Pumpkin Masquerading as a Pineapple?

Pattern: Honeycomb Bauble by Frankie Brown (sorry; no OffRav link for this)

Started: October 11, 2021

Finished: not after October 31st

Made for: Ilvermorny's Pumpkin Patch

Yarn(s): Red Heart Super Saver Stripes (100% acrylic; 236yds/215m = 141g)

• 37g of "4962 Fruity Stripes" (started with 148g; ended with 111g) = 61.9yds (body)

Needle size: 4.5mm/US 7

Notes & Photos:

Sept 26: Absolutely no decisions made for this yet but I want to create something for our Pumpkin Patch. I think Jack is a very suitable name no matter what I come up with though.

Oct 5: Had a devil of a time finding straight up orange yarn, but this yarn is kind of fun, and I think will work well with the pattern. About the pattern: no this isn't a standard pumpkin pattern. But it reminds me of the tissue paper decorations that teachers used in the 80s. Do you remember them? They laid flat and then you opened them up and they were like honeycombs. There were always brown turkey bellies for Thanksgiving, and pumpkins for Hallowe'en, and all different sizes of baubles for Christmas... You would totally know them if you saw them. This pattern is for a bauble but I'm going to add an I-cord stem to the center top and call it a pumpkin; I may have to shape the pieces a bit to look more pumpkiny. So that's my plan!

Oct 8: Here are some photos of the decorations I'm reminded of with this pattern:

Oct 11: Ready to start!

later (10:35pm): First section done!

later (5:27am): After a marathon session I have knit all 6 sections of the "pumpkin". I'll be able to stitch them together and form the main (honeycomb) body :) I'm glad this is for Ilvermorny and I can call it a magic pumpkin because these colors are like no pumpkin I've ever seen in nature! lol!

Oct 12: Well, I joined it together and frankly it looks more like a pineapple than a pumpkin. I wish I were joking:

I think I need to rethink my pumpkin plans. Marking this as done so I can focus more clearly.

Grandmother Star

Pattern: Woven Stars by Frankie Brown (as far as I know, her patterns are only available on Ravelry; this is one I've had in my library for a while)

Started: April 29, 2021

Finished: April 30, 2021

Made for: Síle aka me/ Mythology event at Ilvermorny

Yarn: Easy Knit/ Tricot Facile Bébé Luv Baby Georga (100% acrylic; 383yds/ 350m = 120g

• 0.03 skeins/ 4g of "White" = 12.8 yds

Needle size: 3.25mm/ US 3

Notes & photos: 

4/16: The April Mythology event has been announced: we're doing a quick study of African mythology. This is quite interesting as I know nothing about the mythologies of African peoples. 

I found this section of Taleweaver's introduction to be really interesting: "Many Africans believe that human spirits exist after death and live underground in a world much like the living, but upside down, sleeping during the day and coming out at night. Other groups, like the Bushmen of Southern Africa, say the dead become stars, residing in the sky. Still others believe the spirits of ancestors remain near their descendants to protect and guide them - as long as the living perform certain ceremonies and pay their ancestors due respect. Some cultures in Africa believe the soul of a dead male ancestor can be reborn in a new baby boy. Another common belief is that the souls of old men can return as snakes, which many Africans regard with respect."

Some of these beliefs are shared by other groups of people in other parts of the world. I really like the line about the Bushmen of Southern Africa saying that the dead become stars. This echoed in me today for a particular reason. I bought Mum's Mother's Day card today, and I had to stop myself from buying a card for Grandma. She passed in mid/late December and this is the first Mother's Day I haven't sent a card to her in my life; I'm 43 so this is a big change in my habits. (And yes, I was extremely blessed to have a grandparent that long; she was 98.)

I have in my pattern library a pattern called Woven Stars and my plan is to make stars for my 3 grandmothers (Mum's mum & stepmother, and Dad's maman), and Gran (aka Mum's maternal grandma) who I feel are likely to be stars shining down on me. 

4/27: I better get cracking on these! The designer used size 3.25mm needles with DK weight yarn for those shown in the pattern. I need to see what I have in a variegated. I think that would be nice and tie the four together.

4/29: Thanks to injuring my back (doing my PT approved passive stretches no less) on Tuesday, I still haven't started this. At this point I might get one done for Grandma before the deadline. Sitting up isn't my friend right now *sigh*

4/30: Half a star done! Was to ER a bit ago; I have sprained my back. Lots of rest and only light activity for the next 2-3 weeks. On the upside I might get some WIPs done. Here's the first half of the first star:

later: And finished 😊