Last week's snowflake pattern was already written and ready to go when I learned of the horrible fire in Hawaii. I didn't have time to design and write a new pattern I hoped would include heart shapes to reflect what I was feeling.
Maui is many miles from me; it's not a place I've been, and I don't know that I will ever get there now with our travel limitations. The fires there gouged me deeply because of the December 2021 Marshall fire 40 or so miles north of me that so unexpectedly destroyed so many homes. Words cannot describe the harrowing memories reports of the damage and loss of life in Lahaina triggered in me, and I'm sure, many other Colorado residents as well. Lahaina did not lose as many structures, but Marshall did not lose as many lives (literally, thank God). (1,084 homes were lost in the Marshall fire.) I wish the losses in Lahaina could have been limited to material things and not people.
We never expected a wildfire here in the dead of winter. Hawaiians did not expect a wildfire along the edge of the ocean. I wish wildfires could be prevented in all cases.
20 August 2023 Update: We learned Sunday morning we'd had a lightning-ignited fire in Waterton Canyon, so near us, Saturday. 12 helicopter drops of 300 gallons of water were followed by the most welcome rainstorm that apparently put most of the fire out. Our community was encouraged to thank God in our prayers Saturday night that our little village did not have to be evacuated.
Lizard's archive photo of nearby firefighting efforts in 2010
I didn't find out about the homemade Christmas ornament drive last year benefitting those affected by the Marshall fire in time to participate, but I am participating this year. I expect we will be making ornaments for Lahaina next year, and yes, homemade Colorado snow will be sent to a Pacific island in need of so much right now.
Right now, I'm getting this year's snowflake ornaments ready to ship to Alabama, Florida and Kentucky. I hope what I send will restore at least a tiny bit of joy to families who have lost so much.
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
Maui Strong Snowflake Instructions
SPECIAL STITCHES:
Popcorn Stitch (pc)
Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.
Make magic ring.
Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 3] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in starting pc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: 2 sc over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 3 sp work (2 sc, ch 7, 2 sc)] 5 times; 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dtr in starting sc to form 6th ch 7 point of Round.
Round 3: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), 1 hdc, 1 tr and 1 dc over post of dtr directly below, [in next ch 7 tip work (1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, ch 7, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr)] 5 times; in next ch 7 tip work (1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, ch 3), 1 dtr in starting ch 1 to form 6th ch 7 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 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dtr directly below, [ch 6, in next ch 7 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 5 times; ch 6, 3 dc in next ch 7 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 point of Round.
Round 5: Ch 14 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 12), in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 14 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 6: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, ch 6, 1 sc around next Round 3 ch and Round 4 ch, ch 3, 1 sc around same Round 3 and Round 4 ch, ch 6, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, * 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5; 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.
Amen.
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