New snowflake coming soon!

A good evening to you all, my dear readers!

I'm putting the finishing touches on a new snowflake that I am VERY excited about.

Plus, I'm going to preemptively put out an uber Nerd Alert.

The flake itself is about halfway there (and it's probably one of the most convoluted snowflakes I've ever designed...so much for my mantra of "less is more"!), and should probably be ready to show in a week or so. But, here's a little hint of what you can expect:

Until next time!

Lace Doodle: Odette

At long last, Readers! We finally have a snowflake pattern!

I've been playing around with the idea of incorporating a "feather" kind of design into one of my snowflakes for a while now, ever since I saw the movie "Black Swan". While I did have a great appreciation for the film's dark and horrifyingly accurate exploration into the head of a poor woman suffering from schizophrenia, my inner five-year-old squealed with delight and was FAR more interested in the beautiful costumes.

Oh my word that HEADPIECE! 

 The feathers, the beading, the little "coronets" in the center, are all an homage to the graceful (non-schizophrenic) Swan Queen character.

Worked with:
DMC cebelia, size 20 crochet thread (white)
Steel hook size 8 (.9 mm)
12 small glass beads

String all beads onto your thread.

Round 1: Ch 6, join to form ring

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 11 dc in ring. Join with sl st to third ch of beginning ch 3. 12 dc.

Round 3: Ch 3, dc in next dc. (Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc) around, ch 1, hdc in first dc worked. 6 ch-3 spaces.

Round 4: Ch 4, in same sp work (dc, hdc).*Ch 5, dc in 4th and 5th ch from hook. double-treble crochet (yo three times) in next dc.  Ch 4, sc in fourth ch from hook. ch 1, slide bead up, (or picot), ch 1. sl st in sc. ch three, sl st in sc. dtc in next dc. Ch 5,  dc in fourth and fifth ch from hook.^ In next sp work hdc, dc, tr, ch 3, tr, dc, hdc. Repeat from * four times, then from * to ^ once.  In next sp work hdc, dc, tr, ch 1  and hdc into 4th chain of beginning ch 4. 6 "Coronets" and 6 ch 3 spaces.

Round 5: Chain 1, sc in same sp.
*Ch 12, sl st in next 6 ch from hook.
Ch 10, sl st in next 7 ch from hook.
Ch 11, sl st in next 8 ch from hook;
Ch 12, sl st in next 9 ch from hook,
Ch 13, sl st in next 10 ch from hook,
Ch 14, sl st in next 11 ch from hook.
Ch 14, sl st in next 13 ch from hool
Ch 12, sl st in next 11 ch from hook.
working on the other side of the "feather", sl st in next three chains.
Ch 11, sl st in next 10 ch from hook.
sl st in next 3 ch.
Ch 10, sl st in next 9 ch from hook.
sl st in next 3 ch.
Ch 9, sl st in next 8 ch from hook.
sl st in next three ch.
Ch 8, sl st in next 7 ch from hook.
sl st in next 3 ch.
Ch 7, sl st in next 6 ch from hook.
sl st in next 6 ch,
sc in same sp.
Ch 10, slide bead up, ch 11. sc in next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * around, join with sl st to first sc.

Pin and starch, using a 6-point pattern for reference.

Crocheters, you may use the flakes you make from this pattern in any way you like, but please do not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks!

Lace Doodle Thursday: Naomi's Star

Good afternoon, Readers!

Now that I'm a boneh-fiday married person, I think that it's time to amp up my lace-making skills. I am officially on a "lace schedule", Readers! You can expect a lace doodle every Thursday!

The first four of these "doodles', Readers, are little "Thank-yous" to a few of the people who helped make our wedding wonderful!

The first of these is a snowflake inspired by my parent's wonderful neighbor, Naomi:

Ladies and gentleman, the Fairy God Mother is alive and well and is living in the Pacific Northwest. Her name is Naomi, and she's been a close family friend for about five years now.

If a person were to go to a dictionary and look up the words "Hospitable", "Giving",  and "Welcoming", they would find Naomi's picture. While I was planning my wedding, Naomi has been UNBELIEVABLY helpful!

This Fairy God Mother in disguise planned my bridal shower, down to the tiniest detail. She also helped address our invitations, and she HANDMADE these amazing leaf-shaped brooches that my bridesmaids wore.

This flake/star has a pineapple lace motif in the center, to serve as a symbol of welcome and hospitality, the very same kind that Naomi gives to each and every person she meets!

Naomi, this lace flake is for you! Thank you so much for being so wonderful!


Naomi's star


worked with DMC cebelia, size 20 crochet thread (white)
steel hook size 8 (.9 mm)

Special stitches:
Picot: ch 3, sc in third ch from hook
Beg. 3dc cluster: Ch 3, (YO, insert hook in st indicated, pull up loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, YO, draw through all 3 loops on the hook.
3 dc cluster: (YO, insert hook in st indicated, pull up a loop. YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) three times. YO, draw through all 4 loops on the hook.


Ch 8, sl st in first ch to form ring.

Round 1: Ch 1, sc in ring. (ch 6, sc in ring) 5 times, ch 3, Dc in first sc fo form last ch-6 sp. 6 ch-6 spaces.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same space. Chain 4, *(sc, work picot, sc) in next ch-6 sp, ch 4. Repeat from * 4 times, sc in first ch 6 sp, work picot, sl st to first sc.

Round 3: Ch. 1, (5 sc in next ch-4 sp, ch 7) around, join with sl st to first sc.

Round 4: sl st to third sc from round 3. Ch 5 counts as first dc plus ch 2 , dc in same st, (ch 2, dc in same st) twice. Ch 10, *dc in third sc from round 3, (ch 2, dc in same st) three times. Ch 10. Repeat from * 4 times, join with sl st to third ch of first ch 5.

