Snowflake Monday

The prototype of today's snowflake was crafted during my MS-150 volunteer stint in June. I volunteered between Broomfield and Westminster on Day 1 while my husband cheered cyclists in Loveland. After finishing my duties that first day, I pedaled to join The Lizard so he wouldn't have to drive 50 miles all the way back to get me and then drive another 70 or so miles to Fort Collins for our overnight accommodations at Colorado State University.

We volunteered in Fort Collins on Day 2 of the ride. The Cache la Poudre River begins in Rocky Mountain National Park, near where I spent a good many years working as a journalist and exits Poudre Canyon just north of Fort Collins. The river flooded and destroyed military post Camp Collins in 1864. The military relocated the post just south of the original location and named it Fort Collins, but no actual fort was ever built.

Cache la Poudre, which means "hide the powder", was named by French trappers who had to hide their gunpowder along the banks of the river during a whiteout snowstorm in the 1820s. I mistakenly thought Poudre referred to the gorgeous powder snow I've seen falling in the gorgeous canyon in winter the entire 27 years I've made my home in Colorado until I looked it up to write this post. I think I like my interpretation better!

After I worked the bugs out of this pattern making yet another snowflake rock, we were headed to the San Juan Mountains for a couple of wildflower-studded training rides. I had to pose the rock a few times... especially since my garden currently is a little low on flowers low enough to the ground for these kind of photos. My sunflowers and day lilies tower above the rocks!

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: 7.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, 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


Poudre Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (starting popcorn stitch made), ch 3, 5 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in top loop of 1st dc of this 5/dc group, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through top loop of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made); repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting popcorn to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight enough to make popcorn stitches poufy.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 6, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 8, sl st in 7th ch from hook, ch 6, sl t in 5th ch from hook, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 6, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 8, sl st in 7th ch from hook, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to complete 6th ch 4 sp of Round, ch 2, 1 tr in top of dc just made to form 3rd ch loop of this point.

Round 3: 2 sc over post of tr directly below, * ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), ch 1, 3 sc in next ch loop of next point, 3 dc in next ch loop, [ch 3, 3 dc in same loop] 3 times, 3 sc in next ch loop; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 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 4: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), * 1 tr in middle sc of next 3 sc group, [3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp] 3 times, 1 tr in middle sc of next 3 sc group; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3.

Round 5: Sl st in heart gap between ch 3 and tr directly below, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in next gap between 3/dc shells, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, 3 dc in ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc (tri-picot made), 3 dc in same ch 3 tip, ch 7, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc, sl st in next 2 ch (tall tri-picot made), 3 dc in same ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc (tri-picot made), 3 dc in same ch 3 tip, 1 dc in next gap between 3/dc shells, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 3 tip, sk next 3 dc and tr, 1 dc in next heart gap between 2 tr; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; 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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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