Friday Fortius

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Let's Glow!

I stumbled upon some glow-in-the-dark yarn on Amazon and decided it would be perfect for amigurmi for the kids in my Sunday school class. All but one will be getting baptized this year, which means they each will be wearing white for their special day. I thought white critters would be the perfect birthday gifts.

I didn't know when I bought the yarn if it would really glow, and I didn't know if the yarn would be easy to work with. Now I can't wait to buy more and make more critters!

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Wordless Wednesday

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better than tv

You shall not pass!
You forgot your keys!
Turn around. Go back.
Humans taste very good.
Don’t drink the water.
Temba, his arms wide.
God be with you.
You shouldn’t have come.
I got here first.
The Sound of Silence
Finally! Peace and Quiet!
Tag. You are it!
Took you long enough.
Why’s the rum gone?
I liked Earth better.
I am your father.
Wrong turn at Albuquerque.
You can’t park here.
Live long and prosper.
Mark Watney, space pirate.
Who you gonna call?
Smash that like button!
Quiet or they'll hear.
Don't let them in.
No Mars Bars here.
Stay away from earth.
There are four lights!
toilet out of order
There is no WiFi.
Houston, there's a problem...
Should've brought more books.
Should've asked for directions.
Get off my lawn!
Never trust a GPS.
Drums in the deep.

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Snowflake Monday

Today was going to be another No Flake Monday because I didn't have time to work up a new pattern last week. Amidst a plethora of (routine) medical appointments for Lizard last week, I ordered some white glow-in-the-dark yarn from Amazon to crochet a bat for the 7-year-old in my Sunday school class who is turning 8 tomorrow. (I've crocheted bat appliques for her birthdays the last three years because bats are her most beloved animal.) That means she's getting baptized this weekend. Hence the color white. And the glow symbolizes the light of Christ.

The yarn arrived Friday night, and I actually finished the bat before bedtime that night. We had snow on Saturday, and I once again spent way too much time shooting snowflakes I'll likely be editing for the next two or three weeks. :) No complaints. After church on Sunday, I worked up this quick and easy flake because this yarn is so awesome! It isn't too splitty (some of the glow yarn I've tried is darn near unworkable), it really glows, and the snowflake I made doesn't need to be stiffened!!! Oh, and there's enough yarn left in the skein to crochet a snake for my next 8-year-old-to-be in February. (Each of the other kids excitedly told me their favorite animals after they saw the bat, so I will have to order more yarn for March's unicorn, October's rooster and cat, November's polar bear and December's unicorn.) Click the yarn photo if you'd like to check out the yarn. I don't receive any compensation for sharing the link. I've fallen helplessly in love with the yarn, and the kids absolutely love the bat!

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! (Yes, I'll share photos of the bat on Thursday, so make sure to come back!)

Finished Size: 2.25 inches from point to point
Materials: Size E (or desired size) crochet hook, fingering or light sport-weight yarn OR glow yarn OR size 3 crochet thread

Nimble Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; sl st tightly in starting sc. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 1), 1 sc in next sc] 5 times; ch 1, sl st tightlyin 1st ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [2 sc in next ch 1 sp, 1 sc in next sc] 5 times; 2 sc in next ch 1 sp, sl st tightly in starting ch 1.
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 1 (counts as 1 sc), [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 5 times; 2 sc in next sc; sl st tightly in starting ch 1.

Round 5: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [1 sc in next sc, 1 fpdc around post of Round 2 sc directly below, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st tightly in starting ch 1.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 sc and ch 1), sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 4 st), in next st work (1 sc, ch 1, sl st in sc just made, 1 sc)] 6 times; sl st tightly into 1st ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: This one doesn't have to be stiffened!!!

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Friday Fortius

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Too Cute to Not Try

I tried my hand at craft fairing again last December, and although it was not a great experience, I did dip my crochet hook back into the amigurumi pot for the first time in what feels like forever.

I kept seeing these cute little hedgehogs that were just irresistable. I came up with a pattern, and I made a handful. I sold one. Many people said they were adorable. But they did not sell.

That's only part of the story, though. My first hedgehog was a big fail. It stares hopelessly at me every time I get on my computer because I placed it at the base of my monitor. I don't know what else to do with it. It's pretty useless. But I can't bring myself to cut it up to reclaim the glow beads. :)

My thread chickens, however, DID turn out adorable. I didn't sell a single one. But man, are they ever cute!!!

Every time I've ever made amigurumi, I've always had to try a thread version. The hedgehog was the first one that just didn't work.

Maybe I'll try again one day. This time with smaller beads...

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Wordless Wednesday

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