14 December 2009

Snowflake Monday


This flake has kind of a fun story behind it. I was standing on the train one evening late in November. Standing because the train was packed. We were like sardines, extremely tightly crammed. I couldn't reach into my bag and pull out something to crochet.


After the first couple of stops, a few people deboarded, and I finally had some elbowroom. Now there wasn't enough time left to make anything. I noticed a Parade of Lights poster on the glass across from me (the view having been entirely blocked while the train was still full). The colorful advertisement was covered with computer-generated snowflakes, some of which had only five sides! Three of the flakes looked like fun crochet challenges, so I pulled a piece of paper out of my bag and tried to draw, still standing on a moving train, the most interesting flakes. Needless to say, my sketches are a bit shaky.

One flake had a big hole in the middle, and I didn't particularly like that feature, but I liked the edging. So I decided to fill in the hole with a hexagon of solid crochet instead of a big empty circle. I designed four flakes before I finally fine-tuned this pattern to just the way I like it.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 7 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 4 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Parade of Lights Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1:Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into ring, * ch 2, 2 dc into ring; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of six spikes; ch 1, hdc into 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 2 sp. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into space directly below, *ch 1, 2 dc into next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 2 dc into same ch 2 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 2 dc into first ch 1/sc space for a total of 12 spikes in a hexagon shape; ch 2, sl st into 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc, *1 dc in next ch 1 space, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 space, ch 2, 1 dc in same ch 2 space, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 dc in next ch 1 space, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 dc in same ch 2 sp, sl st into 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc, *ch 1, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 dc in same ch 2 sp, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 5: 1 sc in same ch as sl st, *ch 3, 1 tr in next ch 1 space, ch 3, sl st in top of tr, ch 4, skip 1 dc, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, 1 dc in same ch 2 space, ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 5 ch, ch 8, dc in 7th ch from hook, ch 4, dc in same ch, ch 6, sl st in same ch, sl st in next ch, sl st in last sc of branch, ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 4 ch, sl st in ch of last sc of branch, sc in next ch, dc in next ch, ch 1, 1dc in same ch 2 sp in main body of flake, 1 sc in same ch 2 sp, sc in each of next 3 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat, sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

19 comments :

  1. Love your snowflakes! Is it just me? I couldn't find a "follow me" button? I would love to keep up with your blog.

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  2. I'm always on the lookout for well designed, attractive snowflakes - which this is - so thankyou for sharing

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  3. I love the crochet bears at the top of this page. Can I ask were you found the crochet patteren?. I love to do bears. One room is full of bears that I have done.

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  4. Sadly, I have not written the pattern for the bears yet. If you notice they are all a little different, it's because I make them while on public transportation as I commute to work. I make them up as I go. I can't remember from one day to the next how many stitches I did! But there is a thread bear group on Ravelry and on Yahoo Groups. The Yahoo Groups division has some free micro bear patterns to get beginners started.

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  5. Here is a link to some great free bear and bear wear patterns.

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  6. i LOVE YOU SNOWFLAKES! YOU DO GREAT WORK. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS GROUP OR CLUB THAT DOES SNOWFLAKES AS WELL. IF THERE IS HOW CAN I SEE THEIR WORK AS WELL, THANKS neese

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  7. Thank you, Anonymous! Here is the link to the snowflake group on Crochetville, and Ravelry has a group as well.

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  8. Your work is absolutely beautiful! I love making a few new snowflakes every year for our tree, and by the time I will be done, it will be covered in flakes! Thanks so much for sharing your patterns with us. I'm doing my first craft fair next month and looking forward to having a few of these on my table.

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  9. Oh boy! Very beautiful snowflake!
    This was just posted on one of my crochet groups....
    You are one super talented woman!

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  10. I love to Crochet and I have done some snowflakes and some bells...they look so nice on the christmas tree, as well as make such good gifts. Please keep up with patterns, as I alway like to find new ones. Love this site.

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  11. Ohhh. A snowflake group! Cool. I love your work. Going to post a link to your blog from a couple of mine.

    Best,

    Dana @ Bookgirl Knitting.

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  12. I agree with Chris. Wish you had a follow button too. :)

    Dana @ Bookgirl Knitting

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  13. Chris and Dana, there is a follow button on my blog, beneath the archive on the column on the right. Thanks for your kind words!

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  14. Best use of commute time I can think of! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks, Anonymous!

      I always try to make good use of commuting time. It's fun when a surprise bonus like this comes up!

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  15. Dear Snowcatcher, You are a goldmine of beautiful patterns. I don't know if I'll be able to manage finishing them all during the busy holiday season, but our school is collecting snowflakes to commemorate the 26 students and staff who died at Sandy Hook Elementary. Once we come back to school, we will send them to the Newtown PTA. With your wonderful ideas, I think I will be able to find a unique pattern for each person. There is nothing like making something for someone...This is part of a spiritual journey as well.

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  16. Beautiful snowflake! Thanks for sharing your pattern with us! :)

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  17. Thanks for the pattern! It's really beautiful!

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