Snowdrop Flower

I'm currently involved in a year-long swap, exchanging gifts with a new friend. She recently mentioned that snowdrops start appearing near her around the start of February (when her next package from me should arrive). I searched high and low for a snowdrop flower inspired crochet pattern, but nothing I found was satisfactory in the least. So what was I to do besides write a pattern? :)

**This is not a beginner pattern. Please read all of the instructions before starting. I have include lots of pictures after the instructions, so hopefully that'll be helpful.**

Stitches:
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
fsc - foundation single crochet
fhdc - foundation half-double crochet
fdc - foundation double crochet
slst - slip-stich

first foundation single crochet:
1. Insert hook into 2nd chain or loop from hook, yarn over and pull through.
2. Yarn over and pull through one loop (forming the foundation chain).
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops.

foundation single crochet (fsc):
1. Insert hook into foundation chain of previous stitch, yarn over and pull through.
2. Yarn over and pull through one loop (forming the foundation chain).
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops.

foundation half-double crochet (fhdc):
1. Yarn over. Insert hook into foundation chain of previous stitch, yarn over and pull through.
2. Yarn over and pull through one loop (forming the foundation chain).
3. Yarn over and pull through three loops.

foundation double crochet (fdc):
1. Yarn over. Insert hook into foundation chain of previous stitch, yarn over and pull through.
2. Yarn over and pull through one loop (forming the foundation chain).
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops.
4. Yarn over and pull through two loops.

Materials:
worsted weight yarn
    green - approx 3 yards
    white - approx 6 yards
4.5 mm hook
yarn needle


Directions:

Green
Stem:
1. Staring with green, ch 2. Insert hook into second chain from hook.
2. yarn over, pull through ch
3. yarn over, pull through one loop (foundation chain portion of stitch made)
4. yarn over, pull through two loops (fsc made)
5. insert hook into foundation chain portion of previous fsc
6. yarn over, pull through ch
7. yarn over, pull through one loop
8. yarn over, pull through two loops
9. repeat steps 5-8 six more times (total of 8 fsc)
10. ch 2, 6 sc into 2nd ch from hook
11. slst to first sc make a circle, finish off

White
Inner Petals:
1. attach white with slst to any front loop of green sc
2. sc into front loop of next green sc, ch 2, sc flo of next green sc (first petal made)
3. repeat step 2 twice more (three petals made)
4. slst to next green front loop

Outer Petals:
5. slst into closest back loop of green sc
6. ch 1, insert hook into same green back loop of sc as previous slst to start fsc, complete fsc
7. insert hook into foundation chain of fsc, make fhdc
8. continue inserting hook into previous foundation chain to make fdc, fhdc, fsc (half petal made)
9. ch 1, using foundation chains of first half of petal: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc (petal made)
10. slst to next green back loop to attach petal; slst into next green back loop
11. repeat 6-10 twice more (three petals made)
12. weave in ends
You're done! 




And now for lots of pictures: 

ch 2

insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, yarn over, pull through

yarn over, pull through: foundation chain made

yarn over, pull through both loops: first fsc

insert hook into foundation chain of first fsc

yarn over, pull through

yarn over, pull through one loop; yarn over, pull through both loops: second fsc made

eight completed fsc

ch 2

6 sc into ch

slipstitched into a circle

attach white with slst to a front loop; ch 1; insert hook into next front loop to start sc

sc

sc, ch 2, sc - first inner petal

three inner petals

slst to nearest back loop

ch 1, insert hook into next back loop to start fsc; yarn over and pull through green

 yarn over pull through one white loop

yarn over pull through both white loops: fsc made

insert into foundation chain portion of fsc, start fhdc

half petal

ch 1, insert into foundation chain of last fsc of petal to start sc

first petal complete

slst into next back loop to finish first petal; slst into next back loop to start next petal

two petals

three petals

ends all sewn in

Polar Bear Applique

Polar Bear!

I actually worked up this pattern nearly a year ago for a friend who wanted a polar bear to add to her husband's hat. Some slight disorganization and other life stuff had me forget about it until just a short bit ago. I found the pattern and the pictures and decided it was time to share this fun pattern with you! Finished size is about 4in long and 3in tall. As always, feel free to ask questions and leave comments.
P.S. Sorry some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy, but hopefully they'll still help you visualize what's intended.

