Snowflake Monday

Storm Peak is one of four subpeaks of Longs Peak and a much easier hike than Longs, although still long. Because each of the corner peaks of Longs is connected by saddles (mountain passes) descending more than 300 feet, each is considered a mountain unto itself. One, Mount Meeker, is a Centennial Peak, the 68th tallest peak in Colorado. Each of the four summits flanking Longs Peak provides a breathtaking view of Longs, although I've not been to the summit of the other four. Yet.


Storm Peak, at 13,326 feet, is connected to Longs Peak via the Keyhole, the easiest (although not easy) passageway leading to the summit of Longs. As viewed from Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Storm Peak and Mount Lady Washington, another of the four subpeaks, seem to cradle Longs Peak. Storm Peak's position on the map makes it the perfect name for a companion pattern based on my Longs Peak Snowflake.

This snowflake variation required many attempts before finally achieving the desired shape. For a very long, long, long time, I've wanted to put a square edging around a snowflake to enable a granny square-type joining. I lost count how many times I frogged this project after seven tries before I finally worked out the math satisfactorily yet maintained the distinct snowflake shape within the square. Yet another connection to long the long, long, long journey up Longs...

This variation is written specifically for worsted weight yarn but also works with sock yarn. Once again, a new thread variation is included at the end of this post.

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: 9 inches across unblocked; 11 inches across blocked
Materials for snowflakes: Size G crochet hook (or size appropriate for yarn being used), worsted weight yarn (3 skeins of of Lily Chin's Times Square will make 2 squares with leftovers, 1 skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease in White Frost will make about 6 squares, 1 large skein of baby pompadour will make an 8-square scarf with leftovers, 1 skein of Caron Simply Soft will make about 6 squares, 1 large skein of Red Heart Super Saver will make more than enough squares for an 8-square scarf); to make an 8-square scarf of leftovers, my guess is each square takes about 40 yards
Materials for snowflakes to be blocked: empty pizza box (or other flat surface – I use my spare bed with a towel beneath large pieces to be blocked; just make sure you get all the pins out of the mattress before you have overnight guests…), wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water, spray bottle, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing

Special Stitches:
starting dc cluster: [yo and draw up loop, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and bring through all 3 loops on hook
dc cluster: [yo and draw up loop, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and bring through all 4 loops on hook
tr cluster: [yo twice and draw up loop, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook, yo and bring through 2 loops on hook] 4 times, yo and bring through all five loops on hook
qtr: trtr with one more yo for total of 5

Depending upon personal preference, 8 squares made with worsted weight yarn make a 90-inch scarf, 4 or 5 squares make a 44- or 55-inch cowl, and 16 squares make a 44-inch 4x4 lapghan. Make as many squares as need to complete project.


Storm Peak Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With white, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, ch 3, *2 dc in ring, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of 6 spokes; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Sl st in next ch 3 sp, make loop on hook nearly the size of a regular dc and twist twice, work starting dc cluster into same sp, ch 4, work dc cluster into same sp, *work dc cluster into next ch 3 sp, ch 4, work dc cluster into same sp; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of 12 dc clusters, sl st across starting dc cluster into next ch 3 sp.

Round 3: Ch 2 and make loop on hook length of ch 2 (counts as start of 1st tr of tr cluster), work next 3 tr of tr cluster in same sp as instructed above in Special Stitches, ch 9, tr cluster in same ch 4 sp, *tr cluster in next ch 4 sp, ch 9, tr cluster in same ch 4 sp; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of 12 tr clusters; sl st in top of starting tr cluster.
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: *2 sc in next ch 9 sp, *2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 2 tr in same sp, ch 3, 2 tr in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: Ch 10 (counts as 1 qtr and ch 3), *sk sc and hdc, 1 trtr in next dc, ch 3, sk 1 dc and 1 tr, 1 dtr in next tr, ch 8, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 tr in next tr, ch 3, sk next 2 st, 1 dtr in next dc, ch 3, 1 trtrtr in middle of next 4 sc, ch 3, sk 2 sc and 2 hdc, 1 dtr in next dc, ch 3, sk 1 dc and 1 tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 8, 1 dtr in next tr, ch 3, sk 1 tr and 1 dc, 1 trtr in next dc, ch 3, 1 qtr in middle of next 4 sc, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 qtr in middle of next 4 sc, ch 3; repeat from * around 1 time, omitting last qtr and ch 3 of final repeat; sl st in 7th ch of starting ch 10.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc in next ch sp, 1 dc in next trtr, 3 dc in next ch sp, 1 dc in next dtr, 4 dc in next ch sp (corner), ch 3, 4 dc in same ch sp, *[1 dc in next st, 3 dc in next ch sp] across to corner, 4 dc in corner ch sp, ch 3, 4 dc in same sp; repeat from * around, ending with 3 dc in ch sp before starting ch 2; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
NOTE: In the thread version of this motif, all dc groups are worked in the ch 3 spaces and not in the various tr stitches.

Joining Round, First Square: 1 sc in same ch, * ch 5, sk 3 dc, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around except on corners; on corners, ch 7, 1 sc in next dc; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Joining Round, After First Square: 1 sc in same ch, [ch 5, sk 3 dc, 1 sc in next dc] 3 times, ch 3, sl st into ch 7 sp (corner) of previously finished square, ch 3, 1 sc in next dc of current square, [ch 2, sl st into next ch 5 sp of previously finished square, ch 2, sk 3 dc of current square, 1 sc in next dc] 8 times, ch 3, sl st in ch 7 sp of previously finished square, ch 3, 1 sc in next dc of current square; , * ch 5, sk 3 dc, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around except on corners; on corners, ch 7, 1 sc in next dc; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

If making afghan or any other project with squares joined on more than one side, work joining row the same except joining flakes on two or three sides, as applicable. On corners where two corners are already joined, work sl st into corner joining.



Round 4, Individual Flake for Hanging: *2 sc in next ch 9 sp, *2 hdc in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting sc.

Round 5, Individual Flake for Hanging: 1 dc cluster between 2 sc directly below, *ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, [1 sc] in next ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in ext ch, sl st in [sc], ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next sc, sl st in [sc], ch 7, 1 dc cluster between nest 2 sc; repeat from * around 5 times; omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc cluster; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box, or prepare desired surface. Pin snowflake to shape. Spray lightly with water. Allow to dry overnight. Remove pins. For added durability, press with iron on appropriate heat setting.

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