Mini Wishing Stars!

I was making several dozen stars to fill a jar for Mims.  Okay, that's a lie.  I was making several dozen stars for the front of my new business cards, and then I was going to give them to Mims when I was done shooting pictures.  I think that still makes me a good mom...


I thought I was making my regular stars, but they were turning out so small, I went back to the pattern to see what I was doing wrong.  Turns out, I was starting out with too few stitches.  Still, the stars are adorable.  I like them better for this purpose.  So now I've got two different, but very similar, star patterns...


This is the pattern I used for the star on the front of the blue Softsoap dispenser cover and the Star Towel from my SOAP DISPENSER WEEK 2012.  But that was just the instructions for a single star.  This is the instructions for a two-sided puffy star.  The big difference between the patterns, you'll see, is the cleverly parenthesized 'make 2'...

Wishing Stars (aka Mini Stars):
You can use  any size yarn, with an appropriately sized hook, to make these stars.  They also need a small amount fiberfill, if you'd like them to be puffy.

(make 2)

R1: 5 sc in magic loop, sl st to first sc to close round (5 st)
R2: ch 1, (2sc in next st) 5 times, sl st to first sc to close round (10 st)
R3: [(hdc, dc, trc, dc, hdc) in next st, sl st] 5 times

Fasten off.  Leave a long tail for sewing sides together.   Weave in center tail.  Sew sides together.  Add stuffing before sewing last 1/2 inch, if a puffy star is desired.

When I was in a speech class in college, one of my classmates gave a speech on how to make origami wishing stars.  I thought they were absolutely adorable, and I liked the idea behind them, that they bring good luck when they are made and then given away. No, I don't think that they are magic.  I do think that they are really sweet, and that the time and energy that you put into making a jar full of them for a special present would be a beautiful expression of love.  I would give these.  I would also be excited to receive a jar of them.  (and, okay, I'd hope that they'd bring me good luck... Kinda the way I always hope that my fortune cookie fortune will come true...)

I spent a couple of days crocheting and putting these little stars together.   They have completely grown on me, and I've been inspired to do a couple of other projects with them.  So, while it's not a theme week, I hope you'll be as excited as I am to spend a couple of days Crocheting With The Stars!


If you'd like to fill your own jar with wishing stars, it took about 30 stars to fill the jar.  I made mine out of size 3 crochet thread, and used a size D crochet hook.


xoxo

More Stars!

Another commission, for the end of the school year.

Mims really, really wanted to keep this one! 

The free pattern is here!

xoxo

National Iced Tea Day!

My morning iced tea, because it's National Iced Tea Day, Dynamos!

What? You did not know that iced tea is the official beverage of CrochetDynamite.com?  It's true.  I'm obsessed with it.  

The cool part about my obsession is that I want you to be obsessed too!  So I made you a present!

Hemp Mason Jar Cover 

Supplies:

A ball of Fine Hemp Twine (I bought mine at Joanns in the beading section. It's with the macrame stuff. )

Size D crochet hook

1/8" Ribbon (I used turquoise, but you can use any color that makes your heart sing! I used about 30 inches, because it's easier to tie a bow with too long ribbon, then cut it too short to begin with and have a too-small, weird-looking bow...)

R1: 13 sc in a magic loop, pull tight and sl st into first sc to close round (13 st)

R2: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, sc) 6 times, 2 sc in next st, sl st into first sc to close round (20 st)

R3: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 2 sc) 6 times, 2 sc in next st, sc, sl st into first sc to close round (27 st)

R4: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 3 sc) 6 times, 2 sc in next st, sc, 2 sc in next st, sl st into first sc to close round (35 st)

R5: ch 1, (2 hdc in next st, 4 hdc) 7 times, sl st into first hdc to close round (42 st)

R6: ch 1, (2 hdc in next st, 5 hdc) 7 times, sl st into first hdc to close round (49 st)

R7: ch 1, (2 hdc in next st, 6 hdc) 7 times, sl st into first hdc to close round (56 st)

R8-12: ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st into first hdc to close round (56 st)

R13: ch 2, dc in each st around, sl st into first dc to close round (56 st)

R14-15: ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st into first hdc to close round (56 st)

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Fold the ribbon in half, and use your crochet hook to weave the doubled ribbon through the posts of the dc row (R13). Tie in a bow!  Trim the ends so that they look cute.  You can run a match, or lighter, over the cut edges to seal them so that they won't fray.

A brief observation about working with hemp fibers:

Crocheting with hemp is not like crocheting with cotton or bamboo fibers.  It's rough.  Your stitches won't be even.  The thread/cord itself isn't smooth and even.  It smells like hay.  It's really stiff.

BUT, it looks super cool.  The uneven stitches make it look handcrafted and expensive.  It smells like summertime.  Just use some hand lotion afterwards and you will be good to go. 

I have made a lot of mason jar covers.  I think this one turned out just perfect.  I am in love...  

Also:

Perfect Mason Jar Iced Tea (updated 1/7/13 to make it even better! )

Using a quart sized mason jar, add 3 tea bags to 2 cups of water, plus a pinch of baking soda (! I know, right?!  The baking soda keeps it from tasting bitter!  But only use a tiny pinch, a little goes a long way. Try it, it's amazing) .  Microwave on high for 2 minutes.  Let it sit an additional 2 minutes in the microwave to steep, so you don't burn your fingers.  Pull it out very carefully. Discard the tea bags.  Add ice to fill the mason jar. Add additional water to fill jar to the top if necessary.  Put your lid and your jar cover on, and you're good to go for the day!  

Have a really, really awesome Iced Tea Day!!

xoxo