Falling Blossoms: A Tangle Pattern

Maybe ten years ago, I discovered zentangle through an artist trading card swap. I gave it a try, and I've been addicted ever since.

I enjoy perusing the many zentangles and tangle patterns out there. This one, though, started out as a random doodle while I was on the phone with a client. Since then, it keeps cropping up on random bits of paper. I'm just a bit in love with it. Originally it was just a design. Now it has come to look like falling blossoms, fluttering down from the trees.

Whatever it is, I love the physical act of drawing them. It's so relaxing.

Start at the bottom, and draw an elongated, upside down teardrop. Without lifting your pen, draw another one, then another. Most of the time I create enough to make a quarter circle. Once you have your blossom, draw a dot over the point.

Vary the appearance by changing the width of the teardrops. Fat ones mean fewer petals; narrow ones make room for more petals.

Have fun!

Foldable Flying Disc – A Crochet Pattern

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is putting together a couple of boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a project by Samaritan’s Purse. It’s pretty simple: fill a shoebox with objects for a kid in need, deliver to a drop-off point (in my case, my church), and Samaritan’s Purse teams up with local groups around the world to deliver shoeboxes to excited kids. You choose boy or girl and an age group: 2 to 4 years, 5 to 9 years, or 10 to 14 years. (We originally did two boxes for 5 to 9, one each for a boy and a girl. Now, we do boxes for 10 to 14-year-old boys; I noticed they were always underrepresented at both of the churches where I participated. I’ve since learned this is universally the case!)

I love putting Frisbees in my boxes! They are great for boys or girls; a group of kids can use it to play together; it doesn't require much besides some open space. But real Frisbees are expensive, and I don’t like putting low-quality items in boxes (which describes every generic flying disc I've seen). I figure if a kid doesn’t get very many gifts, I should send them something that will last! Besides, even if I can find a maximum size shoebox, it’s really hard to fit a Frisbee in there. (And it makes it harder to pack it really full.)

A year or two ago, I came across the Pocket Disc, a crocheted foldable flying disc (the generic name for a Frisbee). They are great—well made, sturdy, and available in a plethora of patterns and colors. But they’re about $15 each, and that could buy a lot of items for a box.

I finally got around to figuring out a pattern for a similar folding disc. It’s not exactly the same; mine has just two strands of worsted-weight yarn, instead of several strands of thin yarn in different colors, limiting the pattern options. But my disc flies well, it’s easy to crochet, and you can make it with whatever yarn you have on hand. Best of all, gauge isn’t critical; just make sure it’s nice and tight!

On to the pattern…

Foldable Flying Disc

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn, cotton or acrylic, about 100 yards†
• G or H hook (choose the size needed to make a very firm fabric)
• Split stitch marker or safety pin
• Yarn needle

Abbreviations

Written using American crochet terms.

• sc single crochet
• sc2tog single crochet two together
• pm place marker
• ( )* repeat stitches in parentheses
• sl st slip stitch
• st stitch(es)

Instructions

Worked in a spiral, using two strands of yarn held together.

1. Begin with 12 sc stitches, using a magic loop. (You will need a much bigger loop than usual.) Tighten the tails to get a firm base. If in doubt, make it a bit looser; you can tighten it more later, but it’s nearly impossible to loosen it.
2. sc, pm in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch; (sc, 2 sc in next stitch)* to end of round. (18 st)

Starting with the third round, remove the marker when you reach the end of the round, then start the next round by working into the first stitch of the previous round; place marker in the first stitch.

3. sc, pm, 2 sc in next stitch, sc; (sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc)* to end of round. (24 st)
4. sc, pm, 2 sc, 2 sc in next stitch; (3 sc, 2 sc in next stitch)* to end of round. (30 st)
5. sc, pm, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 2 sc; (2 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 2 sc)* to end of round. (36 st)
6. sc, pm, 4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch; (5 sc, 2 sc in next stitch)* to end of round. (42 st)
7. sc, pm, 2 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 3 sc; (3 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 3 sc)* to end of round. (48 st)
8. sc, pm, 6 sc, 2 sc in next stitch; (7 sc, 2 sc in next stitch)* to end of round. (54 st)
9. sc, pm, 3 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 4 sc; (4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 4 sc)* to end of round. (60 st)
10. sc, pm, 8 sc, 2 sc in next stitch; (9 sc, 2 sc in next stitch)* to end of round. (66 st)
11. sc, pm, 4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 5 sc; (5 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 5 sc)* to end of round. (72 st)
12. sc, pm, 10 sc, 2 sc in next stitch; (11 sc, 2 sc in next stitch)* to end of round. (78 st)
13. sc, pm, 5 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 6 sc; (6 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, 6 sc)* to end of round. (84 st)

At this point, begin decreasing for the folded-under rim.

14. sc, pm, 4 sc, sc2tog; (5 sc, sc2tog)* to end of round. (72 st)
15. sc, pm, sc, sc2tog, 2 sc; (2 sc, sc2tog, 2 sc)* to end of round; sl st to join round. (60 st).

