13 July 2015

Blue Flax Monday

blue flax

I just love my blue flax!

I wanted to try to spin with my flax fiber last year, but all the water evaporated from my retting trays before I got home from work one day, and the stalks were too brittle after that. I'm hoping to try again this year.

Yes, I know. Blue flax has five petals. Creative license.

There are white and red flax, too, but that's not what I'm growing. My flower garden is mostly blue.

blue flax

Other flower flakes in this series include:

Mother's Day Snowflake Motif
Sunflake III
Daisyflake
Picotee Snowflake
Chamomile Snowflake
Lobelia Snowflake
Hoyaflake
Daffodil Snowflake
Windflower Snowflake

You may do whatever you'd like with flowers and/or snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Halcyon Snowflake Mandala

Don't forget to send your mandalas to Kathryn at Crochet Concupiscence by August 31!

flax

Finished Size: flower, 1.5 inches across; snowflake, 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two or three colors, size 7 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

Blue Flax Snowflake Instructions

With pale yellow or flower center color, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc; sl st in next sc; bind off.

Round 3: With periwinkle or petal color, 3 dc in any Round 1 sc; 3 dc in each Round 1 sc around for a total of 18 dc; sl st in starting dc.

Round 4: 1 sc over sl st into gap between 3 dc groups, 5 dc in middle dc of next 3/dc group, * 1 sc in next gap between 3/dc groups, 5 dc in middle dc of next 3/dc group; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends. For flower, end here. For snowflake, keep going.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Blue Flax Snowflake

Round 5: Working on back side of motif, with white (or green if making leaves), * 1 dc in bottom loops of middle dc of any Round 3 3/dc group (or middle dc of next 3/dc group in repeats, ch 5; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr in starting dc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp; 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. (If making leaves, bind off green here and work remainder of Rounds in white.)

Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 2 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 dc in gap between next 2 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
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 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 4 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 10: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 5 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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.

The vest is coming along!

8 comments :

  1. Turned out great indeed, as blue is those outside at your sea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my favorite blue flowers, Pat. They've miraculously lasted throughout the summer this year, and that has been a delight!

      Delete
  2. I love blue flax too, especially when it has rain drops on it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too, KB! But I love almost all flowers with fresh raindrops. I'm a nutcase when it comes to raindrops on flowers!

      Delete
  3. The mandala turned out great, blue lady.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why thank you, Kind Sir! I do like mandalas, but more so when they have a snowflakey feel!

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  4. We'll just call it a newly-discovered variety of blue flax. (Var. atkinsoniensis....) :)

    Beautiful flowers, beautiful flake!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I like that new scientific name very much! Thanks, Sue! And the world always has room for new blue flower varieties, right??? :)

      Delete


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