13 December 2010

Snowflake Monday


Look what I found at a craft store! Snowflake food!!! Feed the hungry snowflakes!!! I knew exactly what to do with these lovely ornaments, thanks to inspiration earlier this year from Ane Scherrer.


Adding a dangly to a handmade snowflake might fetch a little more money at a craft fair than an unfed snowflake. (Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with starving, naked snowflakes; I love them every one!)

I used Mod Podge to stiffen this flake because a reader recently asked if that could be used, and now I have the answer. I also wanted to determine if a thicker stiffener would help a weight-bearing snowflake last longer. (Of course, I won't have the answer to that burning question for a couple of years – big grin!) Mod Podge worked just fine in my experiments. It's a little rubbery, but it doesn't hide the texture of the stitches. It also seems a little easier to pull the dried goo splatters off the Mod Podge snowflakes than snowflakes stiffened with my normal glue/water mixture. (I paint messy.)

Of course, this snowflake may be made without danglies, and you may attach danglies to any snowflake, but an extra stiff and large flake works better to support the weight of a dangly. You also don't want to overpower your snowflake with a dangly. They should compliment each other, not compete for attention.


I call this my King's Crown Snowflake because that's what the petals look like to me.

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: 7.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, store-bought crystal danglies, small suction cup hangers, size 7 or 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, 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

Kings Crown Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 12 sc in ring, sl st in starting sc. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
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 2: Sc in same sc, ch 10, * sk 1 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 10; repeat from * around 4 times; sk 1 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 4, 1 dtr into starting sc (to form 6th ch 10 sp of Round.


Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over dtr post directly below, * ch 10, 3 dc in next ch 10 loop; repeat from * around 4 times, 3 dc in next ch 10 loop, ch 3, trtr into 2nd ch of starting ch 2 for form 6th ch 10 sp of Round.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over trtr post directly below, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, ch 6, 1 sc in top of starting ch 2 in Round 3, 1 sc in each of next 2 dc, ch 6, * 2 dc in next ch 10 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 6, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 6; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 5: Ch 1, * 1 sc in same ch as sl st (or in next dc in repeats), 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, 1 tr in same sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 1, turn;

working from back of flake, 1 sc in each of next 4 st, 5 sc in next ch 3 sp, 1 sc in each of next 4 st, ch 1, turn;

working from front of flake, 1 sc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, 1 tr in next sc, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 2 tr in next sc, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), sk 1 sc, 1 tr in next sc, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook] 2 times (3 sc picots made), 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch (top of crown made), 1 tr in same sc as previous tr, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), sk next sc, 2 tr in next sc, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 tr in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, to form curve to match opposite side of crown work 3 sc in next sc; working down side of crown, sl st in sc of previous row, sl st in top of 2nd dc of Round 3 below, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, ch 2, 1 dc in next ch 6 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, sl st in next dc and pull tight, ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.




1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 3


1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, ch 1, turn and work from back side




5 sc in ch 3 sp


1 sc in each of next 4 st, ch 1, turn and work from front side


1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook


2 tr, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook


1 tr, ch 5, 3 sc picots


crown picot


1 tr, 1 dc picot


2 tr, 1 dc picot




sl st


1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc


finished crown petal

You know how I love to hide Easter eggs on my blog, right? Well, redoing this snowflake inspired another smaller flake, and this one is MUCH easier...


Kings Crown Easter Egg Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 12 sc in ring, sl st in starting sc. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
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 2: Sc in same sc, ch 10, * sk 1 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 10, ; repeat from * around 4 times; sk 1 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 4, 1 dtr into starting sc (to form 6th ch 10 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over dtr post directly below, * ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (sc picot made), ch 7, 3 dc in next ch 10 loop; repeat from * around 5times, 3 dc in next ch 10 loop, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: This snowflake is not strong enough to hold a heavy dangly, but a lightweight charm or dangly may be added.


