Rona Lockdown Free Crafts Part 3: Ice Princess
Two of my kids had a fever this weekend (they are fine now), so we are on day 4 of a 14 day self-isolation lockdown. Thank goodness I have nice neighbours who have kindly agreed to take down my trash, because that was my biggest concern. (We might run out of fruit and veg, but we have a large supply of rice, beans, and cornmeal, and more importantly, tea,* so we will be fine.)
And guys, I know we are living in weird times, but please remember: it's not all doom and gloom.
Okay, I'm like Ebenezer Scrooge (I'd rather be like Scrooge McDuck and have a walk-in safe full of gold coins, but I don't). I don't celebrate any winter holidays (that's how I met my husband), but that didn't stop me from designing this fine piece of winter jewellery. I called it 'Ice Princess' to reflect my very stoic holiday feelings. Snowflake aside, the necklace works fine as a standalone, or you can put a different pendant on instead, although everyone fancies a snowflake necklace, even during the lockdown.
FIN.
Ice Princess
Introduction
Okay, I'm like Ebenezer Scrooge (I'd rather be like Scrooge McDuck and have a walk-in safe full of gold coins, but I don't). I don't celebrate any winter holidays (that's how I met my husband), but that didn't stop me from designing this fine piece of winter jewellery. I called it 'Ice Princess' to reflect my very stoic holiday feelings. Snowflake aside, the necklace works fine as a standalone, or you can put a different pendant on instead, although everyone fancies a snowflake necklace, even during the lockdown.
Materials List
- J. & P. Coats Royale Metallic Crochet Thread (88% mercerized cotton, 12% metallic; 100 yds [91 m]/Size 10;): 226G Natural/Gold, 1 ball. Yarn distributed by Coats & Clark.
- 1.50 mm crochet hook. (Some say this is a size 7 hook, but I have a Boye USA hook that says it's a size 8. So there.)
- Tapestry needle
- Sewing needle
- Sewing thread
- Stitch marker
- Button (I use the 3/8 - 1/2" diameter spares that come with dress shirts)
Finished Size
Finished necklace is about 14" across.
Gauge
34 sc = 4 inches
Notes
Stitch height is not important and will not adversely affect the finished design.
Special stitches:
sc2tog (decrease) – insert hook in st, yo and draw loop through st (2 loops on hook), yo, insert hook in next st, yo and draw loop through st (3 loops on hook), yo and draw loop through all loops on hook.
The Pattern
Necklace
With MC, ch 115 (counts as 114 + turning ch).
Row 1: Starting in second ch from hook, sc in each of next 55 ch, sc2tog over next 2 ch, ch 3, sc2tog over next 2 ch, sc in each ch to end, turn. (112 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each of first 56 sc, [2 sc, ch 7, 2 sc] all in ch-3 sp, sc in each sc to end, turn. (116 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each of next 31 sts, *ch 5, sk 3 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts, * rep from * to * 4 more times, sc2tog, work 9 sc into ch-7 sp, sc2tog, **sc in each of next 2 sts, ch 5, sk 3 sts, ** rep from ** to ** 4 more times, sc in each st to end. (93 sc)
Do not fasten off - do not pass go - do not collect 200 dollars: we are making a loop at the end of this row and then finishing up the last row of the necklace.
Button Loop: Ch 12, sl st in first ch to form ring, work 18 sc into ring, sl st in first sc to close round.
Last row: Starting in last sc of Row 3 (not the loop), sc in each of next 31 sts, *work [3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc] all into next ch-5 sp, sc in each of next 2 sts, * rep from * to * 4 more times, sc2tog, sc in each of next 3 sts, work [sc, ch 5, sc] all in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, sc2tog, **sc in each of next 2 sts, work [3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc] all into next ch-5 sp, ** rep from ** to ** 4 more times, sc in each st to end, fasten off. (152 sc)
Snowflake Motif
Ch 16, sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Work 24 sc into ring, sl st in first sc to close round. (24 sc)
Rnd 2: *Ch 9, sk next 3 sts, sc in next st,* rep from * to * 4 more times, ch 9, sk next 3 sts, sl st in sl st of prev. round. (6 ch-9 spaces)
Rnd 3: *Work 6 sc into first ch-9 sp, [ch 9, starting in 6th ch from hook, sl st into each of the 4 rem ch sts], work 6 sc into same ch-9 sp, [ch 4, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sl st into each of 3 ch sts], * rep from * to * for each ch-9 sp around, sl st in sl st of prev row, fasten off, weave in end.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Block pieces (this should make the knitters happy) by pinning it, spritzing it with water and/or steaming it, pressing it gently with a warm iron, and letting it sit overnight. Before anyone mentions that this might melt the metallic-bit of the yarn, if you are careful and use a low setting, you should be fine (I was), but you can put a cloth or towel between the iron and the necklace if you want to be extra careful.
Starching the snowflake is a good way to stiffen it up.
Sew snowflake to ch-5-sp at top of necklace.
To fasten the necklace, sew a small button (I find the spares that come with dress shirts work well for this) onto the non-looped end of the necklace and button it into the loop end.
FIN.
* P.S. Tea. TEA! What sort of tea do you like? I pretty much like them all, but Green is my favourite. I'm currently enjoying Mango & Bergamot by Whittard of Chelsea, Pure & Simple Green Tea by Qi, and a delicious Japanese ceremonial grade matcha that I got from the 90% off bargain bin at Holland and Barrett.
I fell in love with white needles tea, but it's sick expensive. It's so smooth and bright, but still some clean earthiness. And the golden color is so pretty, it prompted me to get clear glass tea cups like they use in TV coffee ads.
ReplyDeleteRepeating my comment here, just in case someone might like the tip:
I would probably give the pendant a good soaking in nearly super-saturated epsom salt solution. Let it sit for 10 minutes, starting with near boiling water. Take it out, let it drip, then block it. I like this better than starch because it lasts longer/less susceptible to humidity AND it make the piece sparkle. It's how I make Xmas ornaments. My MIL has a set I made her over 20 years ago, and they're still stiff and they still sparkle!