01 July 2013

Snowflake Monday

Unblocked Rain Dance Snowflake

Another rainbow?!? Yes, I couldn't resist. Every time I see thread in a rainbow arrangement, ideas begin percolating. Every time I see a rainbow, snowflake inspiration soon follows.

With all the forest fires we've endured the last couple of years, rainbows have brought me emotional relief. A rainbow means rain has fallen. I think of my rainbow snowflakes as crochet rain dances.

Not only do I love the way today's snowflake turned out in thread, I tried it in sock yarn and a size B hook, too, and I just love the soft motifs, both blocked and unblocked.

Unblocked Sock Yarn Rain Dance Snowflake

This snowflake does not necessarily require blocking, but blocking adds to the snowflake if you do block it.

Blocked Sock Yarn Rain Dance Snowflake

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!

Blocked Rain Dance Snowflake

Finished Size: thread snowflake: 3 inches from point to point; sock yarn snowflake: 5.5 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, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Rain Dance II Snowflake Instructions

Special Stitches

Starting Cluster Stitch
: At start of cluster round, ch 1, pull loop up to height of a dc, [yo and draw up loop through same st as sl st ending previous round, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook.

Cluster Stitch: Yo and draw up loop through appropriate st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, [yo and draw up loop through same st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times, yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Don’t pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Starting cluster in same sc as sl st, ch 5, * sk next sc, cluster in next sc, ch 5; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in top of starting cluster.

Round 3: * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: Starting cluster in gap between 2 sc directly below, * ch 5, cluster in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, cluster in same gap; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 5, cluster in same gap as starting cluster, ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting cluster to form last ch 3 sp of Round. (This technique of pretending the double crochet is part of a chain enables you to begin next round right where you are instead of having to bind off and start on a point or having to slip stitch to starting point.)

Round 5: 3 sc over post of dc just worked, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 5 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 sc of final repeat; 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 6: Starting cluster in same sc as sl st, * ch 3, cluster in same sc, ch 3, cluster in same sc, ch 5, 1 sc in middle dc of next 3/dc group, ch 5, cluster in middle sc of next 5/sc group; repeat from * 5 times, omitting last cluster of final repeat; sl st in top of starting cluster; bind off. Weave in ends.

Unblocked Rain Dance Snowflake

6-Color Striped Version

NOTE: There are a lot of ends to weave in on this snowflake. I weave in the ends as I go so I don’t have a bunch to do when I finish the whole snowflake. Ends are easy to crochet over in most of the rounds of this snowflake.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With Color A, 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends. Don’t pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: With Color B, starting cluster in any joint between 2 sc, ch 5, * sk next sc, cluster in next sc, ch 5; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in top of starting cluster; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 3: With Color C, 1 sc in any ch 5 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
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 4: With Color D, starting cluster in gap between any 2 sc, * ch 5, cluster in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, cluster in same gap; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 5, cluster in same gap as starting cluster, ch 3, sl st in top of starting cluster; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 5: With Color E, 5 sc in any ch 3 sp, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 5 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 5 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 6: With Color F, starting cluster in middle sc of any 5/sc group, * ch 3, cluster in same sc, ch 3, cluster in same sc, ch 5, 1 sc in middle dc of next 3/dc group, ch 5, cluster in middle sc of next 5/sc group; repeat from * 5 times, omitting last cluster of final repeat; sl st in top of starting cluster; 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.

Rain Dance Snowflake Rock

6 comments :

  1. The last is sure colorful, nicely done

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Pat! You continually amaze me with peering in here for needlework every Monday!

      Delete
  2. I can see why you couldn't resist another rainbow configuration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Margaret! Yep, I still have yet another rainbow up my sleeve...

      Delete
  3. Ha! I have TOUCHED that pink snowflake!

    It looks great blocked, by the way. And the rainbow one looks awesome.

    You must have been doing a lot of crochet rain dances to get us all those rainbows at Bike MS.... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Yes, you have touched that pink one! And yes, I was doing rain dance after rain dance all night long in Fort Collins just so I could show you a rainbow fantasy! ;)

      Delete


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