Polar Bear Applique
 
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn
Hook: 8/H - 5.0mm

Abbreviations:
blo = back loop only
ch = chain
hdc = half double crochet.
sc = single crochet
ss = slipstitch

I. Starting the body.
Foundation: ch 9, turn
Round 1: sc blo into 2nd ch from hook. 7 sc blo, ch 1. Turn work 180° clockwise, so unused loops of foundation chain are up. Sc blo into unused loops of foundation chain (8 sc). Ch 1, turn 180° clockwise, ss into first sc.
Round 2: ch 1, 18 sc (going all the way around the oval). ss and cut yarn.
(I find it helpful to go ahead and weave in the ending tail at this point.)

Round 1

Round 2

II. Starting the head.
Round 1: Make a magic loop (I like this tutorial for the magical loop). ch 1, 7 sc into the loop, ch 1, ss blo into first sc of this round.
Round 2: ch 3, ss blo (makes ear). 3 ss blo, ch 3, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc into ch, ss blo to head (makes snout). 3 ss blo.

head next to body

III. Attaching to & around body.

1. ss blo to body (on shorter side of oval). ss blo 3.
2. ch 5, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc 3 into chains, ss blo to body (makes front leg).
3. 3 ss blo, ch 5, sc into 2nd ch from hook. 2 sc, 1 hdc, skip 1 stitch on body, ss blo to body (makes back leg).
4. 10 ss blo, ss blo to head. finish yarn. Weave in remaining ends. 

Head attached

Almost there

Rainbow Bowls: Curious Pug Crochet-Along (CAL)

A blog I've recently stumbled across has started monthly crochet-a-longs. The Curious Pug's October CAL features Rainbow Nesting Bowls by Seriously Daisies. There will be a collection of links to everyone's blog posts and/or photos for the bowls at the end of the month. I finished my set yesterday and took a picture.

I also discovered that using the bowls in an alternate fashion can be smile-inducing.

Apple Pencil Jar

I have a couple teacher friends, so I decided it would be cute to have a stuffed apple pencil jar. This pattern is for a jar about 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall, but increases and decreases could be added in order to accommodate other jar sizes. Feel free to ask for help in regards to sizing and I'll do my best via the internet.

Leaf 2 is the front of this picture.

Yarn: worsted weight (Loops & Threads Impeccable Solids: Burgundy)
Hook: 4.25mm/G
A stitch marker will be useful as this pattern is written to be stitched in a spiral.

hdc = half-double crochet
hdc2tog = half-double crochet two together, half-double crochet decrease

Start with a magic loop. (Tips on making circles here.)

1. 6 hdc into loop.
2. 2 hdc into each hdc below (12 hdc).
3. *2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next hdc* repeat 5 more times around (18 hdc).
4. *2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 2 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (24 hdc).
5. *2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (30 hdc).
6. *2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 4 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (36 hdc).
7. *2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 5 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (42 hdc).
8. 1 hdc in each hdc aroud (42 hdc).
9. *2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 6 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (48 hdc).
10. *hdc2tog in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 6 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (42 hdc).
11. *hdc2tog in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 5 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (36 hdc).
12. *hdc2tog in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 4 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (30 hdc). Go ahead and put in some stuffing.
13. *hdc2tog in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (24 hdc). Add more stuffing if you think it needs it.
14. *hdc2tog in 1st hdc, 1 hdc in next 2 hdc* repeat 5 more times around (18 hdc)
15. 1 hdc in each hdc aroud (18 hdc). Finish and weave in end.

The top of the stitches should fit right up against the jar's threading. If it's still too loose, you can (hdc2tog, hdc) around until it's tight enough. If your stitching gets tight enough to stay up on the threading before you get down to 18 stitches, then you can stop there. If it's a good tightness but you'd like it to cover a bit more of the top of the jar, add another round of stitches.



Optional, but fun, here are the leaves I made. The second comes out a bit pointier at the one end.

Leaf 1:
Ch 6.
In one side of chain: sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. ch 1.
Continuing up other side of chain: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc.
Finish and leave a tail for attaching to the apple.

Leaf 2:
Ch 7.
In one side of chain: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. ch 1.
Continuing up other side of chain: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
Finish and leave a tail for attaching to the apple.

Leaf 2 is in the front of this picture.

Spring Is Here!

