Winter Jewels

Xmas and (really) New Year's are my favorite holidays. I love that you can get away with outrageously gaudy decor and glitter everything. This year, I am planning a big New Year's party and we have decided to be 'that house' on our block with the most ridiculous of decor. Perhaps a light landing strip on the roof and a sea of inflatable snow globes in the lawn? So, I have been on the lookout for Xmas crafts that are kitchy but not disgusting.

On a side note, once folks know you craft, they seem to donate stuff to you. A coworker brought a huge bag of old crochet books, magazines, acrylic yarn(siiick), crochet thread, and a few random unfinished blankets that were his Granny's. Deep within this bag of goodies, I found a lovely pattern book for crochet snowflakes. Winter Jewels.

They are quite pretty! So I have been jeweling up a storm. I plan on using them for my tree, to sell at Cherrywood, to make a wreath, and maybe a garland to string all around the house. Some of these patterns are more difficult than others. It is a good exercise is lace or doily crochet without the whole doily. I am using a G hook and fingerling weight yarn instead of crochet thread and a tiny-tiny hook to maintain sanity.

Once they are crocheted, they have to be blocked and 'stiffened'. You can buy some fabric stiffeners, or even use a solution of half Elmer's glue and water. I pinned them onto cardboard fabric bolts covered in a plastic trash bag, then sprayed on Stiffen Stuff.

I like the differences that happen just by using different yarn weights, colors, and glittery threads.

As full on jewel production continues, I will post completed projects as they happen.