#WhenRavenclawsWed - Escape Room Breakdown

Its been a minute since I've blogged, but I have had so many requests for this info that I decided that it deserved its own post - not just a random Facebook album. 

I recently got re-married, and we had a very fun, very nerdy wedding. We love board games and escape rooms, so I HAD to include one of my scavenger-hunt style escape games. I'll do my best to break down the puzzles, both for those who didn't get a chance to play and those who are curious about building their own games in the future. 

Puzzle #1 - Triggering the puzzle
The only reason we even had programs at the wedding was to initiate "The Game". We also included some silly things like Mad Libs, mostly to take up space and to drive home our silly and nerdy vibe. There was a crossword-style trivia puzzle about us and our families that, if solved, revealed the phrase "Inside the Lantern". Each table had a 3D Printed lantern with papercut panels in a nerdy theme. Opening the lantern revealed a QR code stuck inside the lid. Scanning that would lead our guests to a google form, which was set up to auto-pilot them through the rest of the game, complete with hints.

Puzzle #2 - Hashtags
Guests were instructed to take a selfie of their team with the clock and post on social media using our wedding hashtag and #StartTheClock. The first "official" puzzle then  had a # theme. The number of guest tables we had, the number it takes to win a game of tic-tac-toe, and the first photo officially posted with our photobooth and hashtag (which we had taken at home a week in advance to test-run our DIY photobooth and set up The Game.)

Puzzle #3 -  Hands Down
Next our victims were sent to our board game table (because yes, we had a good selection of board games available at the reception) to find a game that was "Hands Down" the best. We had a vintage copy of the game Hands Down, and inside of it was a box of miscellaneous game pieces. Tokens, dice, pencils, etc. Their clue indicated that they should count the number of each color to determine the 4-digit code to move on to the next puzzle. Its worth mentioning that the "Response validation" option on our google form is what made this possible. They couldn't move on to the next puzzle until they had the correct answer. 

Puzzle #4 - Texting the Bride
So, I did a similar puzzle at a youth retreat as a kid and I have been itching to use it in one of my own builds. Guests had to text my phone, which had an auto reply set up. I loved not having to worry about my phone all day AND it allowed me to give a subtle clue. 
[Auto Reply] Thanks for texting! I'm busy marrying the love of my life today, so I am not keeping my phone in-hand. If you need something specific, try Again Later.  
The answer was "again later" and that allowed them onto the next puzzle. 

Puzzle #5 - Refer to your program
For this puzzle we simply took two copies of our programs and cut out a single word (TARDIS) and then hid those copies in the bathrooms, in those nice little amenities baskets you often find at events. Well, realistically, those baskets were only there to serve as a nice, safe hiding spot for those programs. Some guests knew right away what the missing word was, and others needed to compare to their unaltered program, but either way, they got the word and moved on to my favorite puzzle yet. 

Puzzle #6 - High Fives!
Ok, so this one wasn't even a puzzle at all. As the bride, I had things to worry about other than The Game. But as the game designer, I really wanted to observe my guests solving, stumbling, and knowing how they were progressing! My solution was to have the guests give me or my groom a high-five and in exchange, receive a "super secret code word" (Thanks!) This was BY FAR my favorite puzzle of the evening and we both got so excited any time we got a high-five. 

Puzzle #7 - Nautilus
This was probably the most difficult puzzle of The Game. Guests had to seek out a long-play game on our Board Game Table (Nautilus, which is from my shelf-of-shame...but it's been played now... kinda... ish) And then they were given a 3-digit code to find a one-word answer that would allow them to progress. If they used hints, they would be told that they only needed the instructions for the game and that the clue was essentially an Ottendorf cipher. (Which is my favorite kind of well-known cipher). This gave them the word VICTORY and advanced them to the next puzzle.

