30 April 2012

Snowflake Monday

Cast Off Snowflake

The cast is off! And this is the first snowflake I designed with my right hand free once again!

While I was pinning my Castaway Snowflake, The Lizard asked if I could make another snowflake just like it, but with chains long enough to pull from the center all the way to the outer ring of the snowflake. His request, combined with fancy new colors of hand-dyed thread that arrived in the mail before my bike wreck and have been patiently waiting to inspire me for more than a month now, resulted in the creation of this week’s Cast Off Snowflake.

I was so excited to finally crochet with thread again and to be using brand new colors of thread, I, um, messed up yet again by somehow not noticing the extra point in the cherry chocolate-hued snowflake until the final picot of the final round. I couldn’t bear unraveling the entire flake! I’m thinking my prototype snowflake might be a great thing to send to my mom, the mother of seven kids. It would be a one-of-a-kind gift! And I won’t have to tell her it’s a booboo.

oops

I’m getting a little better at setting up groups on Flickr, and I managed to fix the settings on our Castaway Snowflake pool so everyone may see it, although you still have to be a member to add photos. Membership is free, and I’d love to see interpretations of this week’s snowflake, too, so feel free to celebrate with me by adding your snowflakes to our same group here.

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!

Cast Off Snowflake

Finished Size: 6.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, size H crochet hook (or whatever desired larger size hook you choose), empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Special Stitches
dc cluster: yo, [bring up loop around all 5 chains below, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times for a total of 4 loops remaining on hook, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook

Cast-off Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in ring, * ch 28, 3 tr in ring; repeat from * 5 times; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4. Don't pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Sl st into next tr; ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in same st, ch 22, * 3 tr in middle tr of next 3/tr group, ch 22; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.

Round 3: Sl st into next tr; ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in same st, ch 16, * 3 tr in middle tr of next 3/tr group, ch 16; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.

Round 4: Sl st into next tr; ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in same st, ch 12, * 3 tr in middle tr of next 3/tr group, ch 12; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.

Round 5: Sl st into next tr; ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in same st, ch 8, sl st in top of tr just made, turn, ch 12, sl st in top of tr just made, turn, ch 16, sl st in top of tr just made, 2 tr in same tr in main body of flake, ch 8, 1 dc cluster around all chains below in center of ch sp, ch 8, * 3 tr in middle tr of next 3/tr group, ch 8, sl st in top of tr just made, turn, ch 12, sl st in top of tr just made, turn, ch 16, sl st in top of tr just made, 2 tr in same tr in main body of flake, ch 8, 1 dc cluster around all chains below in center of ch sp, ch 8; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4; bind off. Weave in ends.

Chain 8, slip stitch in top of double crochet just worked, turn.
Chain 8, slip stitch in top of double crochet just worked, turn.

Chain 12, slip stitch in top of double crochet just worked, turn.
Chain 12, slip stitch in top of double crochet just worked, turn.

Chain 16, slip stitch in top of double crochet just worked.
Chain 16, slip stitch in top of double crochet just worked.

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.

Cast Off Snowflake

13 comments :

  1. It's Beautiful!

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  2. So glad you got your cast off!! And you never disappoint, each of your snowflakes are another masterpiece!

    But glad to see you are human. I remember when I made a goof and did seven points on my small snowflake you said you had some like that also. Well, it was hard to believe but now you have shown me proof. But as in nature there is no real mistake yours was no real mistake either! What a beautiful gift for your mother and in such beautiful colors too!

    Thanks again!

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  3. A quick question, do you dye all your own variegated threads? If not, where do you find such beauties?

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  4. Beautiful, once again! Thanks for sharing it to us readers :)

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  5. Woo hoo! (happy dance)

    SO glad to hear your hand is free again. What a fitting project to celebrate with. (Don't worry about the one with an extra point - seven is the number of perfection, you know.)

    I really like the construction method on this one - it opens up all sorts of creative possibilities. Love that coloured thread too - "chocolate-cherry" are such fun words - and the lavender is simply beautiful. :)

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  6. The Lizard had a great idea and it looks awesome! Maybe he should have more suggestions for snowflakes! Hahaha.

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  7. Congrats on the loosing of the cast and the snowflake is beautiful!

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  8. Ah! Good news! Free from the cast!
    The dark snowflake is amazing! Brazilian kisses...

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  9. Thanks, everyone! It is really great to be free from the cast!

    Brenda, I do indeed dye some thread on my own, but I also buy from Sara's Colorwave, Bre-Aly, eBay and Handy Hands.

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  10. Beautiful snowflake. I love the thread colors! So glad to hear that the cast is off.

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  11. This snowflake looks great, and I love the 7-pointed version :D/seven kids.

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  12. All are so pretty but I really love the dark one :)
    The kids sure had fun wiht their horses. It will be a horse theme in my blog this week.

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