Jarred

I haven't wanted to do any dyeing for a while now because I haven't used up the yarn and thread I've already dyed. But summer is solar-dyeing season, and I needed space in my freezer that had been devoted to future avocado pits dye projects.

So, I ordered another half dozen hanks of bare Felici. Just love the softness of this yarn!!! And it takes up the dye so beautifully!

While I waited for the yarn to arrive, I put the frozen avocado pits in my thrift store blender on the porch and made four more jars of dye, which sat in the sun for a few weeks, solar brewing.

When the new yarn arrived, I prepared the first hank for dyeing and stuck it in fresh dye.

I also had a hank of crochet thread I'd already solar-dyed with avocado pits, but it had been a third or fourth dip. I try to soak up every single drop of tint I can get befoe I discard the ammonia-soaked avocado pit mush into the flower garden. (Helps keep critters away from the flowers, and turns hydrangeas, delphiniums and larkspur bluer.) This particular hank of crochet thread didn't take up much color; there probably wasn't much pigment left! I decided to overdye the pale sandstone thread and stuck it in the jar with the yarn because I already have enough pale avocado crochet thread. I'd really like to have more deep, dark rich browns and reds for the motif project I've been working on for more than three years.

My best avocado pit dyeing results have been when I let the dye (in airtight glass jars) sit in the sun for six or seven months. Dye with barely a couple of months of sun hadn't produced much hue on the fiber when I was forced to take it out of the plastic pretzel jar... One of Smokey the Bear's relatives made a surprise late-night visit and rolled the jar all over the backyard trying to get it open, presumably because the bruin couldn't tell from the smell this wasn't healthy eatin'.

Sorry I have no photos other than the puncture wounds in the jar's lid! I wonder if the bear knows how lucky he was that he couldn't get into the ammonia-laced dye?

Back into a glass jar with more fresh avocado pit dye the yarn went. I'll let it sit for a while again before I check the color, which I hope will be darker.

The thread is almost exactly what I was hoping for, though, so I'm going to go ahead and wind it into a ball so it can commiserate with the rest of the avocado-dyed crochet thread stash before they get transformed into motif magic!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts.

Snowflake Monday

It's difficult right now to find time to crochet because I'm still fighting to get my blog back on my domain. More than two weeks now!!! Wednesday will be Day 20.

When my web host upgraded/updated whatever it changed back on July 7, something on the server end didn't convert my Blogger blog properly. My blog instantly disappeared. I've been communicating with web host techs ever since, and they've been making DNS changes for me (because I don't know how to do that) and promising me my blog will be back online "in 48 hours" after it propogates. Each conversation I've initiated (because my blog still was not visible after 48 (or more) hours, the techs have asked why I changed DNS settings. I haven't changed a thing. Again, I don't know how!

Somehow, changes keep reverting back to whatever they were that caused this. I wondered if my blog had been hacked. I eventually lost access to my email, too, and then my main website went down. Then, one of the techs scared the daylights out of me when he said I have no content at all on my blog. (He did not have access to my Blogger account, and he didn't know I am not using WordPress.)

I suggested to the fifth tech I spoke with (who wanted me to run a 48+-hour backup from waybackmachine.org, which archives only my most popular posts) that we totally disconnect my blog from my paid domain, then start over in 24 hours, linking my blog to my domain like it's a first-time transfer. I noted that I would need help because I knew only how to unlink Blogger from snowcatcher.net, which is my paid domain. No problem, he said. Disconnect away. I did. And I was tempted (by all the heartache this whole mess has caused) to leave Snowcatcher disconnected from my domaine, forfeiting the money I've paid to keep the domain and keep it secure until next April.

My blog was accessible again! Via a different link, but at least it was up and running again! Then Sisters of the Snowflake began informing me my most popular posts are being blocked by various security software... which is why I bought a secure domain in the first place. Well, plus, I wanted my own website with my own name.

Here are the links, working and not, I hope might help. PLEASE SAVE THEM!!! My private domain is www.snowcatcher.net. My main website (where my snowflake directory resides) is www.snowcatcherphotos.com. In case my blog disappears again, most of my most popular posts (mostly snowflake patterns) are available at waybackmachine.org. When I disconnect from my domain (which I plan to do only if these problems persist), my blog should be visible again within 48 hours at www.snowcatcher.blogspot.com. While my blog is not visible, I am mirroring my posts to www.snowcaught.blogspot.com. I don't plan to keep posting at both places because I just don't have time. But I won't shut down the mirror site, and when I have time, I will try to copy snowflake patterns to that location.