Round 5: work beg 3dc cluster in next ch-2 space, (ch 1, work 3dc cluster in next ch-2 space) twice. *(ch 2, 2 dc) three times in next ch 10 space, ch 2. (work 3dc cluster in next sp, ch 1) twice, work 3dc cluster in next space, ch 2. Repeat from * 4 times, (ch 2, 2dc) three times in final ch 10 space, ch 2. join with slip st to beg 3 dc cluster.

Round 6: sl st to first ch1 space. Work beg 3dc cluster in same space, ch 1, work 3 dc cluster in next space. *Ch 3, sc in next sp. ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sp, ch 3, (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sp. Ch 2, sc in next space, ch 3, work 3dc cluster in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, work 3dc cluster in next space. Repeat from *4 times, ch 3 sc in next space, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch 2 space, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sp, ch 2, sc in next sp. Ch 3, slip st to first cluster.

Round 7: Sl st to next ch 1 sp, work beg. 3dc cluster. *^Ch 4, skip next ch-3 sp and next ch-2 sp, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in next ch-2 sp. Ch 2, sc in next, sp, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp. Ch 4, ^ work 3dc cluster in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from *4 times, repeat from ^ to ^ once. join with slip st to first cluster.

Round 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in next ch-4 space. *^(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch 2 space. (Ch 2, sc in next space) twice, ch 2. (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch 2 sp. 2 sc in next ch-4 space, work picot, ^2 sc in next ch-4 space.  Repeat from *4 times, then repeat from ^ to ^ once. Join with sl st to first sc.

Round 9: sl st to first ch 2 sp. ch 3, dc in same sp. ch 3, 2 sc in next space. In next space work (sc, picot, sc), 2 sc in next space. ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space, (ch 2, 2 dc) twice in next ch 2 space. Ch 3, 2 sc in next sp, in next space work (sc, picot, sc), 2 sc in next space. Ch 3. Repeat from *4 times, (dc, ch 2) twice in next ch-2 sp, 2 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, sc into first dc.

Round 10: Ch 6, * in next sp work (sc, hdc, dc, tr). (ch 12, sl st in 6th ch from hook) 3 times. Ch 12, sl st in 6th ch from hook, (ch 6, sl st in same st) twice. (Ch 12, sl st in 6th ch from hook) 3 times, ch 6. Work (tr, dc, hdc, sc) in next sp. Ch 3, dc in next ch-2 sp, tr in next sp. Ch 7, (begin little heart), sc in 6th ch from hook. Ch 3, sc in third chain from hook, sl st into first sc (the one you made in the 6th ch), next ch and top of last tr worked. dc in next ch-2 sp. ^ Ch 3, repeat from * 4 times, then repeat from * to ^ once. Join with slip st and bind off.

You can do whatever you like with the snowflakes you make from this pattern, but please to not republish or sell the pattern. Cause that's not cool. 

Until next time!

Sam's Garden flake

Readers, I bring you my first snowflake pattern, inspired by my future sister in law.

My fiance's sister, Sam, is the epitome of the word "giving". She is a full-time Master's student, and when she's not hitting the books, she works as a social worker for a homeless shelter that serves the needy of Boston.

Sam is also an avid gardener. When she's not busy sowing the seeds of peace and charity, she's growing flowers and vegetables of every kind :-)

This is my first flake! Please let me know, Readers, if there are any problems with the pattern as I've only tested it out myself.

The little "Hearts" are shamelessly copied from the very fabulous Snowcatcher (I worship the ground she bikes on). She lists a great tutorial on the hearts here: http://www.snowcatcherphotos.com/blahg/patterns/heart.html

"Sam's Garden".
Materials:
Steel crochet hook, size 8 (.9mm)
DMC size 30 thread
stiffening agent (white glue, cornstarch, white sugar, "stiffen quik" or whatever floats your boat)
Sewing pins that you don't mind ruining
cardboard (a bit of an old shoebox works best for me)
wax paper or parchment paper
Ch 6, form ring.

Rd 1: Ch 3, dc in ring. (ch 3, 2 dc) 5 times, ch3, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 3. 6 ch-3 spaces.

Rd. 2: Ch 1, sc in same sp and in next dc. dc, ch 2, dc in next chain 3 sp. [sc in next 2 dc, (dc, ch2, dc) in next ch 3 sp] around. Join with sl st to first sc. 6 ch-2 spaces.

Rd. 3:  sl st to next ch-2 sp. *In ch-2 space work sc, hdc, (ch 9, sl st 7th ch from hook) twice, ch 6, dc 3rd ch from hook and in next 2 ch, ch 5, dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 dc in top half of next dc, 1 sc into same ch as dc just worked into. (Ch 7, sl st 7th ch from hook. sl st in next 2 ch) twice. hdc, sc. Ch 20, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 10.  Repeat from * 5 times, sl st into first sc. 6 "heart flowers".

Rd. 4: Ch 1, sc in same st. Working around "heart flower," sc in each of next 3 sts. *~sl st in each of the next 10 ch. In ch-10 loop, work (3 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, ch 1, sl st in top of last dc made, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 3sc). Sl st in each of the next 10 ch. ~ Working behind "Heart flower", sc in each of next 4 sts. Repeat from *5 times, Repeat from ~ to ~ one time MORE. Sl st in first sc, bind of and weave in ends.

Cover cardboard with wax (or parchment) paper, tape in place.

Block flake on the cardboard using 12-pt pattern, (google it), pin points and stiffen with whichever method you like :-)

Folks, you can do whatever you like with the flakes you make from this pattern, but please do not republish or sell this pattern. Thanks!