If you haven’t already, tighten up the center of the magic loop to make it lay flat and feel firm. Weave in ends, making them very secure. Hopefully, this is going to gets lots of use!

Notes

• This is more of a template than a pattern. You’re increasing six stitches per round to create a flat disc, then decreasing twelve stitches per round to create the rim.
• If your disc begins to ripple, spread out your next set of increases over two rounds. In other words, add three stitches each for two rounds. You will end up with fourteen rounds before the decreases (instead of thirteen) to get 84 stitches.
• It’s easy to vary the size by crocheting more or fewer rounds. However, the math is easiest if you end with a multiple of twelve stitches before beginning the decreases.

†Regarding Yarn

I have made this with cotton yarn and acrylic. For the cotton yarn, my best results came with an H hook. My acrylic yarn, Caron Simply Soft, turned out best with a G hook; an H hook worked, but the tighter gauge looked and felt better. I also tried one with one strand of Vanna's Choice and one strand of Simply Soft. The G hook still produced the best fabric, but the resulting disc felt a bit springier and more cushiony. My guess is that, if you used two strands of Vanna's Choice or a similar yarn, you would need an H hook.

After the third round or so, check your fabric. If it feels too floppy, frog it and start over with a smaller hook; it's best to fix it early on, instead of plodding on and ending up with an unsatisfactory product. After all, three rounds isn't that much of a time investment.


I can't stop anyone from using my pattern to make and sell their own discs, but I would prefer you didn't, unless it's for charity. And if you like my pattern, I encourage you to make a few to donate to the charity of your choice. Make it in wool (maybe adding a few rows) and felt it, for a really sturdy dog toy. Or donate a few to a kid's charity, like a hospital or shelter. Share the love. :) If you do, I would love to know about it!

Homemade Gift Idea Roundup, 2014 Edition

Last November, I decided to encourage my friends and family to make more of their gifts. I hate the pressure we as a society put on people at Christmas! Spend more, more, more; go into debt. Give junk, just to say you gave something.

So starting around Thanksgiving, I posted links to lots of projects and tutorials on Facebook. Last year I excluded sewing, knitting, and crocheting projects, though I did link my crocheted Fluffy Tribble pattern after a friend asked about it specifically. Here's the full list; I'll post this year's finds soon, and update it as I go (hopefully!).

Happy crafting!

Food Gifts

Homemade Vanilla Extract, from The Kitchn
Red Wine Finishing Salt, from Well Preserved
Herb-Infused Honey from Crunch Betty
Infused Olive Oil from Country Cleaver
Custom Herbal Tea Blends from Straight from the Farm
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix (No Milk) from Live Simply
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix (Powdered Milk) from The Kitchn
DIY Tea Wreath from Kojo Designs

Accessories

Bird's Nest Necklace from Sarah Ortega
Beaded Bobby Pins from Anna Kata

Health and Beauty

Honey Brown Sugar Scrub from my own blog
DIY Bath Jellly from Rookie Mag
Herbal Infused Oil video by Mountain Rose Herbs
Three Ingredient Lotion Bars from Essentially Eclectic
Homemade Bath Melts from Snap Guide
Honey Lavender Bath Melts from Happy Money Saver

"Guy" Friendly

Magnetic Wristband for Hardware
Bay Rum Aftershave from Art of Manliness
Beard Oil from Art of Manliness
How to Make a Slingshot from Art of Manliness
Handsome Wooden Bottle Opener from Art of Manliness

Kid Friendly

Marshmallow Blow Gun  from Frugal Fun 4 Boys
Monster Slime from Frugal Fun 4 Boys
How to Make a Superhero Cape (No Sew) from Racks and Mooby
Lightweight Cape Tutorial from The Pleated Poppy
Portable Lego Kit from Mama Papa Bubba
Silly Pencils from Crafts Unleashed

Office Supplies

Embroidered Pencil Cups from The Crafted Life
Pencil Flowers from JA Monkey
Cute Blooming Flower Pen from Family Crafts
DIY Arrow Pencils from Lena Sekine
T-Shirt Pom Pom Pencil from Reuseit
Paper Flower Pencil Topper from Papercrafts for Children
Retro Fuzzy Pencils from We-Made-That
Last Minute Washi Clip from Artsyville
Groundhog Pom Pom Pencil Topper from Artists Helping Children
Washi Tape Magnets from Crafts Unleashed
No-Sew Colored Pencil Roll from Small + Friendly

This and That

DIY Picture Tiles from Crunchy Betty
Mini Polaroid Magnets from Ambrosia Girl
DIY Sharpie Mug from The Cozy Old Farmhouse
Marble Magnets from Not Martha
DIY Altoid Tin Kits from Art of Manliness and others
The Fluffy Tribble from my blog
T-Shirt Dog Toy from Barkpost

Mason Jar Sewing Kit from The 3Rs Blog

Mason Jar Sewing Kit from Simply Striking Blog

Stocking Stuffers

Ribbon Hair Clips, by Jones Design Company
Homemade Flavored Toothpicks from Crunchy Betty
Full and Textured Fabric Flowers from Make It Love It

Packaging

Ombre-Dyed Gift Tags from Postcards from a Hoarder
One-Sheet Origami Gift Box

Homemade Coffee-Coconut Scrub

I've always had a weakness for nice bath and beauty products. Unfortunately, I've never really had the budget for them! Fortunately for me, I am quite handy at making, well, lots of things.

