Crocheted Snowflakes

Happy Boxing Day to those who celebrate. To everyone else, happy Thursday!

Everyone tends to be busy during this winter holiday season, but this last stretch until New Years is a welcome break at least in Academia. I celebrated by taking some time for myself on the couch, crocheting a bunch of snowflakes which I have wanted to do for ages. My mom had gotten me a book of snowflake pattern ideas (two years ago?), but I hadn't managed to get far. I am super glad to have some for my tree now.

Pattern Source: 100 Snowflakes to Crochet by Caitlin Sainio

Yarn: Payette by Loops & Threads in color 07005 (icicle)

Yarn Supplier: Michaels

Hook: F or G hook (which ever was handy at the time)

One of the things that I like best about this book is that it is roughly sorted by complexity. So I feel good about handing it to an adventurous new crocheter to play with. Also the patterns are both written out and charted, so that you can use which ever method makes more sense to your brain. I love that sort of thing!

Some of the patterns were more to my taste than others, but with so many to chose choose from that was not a problem. And it is super easy to modify the patterns into new variations if you like.

#1 Barber

#2 Frost

#3 Stellar omitting long points and adding a rnd of sc

#4 Spring Snow

#5 Nevada omit round 3

Pattern: #5 Nevada 

#7 Droxtal

#9 Narbonnais

#13 Snow Mist

# 14 Sikussak

#16 Arctic Mist

About a dozen was just about right for our little tree. I didn't starch these mostly due to the time frame in which I wanted to get them on the tree. So the patterns done were chosen for approximate size and relatively little floppy/saggy-ness.

Thanks blog folk for visiting again this year. I look forward to the next one with you all. I hope that your coming year is full of opportunities for your creative spirit, people worth surrounding yourself with and just enough challenge that you appreciate your blessings.

Chistmas Bulb Wreath Tutorial

On Friday, Chiquita made a fabulous wreath with the expert guidance of Jasra. It was super simple to do, but came out fabulous. So I figured we could share as a last-minute decorating idea.

First step: bend a wire coat-hanger and untwist the top hook so that you can slide Christmas bulbs on it.

Then add Christmas bulbs on until it is pretty densly full. Then retwist the hook. (Ideally use pliers to get it nice and tight.)

Afterwards you can fine-tune with smaller bulbs glued in to hide bare patches and/or a bow on top. A glue-gun will be needed for the late-addition bulbs, but the bow can be slid over the hook.

Last step: hang it up and enjoy!

Cabled Baby Sweater

Remember that charming young man, I was privileged to meet this past Spring? Well I am very excited to get to see him for the holidays, and given that he still had not received much in terms of handknits just for him, one was overdue. Alas it may be too small. Why do babies grow so fast?!

Yarn: Järbo Garn Raggi Multi in color 1548

Yarn Supplier: Mind's Eye Yarns

Needles: US 9 / 5.5 mm

Pattern:  Pembroke Vest by Kirsten Kapur (free pattern)

And now for a gratuitous picture of the buttons on top of the left shoulder. Because seriously, babies have giant heads, and it is just easier to dress them that way.

This ended up taking just over one skein of yarn. (I may have cursed a bit when I realized. Fortunately I was able to acquire more.) Given the yarn is a bit heavier than the recommended, I am hopeful that this still might fit briefly, but if not the fact that it is machine wash and dry makes it easy to pass on to someone else.