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. (I used Mod Podge for this flake in an attempt to make it strong enough to hold the wait of the dangly.) 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. (I had a bunch of dried Mod Podge bits to peel from the edges of my flake.) Remove hanger from store-bought dangly. Attach dangly to bottom spoke of snowflake with clear thread or fishing line. Attach 10-inch clear thread to top spoke of snowflake and tie to suction cup. (I sewed a sparkly opalescent ribbon to the back of the snowflake, tied a bow at the top and attached the suction cup to the bow.) Stick suction cup on any clean, smooth surface, preferably a window to allow the sun to sparkle through the dangly.

27 comments :

  1. What can I say? Perfect! The King's Crown is THE name for this snowflake! I love the picture mosaic. Kisses.

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  2. I love this snowflake. Can you tell me, what is a magic ring?

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  3. So beautiful! Thank you for such a lovely snowflake design, as always. :)

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  4. Awesome, awesome, awesome!

    A happy holiday season to you,
    Renee

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  5. I wish I could make these lovely snowflakes. I enjoy your photos!

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  6. What a brilliant idea and it is so lovely!

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  7. Thanks for the tutorial on the magic ring. I shall give it a try.

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  8. You have so many talents. That's a gorgeous snowflake. And, wonderful photos of it, showing its glitz!

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  9. Wow the snowflakes with the ornaments are really beautiful!

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  10. Hello. I happened upon this blog by accident but they say that sometimes it was really meant to be and not an accident. I love your beautiful snowflakes and other things that you have made. My only problem is that I would like to print some (all) of the patterns for these and am having some difficulty printing. Is there a place where you have these patterns in a pdf format to download and print. Again, your designs are just phenomenal.

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  11. Welcome, Cheryl! The text doesn't print because it's white. You may change the settings on your printer in the printer menu by selecting "print text as black." But then you have to remember to change it back when you want to print something in color.

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  12. What a wonderful bauble! I can't wait to try this huge flake!!!

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  13. Beautiful snowflakes. I love the snowflake bling!

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  14. Snowflake food! =D Thanks for the big smile and another beautiful snowflake specimen!

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  15. This one caught my eye because of the bauble on the bottom...you way you used mod podge crafters

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  16. I wasn't done my comment when it posted to you...anyway to finish my thought...you said you tried Mod Podge on the snowflakes and I read that you also use a diluted glue solution to stiffen them. Well, I make stars, there are 12 to the brochure I bought. I make them for gifts only and not for sale. People just don't understand the kind of work that goes into making them...my price would be too high for their liking, no matter what the price would be...you know what I mean. Anyway, I use a product called Stiffy...oh yeah the jokes fly in my house when I go looking for my Stiffy...lol. Have you ever tried it? It may be more expensive than glue, but it works beautifully. I love your snowflakes and I want to donate to your fundraising...my motive isn't all that great, although I do want to honor those looking for a cure to MS, it is a crippling disease, but I really want to get your snowflake booklets. What is your name, so that I can donate to your account? Thank you

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Charlene! I have tried Stiffy, and I do like it. I'm just cheap. :) My favorite stiffening methods now are liquid starch or homemade cornstarch glue, although I just Elmered a batch of flakes this morning for the first time in forever. I'll find out tonight if they are okay, and if not, I'll wash them out and redo them with the liquid starch or make a new batch of cornstarch glue.

      My name is Deborah Atkinson, my team is Team Snowcatcher, and the link for donating is on this page. Thank you for being willing to help fight MS!

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  17. So beautiful! Thanks for instructions! I love it!

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    1. I have a problem with round five, probably because the language. Could you help me? Do you have an image of the pattern? Sorry for this question but I like this snowflake very much and I'd like to do it for Christmas. Thanks a lot for your help.

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    2. La Stanza, I will try to work up another one this weekend and take photos of the process so I can add them here. So please check back on Monday to see if I was able to get it done for you.

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    3. La Stanza, I am still working on the snowflake and photos, but I will try to get the new photos posted either tonight or tomorrow night. I'm so sorry it's taking me so long. But I am working on it.

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    4. Thank you so much for your help! You're very kind!

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  18. Replies
    1. I hope these help! Thanks for being patient with me!

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