Today's pattern doesn't have six points. This starflake was inspired by an experience last summer.
I was wearing my Montana T-shirt when a much-older man stopped me and thanked me for wearing "the flag." I was so taken aback by his sentiment, I almost couldn't think of anything to say.
"And I'll bet you served, didn't you," I managed to squeak out.
He stood at attention and saluted.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered. "Korea and WWII."
"Then I'd like to shake your hand," I said weakly, shyly. I'd heard many experiences others told of doing such a thing, but I'd never done it, and I was nervous. I don't know why, but it just didn't come naturally, perhaps because I'm just plain shy by nature, and I didn't know this man. I had to force it.
But he did not notice. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes, and he proudly shook my hand. He thanked me again.
Next time, it won't be so hard. Now I know why others ask to shake a veteran's hand. Something more powerful than electricity transmits when you thank a veteran for risking his life to protect our freedom.
Stars are a beautiful way to decorate at Christmas; they decorate our flag as well. During World War I, mothers hung blue stars in their windows for every son fighting. Gold stars were hung in memory of the sons they lost. To this day, men and women lost during service to their country are honored by the Gold Star Mothers Club.
This star is designed in honor of all veterans and all mothers. Happy Veterans Day!
You may do whatever you'd like with starflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!
Finished Size: 4.75 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, 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
Starflake Instructions
Ch 30; being careful not to twist, sl st into 1st ch .
Round 1: Ch 1, 1 sc into same ch; ch 3, sk 2 ch, 1 dc into next ch; * ch 2, sk 2 ch, 1 sc into next ch, ch 2, sk 2 ch, 1 dc into next ch; repeat from * around 3 more times; sk 2 ch, sl st into starting sc.
Round 2: 1 sc tightly into starting sc directly below; ch 3, sk next ch 2 sp, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc, ch 3, * 1 sc tightly into next sc directly below, ch 3, sk next ch 2 sp, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc, ch 3; repeat from * around 3 more times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 3: 1 sc tightly into sc directly below; ch 5, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, * 1 sc tightly into next sc directly below, ch 5, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5; repeat from * around 3 more times; sl st in starting sc.
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 4: 1 sc tightly into sc directly below; ch 7, sk next ch 5 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 7, * 1 sc tightly into next sc directly below, ch 7, sk next ch 5 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 7; repeat from * around 3 more times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 5: 1 sc tightly into sc directly below; ch 9, sk next ch 7 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 9, * 1 sc tightly into next sc directly below, ch 9, sk next ch 7 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 9; repeat from * around 3 more times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: I made four different sizes by ending stars on the second, third, fourth and fifth rows. After all, you can never have too many stars at Christmas!
Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin starflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.
Here is a fold-and-cut star tutorial. Here is a printable star template. Here are printable star templates in different sizes.
Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint starflake with glue mixture. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow starflake 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 starflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Starflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.
That is a powerful story and your beautiful stars really are special! I've never shaken a veteran's hand either, but I certainly do salute - and thank - every one of them for the daily freedoms they afford us.
ReplyDeleteMy gosh you are the star!!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet..I'm gonna post about snowflakes this week, I think you might get a mention!
Clare
my husband served in the Army as of a year ago, and when he was deployed to Iraq, I hung a star in the window too. We lived on a military post so almost everyone did. GREAT post. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful 'starflakes'. So very creative!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful stars!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story and a fantastic pattern! I think I need a few of these to garnish my Christmas tree this year. Not only will Jesus be on my mind while I look at them but I'll also remember all those who have served for our country. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Snowcatcher. From me and from my veteran. Guess I'd better go make some for him...
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful starflake. I probably would have just smiled at the veteran and scurried off, so congrats for being less shy than I am!
ReplyDeleteGreat story!! Too many of us do not take the time to thank vets and all they have done.
ReplyDeleteI have crochet several of your flakes. Love them all. The star flakes have a certain pow to them. Maybe because of the experience behind them. Thank you for sharing the pattern.
ReplyDeleteOh, what an amazing story/experience. I am a Cub Master. We have Pack Meeting tomorrow night. I have invited Veterans in our area to come and participate with our cubs in the Flag Ceremony and to share their experiences. It is always a blessing to talk to a Veteran and especially to thank them for their service for my freedom.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this weeks Star Flake! It is beautiful and powerful!
Shantelle in Utah
What a beautiful star, what a beautiful and touching story. Thank you for reaching out to those who keep us free. Thought of you this weekend, would love to hear how it went. Good evening.
ReplyDeleteReally striking!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely story - I would have reacted the same way as I am shy too. I am so glad you asked to shake his hand.
ReplyDeleteI discovered your blog on Sunday, and spent the whole afternoon downloading your incredible Snowflakes! Thank you for sharing your talent. I plan on making everyone of them!
ReplyDeleteI love your story about thanking the Vet! We should all be more thankful to them and let them know it.
Since I found your blog, I am now looking forward to Mondays!
