Month: April 2020

To donate directly to Vascular Birthmarks Foundation HERE.

Vascular Birthmarks Foundation has become a cause that is near and dear to my heart. In 2015, my son Gavyn was born with a Port-Wine Stain Birthmark (PWS) on the left side of his face and head.

Our Journey

When Gavyn was first born, the pediatrician at the hospital told my husband and me that the redness on his face and head wasn’t bruising from the delivery, but was a Port-Wine Stain Birthmark.  She gave us a quick overview but wanted to wait to talk to his normal pediatrician and go from there.  That evening we did our own research and learned that every birthmark is individually unique, just like the person who is born with it.

Some birthmarks are small, some are large; some can be dark, some can be light.  Depending on where the birthmark is, it can cause other medical issues. One main medical concern with Gavyn’s birthmark, since part of it is over his eye, is that he can develop glaucoma. We see an ophthalmologist every year to be proactive regarding this concern.

Another concern was the psychological effects Gavyn’s birthmark could have on him as he grew older. Would kids bully him because he is different? We didn’t know if he would wear his birthmark as a badge of honor or if it would make him self-conscious. After consulting with a few dermatologists, my husband and I decided that laser treatments to help reduce the redness of Gavyn’s birthmark would be best for him. Four years later, I’m really glad that we made the decision we did.

In March 2016 Gavyn had his first laser treatment. Both my husband and I were nervous wrecks the whole 20 minutes he was having the procedure done. Over the course of the rest of the year, Gavyn underwent five more treatments. Each one was easier than the last, except the final one.  He was 18 months old at that point, and I think by then he became more aware of what was going on. We were happy with the results and came to the conclusion that if he wants to have more laser treatments in the future, it would be up to him.

Spreading Awareness

Every year on May 15^th, International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day, we participate in the #putonyourbirthmark social media campaign. My daughter and I draw hearts on our left cheeks and post our pictures to help spread joy and awareness for vascular birthmarks. I also send a note to her teachers about the reason behind the heart on her cheek, and they are just as supportive.

My Hopes For The Future

Gavyn’s birthmark and his story are uniquely his. In Gavyn’s case, he has the “ideal” birthmark — it’s just on the surface and doesn’t affect his brain or mouth. The laser treatments worked and lightened how red his birthmark was. Many people and families aren’t as lucky as we were.

With the money raised, other families that aren’t as fortunate as ours will have access to the best resources to help themselves or loved ones who are born with vascular birthmarks. I don’t want other parents to worry about the costs of the many surgeries that their child needs. I don’t want kids to feel like they are “less than” because they are different.

No matter what the decision, I hope that each person born with a vascular birthmark learns to wear their birthmark as a badge of honor. They were born uniquely different for a reason!

Follow Crochets By Trista on:

Facebook
 Instagram
Pinterst
 Etsy
 Ravelry

My Diamond Shawl is the fourth pattern available in the ‘Birthstone Collection.’  The theme for 2020, where each month I have a cowl, scarf, or shawl pattern in the color of that month’s birthstone.

Other patterns available in the Birthstone Collection:
Garnet Cowl – January
Amethyst Scarf – February
Zoe’s Aquamarine Infinity Scarf – March
Emerald Asymmetrical Shawl – May
Pearl Infinity Cowl – June
Ruby Shawl – July
Peridot Shawl– August
Sapphire Shawl – September
Opal Shawl – October
Citrine Scarf – November
Turquoise Scarf – December

The Yarn

Months ago when I had decided that I would design a collection around each months birthstones, I knew that I wanted a white yarn, but with a little extra something to it. When searching the shelves of my local craft store, I finally found it. Bernat Baby Coordinates is perfect for the vision that I had.

As you can see in the picture below, the yarn is white with an added shimmer to it. With this extra shimmer within the yarn, it will help bring the illusion of the facets of a cut diamond.

The Pattern

From the beginning, I just knew that the design had to be in the shape of a diamond. I had a ton of questions going through my head. How was I going to get this to work out? How would I set my design apart from others? What’s the extra something that I could add to the original thoughts?

I then had my “Eureka” moment. I can make the shawl in the shape of a diamond made up of smaller diamonds! That’s when I got to work on the design.

Once I figured out the shape of the diamond I was looking for, the design just starting working up so quickly. It did take me a little while to get the wording down correctly though.

Standing Double Crochet/Long Chain Double Crochet/Chainless Starting Double Crochet

When I first started the design, I wasn’t liking the traditional chain 3 (or even 2) at the beginning of the row. There was too much of a gap between the first and second stitches. This gap was throwing off the clean look of the diamond shape.

I’ve done a few variations of the Starting Double Crochet/Long Chain Double Crochet/Chainless Starting Double Crochet in the past. They are essentially all work up the same and create the same result. I advise trying each one and seeing which one you prefer the most. I used the ‘Long Chain Double Crochet’ in this pattern and called it ‘Starting Double Crochet.’

My favorite videos for these types of stitches are:
– Improved Chainless Starting Double Crochet – Tamara Kelly of Moogly Blog.
– Long Chain Double Crochet – Michelle Ferguson of Two Brothers Blankets *note – left handed version, but still the same technique for right handed.

Stitch Definition:
Pull up your loop to the height of your usual Double Crochet. Yarn over, insert into the 1^st St, yarn over, pull through the Stitch, yarn over, pull through two loops on the hook, yarn over, pull through the remaining two loops on your hook.

Supplies:

– Approximately 750 Yards of Bernat Baby Coordinates
– H/5.00 mm Crochet Hook
– Measuring Tape
– Scissors
– Yarn Needle

Availabilty

The Diamond Shawl pattern is now available to purchase on both Ravelry and Etsy.

Join the
“Crochets By Trista Crochet Group“
on Facebook.

Follow Crochets By Trista on:
Facebook
 Instagram
 Pinterst
 Etsy
 Ravelry