Posted on by monsea

Crochet Crafts: Library Themed

Having worked at the library for several months, I have met many wonderful staff members who help keep our building running and who support students. Among these staff members (and student employees), a running theme between them that I have noticed is that many partake in fabric arts (things like crochet, knitting, quilting, etc.). So, I thought it was only fitting to write a blog post about different library-themed crocheted crafts. I myself am only a beginner crocheter with just a few projects under my belt, so the crafts that I will be recommending are best suited for beginners.

If you are new to crochet and need help figuring out where to get your supplies, there are a lot of places to buy from. I typically buy my yarn and hooks from Michael’s or Joann Fabrics and Crafts. These stores have a great selection of both value yarn and expensive yarn. If you go to these stores and nothing piques your interest, Hobbii is also a great website to check out for yarn supplies (bear in mind, Hobbii is based in Denmark, so you will have to account for shipping costs). Additionally, you can go to any local yarn store and have a wonderful selection to choose from.

Starting off in a new hobby can be overwhelming because you do not always know what to buy. As a beginner, I would recommend that you buy the yarn of your choice, a hook, and some sort of sewing needle (I like to use these ones from Susan Bates). When buying the hook, make sure the size of it corresponds to the yarn that you purchased. To find out what hook size you need, check out the label on the yarn you buy (the label typically has information like the weight of the yarn, the type of yarn, hook size, and needle size).

Tassel Bookmark

Click here for tutorial

This pattern is easy to follow with both a written and video tutorial to work from! If you would prefer the bookmark without the tassel, you can totally skip that step; the bookmark will look very nice regardless! This pattern has single crochets together, which (if you have never done those before) is essentially 2 or more unfinished single crochets crocheted together. If you know how to single crochet, you can do single crochets together.

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Sirdar Cotton DK Sunshine
  • Hook size: 4 mm (G/6)

Flower Bookmark

Click here for tutorial

This pattern is easy to follow and results in a very cute flower bookmark! This pattern is divided into 2 parts, one part dedicated to the petal portion of the flower and the other part for the stem. Because these two parts are crocheted separately, the petals need to be sewed on to the stem. If you have not sown crocheted pieces together before, here is a helpful video to watch!

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, half double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Solid Worsted Value Yarn Big Twist Orange, Luxe Merino Solid Yarn Loops and Threads Avacado
  • Hook size: 5.00 mm (H/8) for flower and 4.00 mm (G/6) for stem

Glasses pouch

Click here for tutorial

This pattern might look intimidating at first because of the drawstrings you need to make, but it is actually pretty easy! While this pattern does not have a video tutorial, the instructions are easy to follow and the pictures illustrate the steps well. If you have bigger frames, then I would recommend chaining more for the starting chain than what the pattern suggests.

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Winter Glow Light Worsted Pale Lavender/Powder/Green Tea/Cardamom
  • Hook size: 5 mm (H/8)

Book sleeve

Click here for tutorial

Book sleeves are perfect for protecting your book. If you do not feel comfortable crocheting with two strands at once (as suggested in the tutorial), then you can certainly size up the yarn you use and crochet with just the one strand. If you choose to size up, I would recommend using a bulky weight yarn (weight 5). This pattern requires you to sew on a button, which might sound difficult, but the tutorial (which is a video) will show you how to do it. If you prefer, you can always omit the button step, just know that your book would have a chance of falling out of the sleeve.

  • Stitches to know: single crochet, half double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Solid Worsted Value Yarn Big Twist Grape, Solid Worsted Value Yarn Big Twist Orange
  • Hook size: 6.00 mm (J/10)

Book worm

Click here for tutorial

Who better to accompany you to the library than a book worm? This pattern recommends 80 chains, but I preferred a shorter tail and only chained 65. You will need extra supplies for this pattern, such as small googly eyes and a hot glue gun. Sadly, I did not manage to find any googly eyes small enough for my worm, so I ended up stitching on some yarn with black thread instead.

  • Stitches to know: double crochet, slip stitch, chain stitch
  • Yarn I used: Winter Glow Light Worsted Pale Lavender/Powder/Green Tea/Cardamom
  • Hook size: 5.00 mm (H/8)

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If you want to crochet more things but don’t know where to start, you can check out some crocheting books from our library!

DISCLAIMER: The books mentioned above contain a range of difficulty levels, so they may not be as beginner friendly. Don’t let that stop you from giving them a try though!

 

Posted on by monsea

Attending Community College Doesn’t Have to be Shameful

Graduating from high school is a well-known life milestone. At this point in your life, one of the most frequently asked questions that you receive is “What university are you going to?” This question can be intimidating for many reasons. Some people aren’t committed to a university yet, some people aren’t pursuing higher education, and maybe some people are going to their family’s long-time rival university. For me, however, this question was intimidating because I wasn’t enrolling in a university: I was enrolling in community college.

