Snowflake Monday

I'm really feeling the love of serving others and working together to make the world a better place. Here's another flake destined for Operation Ornaments.

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 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

Heartfelt 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: [1 pc into ring, ch 3] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc into starting pc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

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

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, * ch 8, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, ch 1, 3 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form snowflake tip and base for foundation sc, 1 fsc in top of dc, 3 more fsc, ch 1, 1 dc in bottom of fsc just worked to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
NOTE: If you are not comfortable with fsc, work 6th point same as previous 5 and bind off, rejoining on any tip.
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 dc directly below, [working down spoke, 1 dc in top of next sc, 1 tr in next sc, 1 dtr in next sc, sk over next 2 sc, next 3 dc, next picot, next 3 dc and next 2 sc, working up next spoke, 1 dtr in next sc, 1 tr in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, in ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 hdc in top of next dc, 1 sc in bottom of same dc, sl st in next ch (heart picot made), ch 1, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: If you're having trouble with the heart picot, see the photo tutorial here. Although this heart is just a bit different than in the tutorial, the technique is the same.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

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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Snowflake Monday

I liked the little heart points on last week's snowframe so much, I decided to use them again on today's flake. We're going to have an ornament party for Operation Ornaments in about a week, and all of my snowflakes from this year will be donated to wherever they need me to send them. Because each of my snowflakes will be going to a different family, I don't mind that lots of them have hearts. Spread the love.

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: 4.75 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

Angel Heart Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 3, 2 dc in ring] 5 times, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of tr just worked, 5 dc in each of next 5 ch 3 sp, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: 1 sc in gap between 5/dc groups directly below, [sk next 2 dc, in next dc work (2 tr, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr), sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next gap between 5/dc groups] 6 times, omitting last 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 10 (counts as 1 trtr and [ch 5), sk next 2 tr and next 2 dc, in next hdc work (1 dc, ch 13, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 7, sk next sk next 7 ch, sl st in next ch, ch 1, 1 dc), ch 5, sk next 2 dc and next 2 tr, 1 trtr in next sc] 6 times, omitting last trtr of final repeat; sl st in 5th ch of starting ch 10; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

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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Snowflake Monday

I have a very different breed of snowflake to share today. I recently donated every last crocheted snowflake I have, plus every last crocheted ornament Autumn, our Sisters of the Snowflake founder, donated to me to donate to Operation Ornaments. One set (of 150 crocheted snowflakes and bells) went to Ruiodoso, New Mexico, just 40 miles from where I grew up and which has been enduring horrific fires and flash floods last year and again this year. The final set (of 92 ornaments) is going to Lahaina, Hawaii, which suffered a devastating fire in 2023.

In the boxes and boxes of stuff Autumn donated to me were a few beaded snowflakes in a kit. There were extra beads, but no pipe cleners. The sister missionaries who've been helping me prepare ornament donations offered to make more beaded ornaments. I just needed to get some pipe cleaners. I bought three more bags of clear plastic beads of various sizes and shapes, too, because, why not? Maybe even I could make a few beaded snowflakes.

We staged a mini ornament-creating party the day before I scheduled to deliver in person everything I have left to (local) Operation Ornaments board member Carol Burton and Operation Ornaments founder Carolyn Nicolaysen. I'd never made pipe cleaner and bead snowflakes before, and there were no instructions. So we winged it. I think we did a GREAT job! And it was fun, too.

I thought it would be fun to share this inspiration with you. (And now I have to get busy and start crocheting more snowflakes!!!)

You may do whatever you'd like with ornaments you make from these instructions, but you may not sell or republish this blog post. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: whatever you decide
Materials: For a snowflake, six pipe cleaners (I bought a whole bag of sparkly silver) and beads of assorted sizes and shapes in multiples of six (the kit we started with had blue and white, and I purchased clear irridescent), optional adhesive-backed snowflake shapes (what we used came in the wide assortment of supplies Autumn donated, but I'm sure they are available at department stores, craft stores or online) or buttons or whatever small decorations that could be attached to snowflake centers, scissors not meant to cut fabric or thread (DO NOT use your sewing or quilting scissors to cut pipe cleaners!!! They will NEVER cleanly cut fabric again if you do!)
NOTE: The sister missionaries also made wreaths, snowmen and other holiday shapes, too. I think the possibilities are endless.

Beaded Pipe Cleaner Snowflake Instructions

Twist three pipe cleaners tightly in the center. (After my first ornament, I twisted the ornaments one or two inches from the center and used clippings to make ornament hangers for other ornaments and to make smaller snowflakes.)

Begin sliding beads onto pipe cleaners, using six identical beads each round so the spokes will be even. I alternated sizes and shapes, but colors could be alternated, too.

After desired spoke length has been achieved, twist pipe cleaner ends to secure beads in place and clip off five ends. Twist or bend the sixth end into an ornament hanger.

Clippings also may be used to create smaller snowflakes.

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Instead of Ornaments

The sister missionaries from my church joined me again, this time to write love letters to Hawaii. The sisters will return tomorrow to help me string, label and package snowflakes that also will be sent for this year's Operation Ornaments. (And I hope to remember to take photos of us packaging this time around!) But for now, we wrote a bunch of love letters for Maui fire survivors. We are so excited to be able to help with this show of love and support!

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Operation Ornaments

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