Puzzle #8 - I Spy
We had a kids table laid out with fun things for the kiddos: kinetic sand, coloring books, puzzles, and some I-Spy pages. The clue for The Game included a digital image (in case the ones on the kids table were destroyed) and one of the the amazing I-Spy puzzles from Paper Trail Designs. They used the Star Wars I-Spy and had to count the number of C-3PO, R2D2, Yoda, and Darth Vader icons. This 4 digit code set them up for the last stage of The Game. 

Puzzle #9 - Escape the Room
This puzzle was about as close as I could come to fitting an actual escape room into a wedding venue without making any permanent changes to the venue itself. First, guests were instructed to go to the coat room and find my bright orange half-marathon jacket, and they would find the next clue in the pocket. In the pocket of that jacket was a black light attached to a realtor's lock. Now, at this point they could go in a few directions. On the realtors lock was a message in black-light ink which said "suit case". If they found the suit case (also in the coat room) it had a bright orange luggage lock which required a key. The 3-digit code for the realtor lock was written in highlighter on a sign in the coat room. So, they could unlock the realtor lock to get the key to the luggage lock, which opened the front pocket of the suitcase. There, they found the final code to finish the google form, along with some winner certificates that they could take over to our photo booth. 

As a game designer, it never fails to amaze me the different directions and red herrings people will make for themselves! We had at least one team remove the blacklight from the coat room completely. Another team found an old luggage tag on the suitcase and started trying those numbers into the locks. I had envisioned that they would turn off the light and search the room with the blacklight immediately, but that was clearly not what happened every time!

In conclusion - I had SO MUCH fun making this, and it gave me endless delight that there were pieces of The Game and puzzles hiding around the room, right under everyone's noses! We had a large number of teams who started The Game, but then stopped for any number of reasons. Many were just having fun with other things, and some complained that it had too many stages. Regardless, we made sure that nobody was bored!

Make ALL the Baby Things!

Yes, thats right. Its been about a year since I last posted. But I have good reasons!

Reason #1 is that I got started making another Woven Plaid Blanket, but this time in KING SIZED.

Yes, I do know how insane that sounds. Thats why I gave myself a full year to get it done before my sister's wedding this past June. For the record, I did not get it done in time. It presented plenty of challenges, and it basically boils down to the fact that in order to weave it correctly (without shrinking it), I had the husband build a frame on which I could weave it - but the frame is also king-sized (at least in width) and it keeps me confined to the basement. Combined with the fact that I have to lean over uncomfortably in order to weave, it was a MUCH slower process than I anticipated based on the baby blanket size. The moral of the story being that I got about half of the weaving done by her bridal shower, so I presented it to her in its semi-complete status, with the promise that SOON I will get it done. Soon.

Reason #2 is that the husband and I got an awesome piece of news this February: We're expecting our first baby in October!!! Yaaaaaay!!!!

The wonders of morning sickness, followed by the feeling of "I'm so fat, why can't I bend forward" also made the weaving of the plaid blanket problematic. So instead, I decided that between me and all of my other friends who were sporting baby bumps, it was time to make ALL the Baby Things!

So, without further delay, here's most of the stuff I've been working on this summer!

Amish Puzzle Ball
Made for my cousin's baby boy Dylan who is about 1 year old.
Pattern Available Here

Baby Hat and Airplane
Made for our baby boy! He's getting an aviation themed nursery in these colors.
Hat was freehanded with hdcs, Airplane Pattern Here (requires translation)

Baby Blanket for Felicity
Pattern Available Here
Made using 5.0mm hook and single strand of Baby Yarn (Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuuggly)

C2C Baby Blanket for our Little Boy
Corner-to-Corner Pattern Here
Made Using Feza Fantastic Yarn I got on Closeout from the local boutique!

C2C Baby Blanket for another anticipated Baby Boy
Corner-to-Corner Pattern Here
Made using 11mm hook and 2 strands of worsted, held double

Genius Flower Headbands for Baby Felicity
Pattern Available Here
I really love this pattern! Very easy, quick, and adaptable. Not to mention STRETCHY!

