I'm so stoked about having this pattern completed. One of my favorite discoveries of the last 2 years is crochet tape - it's pretty common in Eastern Europe crochet patterns and I've had fun learning this and then adapting the technique to new things. Crochet tape is like a motif that is worked in skinny rows until you reach your desired length. It is a great way to learn how to break free from the traditional row structure or working in the round. This was one of the main techniques that equipped me with the skills I've needed to tackle freeform crochet projects. It plays on turning your work in different directions and joining to different sections to give a very aesthetically pleasing layout.

Something that has been on my heart for a little while is a way to crochet for those I love when they're going through a hard time. The most obvious application is hats for cancer patients, but this is a fairly limited audience - and the odds are good they may just prefer a store-bought hat. When someone is struggling, I love to send flowers to brighten their day, but I know that flowers can be a hassle to deal with - and the last thing I want to do is add any extra work to someone's plate.

So I've wanted to develop a crochet pick-me-up that plays on flowers. Working flower motifs is fun, but the constant yarn changing and weaving in loose ends is not my favorite and can take a while, when you may want to get something to someone quite quickly. I developed this pattern to give the definition of flower motifs, but be able to be worked in one long piece. Using color-changing yarn means you get the plucky pop of color, without any extra work. This scarf can be worked up quickly and it is light and easy to mail.

Added bonus? Not only is every stitch imbued with the love you have poured in, but it is also like sending a hug when you can't be there in person. Now when I hear bad news and I start to wonder, "What can I do to reach out to them?" - this is my go to project. I have even started keeping color changing yarn on hand so I can be ready to hook into something, which makes me feel a little less helpless and will hopefully be a tangible reminder that our loved one is not alone.

It doesn't matter how old I get - I still sometimes doubt my mom's sagacity. Nonetheless, she is right...again. She has been telling me for years "You should make some crochet patterns." I thought this was her way of letting me know I'm "special" because I prefer not to follow someone else's instructions. But, she nudged and I decided to take a shot. While I have to admit that the need to knuckle down and focus on translating my whims into decipherable instructions is not my favorite, I am happy to finally share these beyond my own frontal cortex.

It felt somehow risky to put myself out there. Considering the sheer volume of free patterns available on the world wide web - who would want to pay for mine? And, given the centuries of crochet inventions, is there really anything new to discover? But, Mom is always right. In the last couple of days I sold my first pattern online and had one of my proposals picked up for a crochet magazine. Watch this space :) Exciting things are happening.

Thanks, Mom.