I recently saw a comment from a crocheter who was questioning whether to begin a temperature project because of the number of ends that need to be woven in. I couldn't help but giggle.
I have met crocheters who don't like weaving in ends, and one whom I love dearly refuses to weave in ends. She incorporates ends as part of her own unique design element... knots like crazy hanging out all over the place. Not my idea of a finish, but, she has gifted more afghans in the nearly 30 years I've known her than I have in my whole life. I don't know a single recipient who isn't appreciative of her work.
Some of my snowflakes require a BUNCH of ends to weave in. I've also designed knotty projects using my hand-dyed hank-bundling pieces and hand-dyed leftovers too small for anything else, such as this lovely scarf from about four years ago.
I haven't had much response when I've asked readers if they'd like to join in and crochet along on their own temperature projects. I can't help but wonder if part of the disinterest is the knots... I have four ends to weave in on every single motif I make. But I've been doing this with snowflakes for how long now??? Since 2009??? Knots and end-weaving are part of the game, and they don't really bother me at all. In fact, if you recall, I'm using my clippings for other art projects (although that has become yet another WIP (Work In Progress) that is calling out for more attention).
I want my knots to be secure. I gifted an afghan to a child once who came back to me about two weeks later with unravelling in the center because the magic ring I'd used to start the project magically unsnaked! I ended up sewing (with my sewing machine) over the entire center (after reworking the center from the outside in, which was a totally new learning experience for me) to make sure the ends wouldn't take on a life of their own again (and they haven't!!!!!), and I now do that for EVERY yarn project I work in the round and gift.
Ends to be woven in can present challenges. Yet I'm actually more concerned about the days I don't pay as much attention to my crochet project, when I make booboos that sometimes are difficult to fix. In the above example, I had to cut the bind-off, tie the thread back on, frog and redo, then weave in two additional knots. Below required even more knots to be woven in. Again, I'm learning so much, I almost think I deserve a college degree for pioneering crochet surgery techniques. (Ha ha!)
Does that mean I can use another Collegiate Peak name for today's snowflake, which is inspired by my 2023 crochet temperature project motif? Just teasing. I'm actually running out of Collegiate Peak names.
Some mistakes are a bit easier to fix. I accidentally reversed the high and low a couple of three times, with the high in the center and the low on the outside. The second time, I didn't notice until I'd already joined in the errant motif. Both All three times, I was able to save the motif centers until those temperatures occurred (dread the night the mercury doesn't drop below 60 for that third booboo!!!) as a low. Chances are, no one would have ever noticed; I could have left the reversals as they were. But I want the project to be accurate. As perfect as possible. Just because. So I fix my booboos.
And then there's that classic mistake I find myself making too often... I caught this one before I cut the thread, thank heavens!
Oh, my, gosh, and then there is that embarrassing mistake I made not just once, but twice in a row. I guess that's what I get for trying to crochet while watching Axiom undocking and then splashing down...
The center of one motif is backwards, back side up. Thankfully, that mistake doesn't show. I also completely attached one motif to the wrong end of my project. Once again, I had to cut the knot, unravel the entire second round and redo with an additional knot to weave in near the end. You'd think I'd get a clue and stop trying to multi-task!
Today's pattern features another CD ornament variation as well as a proper snowflake. As I was designing today's flake, I realized it would be too big for a CD, so modified a smaller version for the CD.
Way back in the beginning of my crochet temperature project, I predicted I'd be using pink by May 21. Because pink (and maroon) represent summer temperatures, I wasn't eager to begin incorporating them into the project. I'm definitely a cold weather person. I am not a hot weather lover. I'm so happy to report I still haven't had to use pink, and I didn't even have to pull out the maroon again until May 29 and June 29. (We experienced a brief spell of 81- and 82-degree days in mid-April, and boy, was it scary to get that warm that fast.)
So, still no pinks yet (YAY!!!), but, boy, oh, boy, am I running out of my lightest purple!!! If I didn't have three more light purples in my hand-dyed thread stash, my goodness, would I be up to my armpits in purple dye!!! Purple is SO much fun!!!
