Snowflake Monday

My first thought when this week's Moda Blockheads 2 pattern was released was how I could configure the pattern to somehow fit a snowflake on it.

My second thought revolved around potential names. The block pattern is called Path Through the Woods. That name made me think of all the 14ers I've climbed and all the trail names I wanted to embroider on my 14er quilt so many years ago. (After stitching one trail name into the sashing and looking at it from a distance, I decided it didn't look that good after all, and I frogged the stitches and the idea.)


There are so many great trail names in Colorado! When I quickly reviewed this list of 14er trailhead names, one name jumped off the internet page, so I didn't bother taking the time to dig up my old list of trail names I'd planned to quilt/embroider into the 14er quilt. Does the same trailhead name jump out at you???

Now that I'm getting a little better at free-motion quilting, I may dig up that old trail list one day and try once again to include the best trail and trailhead names in quilt sashing and border. Not necessarily in the old quilt; it's all done by hand, and I don't know that I want to mix in machine stitching. There is a selection of fabric in my stash, however, that would be suitable for inclusion in a new 14er quilt. Such quilt may want and need trail names!


If only I could get all the quilt ideas in my head onto paper before I lose them! I'm still trying to stick to my promise not to start any more quilts until I finish about 10 on my WIP list.




Instead of placing this week's tricky triangles in an X-shape across my quilt block, I decided to turn them sideways to form a scrappy snowflake frame. I then cut all four of the center triangles from the same fabric, which just happens to be the leftovers from the pioneer jumper and bonnet I made for Trek nine years ago. Now there's a trail! No woods, though...


I served as one of four official photographers as a group of about 200 teens and their "families" pushed handcarts and/or walked across 33 miles of the Mormon/Oregon/Pony Express Trail in Wyoming back in 2009 to commemorate a portion of the crossing of the treacherous and wild central plains by pioneers back in the late 1840s to 1860s. Both branches of my dad's family (all of his grandparents' grandparents) made that trek 171 years ago to escape religious persecution, to be free and to be able to raise their families in peace. I was honored to follow in the ghosts of their footprints and to live for five days the way they lived for about 90 days. My experience is still one of the highlights of my life, and you may read more about it here.

I'm thrilled I was able to incorporate fabric from my Trek into my Blockheads quilt. There will be many, many stories behind this snowflake baby by the time it's done, and Trek is one of my most important stories I'd like to pass down to my own grandchildren.


Confession time! It's been a while since I've done this, but I screwed up the count on the snowflake intended for the quilt block. This one is now destined for my mom's tree, where she displays my 7-pointed booboos. She is the mother of seven kids.


Glacier Gorge is but one trailhead to reach Longs Peak, the most difficult 14er I've climbed. That's not which way I went. However, Glacier Gorge is a Rocky Mountain National Park destination in which I have spent many snowshoeing, cross country skiing or hiking hours. I haven't been there in a while, and digging through photos of the location makes me want to go back... with the good camera!


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: 5.75 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

Glacier Gorge Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (beginning popcorn stitch made), [ch 5, 5 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made)] 2 times; ch 2, 1 tr in top of starting popcorn st to form 3rd ch 5 sp of Round. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Beginning popcorn stitch over post of tr directly below, [ch 3, popcorn st in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, popcorn st in same ch 5 sp] 2 times; ch 3, popcorn st in starting ch 5 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting popcorn to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 3: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, * ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times; ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 7 sp 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 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 tr over post of tr directly below, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, * in next ch 7 sp work (1 sc, ch 5, [1 dc, ch 3] 3 times, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 sc); repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in starting ch 7 sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form 3rd ch 3 sp of group.

And this is what it looks like if you accidentally skip Round 3 and bind off after Round 4...


Round 5: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 tr over post of dc directly below, ch 5, * sk next ch 3 sp, next 2 ch 5 sp and next 3 ch sp, in next ch 3 sp work ([1 tr, ch 3] 3 times, 1 tr in same sp), ch 5; repeat from * around 4 times, 1 tr in starting ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6.

Round 6: * 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, sk next ch 5 sp, ch 7, 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 sp work ([1 dtr, ch 1] 2 times, 1 dtr, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, [ch 5, sl st in sc] 2 times) (tri picot made), ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 dc in top of last dtr made, [1 dtr, ch 1] 2 times, 1 dtr, ch 5, 1 sc), 3 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting sc; 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.






Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict and My Quilt Infatuation.

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