17 April 2023

Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake was originally designed ten years ago, another pattern I wrote on my phone during my train commute. Another mystery flake I had no idea how it appeared until I tried working up the pattern again, and this one needed a lot of modern intervention.

I wonder what became of all those flakes I wrote on the train. I don't know what inspired them. I have no photos of the original creations. I didn't write about them in my journal. I assume I made them in pink and sent or gifted them to friends and/or loved ones who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Whatever became of those long lost snowflakes, I hope they brought joy to the recipients. And I hope today's pattern continues that tradition.

14,045-foot North Eolus isn't an official 14er, but it's a named point above 14,000 feet, and that makes it one of the seven sentimental 14ers many climbers include in their lists. We were among the climbers who planned to summit all 59 named 14ers, official or not. Lizard had already been up the Chicago Basin group, which includes Mount Eolus and North Eolus, before we met.

We'd long planned to ride the Durango/Silverton train to Needleton, where we would get off and hike to Chicago Basin, which serves as a sort of base camp for climbers of Windom, Sunlight and Eolus. That is, until I set my heart on photographing golden sunrise upon the 14ers from nearby Sunlight Lake. Lizard took me on a backpack trip over Hunchback Pass into the Vallecito drainage many years ago with the goal of Sunlight Peak sunrise. We didn't make it that far, but we did get some wonderful photos, and I got to spend a week in the wilderness with my Lizard! Oh, how I miss those days. But I will always be grateful for the adventures we were able to enjoy prior to his Parkinson's diagnosis. We have been richly blessed!

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: 5.5 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

North Eolus Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [2 sc in ring, ch 1] 6 times, omitting last ch of final repeat; 1 hdc in starting sc to create 6th ch 1 sp of Round. Don't pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), 2 hdc over post of hdc directly below, [ch 3, 3 hdc in next ch 1 sp] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

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

Round 5: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [[in next ch 1 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 2 times, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 tr, * ch 5, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 dc] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 6 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of tr directly below, [3 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, 3 hdc in next ch 3 sp, in next ch 5 tip work (5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 5 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.

1 comment :

  1. A very pretty, classic flake, and what a treat to see those old photos. You two have some truly wonderful memories to share.

    ReplyDelete


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