Free Pattern: Of Seven and Three

I missed Monday again this week, because it was my birthday and my husband decided to take me out to dinner which was wonderful.
So in honor of my birthday and to make up for missing two Mondays in a row I am giving you a present, a free pattern.

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Seven and three have been believe throughout the ages to be two of the most powerful, and possibly magical numbers.  Religion, alchemy, the occult and various secretive organizations make reference to the powers of three and seven.  When I envisioned this snowflake I wanted to bring a bit of that magic to life in a less conventional snowflake.  The seven points are uncommon and make the snowflake a bit harder to block flat but I really love the result.

Snowflake of Seven and Three

Ch 10 join with sl

Round 1 Ch 3 (1stdc), 2 dc ch in center ring, ch3 *3dc in ring ch3* 6 times Join with sl; {7 groups of 3 dc and 7 ch3 spc}

Round 2 Ch 3 (initial ch3 of a round always counts as a dc unless otherwise stated) dc in nxt 2 dc, ch 1

(dc, ch3, dc) in center ch of next ch 3 ( 2^nd ch) ch1. *dc in next 3dc, ch 1 (dc, ch3, dc) in center ch of next ch 3 ( 2^nd ch) ch1* 6 times join; {7 groups of 3dc, 7 (dc ch3 dc)}

Round 3 Ch3, dc in next 2 dc, ch 1 (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in next ch3 spc, ch1, * dc in next 3dc, ch 1 (3dc, ch3, 3dc) in next ch3 spc, ch1* 6 times. Join {7 groups of 3dc, 7 (3dc, ch3, 3 dc)}

Round 4 Ch3, dc in next 2 dc, ch1, dc in next 3 dc, ch 1,(dc, ch3, dc, ch7, dc, ch3, dc) in the center ch of the next ch 3 space, ch1, dc in next 3 dc, ch1. * dc in next 2 dc, ch1, dc in next 3 dc, ch 1,(dc, ch3, dc, ch7, dc, ch3, dc) in the center ch of the next ch 3 space, ch1, dc in next 3 dc, ch1 * 6 times join

{21 groups of 3dc, 7 (dc, ch3,dc, ch7 dc, ch3,dc)}

Round 5 sl in the next 2 dc, skip next group of 3 dcs, ch 6 sl in the 3^rd ch, ch3 sl in the next dc, sl in the nxt 2 dc, skip next group of 3 dcs, ch 6 sl in the 3^rd ch, ch3 sl in the next dc, ch 3 sl in ch7 spc, ch3 sl in 1^st ch, ch5 sl in1st ch, ch 3 sl in 1^st ch, sl in ch7 spc, ch 3 sl in the next dc. *skip next group of 3 dcs, ch 6 sl in the 3^rd ch, ch3 sl in the next dc, sl in the nxt 2 dc, skip next group of 3 dcs, ch 6 sl in the 3^rd ch, ch3 sl in the next dc, ch 3 sl in ch7 spc, ch3 sl in 1^st ch, ch5 sl in1st ch, ch 3 sl in 1^st ch, sl in ch7 spc, ch 3 sl in the next dc.* 6 times join

Tutorial: How to make your own wooden Buttons:

For the past few weeks I have been having fun making wooden buttons.  I thought I would share these lovelies and how to make them with you.

Equipment:
Jigsaw or Hand saw with a thin blade
Dremel with coarse and fine sanding drums/ or coarse and sand paper for sanding by hand
1/16 inch drill bit for dremel ( or drill and 1/16th inch bit)
Paintbrushes
Materials:
Long straight stick or dowel --mine is about 1 3/4" in diameter
Paint
Polyurethane or Sealing





Step 1: Slice your stick or dowel into disks. Mine are a little more than 1/8" thick.

Step 2:  Drill holes

Step 3:  Smooth and shape the disks using Sand paper or dremel with sanding drums.  I recommend wearing safety goggles and a dust mask while working with the dremel as it throws a lot of dust in your face.  Start with the coarse sand drums and smooth the surface of the buttons.  Then while holding the button in you hand rotate it slowly as you sand the edges into the desired shape. I mostly held my dremel at a slight angle to the disks to make a slightly beveled edge. If you want to keep the bark on your buttons be very careful while shaping the edges or you will sand or break it right off.  One the button is the right basic shape you will want to switch to the fine sand paper/drum and sand it until it feels silky smooth in your hands.

Step 4:  Clean up the dust from your work are and wipe off the buttons.

