30 December 2013

Snowflake Monday

Crazy Spiral Snowflake

This snowflake was inspired by an ornament I saw two or three years ago in a store way before Christmas, too early to think about buying ornaments. Yet I made this snowflake that very night.

I've been holding the pattern because I wanted to get a picture of the ornament to show the inspiration behind this pattern, but I've never seen the ornament again.

I suppose it's time to finally share this fun design and just let you use your imagination as to what the original ornament looked like.

The most important thing in spiral crochet is to make sure you don’t catch threads or yarn not being used in current stitches. The spiral method works best when you are able to do the piece in one sitting so you don’t have to untangle balls of yarn or spools of thread after moving around. Rotate your work one time counter-clockwise each round to keep the strands of yarn or thread separate and not tangled.

Some people like to use stitch markers to hold loops of strands not currently in use. For thread, in my opinion, stitch markers prove cumbersome. I left large, over-sized loops each time I changed color and re-tightened them when they came into use again.

To make this project easier, you could wind small balls of yarn or thread and work with those instead of full skeins, hanks or spools. When I published the Lollipop Snowflake pattern, some crocheters suggested using a bowl to keep the small balls safe and in place while being used.

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!

Crazy Spiral Snowflake

Finished Size: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two colors (I used Omega Rustica in mint and lavender for the first snowflake), size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, school glue (make sure it is water soluble), water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Crazy Spiral Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With lavender, 3 sc in ring. With mint, 3 sc in ring. Do not join. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Continuing with mint, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc. With lavender, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc.

Round 3: Continuing with lavender, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc] 3 times. With mint, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc] 3 times.

Round 4: Continuing with mint, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 3 times. With lavender, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 3 times.
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 5: Continuing with lavender, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc] 3 times. With mint, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc] 3 times.

Round 6: Continuing with mint, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc] 3 times; bind off mint. With lavender, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc] 3 times.

Round 7: Continuing with lavender throughout remaining rounds and crocheting over mint end, [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc] 7 times (yes, 7 times, not a typo).

Round 8: 1 sc in next sc, 1 hdc in same sc, 1 dc in same sc, 1 dc in each of next 5 sc, [3 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 dc] 6 times, 1 dc in each of next 4 sc, 1 hdc in next hdc, 1 sc in next dc (this should take you across starting sc/hdc/dc, and you should have a total of 60 st).

Round 9: * Ch 6, sk next 2 st, 1 sc in next st, ch 10, sk 3 st, 1 sc in next st, ch 6, sk 2 st, 1 sc in next st, repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in last sc of Round 8.

Round 10: *2 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 5, 2 sc in same sp, 3 sc in next ch 10 sp, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, 3 sc in same sp, 2 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 5, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; bind off. Weave in ends.

Crazy Spiral Heartflake

For Valentine variation:

Round 10: *3 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 5, 3 sc in same sp, 5 sc in next ch 10 sp, ch 10, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 8, 5 sc in same sp, 3 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 5, 5 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; 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.

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 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.

Spiral Twirl

6 comments :

  1. The swirls one is cool, round and round it goes. Couldn't find the inspiration ornament again, those gremlins must have stole it lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I did the same stupid thing again this year, Pat! I found the most beautiful peacock ornament after Christmas, and ON SALE to boot! But did I buy it or even shoot it?!? Sometimes being anti-Christmas shopping can sting!

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  2. Wow, Deb, based on that first photo I was all set to say that this looked like a very versatile flake ... and boy is it ever!

    I like this flake - it has a kind of organic look and seems full of potential for creative blocking. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once I get caught up on other stuff, I'm going back to this one and the smiley one, Sue, just to see how many more ways I can perk them up! :)

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  3. You are so very creative....thank you for sharing your talents with us. :)

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Stitchy! Happy new year to you, too!

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