For as long as I can remember, community colleges have been perceived as the schools for delinquent students who will end up working dead-end jobs. Upon further research, it appears that the media consistently portrays community college students as “mediocre, probably losers, and usually unsympathetic,” often making them the punchline of a joke (6). Because of the negative connotation latched on to the idea of community college, I became hesitant and embarrassed to share my post-high-school plans. When I would tell people about my plan, I would hastily add that I planned to transfer to UW Bothell after receiving my associate’s. Now that I have graduated from Cascadia College and am in my second year at UW Bothell, I realize that attending community college is truly nothing to be ashamed about.

One of the advantages of community college (and one of my main reasons for going to a 2-year institution) is that it is much more cost-effective. According to an article published by US News & World Report, the cost of tuition for community college is about ⅓ of the cost of tuition for universities (7). For example, the typical in-state tuition for Cascadia College is slated at around $4,678 while in-state tuition for the University of Washington is $12,224 (4). If you’re planning on transferring to a university after college, another advantage is that many universities have programs with community colleges that allow for easy transferring of credits. This type of education plan is referred to as the 2+2 model (3). Additionally, community college offers great experience and training for jobs. Martha Parham, the senior vice president of public relations for the American Association of Community Colleges, has stated that different career programs offered by community colleges have a “highly applied nature” that “prepares students for entering the workforce” (7).

Now having experienced community college classes and university classes, I can say that the quality of education between these two is the same. One of the other stereotypes of community college is that the classes are not rigorous or of good quality, however this is not the case. During my time at Cascadia College, the classes I took definitely required a great amount of effort, with the material being challenging and engaging. One of my worries upon entering UW Bothell was not being prepared enough for my classes. Because my foundational knowledge about biology was gained in community college, I felt that I would fall behind in the biology classes at UW Bothell. Fortunately, I realized that Cascadia did prepare me for these classes. Many of the topics discussed in classes had already been introduced in my previous classes, and I was able to easily comprehend new topics. Furthermore, the amount of homework between these institutions did not differ greatly, which was another worry of mine.

Despite my good experience with community college, I understand some of the discrepancies that people may have with it. For example, a study found that the percentage of community college students who did not earn a degree and that were no longer enrolled in community college was around 50% (5). That being said, more disenfranchised groups have a higher likelihood of attaining that bachelor’s degree (1). Additionally, a portion of funding for community colleges, especially in Washington state, depend on property taxes (2). As a result, the community college experience will vary depending on the location of the college. Because of this, I also recognize that my experience at Cascadia is not going to be universal for community college students everywhere. I do believe that many of the problems that face community colleges lies within a much larger conversation about federal funding and stigmatization.

In summation, community college has its own great benefits that should not be overshadowed by its 2-year institution status. The knowledge gained in community college has the same educational value as classes from a university. Many benefits can be gleaned from community college, such as work experience and lower tuition costs. While more work needs to be done in sufficiently funding community colleges nationwide and in removing stigmatization surrounding community college, there is nothing inherently wrong about attending community college.

Check out Cascadia College and University of Washington Bothell!

References

(1) Brand, Jennie, et al. “The Community College Effect Revisited: The importance of attending to heterogeneity and complex counterfactuals.” Sociological Science, vol. 1, 27 Oct. 2014, pp. 448–465, https://doi.org/10.15195/v1.a25.

(2) Burke, Ethelda, et al. “Key Facts about Higher Education in Washington.” Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2011.

(3) “Community College.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 28 Aug. 2023, educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/research-your-options/community-college.

(5) Goldrick-Rab, Sara. “Challenges and opportunities for improving community college student success.” Review of Educational Research, vol. 80, no. 3, 1 Sept. 2010, pp. 437–469, https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654310370163.

(6) LaPaglia, Nancy. Storytellers: The Image of the Two-Year College in American Fiction and in Women’s Journals. LEPS Press, Northern Illinois University, 1995.

(7) Warner, Andrew. “5 Reasons to Consider Community College.” U.S. News & World Report, 19 May 2022, www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/reasons-to-consider-community-college.

 
Posted on by monsea

Flowers to Use in a Native Garden

If you are considering making a garden, you should consider starting with a native garden.

There is an amazing variety of benefits that planting a native garden will bring. One benefit of native plants is that they require less water (though they will need some help during the infancy years). Through their deep root system, native wildflowers cause soil to soak up more water (9). As a result, they also reduce erosion and flooding (5). The improvement of water quality also means that these gardens need little to no fertilizer (7). Additionally, native plants bring about pollinators and other native wildlife. These plants will naturally attract birds, butterflies, and bees, and will also provide shelter for other wildlife (9). Not only will this boost the biodiversity of the area, but it will also improve the genetic diversity of surrounding plants as well–which is a vital part of ensuring a healthy and long-standing plant population (9). And because these plants are native to the environment, they have a much better chance of establishing quickly and of handling the weather conditions (1). Native plants and wildflowers will also be more resistant to native pests and disease (7). If you’re still not convinced by the benefits of a native garden, then I should also mention that you would be saving money with a native garden because they are so low maintenance (1). 

I know that the idea of starting a new garden from scratch can be quite intimidating and overwhelming, so I am here to help! I’ll be listing some native flowers that you should consider adding into your garden. By the end of the post I will also list helpful links on tips and tricks for getting started with a native garden.

