I'm joining Kat and fellow Unravelers on this penultimate Unraveled Wednesday of 2023. It's hard for me to understand how quickly this year has flown by. But my year has always contained knitting, some unraveling, and even some crochet. That's what I'm going to tell you about this week.
John's grandmother was an excellent crocheter and I was lucky enough to get some of her snowflake patterns after she was gone. My mother and father went to Sweden to visit relatives a long time ago, and I crocheted 30 or more snowflakes for them to take as lightweight gifts. I didn't make any for myself but this year I finally got the patterns, crochet hook, and thread out to remedy the situation.
I stiffened them with a 50% solution of white glue and water and pinned them out. When they dried, I hung them in various places so I could admire them.
I really like the shooting star pattern so I made several of them.
I crocheted several other snowflakes but ran out of places to hang them.
In reading, I did finish A Midwife's Tale, the nonfiction book based on Martha Ballard's diary. It provided more of the factual information that I felt was missing after I read The Frozen River, a work of historical fiction. I'm glad that Martha Ballard's diary survived and through her detailed accounts historians recognized that women's work does matter, but reading large sections of her diary came across as scholarly and a little dry. I'm also glad I read both the fiction and nonfiction books, and can better see how there is a place for both books about Martha Ballard and her life.
What are you making and reading this week?
Love your crocheted snowflakes Bonny! They look great to me (and WOW! I had forgotten about that HUGE rattlesnake skin). I've done just a tiny amount of knitting (a hat brim) and finally finished a book I had been reading for too long. I'm looking forward to having more time for those pursuits in a week or so.
ReplyDeleteThose snowflakes are amazing, Bonny! (The snowflake for the snakeskin tree though... lol) I am looking forward to next week being calm as I savor sitting by the tree and knitting! (today I am in pursuit of a tiny terrible towel... iykyk)
ReplyDeleteYour snowflake collection is gorgeous -- and just when I thought I'd picked out a favorite, I got to your second-to-last photo! And then it was impossible to pick. I had a thought, recently (so the timing of your post made me smile!) to try to crochet a tree's worth of snowflakes throughout the year. (But I don't know if I have that in me.) Brilliant to make + pack as lightweight gifts. How thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carolyn! I had the idea of using many of the snowflakes on the tree, but I haven't put a tree up this year, so they are decorating furniture and a snakeskin. Crochet often causes me anxiety, so I think my crocheting days are numbered (after I figure out how to do that one last snowflake)!
DeleteI just love your snowflakes . You are very skilled.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy! I wish I was skilled enough to manage my favorite snowflake but maybe I'll figure it out someday.
DeleteWell, aren't you a busy crafter lately?! Your snowflakes are very lovely, Bonny. They are an elegant decoration. I have been reading a lot of garbage lately, waiting for books at the library to make it to my queque. I did start Peter Heller's The Last Ranger yesterday, and while it is not a barn burner, it provides a lovely sense of place in the natural world.
ReplyDeleteThese snowflakes are so great (and I got a great laugh out of the one on the snakeskin)! They look like just enough fiddliness to be worth it. Glad the glue mixture worked well to stiffen them, too.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought on your post was holy COW that is a long rattlesnake!!!! THEN I noticed the star. They are ALL beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI made a lot of those "back in the day" and they seem to have mounted a resurgence of popularity. I may have to dust off my tiny crochet hook. I made some in a metallic yarn. Talk about fighting the devil!!!
I love your snowflakes! I crocheted a set of them years ago and gave them as gifts and never kept any for myself. Seeing yours makes me want to search for my old pattern and make some and this time I will keep one or two for myself!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie! I think you should make some for yourself someday. I'm viewing them as winter decorations and plan on leaving them up longer than I would for Christmas ornaments.
DeleteBeautiful snowflakes! I had some of my grandmother's but since she soaked hers in sugar water they ended up being snacks for some naughty mice who got into the attic many years ago.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Araignee! My husband's grandmother also used sugar water (the mice nibbled on those) and also starch (which some insects seemed to love). I'll see how these white glue-stiffened ones fare.
DeleteBonny, your snowflakes are amazing! (and not only because I can't even make out the "hook" at the tip of your crochet hook and the thread is ... thread!) I'm pretty sure my aunt used a weak starch solution to stiffen the snowflakes; you glue solution seems a lot easier. that snowflake on rattlesnake skin, though, whoa ... is that at your house or Justin's?
ReplyDeleteThe snowflakes are just beautiful. It is wonderful that you have those old patterns and the patience to crochet with such a tiny hook and thread. That is one long rattlesnake but I guess I've never seen one all uncoiled.
ReplyDeleteThose snowflakes are fabulous, Bonny! The only crochet I can manage is a simple edge so I am truly impressed!
ReplyDeleteso beautiful!! I love how delicate they look.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty Bonny! I love the shooting star! I've never seen that design before. I have a bunch of snowflakes that my aunt made for me years ago -- they need some "freshening" -- but I've never tried making any myself.
ReplyDeleteOkay. That shooting star!!!! I love crocheted snowflakes (I've made some myself . . . but it was decades ago now), but your collection is TOPS. Each one is so unique (althought the shooting star is my favorite, and I can see why you made so many of that particular design). I also love your inspired decorating. Snowflakes bring the spirit of the season to every space. XO
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