Snowflake Monday

I call this my Solid Ice Flake. I made it several months ago, but lately I've been having trouble remembering which patterns I've already shared. I apparently missed this one when I started bouncing the mix around with various holiday flakes.

I had the idea for this flake for several weeks before I actually tried working it out, and then I ended up changing threads to get the design to show up better. The design on the solid single crochet does not show as well with soft thread (such as bamboo). A stiffer thread seems to allow the design to stand out better.

Because it is worked with a stiffer thread and is solid, you can get away with no stiffening on this one if desired. It will still need to be blocked, and you can even stiffen just the outer petals, but the flake center will not necessarily need any special treatment.

Also, this flake is not worked in traditional rows. Do not join each row. Just work in rounds. You'll be able to keep track of the rounds once you begin working the designs into the lower stitches. Increases are worked directly over the increases in the round below to maintain the six-sided shape.

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 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

Solid Ice Snowflake Instructions

Special stitches:
Spike Stitch: Pull up a loop through the sc directly 3 rows below, yo, pull through both loops on hook. Spike stitch made.
Spike Stitch Cluster: Pull up a loop through the sc 2 rows below and 2 stitches back, pull up a loop through the sc directly 3 rows below, pull up a loop through the sc 2 rows below and 2 stitches forward, yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook. Spike stitch cluster made.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring. Pull magic circle tight. DO NOT JOIN ROWS. Work in rounds.
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: 2 sc in each sc around; 12 stitches. You may mark the beginning of each round or count stitches, whichever works best for you.

Round 3: *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times; 18 stitches.

Round 4: *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc; repeat from * around 5 times; 24 stitches.

Round 5: Sc in next sc, *pull up a loop through sc 3 rows below (in the 6-stitch round), yo and pull through both loops on hook (spike stitch worked), 1 sc in each of next 4 sc; repeat from * around 5 times; 30 stitches. Note: Spike stitch is the increase on this round.

Round 6: *1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, 2 sc in top of spike stitch; repeat from * around 5 times; 36 stitches.

Round 7: *1 sc in each of the next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times; 42 stitches. Hint: increase should occur in 2nd st of increase in row below so that it lines up directly above spike stitch. Lining up spike stitches is more important than the number of stitches in between each increase or spike, although flake will be more even-sided if the exact number of stitches between each increase and spike of each round is maintained.

Round 8: *1 sc in each of the next 7 sc, work spike stitch into top of spike stitch below, adjusting as necessary so that spikes will make straight lines; repeat from * around 5 times; 48 stitches. Note: spike stitch is the increase on this round.
Round 9: *1 sc in each of next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next sc (increase should be in spike stitch); repeat from * around 5 times, 54 stitches.

Round 10: *1 sc in each of next 4 sc, draw up loop through the sc 2 rows below and 2 stitches back, pull up a loop through the sc directly 3 rows below, pull up a loop through the sc 2 rows below and 2 stitches forward, yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook (spike stitch cluster made), 1 sc in each of next 4 sc (including the sc partially buried under the spike stitch – this is an increase and will help the spike stitch appear more prominent by pushing the base outward toward the right side of flake), 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times, but do not work increase on final repeat; 66 stitches.

Round 11: *Work spike stitch into top of spike stitch directly below, 1 sc in each of next 9 sc across, skipping spike stitch cluster and increase stitch worked partly beneath it (this decrease also helps force the spike stitch cluster stand out more and helps the snowflake lay flat by tightening the outer edge); repeat from * around 5 times; 66 stitches.

Round 12: *1 sc in next sc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in same sc as starting sc (candle flame made; candle flame on each point should be directly above spike stitch; adjust as necessary to achieve), 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, ch 5, sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc (picot flower made; picot flower should be directly above spike stitch cluster on each side; adjust as necessary to achieve), sc in next sc and in each of next 4 sc; repeat from * around 5 times, ending with sl st in starting sc instead of final sc of final repeat; 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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