Snowflake Monday

How do you possibly follow three unique, special, occasion-oriented snowflake designs? Easy. Design a snowflake for the Ravelympics! Here’s the first of two.

Also, WisconsinGal shared her very own pinning/stiffening technique. Some of my flakes are so delicate, I would not be able to use toothpicks, but the thicker thread and yarn flakes might work with this.

WisconsinGal writes: “Round, double-pointed toothpicks are the greatest thing since sliced bread for taking care of flakes. I found a wonderful piece of insulation, blue in color, which I cover with wax paper, then I pin the flake down and sprinkle with some of the bestest glitter available, and when dry, turn it over, and spray starch and glitter the other side, only I move the flake to another area, so I can reuse the glitter from previous flakes, and it works fine. I use half Elmer’s glue and half water, and also full-strength Sta Flo starch for stiffening. I think if you try toothpicks you won't ever go back to pins.”

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!Finished Size: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 4 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

Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: *Sc in ring, ch 12; repeat from * around 4 more times for a total of five petals; ch 5, trtr (yo 4 times) in starting sc to form 6th petal. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.
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 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 3 tr in same petal, *[ch 5, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (shell made), ch 6, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2], 4 tr in next petal; repeat from * around 5 times; yo 6 times, pull up loop through 4th ch of starting ch 4, yo and draw through 2 loops 3 times, yo, pull up loop through 2-loop segment just made, yo and draw through 2 loops, yo and pull up loop through same 2-loop segment, yo and draw through 2 loops, yo and draw through 3 loops (counts as shell), yo and draw through 2 loops 2 more times, and this SHOULD complete the stitch. But there are a lot of loops on your hook and highly unusual directions, so if your loop count doesn't come out exact, try again, or yo and pull through all remaining loops on hook to complete stitch. If your loop count didn't come out right, check to make sure this segment looks the same as the other [ ] segments before proceeding. If these instructions are too confusing and frustrating, simply complete [ ] segment same as others, ending with sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4, bind off and rejoin in center top of any [ ] segment, between shells.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc over post of stitch just completed (or into ch 3 space between shells if you opted to bind off and rejoin), *ch 15, sc in top of next [ ] segment; repeat from * around 5 times, ending with sl st in starting sc on final repeat.
Round 4: *Into next ch 15 sp work 3 sc, ch 2, 3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc, ch 2, 3 sc; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting sc; 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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