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: 4.5 inches from point to point for CD covering, 7.5 inches from point to point for standalone snowflake
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, 2 optional used and useless CDs, 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
Doctor of Thread Snowflake CD Ornament Instructions (make 2)
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (starting popcorn stitch made), [ch 10, 1 dc in 7th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1, 5 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through top of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc (popcorn st made)] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting pc st to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round; 1 fsc (foundation sc), 1 fhdc (foundation hdc), 1 fdc (foundation dc), ch 3, 1 tr in bottom of fdc to form 6th ch 6 loop of Round. (NOTE: If foundation crochet is too difficult, complete 6th spoke same as previous 5 spokes, sl st in top of starting pc; bind off. Begin 2nd Round by working dc into top of any ch 6 loop instead of beginning with ch 2.) Don't pull magic ring too tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of tr directly below, [in next ch 6 loop work (5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 5 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 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 5, sk next 4 dc, 1 sc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, in next ch 3 tip work (3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr)] 6 times, omitting last 3 tr and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 3 to form 6th ch 3 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, First Snowflake: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 1), 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next hdc, ch 5, sk next sc, ch 5 and sc, 1 dc in next hdc, ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 4, Second Snowflake: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 1), 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next hdc, ch 5, sk next sc, ch 5 and sc, 1 dc in next hdc, ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 1, 1 trtr in corresponding point of First Snowflake, ch 2, 1 dc)] 6 times, inserting CD(s) after 4th point, and omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3. KEEP READING BEFORE BINDING OFF!!! If you are planning to hang your CD ornament outside, a strand of thread for hanging likely will not be strong enough to brave the elements (and may not be strong enough to hold the weight of 2 CDs). You may incorporate a ch 30 or so at the end before binding off (I worked a ch 50 for today's ornament) to create a hanging loop (make the hanging loop big enough to fit over whatever you are going to hang the ornament from), or, you can glue or sew on a ribbon loop for hanging. A store-bought wire ornament hanger could be used, too. In the past, I have used a six-inch piece of black acrylic worsted yarn. That should be pretty darned weatherproof! If you choose to chain a hanging loop, do so, then bind off. Weave in ends.
Doctor of Thread Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (starting popcorn stitch made), [ch 10, 1 dc in 7th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1, 5 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through top of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc (popcorn st made)] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting pc st to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round; 1 fsc (foundation sc), 1 fhdc (foundation hdc), 1 fdc (foundation dc), ch 3, 1 tr in bottom of fdc to form 6th ch 6 loop of Round. (NOTE: If foundation crochet is too difficult, complete 6th spoke same as previous 5 spokes, sl st in top of starting pc; bind off. Begin 2nd Round by working dc into top of any ch 6 loop instead of beginning with ch 2.) Don't pull magic ring too tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of tr directly below, [in next ch 6 loop work (5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 5 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 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 5, sk next 4 dc, 1 sc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, in next ch 3 tip work (3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr)] 6 times, omitting last 3 tr and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 3 to form 6th ch 3 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 dc and [ch 1), 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next hdc, ch 5, sk next sc, ch 5 and sc, 1 dc in next hdc, ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, 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 3 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [2 dc in each of next 3 ch 1 sp, ch 3, 1 dc around Round 3 and Round 4 ch 5 spaces, ch 3, 2 dc in each of next 3 ch 1 sp, in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 6: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [[ch 3), 1 dc in next dc, sk next dc] 5 times, ch 5, sl st in next sc, ch 5, [1 dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next dc] 5 times, in next ch 5 tip work (1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: For CD covering, carefully dab a tiny bit of glue over the center and finishing knot of each snowflake and gently massage in, quickly cleaning up with a cotton swab, or as I did, a drop of spit on my finger, any glue you accidentally get on a CD. After making a few of these, I decided it's easier to weatherproof the flake centers (and the finishing knot of the first snowflake) prior to joining and inserting CDs, just waiting a few minutes for glue to dry a bit before finishing up the ornament. Permanently attach desired hanging device if you didn't chain a hanging loop. Hang and step back to bask in the reflections the CD scatters!
For standalone snowflake, 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.
