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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Because of 26 and Butterflies



I love butterflies. I enjoy photographing them. This one I saw on a bike ride last summer. They are such beautiful creatures.  Their transformation from caterpillar to flying artwork is amazing.  When the sun shines through their wings, they look like stained glass windows in the air.  Their symbolism of new life always reminds me of hope and freedom.

Today there is a special celebration taking place in Southington, CT to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.  There will be a special ceremony, butterfly bushes will be planted, a large mural will be unveiled, butterflies hatched from kits will be released and knitted & crocheted butterflies will be hung along a path in an outdoor yarn graffiti style.

When I heard about this from one of my crochet students (Celeste - thank you!), my daughters and I were glad to crochet a few butterflies to add to the festivities.

 
 
This is a pattern from "My Little City Girl" - it is a simple pattern with great results. We added a pom-pom head and pipe cleaner antenna.
 
 
This pattern is from a vintage booklet of butterfly crochet patterns.  The instructions call for size 10 crochet thread to be used but that would be small for a yarn bomb so I used Red Heart With Love yarn.  I liked the pineapple stitch shape of the wings.
 
 
And this butterfly my youngest created using a recycled plastic milk jug, yarn needle and several strands of acrylic yarn.  Since she cannot crochet yet, she enjoyed being able to contribute to the project in her own way.  I think it turned out great.
 
We will be thinking of Newtown  - the families and the entire community - that were affected and pray that this day brings them many hugs, smiles and hope. 
 




Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Yarn Bomb Blossoms - Free Pattern



For our Yarn Bomb during the Currier Museum of Art's Art Fest, we wanted to include many flowers in bright spring colors.  I started making several flowers using regular weight yarn but it was taking a while and I was running out of time.

Then Red Heart sent a generous package of yarn, hooks and needles for our event.
Included were several skeins of their Vivid yarn.
It is a great supply for a yarn bomb project!

It is super bulky, very soft and comes in bright colors.



With a large hook and a few minutes, I worked up the flowers shown here.

 
                                                        
 

The pattern for these flowers, Yarn Bomb Blossoms, is available now for FREE on Ravelry  - Click on this link to download it: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yarn-bomb-blossoms

Now our yarn bomb pieces are hanging inside the museum in the Community Gallery.  We were able to install the above piece (in the first photo of this post) around a column.


To see more photos of the Art Fest event with more Yarn Bomb pieces, please visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curriermuseum/sets/72157633494954555/



Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Hibiscus Wrap - Crochet Today

 
 
I love Hawaii.  Even though I have always lived on the East Coast, I have traveled to Hawaii several times. (A big THANK YOU to my parents for the many trips - they were all a blessing to be a part of.)  And what's not to like?
 
Hawaii has gorgeous weather, beautiful mountains and volcanos, lush tropical rain forests, unique land and marine animals. a warm clear blue ocean, powerful waves, and colorful fragrant flowers - year round!
 
 
Of course, the hibiscus is one of my favorite Hawaiian flowers and I enjoyed making it the highlight of this summer wrap for Crochet Today!'s July/August 2013 issue.  Everywhere you look on the islands it seems to be making a bold statement of color and class.
 
 
It was a challenge to replicate its unique petal shape for the motifs. Then it was even more challenging to connect them and work the openwork stitches around them to make the wrap shape.
I used the Aunt Lydia's Bamboo Crochet Thread  - it is very soft and has great drape.
 
 
As I worked on this design, I reminisced about our family vacations to Hawaii and my heart smiled, filled with all of the memories.
 
 
Here are some of the memories:
 
Watching several pods of Humpback Whales breech (jump out of the water) while out on a boat
Snorkeling for hours and seeing hundreds of beautiful fish
Rising early to see the sunrise over the volcano,
 Haleakala, on the island of Maui
On the top of a volcano with my dad and husband
 
Listening to the "bark" of the geckos at night
Riding 6 foot waves after a hurricane
Having restful family time playing games or reading on the lenai (balcony)
Swimming in the Seven Pools after traveling
 the Road to Hana through the jungle
My first trip to Hawaii when I was 11
Here I am with my brother, David
 
Taking in many sunsets over the ocean
 
 
A Maui sunset from our balcony
And spending precious time with family
My last trip to Hawaii when I was expecting my first child
Here I am with my sister, Alice