We had planned to try riding our bikes again last Monday, but it was cold and rainy. (No complaints!!!) (And no snow yet, so my tomatoes are still growing!!!) Lizard fell asleep, which happens often these days because Parkinson's leaves him so exhausted just about all the time. I had to do something quietly, so I finally got busy on Halloween snowflakes for grands! I actually have enough now for gifts that must be mailed. Yay!!! They should arrive in time!!!
I played crochet thread chicken with the final Triple Shot VII snowflake, and I WON!!! Now I have to wind another two- to three-inch ball of white crochet thread from my heavy, mass-produced jumbo 2,730-yard ball. (Which actually is getting smaller by the month as I continually wind off more.) I was looking up the yardage on Amazon because I'd long ago recycled the wrapper. How amazing!!! I can now get a subscription of jumbo Red Heart or Cleo thread. Does Amazon have me pegged or what?!? :) (You really have to watch online crochet thread listings. Twice I've ordered jumbo size that included photos of 2,730 yards without noticing the description of 1,000 yards, which is nearly a third the yardage. HUGE rip-off!!! Sometimes, when an online crochet thread price seems too good to be true, it's because the amount of thread is far less than what you think you are ordering or expect to be receiving.)
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 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, optional second color (or any number of colors desired), googly eyes or other means of making eyes, 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
Triple Shot VII 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 circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, 2 dc in each dc around for a total of 24 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc] 12 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Bind off if making flake in more than one color. Weave in ends.
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: If using same color, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc. If using new color, 1 dc in any dc. 1 dc in next dc, [ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc] 11 times; ch 1, 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 12th ch 2 sp of Round.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of hdc directly below, [ch 2, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, in next ch 2 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 12 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 point of Round.
Round 6: 2 sc over post of hdc directly below, [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 2 sc in each of next 2 ch 2 sp, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Triple Shot VII Snowflake Variation Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), [1 dc in ring, ch 1] 5 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Sl st into next ch 1 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same sp, [ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp] 5 times; 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 1 sp of Round.
Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of hdc directly below, [6 dc in next gap between 3/dc groups] 5 times; 3 dc in next ch 1 sp; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
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), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, [ch 2, 2 dc in next gap between 6/dc groups, ch 2, 2 dc in middle of next 6/dc group] 5 times; ch 2, 2 dc in next gap between 6 dc groups, ch 1, 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 12th ch 2 sp of Round.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of hdc directly below, [ch 2, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, in next ch 2 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 12 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 point of Round.
Round 6: 2 sc over post of hdc directly below, [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 2 sc in each of next 2 ch 2 sp, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; 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.
