27 February 2012

Snowflake Monday

My Valentine on Valentines' Day
I would be SO remiss if I didn't design a snowflake to commemorate our successful hike into The Wave on Valentines' Day.

When we returned to civilization, brand new shades of hand-colored thread I'd ordered prior to our trip had arrived, and this lovely batch, appropriately named Quartzite, begged me to make it into a Wave-inspired snowflake. Accordingly, I attempted to create curvy waves in this snowflake. This is yet another of those luscious colorways I love to watch flow through my fingers, and the hues remind me so much of my best valentine date ever!

Valentine Wave Snowflake
I haven't been dabbling in glitter much since my glue disaster late last year, but I recently received a new type of potential snowflake sparkles I thought I'd share because they give snowflakes such a unique look. I never would have known to even look for these no-hole glitter beads, and I had to search to find where to buy more because I'd never heard of them. These fall off even easier than glitter when I use liquid starch to stiffen my snowflakes, but they seem to work just fine with homemade cornstarch glue. Needless to say, they'd probably adhere just fine with water soluble school glue, but I haven't bought more of that yet, and I don't know when I will again.

I'm sharing a few links I found when searching for "micro beads." I have not ordered any yet, so I can't attest to the quality of any of these products or to customer service of any of the merchants. I can only tell you I like the effect of these leftover Microbeedz and would use them again. (These weren't given to me by the original purchaser, so I don't know what purpose they served before they arrived in my snowflake factory.)

new sparkles

Micro Marbles

DecoBeads

Martha Stewart Glass Microbeads

Glass Glitter

Translucent Microbeads

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!

Valentine Wave Snowflake
Finished Size: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter or glass micro beads, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Valentine Wave I Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, *ch 3, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times for a total of 6 petals; ch 1, dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form final ch 3 sp. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: 1 sc in same petal (working over dc post of last dc worked), ch 6, *1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 6; 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 3: *3 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 8, 3 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: *1 hdc in next sc (middle sc of 3 sc group), 1 hdc in next sc, 3 hdc in next ch 8 sp, ch 8, 3 hdc in same sp, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sc, sk 2 sc; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting hdc.

Round 5: 1 hdc in next hdc, 1 dc in each of next 3 hdc, 4 dc in next ch 8 sp, ch 10, 4 dc in same sp, 1 dc in each of next 3 hdc, 1 hdc in next hdc, sk 2 hdc; repeat from * around 5 times.

Round 6: Ch 1, sk next dc, *1 sc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in each of next 3 dc, 6 tr in ch 10 sp, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 sc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 6 tr in same sp, 1 tr in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sk next 4 st; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 4 sk of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; 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.

Cinnamon Bear and Valentine Wave Snowflake

10 comments :

  1. Veeeeery nice and lovely color.

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  2. This snowflake reminds me of a Stapelia blossom. :)

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  3. I am so enjoying the Wave shots. What an amazing place I never knew existed!

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  4. Wow! The top photo is amazing ... it's meditative to just look at it! :) Deb @ RaisingFigureSkaters.com

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  5. Cool header! Looks patriotic somehow....

    And extremely cool snowflake. What gorgeous thread.

    P.S. Here's a link to a post that made me think of you. :)

    http://planetpenny.co.uk/2012/02/26/hooray-for-crochet-rainbow-mice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hooray-for-crochet-rainbow-mice

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  6. I'm jealous! Your photographs are spectacular and such talent with a hook and yarn :o)
    Thanks so much for sharing both. It makes my day much cheerier!

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  7. Beautiful snowflake. I am working on one now and I think there might be a few errors on rows 4 and 6.
    Row 4:the chain space is missing (chain 8?) and there should be "hdc in next 2 sc" before you skip 2 sc.
    Row 6: the "6 dc in ch 8 space" should be "6 tr in ch 10 space." Sorry if I am wrong.

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  8. Great catches, Karen! Thank you so much for letting me know. I'm fixing the pattern right now. You made it easy for me!

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  9. WOW your snow flakes are awesome and the Valley is breathtaking!

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