Friday Fortius

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Hooking Paradise

I haven't had as much sewing machine time as I would like, but my hook(s) has been busy. I just love portable projects I can take along to work on while waiting for appointments, etc.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Gag Me

I had a blog post ready to go for today (and it actually would have met one of the AI suggestions below), but when I went to hit the publish button, I noticed the date. I can't publish something serious on April 1!!! That's sacrilege!

However, that means I need to come up with something humorous. Do I even have anything to giggle about???

Here are AI suggestions, modified a bit by me. See if you can find my edits. That would be a great puzzle for the day!

You're asking for alternatives to celebrating or acknowledging April Fool's Day. Here are some ideas:

Focus on the upcoming spring season. Since spring has begun, you could focus on activities related to changing weather and nature, such as planting a spring garden, going for a hike, or celebrating spring.

Plan a fun activity. Instead of focusing on April Fool's Day pranks, you could plan a fun activity with friends or family, such as a game night, a movie marathon, or a picnic.

Do something nice for others. Instead of playing tricks, you could do something nice for others, such as volunteering, helping a friend, or simply saying kind words.

Get creative. You could try a new hobby, learn a new skill, or write a poem or song.

Start a new project. Now is a great time to start a new project, whether it's a personal goal or a creative endeavor, or just finish a WIP.

There's my humor angle!!! All my WIPS are finished!!! I can start something new!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Now THAT'S funny!!!

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Snowflake Monday

Back in September of 2013, I crafted a series of smiling snowflakes. One pattern was published. The remainder of the prototypes hid in a bookshelf until spring cleaning this year and have re-ignited my addiction to smiling snowflakes. I originally had planned to make a whole rainbow of smiling flakes, but apparently became sidetracked by something that must have been more interesting and/or addictive at that time. I vaguely remember trying different smiling snowflake centers in an attempt to create just the perfect happy face.

The perfect face might further evolve as I attempt to reverse engineer these treasures. The prototype for today's pattern was my favorite smiling face of the group, but boy, was it ever a bear to reverse engineer. Sadly, I think it will be a bear for you to follow my written instructions, too... For whatever it's worth, this is my first attempt to create a video tutorial to assist you in what was difficult for me to write and what I expect may be very difficult for you to comprehend. I hope the video helps. If not, please just do a plain disk snowflake center and embroider or draw your smiling face after the snowflake is done. :)

Takatalvi is Finnish for "back winter". According to my Jyväskylä missionary, Takatalvi means "this super fun phenomenon in which you think it's finally getting warm, the birds start singing, the sun starts shining, and then the sky dumps another foot of snow on you just as you switch your coat for a rain jacket". In other words, Fools' Spring...

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

Takatalvi Snowflake Instructions

Special Stitches: fdc (foundation double crochet)

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 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in same ch as sl st, ch 2, sk next dc, 2 tr in next dc, ch 2, sk next dc, 3 tr in next dc, 1 fdc in bottom of tr just worked, 1 dc in same fdc ch, [1 fdc, 1 dc in same fdc ch] 11 times, working last dc of final repeat by drawing up loop through 2nd and 3rd chains of starting ch 4 for first 2 tr yo (creating a linked tr/dc); sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.

Round 3: 1 sc in each st around, increasing 6 times evenly spaced, for a total of 42 sc; sl st in starting 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: Sl st in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, [ch 5, sk next 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 10, sk next 3 sc, 1 sc in next sc] 5 times; ch 5, sk next 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 5, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 10 loop of Round.

Round 5: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 loop, ch 5, in next ch 10 loop work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 dc)] 5 times; ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 10 loop, ch 3, 1 tr in same loop, ch 2, 1 tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 6 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.

Round 6: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and ch 5), 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, [1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, in next ch 5 point work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc, * ch 5, 1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6; 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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Friday Funny

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A Pending New Me

I cut this dress out more than two months ago. Because one of the students in my Sunday school class asked why I always wear the same dress. Because I do. Because very few of my dresses fit anymore. Because Lizard and I haven't been outdoors as much as we dream and want to be. And because chocolate is a comfort food...