However, Snowcaught will not be connected to a private domain, so that link could potentially trigger security filters. It does exactly that every single time I post a snowcaught.net snowflake pattern link to our Sisters of the Snowflake group on Facebook. (Oh, and I am no real fan of Facebook, but FB *sometimes* is a convenient place for widely scattered people with like interests to gather and discuss topics such as website outages and bot censorship. I'm in several quilt groups on there, and scrolling through quilt masterpieces can calm even the most frustrating moments!)

If and when I get hooked back up to www.snowcatcher.net, blogspot links SHOULD still work. They should redirect without much of a hiccup. The blogspot link should be good no matter what in the future. But, there's a reason I'm not an IT tech. And, we all know my crystal ball has not been functional for quite some time now.

Day 20 of no domain access gives me a tiny little bit of inspiration in naming today's snowflake. It was inspired by the hexagon quilt block in my block-a-day hexi calendar by Katja Marek. I didn't actually start the snowflake until July 21. I kept both my perpetual quilt block calendars on July 20 until I could make both of them. One as a snowflake, and the other as a block in my nephew's quilt. I guess I'm kind of stuck in time, not only trying to get my blog back on the web, but also trying to create July 20-inspired projects!

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: 3 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

Vicenary Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in ring, [ch 6, 3 tr in ring] 2 times; ch 3, 1 tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 3 to form 3rd ch 6 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr and ch 1), over post of tr directly below work [1 tr, ch 1] 2 times, [ch 1, 1 sc in middle tr of next 3/tr group, ch 1, in next ch 6 tip work [[1 tr, ch 1]] 3 times, ch 2, in same ch 6 tip work [[1 tr, ch 1]] 3 times] 2 times; ch 1, 1 sc in middle tr of next 3/tr group, ch 1, in next ch 6 tip work [[1 tr, ch 1]] 3 times; 1 dc in 4th ch of starting ch 5 to form 3rd ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 3: 3 sc over post of dc directly below, [3 hdc in next ch 1 sp, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, 3 tr in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, 3 tr in next ch 1 sp, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, 3 hdc in next ch 1 sp, 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 sc in same ch 3 sp] 3 times, omitting last 3 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends. If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Finish: 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.

Snowflake Monday

Do you know the difference between Hubble photos and Webb photos? Hubble photos have four points. Webb photos have six snowflake points! I really had fun trying to match my hand-dyed threads to the colors on my computer screen for today's snowflake!

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: 3 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook in three colors (I used white, hot pink and aqua), 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

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.

Webb Snowflake Instructions

With white or starting color, make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 pc in ring, ch 3], 6 times, sl st in starting pc to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in top of same pc, ch 4, [3 dc in top of next pc, ch 4] 5 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off if using more than one color. Do not bind off for all-white flake.

Round 3: If making an all-white flake, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), dc cluster over next 2 dc, ch 8, sl st in top of cluster, [ch 8, 1 dc cluster over next 3/dc group, ch 8, sl st in top of cluster] 5 times, ch 1, 1 dtr in top of starting cluster. For multi-color flake, with pink or second color if making multi-color flake, [1 dc cluster across any 3/dc group (or next 3/dc group in repeats), ch 8, sl st in top of cluster, ch 8] 6 times; sl st in top of starting cluster; bind off.
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: If making all-white flake, 1 pc around Round 1 ch 3 and Round 2 ch 4, [ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), sl st in top of next cluster from behind, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 pc around next Round 1 ch 3, Round 2 ch 4 and Round 3 ch 8] 6 times, omitting last pc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting pc; bind off. Weave in ends. For multi-color flake, with aqua or third color, [1 pc around any (or next in repeats) Round 1 ch 3, Round 2 ch 4 and Round 3 ch 8, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), sl st in back of next cluster, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook] 6 times; sl st in starting pc; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: After making my white flake, I made another one with a ch 16 point instead of ch 8. I like the variation better than the original!

Finish: 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.

Snowflake Monday

A good many years ago, my blog was hacked while Lizard and I were attending the funeral of his brother. I think it took three days back then to clear up all the problems.

Last month, I attended the funeral of my father, and last week, my blog disappeared. This time, it took roughly three hours for me to figure out why every single published post disappeared, while I could still access and edit the posts via Blogger.

I tried different browsers on different devices. I checked my account with my hosting service, which was up-to-date. And I tried using Window's diagnostic tool, which (unsurprisingly) was no help at all.

I reached out to the Blogger Help Community, which could take up to 24 hours, if you get a response at all (what's up with that?!?), and decided that wasn't going to solve the problem.

I was able to access Lizard's blog (which hasn't been updated in quite a while), as well as Alycia Quilts and Mr. Micawber's Recipe for Happiness (sadly, the only blog addresses I could remember without links), so I deduced the problem probably wasn't Blogger.