MUST. TRY. THIS. SOMEDAY! lol im a knitter..but id love to crochet too!
ReplyDeleteLove the design! And the story, my dad and grandpa served.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. I've been busy making snowflakes and stars to send to my church in Japan where I served as a missionary--I miss them so much! (oh, and I went to school in Colorado. Nice pictures.)
ReplyDeleteI think there may be a mistake in the pattern--based on the picture, I changed the first 2 rows to read thus:
Round 1: Ch 1, 1 sc into same ch; ch 3, sk 2 ch, 1 dc into next ch; *ch 3, sk 2 ch, 1 sc into next ch, ch 3, sk 2 ch, 1 dc into next ch; repeat from * around 3 more times; sk 2 ch, sl st into starting sc.
Round 2: 1 sc tightly over sc below into starting ch; ch 4, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc, ch 4, *1 sc tightly over next sc into ch below, ch 4, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, ch 4; repeat from * around 3 more times; sl st in starting sc.
I hope this is helpful...
Thanks, Celia. As soon as I finish the service project I've been working on, I'm going to run this through again to see what you changed. My brain won't even process the directions right now. Maybe my eyes are scrambled, with all the retouching in Photoshop the last two weeks and all the color changes in today's snowflake.
ReplyDeleteThanks for trying to make the pattern better if I screwed up!
Celia, thank you again so much for pointing out I skipped a few chain instructions in those first two rows. I've rewritten the first three rows to reflect what I actually did the first nine times I made the pattern.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that I could make it that many times and not see my own error!!! :)
Thank you for posting your pattern - and your story!
ReplyDeleteMy sister has just recently lost her only son in Afghanistan. I'm planning to make her a gold star [mother] afghan, but until just now had little success creating just the right star. Yours is a lovely and comes with exactly the heart that wants to travel with the gift :-)
Thank YOU, Colleen, for sharing your touching story. My heart and prayers go out to your sister and her family. You are creating a most lovely gift for her. I wish the best for her.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if anyone is reading this, but I'm having a difficult time making mine look as good as the picture. (I'm an experienced beginner.) My main question is about the instructions to "sc tightly over next sc into row below." Where exactly is the connection made? I know that one characteristic of sc is two vertical yarns wrapped around the chain below. Do you inster the hook around those yarns, or do you pull up one of the yarns between them? Also, in the beginning of round 2 it says to ch 2 after the dc, but after that it says ch 3. Round 3 also refers to "ch 2 sp" but it seems like it should say 3. And at the end of round 5 we're instructed to ch 7, but ch 9 on the other sections.
ReplyDeleteHi, TLS, and thank you for visiting! I do indeed read every comment, and I apologize for my delay in responding. I've been on the road and did not have internet access until just now.
DeleteI haven't had any other complaints about this pattern since Celia's above, and it is possible I made the corrections she recommended and then did not reflect those in the following rounds. I will try to work this again tonight or tomorrow and see if I can make sure the pattern is right. I will try to go as fast as I can, but if it's not done by Monday night, keep checking because that means I just didn't get it done yet.
As for where to insert the hook when going around the round below, it's a matter of personal preference. I like to go around the entire round, but it certainly may be done by going into the middle of the stitch, too. Try both ways and see what look you like best. In the meantime, I will be trying to make sure the stitch count on this pattern is correct, and I will update it if it is not.
Thanks again!
PS: TLS, in looking at the photos above of the gold and white snowflakes, it looks like on this pattern, I did indeed insert the hook into the middle of the sc on each round, giving the dropped stitches (that's what it's called when you stitch into a round or row below) a knit-like appearance. I didn't remember doing that back in 2009, but that apparently is what I did.
DeleteThanks again, TLS, for helping me work the typos out of this pattern. You were right, and I've fixed the instructions above. Hope you are healing up well!
DeleteThank you,and also for your concern. I'm trying to keep my foot elevated above my heart, so I'm on my back alot and can't crochet right now. :( Of course getting over this cannot happen fast enough.
DeleteThanks very much for your replies. I've never worked anything with dropped stitches, so this was a good learning experience. And thank your for your patterns; I broke my big toe a week ago and I'm using the opportunity to rest my foot to make some more of your designs. Last year I made the Golden Anniversary Snowflake before you added the numbers, and it is a real showstopper.
ReplyDeleteThanks, TLS! So sorry to hear about your toe; I busted my little toe about six years ago, and toes are a real bummer because all they can do, in most case, is tape it. And we could have done that ourselves had we known that was all they were going to do!!! Hope the toe heals up well, and what a great activity to get your through recuperation!
DeleteI am a Veteran and Proud Blue Star Parent. Blue Star families often hang the Blue Star banner in the windows of our homes when our family member deploys and we proudly display the banner in our car windows and on our lapels. These stars are great!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to comment, and thank you for all you are doing for Rhode Island families! I have not seen such banners on cars or lapels here, perhaps because I'm further from a military base now than while I was growing up, but I think such a sight would cause me to pause in reverence and gratitude...
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