Various Baby Boy Scrap Yarn Hats
Left: Textured Newborn Beanie (with pom-pom)
Right: Ribbed Baby Hat 
Center: Modified Version of Newborn Beanie
Rnds 5-8: Use DC cluster stitch (dc3tog, ch1, skip 1 st)
Rnd 10-12: hdc in each st

Scrap Yarn Baby Hats & Booties
Baby Bootie Pattern
Hat Pattern: Modified Version of Newborn Beanie
Rnds 5-9: Use DC cluster stitch (dc3tog, ch1, skip 1 st)
Rnd 10-11: sc in each st
I made 1 hat & pair of booties as a gift, and then I ended up making another SEVEN hats in newborn and premie sizes that were donated to the NICU at the hospital where my birth center is located. I still have enough yarn left over for a few more!

The Purse of Many Pockets

The new purse!

So, I should have published this months ago, but I've been busy. I needed a new purse and I just couldn't find one that I liked with the right amount of pockets/dividers and the right price. I hate throwing my phone in my purse and having it ring and ring and eventually go to voicemail while I dig around trying to find it.

"I just put you in here! How are you on the bottom already!"

Anyways, I decided to venture again into the world of sewing and make my own purse. I found this free pattern online and decided to run with it.

I added an extra pocket on the end so that both ends have an elastic pocket, and I omitted one of the side pockets. Inside, there is the big zipper pocket and a plain pocket on the opposite side that I made large enough to hold my kindle. I didn't use a pleather bottom, just more of the same fabric I had, and I did construct it a bit differently by sewing the ends onto the bottom and THEN sandwiching on the sides.

My straps are also longer, since I like wearing my purses cross-body for walking through the grocery store. Both of the D-rings are on the same side, so that I could get longer straps, and so that I can put my keys there. D-rings are really pointless though, plain circles would have been better.

I also added a zipper on top instead of a magnet clasp because my purse loves to jump off the front seat of my car and dump out everything onto the floor.      No. Bad purse.

Anyways, here's more pictures of the finished product!

Closer view so that you can see all the pockets!

 

Outside Elastic Pocket

Inside Elastic Pocket

All of the Inside Pockets (4 total, 2 elastic, 1 zipper, + kindle pocket)

The Crochet Lace Veil Project

So some of you have followed my journey in making my own crochet lace as the border for my wedding veil. The wedding is over, and the professional pics are in, so here's the top to bottom summary of everything I did.

Step One: Decide on a pattern. I had several attempts, seen here and here. I settled on this pattern that I found online. One of the biggest factors in the decision was the way the lace works up one motif at a time, as opposed to needing a base chain that is 17' long. HUGE advantage and I am very glad I went the motif route.

Step Two: Make the lace! Or at least until it is approximately the right length.




Step Three: Once you have what you suspect to be the correct length of lace, grab yourself a scrap piece of fabric or tulle, and cut it to the dimensions you want the final veil to be. Then starting at the beginning of your lace piece, pin it on around the edge. This is dual-purpose. It helps you make sure you have the correct amount of lace, while at the same time, it lays the lace flat (at least in perspective to the fabric) so that you can make sure you haven't twisted it before you join it into a round piece.



Step Four: Make more lace as needed. I found out that I was about 12-18" short after pinning my lace onto the tulle template. I was definitely bummed, but at least it looked pretty!

Step Five: Now that you're done making all the lace, join that lace into a round! Add another row if you pattern calls for it, or if you want to create a more stable section for sewing it on. My pattern had a second "round" that was done in the back ch loops.

Step Six: Remove all of the lace from the template piece. Wash it GENTLY in some warm water with just a dab of dish soap. If your lace color matches the color of your dress (or whatever color you want it to be) move to Step Eight. Otherwise, you're going to want to dye your lace.