For some of us in the United States, there still may be snow on the ground or in the forcast. For those in the Southern hemisphere, things are moving towards fall. I'm in central North Carolina, and it's been quite a warm winter. It's also been spring-like temperatures and weather for a couple weeks already. While I'm not trying to rush away the winter, I love Spring!! I love seeing new plants coming out of the ground and flowers blooming all over the place. One of my favorite flowers is the Bradford Pear Tree (but they're often considered an acquired smell).

The equinox was yesterday. My partner and I celebrated with a small fire outside and a dinner of spinach quiche (eggs and grass for springtime).

In order to celebrate spring, I wanted to share a few pattern ideas with you.

I love this Butterfly Garden Square by Chris Simon

A quick, fun, Tiny Butterfly by Emi Herrington

Some super cute daisies by Annemaries Breiblog

And this lovely Melinda Miller design, Thankful Stitches

This one I made just last week :)

Do you have any favorite springtime pattterns?

Reading Charts

Have you ever gotten a pattern that came with a chart? Maybe the pattern was only a chart. The first time I saw one of these, I thought, "And how am I supposed to crochet from this?" Since then, I've learned some of the symbols and gotten a chance to practice reading charts that had written versions as well. If you've never used a chart before, I highly recommend that approach. To get you started, I present to you this lovely graphic of symbols thanks to the Craft Yarn Council. There's actually all kinds of useful information on their website, for both knit and crochet.

There's a downloadable pdf available on their website.

And for fun, I wanted to share with you this video put together by The Crochet Crowd.

 

Crochet Crowd Symbols Quiz

Reading a chart can sometimes be frustrating. Sometimes they aren't done very well, or you really need a note of clarification on which direction to go when. If there's a curve to the work, it can take some practice to know where to put your stitch. Working in rows is much easier to understand; the stitches tend to line up. Like always, be sure to read any special stitches, tips, or extra directions given with the pattern.

In this chart, the clusters of dc go into the chain space (except for the center dc and the first and last stitches of a row). via Lion Brand's Reading Charts page

via Smart Knitting-Crocheting (Pattern 4) The dc clusters go in the chain space. The sc goes in the stitch directly below it.

Maybe one of these days I'll make a pattern that'll be well suited to charting. There's computer programs to help make them, but until I'm making them regularly, I think I'll wait on that.
Happy chart reading!

Crochet as Spiritual Practice: Being a Beginner

In case you missed it, here's a summary of the five previous posts about Crochet as Spiritual Practice:

A spiritual practice is an activity that you do regularly which either pulls you into your inner space or connects you with the greater universe. Try spending 10-15 minutes each day crocheting and only focusing on the yarn and pattern in front of you, pushing other thoughts aside.

Incorporate some special breathing to help relax yourself at the start.

1. Breathe in deeply and let it out slowly

2. Count your breaths up to 10 and then start over.

3. Alternate nostril breathing. (see how here)

4. Three short breaths in, one slow breath out.

Three is a common part of many religions, faiths, and spiritualities, as well as quite pervasive in our culture. In crochet: shells of three, repeats of three stitches or rows, three loops or pull throughs for a stitch. Think about how you can incorporate 3 into your crochet practice and how it already is a part of your crocheting habits. More examples on the original post.

Remember to keep your hands and wrists happy while you work! They carry our intentions from our minds & hearts into the work.

Some suggestions: warming them up before you work; stretching before, during, and after; taking regular breaks; stopping if they hurt; giving yourself a massage before and after an especially large or difficult working.

Silence is beautiful. It can be difficult to find true silence, but it's necessary for clearing the mind. The mind gets cluttered with thoughts, so we need to find quiet time for emptying it out. Having a task during meditation allows the quieting of the mind without feeling like you're doing nothing.


Be a Beginner
Some of you readers may be beginners, and some of you may have been crocheting so long you don't even know when you started. For those experienced in a craft (or any repetitive task), it can sometimes be done mindlessly, without looking, or really paying attention. When using crochet as spiritual practice, it needs to be done mindfully. To help you focus on the work at hand and to help quiet your mind, practice being a beginner.

Remember when you first started to crochet? Every stitch was a labor. It had to be slowly pulled out of your hands. The yarn painstakingly took shape. To encourage your meditation, imagine you're a beginner. You'll slow down and and focus more on what you're doing. It can be frustrating, so you can alternate between rows of beginner concentration and rows of your normal pace. Good luck!