I'm so sad I couldn't sit down for the hour and a half it would have taken to make this dress in one sitting. Mostly because I don't want to wake Lizard when he finally falls asleep, which usually happens during the day. And because sometimes I'm out like a light within seconds after he finally begins snoozing.

I'm typing this Wednesday night while waiting for the 10 p.m. alarm signaling Lizard's final meds of the evening. He's been sleeping much of the afternoon because we had a dental checkup first thing Wednesday morning. I got some work done in the yard Wednesday afternoon while he slept, but we've both been exhausted all day. I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to bed instead of spending the next hour at the sewing machine to attach the skirt. There's probably half an hour's work left on the dress. I could have been wearing this dress on Thursday!!!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Got Bot?

No other explanation. It's gotta be bots. I'm not sure why bots would be interested in my blog, but perhaps one day we'll learn the bots are learning how to crochet. Ha ha!

Overnight, just about, I hit my next million. But it's almost not worth noting anymore because I don't think it's real.

This time, I got nearly 46,000 hits on a Saturday. I don't even publish on Saturdays!

I know!!! It's because I published such brilliant posts the entire week of Valentine's Day!!!

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Snowflake Monday

This flake was designed on public transportation 13 years ago, and the pattern was hastily written on my phone, where the pattern has remained until now. 'Bout time it sees the light of day! I called it Spring Lace then, and that name seems perfect 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: 7.25 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

Spring Lace Snowflake Instructions

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Popcorn Stitch (pc)

Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 pc in ring, ch 10, sl st in 7th ch from hook, ch 10] 5 times; 1 pc in ring, ch 2, 1 dc in top of starting pc, ch 3, 1 tr in top of dc to form 6th ch 6 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, [ch 12, sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 4, in next ch 6 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 point 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 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), [in next ch 7 point work (1 trtr, ch 3, 1 trtr, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 trtr, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 trtr, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 trtr, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 trtr, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 trtr, ch 3, 1 trtr, 1 tr in next ch 3 point] 6 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3; 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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Friday Fortius

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Glowing Hope and Peace

I got the eyes sewed onto my white, glow-in-the-dark fox two hours before church on Sunday. I'm not so sure it looks more like a fox than a bear with a funky tail, but the recipient seemed very pleased. I can always make her a unicorn next year... She's the only one in my class not turning eight this year; she turned seven today, so she'll be in my class again next year!

There are things I'd do differently if I had time to make this fox again. I'd make the ears wider, the face and snout more fox-shaped, and I might even make the limbs jointed. But there wasn't time to do a second prototype in time for gifting last Sunday.

I finally ran out of the first skein of glow-in-the-dark yarn while crafting the fox tail. So, one 114-yard skein is enough for a tiny snowflake and nearly three little amigurumi; two if one of the amigurumi is bigger and more complex than a snake. I have three more skeins (all of which I paid for myself) and four more kidlets to craft for later this year, so I felt confident to use up a bit of the yarn for a selfish and personal amigurumi - a replica origami crane such as the Zero Gravity Indicator on the Crew 10 flight to the International Space Station last weekend. I love cranes, and I didn't get to see the sandhills in Monte Vista again this year. But now I have my own. Thank you, Dennis, for the free pattern!

"This is a hand-crocheted origami crane. His name is 'Droog,' which is the Russian name for friend," said Crew 10 commander Anne McClain. "Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper. This is a nod to the unique and deep cultural traditions from which each of us come. While all from different parts of the world, we are brought together in this bold endeavor, and we represent all of humanity."

One of the Crew 10 astronauts, Nichole Ayers, is from Colorado, which makes this particular mission more poignant for me. I also absolutely love the reason the crew chose an origami crane as their ZGI. Three of the seven astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station are from Russia, three are from the US, and one is from Japan. In Japan, the paper crane is a symbol of peace, love, hope and healing. Man, does our country and our world ever need all of that every single day!

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