Step Seven: Tea Dye your lace. Start by test dying any samples of your thread, to make sure you know how much tea and how long it needs to soak to get the desired shade. Dye it and let it dry completely. If you are insane, you could block it now while the lace is wet. However, I am not that kind of crazy, and since my lace was cotton, I decided just to iron it.

Step Eight: Press your lace. Enjoy watching it unfold into something beautiful! Be warned, now that your lace is nice and flat and arranged, it is probably even longer than it was before. The template you made before may be too small, depending upon how much your lace stretches.

Step Nine: Call in reinforcements! Extra sets of hands will help with the remaining stages!



Step Ten: Cut the veil material (sheer or tulle) to approximately the right size. We made mine quite a bit bigger than the template. We folded it into quarters, weighted it in place with some heavy books, and used the edge of grandma's dining room table to get a nice gentle oval shape.



Step Eleven: Pin the lace around the edge. We found that once we pinned it, our tulle was too large. We had to un-pin everything and trim just a little bit of the tulle to get it to fit correctly. I am sure there is a way to avoid this, but for us, it didn't take too much time, and it worked out alright. It was easier to cut down a little bit of tulle than to have too little - since the lace couldn't easily change!



Step Twelve: Carefully sew the lace around the edge. We hid our sewing stitches in amongst the crochet stitches, so we just used a matching ivory thread. Tiny stitches!



Step Thirteen (optional): If you want to wear the veil on a comb, decide how you want to fold it an wear it. I found some great resources to help with this step. Wrap the comb in scraps of tulle and sew them in place, then gather your veil gently on a thread, and sew the gathered section of veil onto the comb. Add sparkles if you like!

Step Fourteen: Wear it with Pride! Pass it down to friends or family who want to wear it too!

Woven Plaid Baby Blanket

This baby blanket is so darn CUTE! I love the technique involved here as well, but I will be honest, I was a skeptic when I first read about it. I decided a baby blanket was the way to test it out.

It is incredibly simple and fairly quick to work up. You're basically making a mesh stitch blanket that is striped, and then weaving the exact same stripe pattern perpendicular through your mesh work. SO EASY!

Here's what you came for!

Hook: 6.5mm
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (~260yds each of Soft Navy, Soft White, Light Blue, and Country Blue)
Additional Supplies: Yarn Needle (or bobby pin)
Pattern: Woven Scotch Plaid Afghan (also available on Ravelry)
Here is the grid for the striping pattern I used. It turned out MUCH larger than I had anticipated, but I still think it looked great in the end. Next time, I might try a simpler striping pattern.

I started mine with a base chain of 123sts and went until it was about 36" x 36" Large. I added a row of SC sts along the outer edge to hide my tie-ins. If I were doing this project again, I might wait until after the weaving to do that, as there was a little change in the shape during weaving.

I marked the middle stitch and cut some of my weaving strands about 60" long. People on Ravelry complained about not having enough excess, and I felt like more was better for this project. Using the middle stitch to mark the middle of my weaving pattern, start weaving with a yarn needle. You weave with a single piece of yarn, doubled over, and you'll do two of these into EACH mesh stitch - alternating your ups and downs. You'll end up with 4 strands in each mesh (two double-strands woven).

I changed my mind and ended up using the light blue as the center section,
but you can see the first double-strand being woven here. 

As you weave, be careful to pull on your blanket. The weaving snugs it up a bit, and you're going to want to keep it as even as possible. I found that it was better to work on a table or another flat surface for this part. Unfortunately it is not a lap project. Also, after my first few strands proved to be a good length, I had my hubby build me a template so that I could cut 20 strands at a time.

When you're done weaving, tie your strands together top to bottom and then again left to right. After that, you can cut your fringe to any length you desire and you're all DONE!

Like I said, this project turned out so CUTE! And as a bonus, I got it completed and shipped off before the baby arrived. The expectant mommy and daddy got it yesterday and they loved it!