Featured in this year's snowflake pattern booklet is a fruity snowflake called Pineapple Sorbet. While I was working up my sample of the snowflake, I thought it would be cool to dangle a pineapple charm from one of the points. But I couldn't find one! So I thought maybe I could crochet a very tiny one. That's what sparked the idea for a challenge to embellish the Pineapple Sorbet Snowflake.
If we get a lot of entries in this challenge, I may stage another challenge in the future. I've got plenty of hand-dyed yarn and greeting cards I can give out as prizes!
I have opened a Flickr gallery where photos of embellished Pineapple Sorbet Snowflakes may be uploaded. Prizes will be awarded for the audience favorite and the favorite of three non-crocheting judges. Featured prizes will include approximately 300 yards of snow-dyed cotton worsted yarn and a set of snowflake greeting cards. I may even part with some hand-dyed crochet thread in my stash if we get enough entries...
The deadline for entries will be at noon Mountain Daylight Time on Friday, April 11.
Hooks ready? Let's see what you can do with the Pineapple Sorbet Snowflake!
And now, on with this week's snowflake pattern:
I hate when I find a mistake in a snowflake after it's too late to fix it!
The first attempt at this snowflake was to cover an ocean rock. That snowflake turned out so well, I thought the pattern would make a great snowflake. So I made another with my hand-dyed blue thread.
I wrote the pattern, and then I pinned the blue snowflakes. And I found a mistake!
I still like the snowflake, but the mistake jumps right out at me. Can you see it?
This snowflake incorporates a combination of stitches I'm not sure I've seen in any stitch guide. I don't know if I invented it, but I call it a D-stitch because to me, when worked in multiples, it looks like a bunch of capital Ds.
The stitch is created by working double crochet stitches around the post of previous double crochet stitches, with chains in between. It creates a lovely lacey scallop perfect for edging snowflakes or other items.
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: 3 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
D-Stitch Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Sl st in ring, pull up loop on hook nearly as big as dc and twist 1 time, [draw up loop through ring, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook, (counts as starting dc of 3/dc cluster), * ch 5, [yo and draw up loop through ring, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (dc cluster made), ch 5; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in top of starting dc cluster. Pull magic ring tight.
Round 2: * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 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: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and ch 4), 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, [ch 3, 1 dc around post of dc just made] 4 times, skip over next shell petal, 1 dc between next 2 sc, * ch 4, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, [ch 3, 1 dc around post of dc just made] 4 times; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 6; 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.
Gonna be a challenge bet many will rise up to indeed. And hey, at least if you find the mistake later you'll know not to do that the next time
ReplyDeleteI hope we get a bunch of entries, Pat. I always know not to make mistakes, but that doesn't keep my fingers from sometimes doing their own thing. :)
DeleteI'm pretty sure I found the mistake but I would not have noticed it if you hadn't pointed out that there was a mistake. I would never tear a flake apart for this small of a mistake because I have learned through the years that others never notice what sticks out so blatantly for the creator of the project.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda! I agree; most mistakes, no one would ever notice. But I can't stand it when I find I've made one!
DeleteI found it too, though like Brenda would never have noticed if you hadn't said anything.... What a pretty flake of the week, and "D-stitch" is a great name for that technique! I like to use it as a starting row for projects - in fact the Frost Blossom Wrap starts with essentially the same stitch. It's handy because you can work into the spaces instead of into individual chains.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all the contest entrants - I lack the embellishment gene or believe me I'd be first in line to compete. (With me, DNA stands for "Does Not Adorn".) :D
How totally awesome that we were working on a variety of the same stitch at almost the same time! (I made this flake last year; I suspect that's when your Frost Blossom Wrap was created.
DeleteInteresting about working into the D spaces instead of individual chains. I believe I tried that with another snowflake, using the D-stitch for the center, but I'm not sure I ever wrote the pattern...