Before I begin listing the different types of Pacific Northwest flowers and plants, it is important that you familiarize yourself with some common gardening terms. These terms will also be helpful to know if you choose to do research of your own!

  • Perennial – Plants that live for two or more years
  • Annual – Herbaceous plants that live for a year
  • Bloom season – When flowering plants begin to bloom, typically Spring or Summer
  • Light requirement – How much light intake a plant needs to thrive (e.g. Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Dappled Sun, Full Shade)
    • Full Sun – Plant requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight
    • Partial Sun – Plant requires 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight
    • Partial Shade – Plant requires around 4 to 6 hours of sunlight, however emphasis morning light and prevent afternoon light
    • Dappled Sun – Plant requires sunlight filtered through leaves and branches of trees
    • Full Shade – Plant requires less than 3 hours of direct sunlight


Before I begin listing flowers to plant, please note that these flowers will be native to the Pacific Northwest (PNW). If you are hoping to plant a native garden but are not in the PNW, click this link to find native plants in your area (USA only).

 

Anemone oregana – Oregon windflower

A pair of Oregon windflowers, with light purple petals.
More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Spring

Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade

When to plant: Fall

 

Camassia quamash – Common camas

Several common camas in a field of green, long grass. The flowers are tall and have light blue petals.
More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Spring

Light requirement: Full sun

When to plant: Fall, Early Winter

Fun facts: Deer and elk graze on common camas! It is also attracts pollinators like birds, butterflies, and honeybees. Many Native American tribes in the PNW have utilized the camas bulb and root as a food source. These flowers are also found on our campus! Visit this UWB site to learn more about the plant!

 

Cassiope mertensiana – White mountain heather

Close-up photo of white mountain heathers. The stem of the flowers bend downward and the opening of the flower faces the ground. The petals are white.
More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Summer

Light requirement: Full sun

When to plant: Early Fall

Fun facts: The Nlakaʼpamux have used these flowers to treat tuberculosis.

 

Chamaenerion angustifolium – Fireweed

Field of fireweeds. The flowers are long and their petals are a bright pink.
More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Summer

Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade

When to plant: Fall

Fun facts: This plants can be used as erosion control. They attract many pollinators like bees, birds, butterflies, and moths! Native American tribes of the PNW have used this plant to treat skin boils and upset stomachs. These tribes also use the plant in foods and drinks!

 

Linum lewisii var. lewisii – Prairie flax

Field of prairie flax. The petals are a purple-ish blue hue.
More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Spring, Summer

Light requirement: Full sun

When to plant: Fall

Fun facts: This plant has been used to in medicines to treat ailments such as sore throats, constipation, colds, and coughs. It also has a nutty flavor when cooked (do not eat raw as it contains cyanide)!

 

Sedum spathulifolium – Broadleaf stonecrop

Numerous broadleaf stonecrops on top of a rocky surface. The flowers are a bright yellow.
More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Spring, Summer

Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade

When to plant: Early Spring

Fun facts: These flowers attract pollinators like honeybees and butterflies! In Native American tribes of the PNW, these plants have been used to ease childbirth, to heal bleeding wounds, and to treat sore gums. They are non-toxic for pets!

 

Helpful resources to get started with:

An e-book in the UWB library about gardening with PNW plants!

How to plan out your yard for native plants.

A guide for native garden landscaping.

Native plant list of western Washington (includes trees, shrubs, and ferns!)

A guide for making a butterfly puddling station!

A guide for an insect watering station!

A video on PNW plants and how to plant them.

Guide on container gardening if you don’t have a yard.

 

Have fun planting!

 

References

  1. 5 Reasons Native Plants Help You Save Money and the Planet | asla.org. www.asla.org/nativeplantssavemoney.aspx.
  2. Butler, Joe. “How to Plant and Grow Sedum (Stonecrop).” Gardener’s Path, 14 Oct. 2023, gardenerspath.com/plants/succulents/grow-sedum.
  3. Eden Brothers. “How to Plant Anemone Bulbs – Eden Brothers Planting Guides.” Eden Brothers, 13 Dec. 2022, grow.edenbrothers.com/planting-guide/anemone-bulbs.
  4. “Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – the Botanic Garden of Texas.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4 Dec. 2023, www.wildflower.org.
  5. Native Gardening. www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/Native_Gardening/index.shtml.
  6. USDA Plants Database. plants.usda.gov.
  7. Verlinde-Azofeifa, Sarah. Gardening With Natives. 6 Apr. 2023, www.wnps.org/native-gardening.
  8. Western Blue Flax – Linum Lewisii. montana.plant-life.org/cgi-bin/species03.cgi?Linaceae_Linumlewisii.
  9. What’s so Great About Native Plants? | EMSWCD. emswcd.org/native-plants/native-plant-benefits.
  10. White Mountain-heather – Cassiope Mertensiana. montana.plant-life.org/cgi-bin/species03.cgi?Ericaceae_Cassiopemertensiana.
  11. “White Mountain-heather • Cassiope Mertensiana.” Biodiversity of the Central Coast, www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/white-mountain-heather-bull-cassiope-mertensiana.html.