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.

Tweet

#BingeJesus

Tweet

One More Season

I crafted these shorts from quilt leftovers back in 2018, and I love them so much, I patch them and patch them and patch them. Eventually, the fabric will be too think to bother with. But for now, I've patched them one more time for one more summer. They look a little crazy, but boy are they comfortable in this summer heat!

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

Tweet

Please Mr. Postman

Almost every time I've surrendered an email address, I've had to go through hundreds of old emails to make sure I'm not losing something I might like access to down the road. Some of my early email addresses were provided by companies no longer in existence. And some I booted because the company suddenly didn't want to provide free email addresses anymore.

One such company was my internet provider a good many years ago. Out of the blue, they began charging me (and all other customers) $25 per month for the privilege of using email. I can only assume they didn't want to be in the business of providing storage for email anymore.

The most difficult email address to walk away from was my first, and I did it only because I was a single parent raising two special needs adopted kids and couldn't afford the new monthly fee. I'd regained contact with a long-lost grandparent who had lovingly filled my inbox with all kinds of family history, humor, love and personality I can never replicate. I meticulously saved as many of my maternal grandmother's emails as I could before I lost access to the account. I'd saved them on an external hard drive which later bit the dust without warning. I've tried to record in my journal things she shared with me as I remember them, but so much has been lost.

One year ago, almost to the day, I had to give up a 30-year email address. (Above is an actual screenshot from task completion!!!) You'll read more about the life change behind that next week. For now, I'm just sort of basking in the memories as I begin the process all over again with yet another email address I fortunately do not have to give up this time, but in which I've stored email since about 2011. So it is quite full. I recently received notification from the provider that the email storage policy is changing, and I can't afford the extra storage. That delete key is becoming quite active again.

I deleted about 12,000 emails last week; whole folders of needlework ideas, cycling company promos and tour routes and/or instructions, April Fool ads from companies with great senses of humor, "Top 5" lists for which I was a contributor, Ravelry and blog-related emails... I think there were a few others in there, but I'm drawing a blank right now. Suffice it to say, my work hasn't even scratched the surface. It wouldn't surprise me to learn one folder in particular has millions of emails. I began work on it last week, but it's going to take quite a while to sort through what I should keep (for now) and what is no longer necessary.

Sometimes I can get caught in up in the memories. Especially now that our lives have changed so much. Man, did it sting to delete all the old Ride the Rockies emails, back when bicycle touring was such a huge part of our lives. A part of our lives I didn't want to have to "delete". A segment of our lives we both would embrace again with all our energy if we could...

And yet, it's somewhat like spring cleaning, which goes on year-round here. The process literally is liberating and refreshing. It also makes me much more selective about what I save now. Both electronically and in the real world. I've spent way too many years being a packrat. Perhaps even a hoarding packrat. It's good to make room to breathe. Just wish it didn't take so much breathing time to get the job done!

Tweet

Snowflake Monday

I was perusing my lists of Swedish and Finnish words for snow in order to find a good name for today's snowflake when I suddenly realized I really like all the potential names I've been collecting. It seemed wrong to use one during a time when the mercury is way higher than my comfort zone. I began looking at my list of Antarctic slang words and came across the name I ultimately selected. I thought it would be okay to use an Antarctic name because it is, after all, winter there. I wish I was there!!!

Gomble is the accretion of snow on hair. That seemed to relate to what we have going on here now... the temperature is so high, I sweat like crazy, and the dust in our seemingly non-stop wind just clings to that sweat. Ick. I'd rather have snow!!!

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: 3.25 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

Gomble Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 sc in ring, ch 5] 5 times; 1 sc in ring, ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 petal of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 petal] 5 times; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 3: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp] 5 times; ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 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: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 5 tip] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in each of next 7 ch, in next sc work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 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.

Tweet

Friday Fantastic

Tweet