14 September 2015

Sixifrage Monday

Suspected Saxifrage

During our recent unexpected hike toward Blaine Basin on the slopes of Mount Sneffels, I found a wildflower I had never seen before. Finding a new wildflower is like Christmas for me. Opening the wrapped package is perusing through my wildflower books in attempt to identify the species. The mystery presented when I can't find the flower in my many books is like waiting for St. Nick to slide down the chimney with even more goodies.

My mystery flower doesn't look much like any saxifrage in G.K. Guennel's Guide to Colorado Wildflowers, Volume 2, Mountains. Like the Aerosmith song my Lizard is always quoting when something is not quite right: "Pink, it's like red but not quite."

A general internet search turned up a tufted saxifrage, which bore stronger resemblance to my flower than my reference books. A search for tufted saxifrage reveals the flower is primarily alpine, which means above treeline. Way up on the tops of mountains! Saxifrage means "rock breaker." Its roots break through alpine rocks to find food in the soil. What a tough flower!

I also discovered a Saxifrage Society, much like the Rhododendron Society, the Dahlia Society and the Rose Society and the Iris Society! How did this particular flower escape my attention for more than half a century?!?

We were far below the tundra (by probably more than 1,500 feet) when we discovered this wildflower, so positive identification has not been made yet. Once again, I've photographed a flower with five petals, but I've crocheted a flower with six petals. And debauched the name to boot. Artistic license.

Other flower flakes in this series include:

Mother's Day Snowflake Motif
Sunflake III
Daisyflake
Picotee Snowflake
Chamomile Snowflake
Lobelia Snowflake
Hoyaflake
Daffodil Snowflake
Windflower Snowflake
Blue Flax Snowflake
Spiderwort Snowflake
Love in a Mist Snowflake
Iris Snowflake
Spring Star Flower Snowflake

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

Sixifrage

Finished Size: flower, 2 inches across; snowflake, 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, 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

Sixifrage Snowflake Instructions

With pastel green or flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc; do not join.

Round 3: 1 sc in every other sc around for a total of 12 sc; do not join.

Round 4: * Ch 8, 2 hdc in 3rd ch from hook, sk next ch, 1 sc in each of next 4 ch (stamen made), 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 6 stamens; bind off. Weave in ends or stuff ends into flower center.

Round 5: With yellow or inner petal color and working from back of motif, 1 sc in any sc (or next sc in repeats), 3 dc in same sc, 1 sc in same dc; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends or stuff ends into flower center.

Round 6: With white or outer flower petal color and working from back of motif, 1 sc in any sc, ch 3, * 1 sc in next sc, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting sc.
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 7: * 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in same sp, 3 tr in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 8: * Sl st in next dc, 3 dc in next tr, 1 dc in next tr, 3 dc in next tr, sl st in next dc, sl st between next 2 sc; repeat from * around 5 times; bind off. Weave in ends or stuff ends into flower center.

Round 9: With green if making leaves and working from back of motif, 1 dc catching 2 threads at the base of any white petal, * ch 5, 1 dc catching 2 threads at base of next white petal; repeat from * around 4 times, ch 2, 1 tr in starting dc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 10: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp; 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. (If making leaves, bind off green here and work remainder of Rounds in white.)

Round 11: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 2 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 12: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 13: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 4 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 14: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 5 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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.

Sixifrage Snowflake

4 comments :

  1. That is a neat flower. Never seen one quite like that either. But then there are a lot I probably haven't seen lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You and me both, Pat! I hope to keep discovering new blossoms I've never seen before!

      Delete
  2. Well since you don't know its official name, I say make it with however many petals you want! It looks great with six.

    Good luck with the name hunt - it will be so satisfying when you finally nail it down. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, but what if I never find it, Sue? I guess it just gets to keep being a Sixifrage. Ha ha!

      Delete


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