Snowflake Monday

This is yet another flake inspired by a design on a snowflake fleece blanket I adore. As I was getting ready to post this pattern, I couldn't remember which flake this was. So I had to make another one. Which gave me a chance to fine-tune yet one more time, plus I also was able to try out the bamboo thread I received as a Christmas gift for the first time. So this is my first ever Bamboo Flake!

I am delighted to report bamboo thread is an absolute joy to work with. It doesn't split at all. It's almost too luxurious to use for snowflakes because the stiffening camouflages the supple texture of the thread. I now highly recommend bamboo thread for lace projects (collars, gloves, edgings, etc.) that will not be stiffened. I LOVE working with this stuff! I will be watching for sales, and next time I need to stock up, I'll likely stick with bamboo.

After I finished pinning my revised flake, I decided I liked the original better, yet the original still needed something. So I made one more flake with a few more adjustments. The photos of all three of these flakes effectively illustrate the evolution of a snowflake. This process is what I go through with every flake I design, although not all of them get so many re-dos due to the designer forgetting which of her crocheted children she gave birth to before they are photographed and numbered.

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: 6 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread (I used bamboo thread for the second and third flakes shown here), size 10 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Bamboo Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc into ring, *ch 12, 3 dc into ring; repeat from * 4 more times for a total of 6 petals, ch 5, trtr (that's yo 4 times) into 1st dc (ch 5 and trtr count as final ch 12 loop). Do not pull magic circle too tight; leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat, with just a bit of ease.

Round 2: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 4), dc into next middle dc, *ch 4, dc into next ch 12 sp, ch 2, dc into same sp, ch 4, dc into next middle dc; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 4, 1 dc into next ch 12 sp, ch 1, hdc into 3rd ch of starting ch 7 (ch 1 and hdc count as final ch 2 sp).
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 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over hdc post below, ch 5, skip ch 4, 1 dc into next dc, ch 5, *2 dc into next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 2 dc into same ch 2 space, ch 5, skip ch 4, 1 dc into next dc, ch 5; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in same sp as starting dc, ch 1, hdc into 3rd ch of starting ch 3 (ch 1 and hdc count as final ch 2 sp).

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into same sp, ch 6, sk ch 5, 1 dc into next dc, ch 6, 2 dc into next ch 2 sp, *ch 2, 2 dc into same ch 2 space, ch 6, sk ch 6, 1 dc into next dc, ch 6, 2 dc into next ch 2 sp; repeat from * around 4 times, 1 dc into 3rd ch of ch 3 (dc counts as final ch 2 sp).

Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc around post of dc just worked, ch 6, sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc (tri-picot made), ch 1, 3 dc in same space below, *ch 6, skip next two dc and ch 6 sp, 1 dc into next dc, ch 10, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of the next 6 ch, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of the next 5 ch, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, ch 12, dc in 9th ch from hook, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in next ch (forming point of branch), ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 4 ch, working down opposite side of branch sl st in next ch, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 5 ch, sl st into next ch, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 6 ch, sl st into each of next 2 ch and into top of dc, ch 6, **3 dc in next ch 2 space, ch 6, sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 1, 3 dc in same space below, repeat from * around 4 times, repeat from * to ** one time; sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or foil to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or foil.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. 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 foil. 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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