my blog for an upcoming Snowflake Monday when I finish what I think will be a shawl...

Now I finally have enough yarn to begin designing the poncho!!! (Which I hope will work up faster because yarn is bigger than thread...)

Linking up with Alycia Quilts.

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Wordless Wednesday

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