NOTE: Formal fundraising on Snowcatcher has been paused. I haven't had time to create a new snowflake pattern booklet, and we don't know if or when we will be able to participate in organized charity rides again. If things favorably change, I will announce such in a new Snowflake Monday blog post. In the meantime, the previous eight booklets are still available, and I will do my best to respond to requests for them in a timely manner.
This year's PDF snowflake pattern booklet is ready! Featured are three amigurumi snowflakes I don't think will ever be published on my blog because I want our contributors to have something special no one else has.
In 2012 I got to ride the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis BikeMS event, affectionately and old foggily known as the MS150, as a High Roller for the first time ever, which meant I didn't have to wait in line for the porta potties at rest stops. Joy doesn't even begin to describe what this meant to me!
I raised the fifth highest amount on my team in 2011, and what made this special is most of my teammates were employees of then title sponsor Great-West, and they received corporate matching funds. The four people on the team who raised more money than me had corporate assistance. I didn’t. I had only crocheters, a couple of portrait recipients and a few ice cream eaters backing me! (Newmont Mining has stepped up as title sponsor this year, which is a huge change for my team. Team Great-West won't be first out the gate this year, but I'll bet The Lizard still pedals fast enough to beat almost all the riders into Fort Collins on Day 1!)
The Lizard will be riding this year as a Premium Pedaler for the first time ever. He received a discount on his registration fee, and he gets a fancy number color to wear during the ride. Because he will ride the entire 75 miles each day in less time than it takes to digest his breakfast, he doesn't really care whether he gets special access to "green rooms" or not. His goal every year is to be one of the first riders to reach Fort Collins, which he happily achieves each year. Nevertheless, his Premium Pedaler status is making him as happy as my "no lines" reward is making me!
We reached these fund-raising honors thanks to generous donors all year long last year who pushed us up and over the top of our stated goals. Together, we raised more than $5,000, and we thank you for helping us help those who are afflicted with multiple sclerosis.
For those who wonder why I raise money for two people instead of just myself, I work for a large company with generous employees who enjoy contributing to charitable causes. The Lizard is second of a two-man outfit with limited client contact and no internet access during the day.
Outside his job, my husband not only maintains both of my bikes (and all of his) (and sometimes even my friends' bikes), he helps me train and prepare for big rides. The Lizard also doesn't subscribe to traditional household chore descriptions where the wife does all the upkeep and makes sure dinner's on the table when the husband gets home. Home more often than me and often earlier than me, he bears more than his fair share of all housework, and he is one fantastic cook. He makes dinner most weeknights. Then cleans up afterward.
Get this: he knows how to separate the laundry and mend! Plus, he lovingly puts up with snowflakes all over the house all year long. I still hope to get him designing snowflakes one day, but until then, I am honored to help out with his fund-raising. It's a great way to show him how much I appreciate everything he does for me.
This year's PDF pattern booklet features 20 of my most popular designs on Ravelry as of January 2012 (that weren't already published in last year's booklet), plus three new patterns never before published. My Little Bear and Blanca Peak Snowflake alone are worth a tax-deductible donation, in my opinion, but the booklet contains much more. (Yes, I finally wrote a pattern for a tiny bear!) I expect there will be Little Bear knockoffs as soon as the cover of my PDF booklet makes the internet rounds, but the original idea came from right here at Snowcatcher. Because the PDF booklet includes three amigurumi snowflake patterns, I've included all my amigurumi tips in the PDF booklet. Currently, I am not planning to ever publish the amigurumi snowflake patterns on my blog or anywhere else.
Because next week is a holiday beloved by many and because it takes a lot of love on both ends of a fund-raising drive such as this, I ♥ You is an appropriate name for this week’s heartflake.
This is a modification to my Candy Corn Snowflake. The idea has been bouncing around in my head since Halloween because the Candy Corn Snowflake was absolutely singing out to be made lovely in filet and/or beads.
Worked with cotton yarn and a larger crochet hook, this heartflake makes yet another great seasonal hot pad!
