Snowflake Monday

I've been up to snow good! It's once again time to do some good in the world with the help of snowflakes.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my flakes!


Doesn't today's snowflake look a bit like a bicycle gear?!? How many times has cycling inspired my snowflake patterns?!?

I've been raising money for the MS-150 to help fight multiple sclerosis for about 18 years now, and my Lizard joined me in the battle 13 years ago.

We plan to continue supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through our friends who ride the MS-150 (and our friends who participate in the MS Walk and the Muck Fest, too), but Lizard and I are changing gears this year and joining the fight against Parkinson's Disease. A beloved member of our family has been diagnosed with this monster, and we plan to help The Davis Phinney Foundation, which aims to improve life for people with Parkinson's, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is working to find a cure.

Long before we knew Parkinson's would be taking up residence in our family, Lizard and I met former pro cyclist Davis Phinney and his Olympic gold medalist wife Connie Carpenter at Ride the Rockies. Phinney has Parkinson's. We bought his book, and he autographed it for us.


Here's something funny I'm not sure I should admit. We read the book. And then I used the book to wind crochet thread into hanks the second year I began dyeing. The book is still in perfect condition, and it has proven useful more than once! Humor aside, we are reading the book again now to see if there are things we can apply to the new normal in the life of our loved one.


When I first decided to do another snowflake booklet to raise money for a new charity, I wasn't sure I could finish 20 new patterns during the busiest time of year at my day job, plus, most charities have closed down their participant fund-raising pages by this time of year so volunteers can spend the holidays with their families. I didn't know if I wanted to go through the hassle to have a whole new organization set up something special so I can raise money during the biggest snowflake pattern months of the year.

Then one day on the train, I made a new snowflake. The train had been delayed, and what better way to wait it out than make a snowflake?

I had time to make another new snowflake before the train started moving again. I wrote both patterns that day during my lunch hour. I realized if I could make 50 7-pointed snowflakes in 10 days for my parents' golden anniversary, I could make 20 6-pointed snowflakes in 14 days. The challenge was on!


There were days when it was a struggle to design two new snowflakes and write the patterns, too. Just like when I made the half-century of snowflakes for my parents, there were a couple of days when I had to play catch-up.

When I got frustrated by the goal and everything that's keeping me too busy to concentrate on crochet or quilting these days, I remembered how difficult it is for my loved one to concentrate every day, how difficult it is for my loved one to do things that used to be simple, and how difficult it is for my loved one to adapt to a new strict and difficult dining schedule to accommodate the medication that must be taken every single day now.

I decided it's pretty cool that I can set these outrageous goals for myself and actually achieve them. And in so doing, do something to help the chances of my loved one perhaps having an easier battle one day because of my sacrifice.

It's worth it.


I hope you will enjoy this booklet. Many of the 20 patterns in it were inspired by snowflakes I made for my parents for their 50th anniversary, which makes this batch of flakes even more special to me.

The patterns in this pdf booklet will not be published on my blog. They were created as a special thank you to those who help in the fight against Parkinson's Disease.

To obtain a pdf copy of my newest pdf booklet, please make a charitable contribution of at least $10 to your choice of The Davis Phinney Foundation (which has a goal of making life better for people who have Parkinson's), or The Michael J. Fox Foundation (which has a goal of finding a cure).

Each time a donation is made, I receive an email notifying me of the donation, and I email the pdf booklet as a token of my gratitude. I try to respond to each donation on the day they are made. However, please bear in mind I am not always able to check email 24 hours a day, especially during the work week. If you make a donation and don't hear from me within three days, it's possible I did not receive notification. In that case, please notify me at flake at snowcatcherphotos dot com. Yes, it's a new email address, and that's because the old one was getting highly unpredictable, but the story behind that is a whole different soap opera for another day.

URGENT UPDATE: 
The Davis Phinney Foundation has set up a brand new fundraising platform, and I should receive notification and a way to contact donors so I can send the booklet. However, if you make a donation to the Davis Phinney Foundation and don't hear from me within a day or so, please email me at the above address so I can try to get your PDF booklet(s) to you. Thanks!!!


My previous pdf booklets are available also. In the past, I've sent all seven of the old booklets to anyone who made a donation of $35 or more, which is the equivalent of $5 per booklet. If you would like fewer than the whole set, please make sure I know which pdf booklets you want.

All donations to the Davis Phinney Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation are tax deductible.


I'm planning an embellishment contest in December with at least four great prizes. Get your creative juices flowing, and show me your best Polar Snowflake (one of the patterns in the new booklet), and perhaps you can win some Lizbeth crochet thread, some danglies, some beads or maybe even a nice crochet hook! Watch for details in an upcoming Snowflake Monday after Thanksgiving!

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: 2.75 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

Gearing Up Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), [sk next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 5, 1 hdc in same dc] 5 times; sk next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 point 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 3: Ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr over tr directly below, [2 tr in next ch 5 point, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (picot point made), 2 tr in same ch 5 point] 5 times, 2 tr in next ch 5 point, work picot point, sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4; 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.






Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGI Friday at Alycia Quilts, and Busy Hands Quilts.

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