12 April 2010

Snowflake Monday

Beaded IceI had planned to do only two snowflakes for the Ravellenics, but how can anyone resist competing in an event with an awesome title such as Beading Biathlon?

In addition, I've been duly inspired by Allicats and TeachersPet, who initiated a beaded snowflake discussion on Ravelry about two months ago. Thanks, gals!

Of course, this flake may be constructed without beads.

I have tons of beads I use for eyes on my bears, lizards and other critters. It has been years since I've done any beaded crochet, and I had not tried lacing beads onto size 10 thread until my third attempt at fine tuning this flake. Most of my beads would not fit over a regular sewing needle, much less size 10 thread. For this flake, I ended up using 6/0 glass beads.

The crochet thread would not fit through any of my beading needles, so I tied a piece of sewing thread to the crocheting thread and gently slid the beads over the tiny knot after threading them onto the sewing thread with a sewing needle.

I always put about ten more beads than what I need onto the thread when creating a beaded crochet piece to make sure I have enough in case I've miscounted or a bead accidentally breaks.

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

evolution of beaded flakeFinished Size: 4.25 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 11 crochet hook, 54 beads, 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

Instructions

String beads onto thread. Keep them far enough ahead to prevent them from interfering with your work, and use one bead at a time as directed.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and 2 ch), *1 dc in ring, ch 2; repeat from * around 10 times for a total of 12 spokes; sl st in starting dc. Do not pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: *Sl st in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, tr in same space, slide one bead next to stitch after 1st loop of tr stitch (bead should be in center of tr when tr is complete), ch 3, sl st in same space, ch 1, sc in next space, ch 1, sl st in next sp, ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 6 petals; sl st in starting sl st.
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 3: *Ch 2, hdc in next ch 2 sp, 1 dc in next tr, 1 tr in same tr, ch 5 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 2 (place bead in center of chain),1 tr in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dtr in same ch, ch 4 (place bead in center of chain), trtr (yo 4 times) in same ch, ch 1, sl st in top of trtr just completed, ch 4 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dtr in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), 1 tr in same ch, ch 2 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dc in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), sl st in same ch, sl st in next ch, 1 tr in dc below, 1 dc in same dc, 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, sl st in sl st at base of petal, sc in next sc (between petals), sl st in sl st at base of next petal; repeat from * around 5 times ending with sl st in starting sl st; bind off. Weave in ends.

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

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. 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 foil. 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.

14 comments :

  1. I'd love to create some of these. (The beads are a nice touch!) But, alas, I have no crafty skills whatsoever...

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  2. Great snowflakes! Best wishes!

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  3. A tip for getting beads onto crochet thread: run the end of the thread (about 1.5") across a glue stick, roll with your fingers so it's smooth, and let dry. Gives you a nice, stiff, built-in needle to thread your beads onto. When you're done, just cut off the glued bit.

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  4. Thank you, Treeskin, for the valuable tip. I didn't have any trouble with these beads on this flake, but while making a scarf with the same beads and angora-type yarn, I tried a number of different techniques, most of which came up as huge failures, before I finally discovered using glue as a needle. Wish I'd had your wisdom before all my failed attempts!

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  5. My sister, Doris, had MS. She passed away [1997] at the age of 39 from cancer on the adrenal gland. It was bad.
    Thank you for stirring up my brain to remember that she also had MS. I had almost forgotten.
    I'll be thinking of you in the race.

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  6. Thanks, St.Debb, for noticing I missed a * on row three! What would I do without you wonderful crocheters keeping me in line!

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  7. I hope that it is ok to ask "how to" questions. On the April 10th snowflake. It has 12 spokes and 5 petals. The patterns reads sp. and otherr times space or ch 2 sp. I understand ch 2 sp, but do I crochet the sc in the previous dc or what. some patterns say space for next stitch. I just can't seem to get this one. Hum neese

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  8. Hi, Neese. Certainly you may ask questions. I will try to answer as best I can.

    Space and sp are the same in all my patterns. I try to be more consistent and use only sp, but sometimes I slip, as I did in this one.

    I'm not quite sure how you ended up with 12 spokes and yet only 5 petals. After making the first petal, you repeat it 5 more times for a total of 6. If I could see a picture or if you explain which part of the pattern you are having trouble with, I will try to guide you.

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  9. Thank you so much. That answers all.In the pattern it reads at the end of Round 2: repeat 5 x for a total of 5 petals. I am always getting mixed up whether it means 5 all together or 5 on the repeat. I started that and tore it out so many times thread was raveled. HA HA I couldn't figure out how to get 5 rinds with 12 spokes. Thanks again
    neese

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  10. Thanks, Neese! I fixed that. You are absolutely right. It should have said repeat 5 times for a total of 6. Sorry I've missed that for all these months! Thanks for being persistent!

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  11. Thank you for sharing your beautiful snowflake patterns. I had some difficulty with this one.

    In round 2, after the "sl st in the first ch 2 sp, ch 3, tr in same space, ch 3, sl st in same space, ch 1", I had to do a "sc, ch 1, sl st, ch 1" all in the same space in order to get six petals, otherwise I ran out of ch 2 spaces and only got half as many petals.

    I hope that this doesn't sound super picky of me...
    I am working on creating a large snowflake garland out off all of the snowflake patterns I can find, to decorate my house for Christmas. I am really enjoying your patterns. Thank you again.

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  12. Hi, Kristal

    I'll try working this one up again one night this week to see if I see a problem with the pattern. It's been a very long time since I've done this one, and I can't visualize the stitches without a crochet hook in my head. :)

    I would love to see a photo of your garland when you are finished!

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  13. Hello -- I have enjoyed working from "Up to Snow Good," and I have completed about a dozen of these patterns successfully. Actually, I can't seem to stop. However, I got stuck on the Ice-kissed Snowflake on page 6 when I got to Round 5. Could you confirm that the pattern is correct? It just stopped making sense. I have decided to bind off after Round 4, which makes a nice smaller snowflake, but I would happily start again if you confirm that the pattern actually works. Thank you so much for these lovely patterns. I am hoping to figure out how to add beads to some of them. That is my next challenge.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, and thank you! I'm glad I'm not the only snowflake addict! I'm not able to try to work out any patterns right now; my husband just had surgery, and I also have a full-time job. Would it be possible for you to join the Sisters of the Snowflake on Facebook and ask there? Some of the members have volunteered to help with snowflake questions while I am unable to do so, and I think most of the volunteers have all my booklets.

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