Step 5:  Painting and staining---This is the fun part.  You can pretty much do anything you want to the buttons now.  I painted most of mine but I used a little used vegetable oil to give a light stain to a few and I have use wood stain on buttons I have previously made.

Step 6:  Seal your buttons.  You can either spray your buttons with a clear sealant or brush them with polyurethane.  (I forgot to take pics of this step sorry)

Breakfast Rolls

My husband Pat,  works 12 hour shifts and has to leave at o'dark thirty in the morning.  Neither of us are morning people so that means that he leaves before I get out of bed and often doesn't get out of bed until a few minutes until he has to leave.  This means that despite having, cereal, oatmeal, eggs, etc in the house he doesn't usually eat breakfast.
I am wheat intolerant and follow a gluten free diet but, Pat is a carbovore and would never be able to survive without bread, so every two to three weeks I bake him about four loaves of bread.  This is cheaper and probably healthier than the alternative of buying bread.  Last time I was making bread I had an epiphany.  I could simply make an extra batch of bread and make rolls stuffed with various fillings for him to microwave in the morning and eat in the car on his way to work.
Now like all great ideas this was not quite as simple as it sounded in my head. I spent a majority of my day making these , but I think I have a much better idea of how to streamline the process and make faster and less labour intesive.  Most importantly I would suggest making up all your fillings first--preferably on the previous day.

 It was a lot of work, and I don't particularly like cooking all day for something I can't even taste.  I worry about whether it will turn out great, plus the scent of fresh baking bread is a tempting reminder of something I can't have.  But it was all worth it to me when I saw the smile on Pat's face after I had him taste test my first batch.  He doesn't smile much so a smile is a ringing endorsement of yumminess.

This is a pretty simple bread recipe that rises quickly, it makes 4 loaves of bread. I usually make bread that is about 3/4 whole wheat flour but in this case I wanted the rolls to be soft yummy and easy to roll out so there is only enough whole wheat flour to add a bit of flavor and color to the dough.  You can fill these with just about anything you want but I wanted to use whatever I had on had so I did Sauted veggies, Sauted Veggies w/ a bit of ground pork, Apple Pie filling ( with fresh apples),  Cinnamon and sugar, and cinnamon sugar + peanut butter.

How to make Breakfast Rolls:

Bread Dough:

• 4 cups warm water (95-105 degrees Fahrenheit)  I test the warmth by running tap water over my wrist until it feels just barely warmer than my skin
• 3 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 8 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons dough enhancer ( optional)
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 5-7 cups all purpose flour

Fillings:

Veggie and Meat Fillings:

• 2 medium carrots grated
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 mushrooms ( would have used more but that what I had)
• 2 stalks of celery finely sliced
• 1/4 head of cabbage diced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• your favorite herbs and seasonings:  I used Garlic powder, basil, rosemary, thyme, and celery salt

• 1/2 pound ground pork

Apple pie filling

• 3 apples cored and chopped
• dash of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

Cinnamon Sugar/Peanut Butter cinnamon sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Peanut butter ( optional)

Make the Fillings

Veggie/meat filling:   This amount of veggies makes enough for more than one loaf of bread but not quite 2 loaves so after filling  and shaping the dough from the first loaf,  I browned half a pound of ground prok and added to the remaining veggies and used it to fill the rolls shaped from the second loaf. Put oil in a large skillet or sauce pan and heat  on low heat until oil is warmed. Add veggies and seasonings and cook stirring occasionally until veggies are al dente.  Remove veggies from pan and set aside.  Brown ground pork.  Set aside.

Apple pie filling:  This was enough to fill only 6 rolls.   I also would recommend waiting to add the sugar until just before ready to assemble, as the apples will make water once you add the sugar Mix all the ingredients together and set aside.

Cinnamon Sugar/Peanut Butter Cinnamon Sugar:  I made 4 without peanut butter then added the peanut butter and a little more cinnamon sugar to the mix and made 3 or 4 more.  I had 3 unfilled rolls leftover.  Mix all the ingredients except peanut butter together in a small bowl.   It should be a thick paste and just a little bit crumbly.  Add the peanut butter, if you want.  it will look similar but hold together a little better.

Mix up Bread Dough:

Dissolve the yeast in 1 cup of the warm water.  Let sit for a up to 5 minute or until the water is foamy.  Stir in Sugar, salt, oil, dough enhancer and wheat flour.  Add the rest of water and stir in the all purpose flour 1-2 cups at a time until it forms a smooth soft dough that is not too sticky.  I usually use my hands to mix in the last cup of flour or so.  Cover the dough and let rise for 20-30 mins or until dough is doubled.