I set up a new holding tank on Blogger where I could transfer all... geez, 3,528 published blog posts if I wasn't able to find a resolution. I would have to go through each post and change any self-directing links. So, probably 2,000 or more links. I cried. There is no way I will ever have time for that! However, I did move the two most recent posts, and I copied this post to the new blog, Snowcaught. Which is where you might be able to find me if this ever happens again.

I did web searches and learned Blogger was not down and my web host was not down, among other non-helpful trivia.

After exhausting chat searches on Blogger, I decided to do a chat with a tech via my web host. 45 minutes later, I was informed my DNS had not properly renewed on the server's end. The change was made (not by me; I don't even know what that means, really), and I was promised my Snowcatcher website would be back online within 48 hours.

As a result of this experience, I've decided no one else in my family can die. And I hope you will understand from whence the name for this week's flake came. Nothing like finding out you don't want to lose your blog by losing your blog. Can you believe I passed on naming my flake after today's obvious moniker??? Oh, thank heaven...

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: 3.5 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

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.

Splat Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 pc in ring, ch 8], 6 times, sl st in starting pc to form 6th ch 8 tip of Round. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
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 2: [4 sc in next ch 8 tip, (ch 12, 1 sc in same tip) 5 times, 3 sc in same tip] 6 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: 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.

Motif Monday

I still haven't made much progress on my Harvest Flower Flake shawl started back in 2019, but it was fun to pull out my hand-dyed thread once again and work up a new project with the same pattern. Actually, I haven't made much progress on any of my motif projects in the last two years, so it was extremely rewarding to work up a new motif project I could finish in two sittings. And then a second similar project in one sitting.

I cut my hair on January 1. Remember my New Me Snowflake? It derived from an older mandala pattern, but the name inspiration came from my new 'do.

I'd pulled my hair back every day for more than two years. It was brittle, with lots of breakage, and just unhealthy. So I asked Lizard if I could cut it. He said it's my hair, do what I want. I went into he bathroom with a pair of scissors and whacked away! Lizard didn't notice for two days! And then, he was horrified. I reminded him he'd told me I could cut my hair. "But I like long hair!" he said. So, I'm trying to grow it out again. Healthy. Looking so much better.

My hair had been so long for so long, I'd forgotten why I don't really like bangs. When they start to grow out, I can't keep them out of my eyes until I can tuck them behind my ears. MONTHS LATER!!! My hair feathered all over so beautifully for a few weeks, but soon the bangs were uncontrollably in my eyes. Constantly. I began wearing headbands to control the mess. And those plain stretchy bands get really boring really fast. Plus, the color selection really stinks. So I decided to see if I could make a fancy, unique hairband I could really enjoy.

My first new motif project was in greens so I can wear it with my green batik leftovers dress. I got SO many complements yesterday when I wore it to church. I couldn't believe anyone really noticed I had crochet in my hair!!!

My second project was patriotic. Because today is Independence Day. And because the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup!

You may do whatever you'd like with flower flakes and/or headbands you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Motif Size: 3 inches from point to point when made with size 10 crochet thread
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in multiple flower colors, size 7 crochet hook, stretchy pony tail band

Harvest Flower Flake Join-As-You-Go Headband Instructions

First Motif

With flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends; pull magic ring tight.
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 2: With flower petal color, [1 dc in any (or next on repeats) dc, ch 10, sk next dc] 5 times, ch 8, 1 dc in in starting dc to form 6th ch 10 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 3, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 4 times, [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 1, 1 sc around pony tail band, ch 1, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 2 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch; bind off. Weave in ends.

Second through Fifth Motifs

With flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends; pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: With flower petal color, [1 dc in any (or next on repeats) dc, ch 10, sk next dc] 5 times, ch 8, 1 dc in in starting dc to form 6th ch 10 sp 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 1 (counts as 1 sc), [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 3, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 4 times, [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 1, 1 sc in corresponding tip of previous motif, ch 1, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 2 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch; bind off. Weave in ends.

Sixth Motif

With flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends; pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: With flower petal color, [1 dc in any (or next on repeats) dc, ch 10, sk next dc] 5 times, ch 8, 1 dc in in starting dc to form 6th ch 10 sp 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 1 (counts as 1 sc), [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 3, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 1 time, [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 1, 1 sc in corresponding tip of previous motif, ch 1, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 2 times, [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 3, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 1 time, [in next ch 10 sp work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 6 dc, ch 1, 1 sc around pony tail band, ch 1, 6 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 2 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I dabbed a tiny drop of multipurpose glue (NOT the kind that washes out) on the back of each motif center and rubbed in, leaving no rough edges and allowing to dry thoroughly, to protect the magic ring during hairband stretches. I also dabbed a tiny bit of the same glue onto the back of each petal in the hopes the motifs would hold their shape a bit better after multiple stretchings.