I also made this heartflake with size 50 thread and a size 14 crochet hook. I blocked it by lightly spraying water onto the pinned heartflake and allowing to dry. I cut two circles of leftover fabric one inch bigger than the heartflake. I attached the heartflake to one, then sewed both circles together, right sides together, leaving a small opening. I turned the sachet outside right and stuffed lightly with aromatic cinnamon potpourri (spent panty hose make a great lining for the potpourri before inserting into a sachet), then closed the opening and attached a ribbon and a decorative crocheted flower before hanging. Any snowflake may be converted into a sachet this way.
You may do whatever you'd like with heartflakes you make from these patterns, but you may not sell or republish the patterns. Thanks, and happy Valentine's Day!
Finished Size: 7.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, liquid starch, glitter, small container for dipping snowflakes into starch, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line; for beaded snowflakes, 144 beads (I used 6/0 pearlescent glass beads, and I dabbed the crochet thread with fingernail polish and allowed it to dry thoroughly to make bead-stringing easier. The beads were not harmed or dulled by the liquid starch.)
White I Heart You Heartflake Instructions
Ch 48; taking care not to twist chain, sl st into 1st ch. 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 1: *1 sc next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, [yo and draw up loop through next ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (3 dc dec made), 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 3, sk 1 ch; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3 * 2 dc in next sc, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, , ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp] 3 times, [ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 2 times, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp] 3 times, [ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 2 times, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, [1 dc in next dc, ch 1] 6 times, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, [1 dc in next dc, ch 1] 6 times, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc and in next ch 1 sp, [ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp] 2 times, 1 dc in next dc, [1 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1] 2 times, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp and in each of next 3 dc, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc and in next ch 1 sp, [ch 1, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp] 2 times, 1 dc in next dc, [1 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1] 2 times, 1 dc in next ch 1 sp and in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 18 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 18 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 10: 1 sc in same st as sl st, * 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 trtr in each of next 2 sc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 trtr in each of next 2 sc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in sc, ch 4, sl st in sc (tri picot made), ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Beaded Pink I Heart You Heartflake Instructions
String 144 beads onto thread. If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Ch 48; taking care not to twist chain, sl st into 1st ch.
Round 1: *1 sc next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, [yo and draw up loop through next ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (3 dc dec made), 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 3, sk 1 ch; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3 * 2 dc in next sc, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, pull up one bead and work into next dc so that it faces the front of snowflake (use same technique for each bead throughout snowflake so all will be positioned similarly), 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, pull up one bead and work into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in next dc, [work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 5 times, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, [work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 5 times, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, [work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 7 times, 1 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, [work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 7 times, 1 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc same st as sl st, [1 dc in next dc, work bead into next dc] 3 times, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, [work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 3 times, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, [1 dc in next dc, work bead into next dc] 3 times, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, [work bead into next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 3 times, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 7 dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 5 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 7 dc, work bead into next dc, 1 dc in each of next 5 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 10: 1 sc in same st as sl st, * 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 trtr in each of next 2 sc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 trtr in each of next 2 sc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 3, ch 6, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, [1 dc in next ch], ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 dc in top of next [dc], 1 dc in bottom of same [dc], sl st in next ch (heart picot made, photo tutorial here; this heart picot ends with a sl st instead of a sc), ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Red I Heart You Heartflake Instructions
Ch 48; taking care not to twist chain, sl st into 1st ch. 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 1: *1 sc next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, [yo and draw up loop through next ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (3 dc dec made), 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 3, sk 1 ch; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3 * 2 dc in next sc, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 7 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 7 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 11 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 11 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next ch; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 3 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st as sl st, 1 dc in each of next 6 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 7 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3, * 1 dc in each of next 6 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 st, ch 1, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 7 st, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 10: 1 sc in same st as sl st, * 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 trtr in each of next 2 sc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 tr in next ch 1 sp, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 tr in next ch 1 sp, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 trtr in each of next 2 sc, 1 dtr in next dc, 1 tr in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 12, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, ch 8, sl st in 1st ch of ch 12 (open heart picot made but must be shaped during stiffening), ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sk ch 3, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pour liquid starch into container. Dip heartflake into starch, allowing liquid to saturate thread. Gently squeeze out excess and make sure all points have been soaked. Pin heartflake to pizza box. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash container and hands thoroughly. Allow heartflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel heartflake 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 heartflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Heartflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.