Knead the dough until smooth  and pliable.  Divide into four section and put 3 of the pieces into ziplock bags.  Put the bags in the fridge to retard the rising.

Assemble the  Rolls:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Divide the dough into eight pieces.  Roll a piece into a flat round circle about 1/8th of an inch thick.  Place 1/3-1/2 cup of filling on one half of the circle. Use a pastry brush to brush a bit of water over the edge of the dough to help it seal, and fold the other half up and over the filling.  Press the seal down with your fingers and then crimp it closed. Place on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet.  Repeat until all the pieces are filled.  Bake for 25-30 minute or until golden brown and the dough is completely cooked through.  Cool on a rack.

Design Week Day 2: Techniques

My Elephant Hat will probably be appropriate for an advanced beginner or early intermediate level crocheter.

The pattern will require knowledge of several stitches and techniques. There are so many great resources on how to do all of these stitches already available.  I have decided to focus on just one techniques and give you some of my favorite links for the others.

• For the ears: Single crochet
• For the body of the hat: Half double crochet 
• For the ribbing: front and back post double crochet
• the entire project will be worked in the round
• The body of the hat and trunk will be done: Working in the back loops
• Magic loop technique ( Shown below) ofr starting the hat and keeping the center hole invisible.

Almost everything in this hat will be worked in the round. One of my favorite ways to start a round is the magic loop.  I learned about it about two years ago and I found it really difficult for a long time and often didn't use it because of that.  Somewhere along the line I all of a sudden realized how to do the magic loop and since then it has become one of my favorite ways to start a round. The magic loop is ideal for when you don't want a hole in the center of your crochet;  I find, though that it doesn't work as well for single crochet,  so if I am planning to work a round in single crochet I simply use Stacey's Sloppy Slip Knot.  If I am working in double crochet or half-double crochet as I will be for my Elephant hat I use the magic loop.
SO Now I think I will shut up and show you how to make the magic loop yourself.

How to Make a Magic Loop in Crochet
( disclaimer: I am very strongly right handed and cannot crochet left handed at all.  I apologize to those of you who might need a left handed tutorial.  Maybe I will teach my left handed husband and use him to do a lefty tutorial.)

Step one:  Wrap your yarn around your left index finger twice.  To do this hold your left hand parallel to the floor with the knuckle facing up, place the yarn between you index finger and middle finger.  Wrap the yarn towards you, over the knuckle an around the back of the finger twice.  Hold the tail between your left thumb and middle finger.

Step 2: With your right hand, Insert the hook from top to bottom, catch the second loop of yarn with you hook and pull it through the first loop.  You should now have what looks like a very loose slip knot wrapped around your left index finger and one loop on your hook.

inserting the hook and grabbing the yarn

after completing step 2

Step 3:While keeping the tail of the yarn secure between your middle finger and thumb, slide your hook under the working yarn ( the yarn that comes out of the ball).  Pull it through the loop on your hook just as you would when making a chain.

Starting the chain stitch

after the first chain is completed

 Step 4: Make as many chains as you need to reach the height of the stitches you will be using in the case I want to make one more chain to equal 2 chain to match the height of half-double crochet.  If you will are working in double make 3 chains, treble 4 etc.  These chains count as your first stitch.

My Magic loop ring after making the two chain stitches

Step 5:  At this point I put the tail and loop into my right with the hook and hold them while I set up the tension on my left hand.  I then transfer the ring and tail back the my left thumb and middle finger.

This is how I hold the yarn in my left hand.  Feel free to hold it however you are most comfortable.

With the tail and ring in my left hand

Step 6:  You can now start crocheting normally as you would in any circle.  In this case I want to do a half double crochet so I will, wrap my yarn around my hook from back to front, ( yarn over or yo) put my hook through the center of the ring, and yarn over again.   Pull the hook back out of the ring.  You will have 3 loops on the hook.  Yarn over and pull all three loops off.  Repeat this 8 more times or until you have the desired number of stitches .

3 loops on the hook

After completing my first half-double crochet

Step 7:  After you make the required number of stitches in the ring,  Garb the tail and pull in a smooth motion to tighten the circle.  You don't want to yank but you don't want to be too timid about it either you will want to pull fairly hard to make the center of your circle nice and tight.

10 half double crochet ( hdc) before pulling the ring closed.

after pulling the ring closed.

To see more of the designers participating this week visit Fresh Stitches.