14 July 2014

Snowflake Monday


Here's another snowflake inspired by one of Kenneth Libbrecht's beauties. This one is on page 104 of "Snowflakes."

The working name of this snowflake was Zephyr II because I made the first one en route to Moab while we were attempting to escape our Mother's Day snowstorm. I worked out the bugs in the pattern during a recent trip to Crested Butte, finishing just as 13,208-foot Mount Teocalli came into view. Although I love the name Zephyr, Teocalli really fits this snowflake better.

Teocalli was named by the 1873 Hayden survey party. During that expedition, photographer William Henry Jackson wrote of this peak: "...the Aztec teocalli, or sacrificial mound, that were always built in a pyramidal form, and which this mountain closely resembles..."

Teocalli means "Temple of the Sun." The mountain is one I've had my climbing eyes on since before my 2004 emergency back surgery. I still hope to get up this peak one day.

Teocalli Castle Sunrise

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!

Mount Teocali Snowflake

Finished Size: 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

Mount Teocalli Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, * ch 8, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times; ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * 1 sc in next ch 8 loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 2 dc in same loop, ch 10, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 3 ch, 1 dc in each of next 3 ch (spoke made), 2 dc in same ch 8 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 dc between next 2 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
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 2 (counts as 1 dc), * sk next 2 st, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, working up bottom side of spoke 1 sc in each of next 2 dc, ch 5, sk next st, 1 sc in next st, ch 2, sk next 2 st, 1 dc in next st, ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 3, sk next st, 1 sc in point of spoke, ch 6, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, ch 8, 1 sc in 8th ch from hook, ch 6, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, 1 sc in tip of spoke, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 2, working back down spoke sk next spoke st, 1 dc in next st (should be directly across from dc on other side of spoke), ch 2, sk next 2 st, 1 sc in next st (should be directly across from sc on other side of spoke), ch 5, sk next st, 1 sc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next dc (at joint of spokes), ch 3, sl st in top of dc (picot made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch 3, sl st in same ch to form picot; 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.

Mini Mount Teocalli Snowflake

I was working up this snowflake in white for my special project, and I ran out of thread at the end of Round 2. So I frogged the second round and worked it again, making a tri-picot at each tip, then binding off at the end of the round.

Mini Mount Teocalli Snowflake

Not a bad little snowflake!

Teocalli Mountain (13,208 ft, rank 478) dominates the view from Brush Creek; Elk Mountains, Colorado.

10 comments :

  1. Great job every time at your sea and good luck to thee on climbing that. I'll keep my eye on it from a distance lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Pat! Teocalli isn't supposed to be as difficult as some of the 14ers I haven't climbed yet, so I think it will be a fun climb once I get back in climbing shape!

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  2. It's a great little snowflake! And what a very beautiful mountain with a lovely, poetic name.

    Love the second to last photo - could be captioned Starfish Wrangling. Or Snowfish Wrangling?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've always thought Teocalli was a gorgeous name, too, Sue, even before I found out where the name comes from.

      Oh, darn, now you've done it! Now I'm going to have to make a starfish snowflake!!!

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  3. I´m trying to follow this pattern but it doesn´t really make sense to me. I´m having problems with the big loop under the three loops at the top. The ch 3 doesn´t make big enough loop and I don´t really know what to do with "ch 5, ch 2, working back down spoke 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook,". I love the look of this snowflake and hope to make it and many more of your website! But I think I´m going to need a little help with this one. Please!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Solveig, for finding that error. I'd put the picot that goes between the ch 5 and the ch 2 AFTER the ch 2 instead of before it. You are the first one to have discovered that error. I have fixed it, and I hope the instructions are correct now and you are able to finish your snowflake. Thank you again for pointing this out!

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  4. what is the best stiffener. i have some 30 yrs old that are perfect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, TW. If your snowflakes are 30 years old, chances are they may have been stiffened with sugar. That's primarily what was used until the last 10 or 15 years, I think, although I am no expert. My favorite stiffeners are liquid starch and homemade glue using cornstarch. Many people use the Stiffen Stuff or Aleene's Fabric Stiffener.

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  5. Hi, i was wondering where do i find the pattern for the first snowflake? the one that is pictured before the pattern

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there. The first crocheted snowflake, Teocalli, is the pattern above. The second crocheted snowflake is the same pattern but without the third round. My snowflake directory with almost all my patterns (because I've had difficulty keeping it regularly updated since losing daytime internet access) is located here.

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