Snowflake Monday

Continuing with my quilt theme, this snowflake is one of three designed specifically for my still in-progress snowflake quilt. (Thank you, Marigold, for your "Snow Dream" name suggestion; I’m playing with it!)

14,082 Windom Peak is one of three 14ers in the Needle Mountains of the Weminuche Wilderness. This 14er is named for Senator and Secretary of the Interior William Windom, an advocate for railroad regulation. He sought nomination for the office of president in 1880 but received only 10 votes. Not enough. James Garfield was nominated instead, and he eventually became president. (A mountain or two plus a county were named after Garfield, as well, not the feline cartoon character, as some might mistakenly believe.) Windom’s grandson by the same name is a well-known actor who appeared in, among a host of other shows, "The Twilight Zone," which is not to be confused with the currently popular novel and movie series by a similar name. (We have a Twilight mountain, too, and it wasn’t named for any of the above.)

Most climbers ascend Windom Peak together with 14ers Sunlight Peak and Mount Eolus, fondly known as a triple-bagger by peak baggers. Windom is considered the easiest of the three summits, and I harbor high hopes of attaining its summit viewpoint one day.
The 500,000-acre Weminuche Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in Colorado. The name Weminuche was the name of one of seven bands of Ute Indians who once called this rugged area home.

Just east of Windom Peak, at the top of Grizzly Gulch, lies the fourth highest lake in the United States, Windom Lake, at 13,100 feet. In the early 1900s, the tiny pile of rocks in the middle of Windom Lake was identified as the highest island in the country.

Most climbers reach the Chicago Basin trailhead for these three peaks via a ride aboard the Silverton-Durango narrow gauge train. That’s how The Lizard climbed this set of jewels.

Not me. I wanted to see these mountains from the other side, the back side, the trail less taken. Although I still have not accomplished my goal of shooting the sunrise reflection of Sunlight Peak in Sunlight Lake, I did trek into the Weminuche Wilderness via Hunchback Pass, which I thought quite appropriate after my emergency back surgery, and I was able to view the Weminuche 14ers from Vallecito Creek. I've also viewed the group from Highland Mary Lakes, another of my favorite Colorado destinations.

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: 3 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 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
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Windom Peak Snowflake Instructions

Ch 4, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, * ch 6, sl st in top of dc just made (picot loop made), 2 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch 2, 1 dtr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th picot. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in picot loop, * 2 tr in picot loop, ch 8, sl st in 8th ch from hook (picot loop made), 2 tr in same picot loop, 2 dc in same picot loop, 2 dc in next picot loop; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * 2 dtr in next picot loop, 2 tr in same loop, 2 dc in same loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 1 sc in same loop, ch 3, 1 sc in same loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 2 dc in same sp, 2 tr in same loop, 2 dtr in same loop, 1 dc in sp between next 2 2/dc groups; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: This snowflake holds its shape well without being blocked, although blocking adds a bit of class and style. Also, multiple snowflakes in this pattern work up nicely into a joined project. To join, instead of a chain 3 picot on the final round, chain 1, slip stitch into chain 3 picot of already finished snowflake, chain 1 and continue with pattern as written above. To join in a grid, join each snowflake to two points on a neighboring snowflake. To join a third snowflake, join at the joint of two already-joined snowflakes. To join in a single strand, such as for a skinny scarf, join just one point on each snowflake.






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 the 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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