Snowflake Monday

I had planned to do only two snowflakes for the Ravellenics, but how can anyone resist competing in an event with an awesome title such as Beading Biathlon?

In addition, I've been duly inspired by Allicats and TeachersPet, who initiated a beaded snowflake discussion on Ravelry about two months ago. Thanks, gals!

Of course, this flake may be constructed without beads.

I have tons of beads I use for eyes on my bears, lizards and other critters. It has been years since I've done any beaded crochet, and I had not tried lacing beads onto size 10 thread until my third attempt at fine tuning this flake. Most of my beads would not fit over a regular sewing needle, much less size 10 thread. For this flake, I ended up using 6/0 glass beads.

The crochet thread would not fit through any of my beading needles, so I tied a piece of sewing thread to the crocheting thread and gently slid the beads over the tiny knot after threading them onto the sewing thread with a sewing needle.

I always put about ten more beads than what I need onto the thread when creating a beaded crochet piece to make sure I have enough in case I've miscounted or a bead accidentally breaks.

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: 4.25 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 11 crochet hook, 54 beads, 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

String beads onto thread. Keep them far enough ahead to prevent them from interfering with your work, and use one bead at a time as directed.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and 2 ch), *1 dc in ring, ch 2; repeat from * around 10 times for a total of 12 spokes; sl st in starting dc. Do not pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: *Sl st in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, tr in same space, slide one bead next to stitch after 1st loop of tr stitch (bead should be in center of tr when tr is complete), ch 3, sl st in same space, ch 1, sc in next space, ch 1, sl st in next sp, ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 6 petals; sl st in starting sl st.
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 2, hdc in next ch 2 sp, 1 dc in next tr, 1 tr in same tr, ch 5 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 2 (place bead in center of chain),1 tr in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dtr in same ch, ch 4 (place bead in center of chain), trtr (yo 4 times) in same ch, ch 1, sl st in top of trtr just completed, ch 4 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dtr in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), 1 tr in same ch, ch 2 (place bead in center of chain), 1 dc in same ch, ch 3 (place bead in center of chain), sl st in same ch, sl st in next ch, 1 tr in dc below, 1 dc in same dc, 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, sl st in sl st at base of petal, sc in next sc (between petals), sl st in sl st at base of next petal; repeat from * around 5 times ending with sl st in starting sl st; 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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