Consider the sugar and salt scrubs that have been all the rage for years. Once upon a time, I would wait for Bath and Body Works to put their sugar scrubs on sale for half price, then stock up. But I don't have to resort to such desperate tactics anymore. I also don't have to settle for the array of questionable ingredients that make up many of B&BW's products!

I came up with my recipe for coffee-coconut scrub after a fair amount of internet research and a bit of experimentation. It smells completely scrumptious, almost like a dessert. Technically it's edible (aside from the essential oils)—but with oils and all the salt, I bet it would taste horrid!

Did I mention sugar scrubs make great gifts?

Coconut Coffee Scrub

• .5 cup sugar
• .5  cup brown sugar
• .5  cup salt or sea salt
• .375 cup ground coffee*
• .25 cup shredded coconut*
• .25 cup oil of your choice†
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 5-10 drops essential oil(s) (optional)

Directions

1. Mix together dry ingredients. 
2. In a separate container, combine oil, honey, and vanilla; add essential oil if desired. 
3. Slowly add wet ingredients to dry, stirring well. Add more oil if desired.

For ease of use, store in a wide-mouthed container. Stir before use to redistribute liquid as needed.

*For a finer texture, make sure your coffee is finely ground, and pulse your coconut in a food processor, blender, or spice grinder.

† The choice of oil is up to you. There are a wide variety of skin-friendly oils: grape seed, olive, jojoba, hazelnut, pumpkin seed, coconut, sweet almond… Go with what you like, what you can afford, or what you have on hand. Do keep in mind that the scent of the oil could affect the scent of the scrub; some oils have a strong fragrance, while others are nearly unscented.

Herbalism: Practical Crafting

Cough syrup: ginger, garlic, vinegar, honey, and cayenne.

I just love making things; I always have. But so much stuff I can make doesn't really contribute much to my quality of life. (My art journal and ATCs do not qualify – they are pure art for art's sake.) Herbalism, though, makes my life better in so many ways.

First, making things allows me to control some aspects of my environmental exposure to toxins. (Do you know what's in your Softsoap? Did you sign up for a formaldehyde releaser? It's not in my homemade soap!)

Second, it improves my health. An example: since I discovered fresh ginger tea with cayenne, honey, and lime, I've been able to ward off some of the colds my husband brings home! When my husband got food poisoning, I remembered reading about apple cider vinegar. It worked immediately, fortunately; Atlanta was practically shut down by snow and ice all week.

It saves me money, too; I made my own "hot cloth cleanser," AKA "waterless cleanser" for a fraction of the cost of equivalent store-bought products. And mine is perfectly balanced for my skin. And it contains frankincense essential oil, which is awesome for my rosacea-prone skin. (Seriously, I made about two ounces for less than five dollars, including the cost of the jar!) My friends and family love my homemade sugar scrubs, which are very inexpensive to make but high quality and effective.

Harvesting aloe from my houseplant.

I've also reduced my environmental impact. I buy the raw ingredients – oils, honey, beeswax, herbs and spices – and make it myself. Much of it I can buy from the bulk department, like the spices and olive oil I get from my local natural foods store. Honey and beeswax I buy from a local beekeeper; my honey comes in mason jars, which I reuse, and he puts the beeswax chunks in my cloth bag. Garlic and ginger come from the local international market, without packaging. Even the stuff that gets shipped is better; minimal packaging and minimal processing translate to less trash produced by the manufacturer. (Check out The Story of Stuff for an explanation of how that works.) I'm pretty sure I produce a lot less waste making a salve than Johnson & Johnson creates for a tube of Neosporin. Much of the packaging of my ingredients is reusable or recyclable. The containers I use (mostly mason jars and tins) are safely reusable long term.

I can choose ethical and sustainable sources. I've been able to make a lot of replacements. Local raw honey and sustainably-produced coconut sugar instead GMO beet sugar. Homemade vinegar made from fruit scraps replaces Windex. Small-producer, ethically sourced coconut oil has eliminated the need for Crisco shortening or a lotion like Jergens. If I choose to, I can grow many of the herbs in my yard.

Natural soap made with a friend.

Most of all, I have learned an important skill that is satisfying to practice. I can take care of my husband, my extended family, and my friends. I have options; I am not entirely dependent on the medical or beauty industries to take care of me. I can try simpler treatments first – an herbal steam, a neti pot, or an epsom salt soak. If I decide I really need to, I can head to the doctor then. As for rosacea, my all-homemade beauty regimen has worked far better than the Metro gel a dermatologist prescribed (once upon a time). Is there an ice storm? Is it a holiday? I have options, which are right in my house or yard.

How's that for an improved quality of life?