Snowflake Monday

Were you getting tired of my Wave color inspirations? Perhaps I've started a fad. Malabrigo has been inspired by the red rock hues of the desert. Check THIS out! Actually, I guess Sarah's Colorwave Yarns started the trend; I just picked it up and ran with it.

No canyon colors for me today. As intensely as I tried, I couldn't gain inspiration from shamrocks this year, but I did find creative guidance in a batch of holiday-themed hand-dyed thread I probably wouldn't have otherwise used for a snowflake.

In keeping with this week's St. Patrick's Day theme, this snowflake is named after Emerald Peak, a centennial peak or one of the highest 100 peaks in Colorado with an elevation of 13,904 feet. I have not been atop Emerald Peak or its nearest neighbors, but it is on my bucket list because I am drawn to the name, and I had a clear view of it from the summit of Huron Peak.

Held captive by half a dozen fourteeners surrounding it, Emerald Peak is not easily seen from highways and civilization. In fourteener guidebooks, Emerald is offered as a double extra credit peak when triple bagging nearby big boys Belford, Oxford and Missouri and lower thirteener neighbor Iowa.

All of these peaks lie within the Sawatch Range, and even that name has a colorful meaning: Native American for "water of the blue earth."

There are two options for the picot in the fifth round. I worked up the shaded greens snowflake with a double crochet picot. While working up the white snowflake to test the pattern, I tried a single crochet picot to see if I liked that better. I like both, so I'm including both variations.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Emerald Peak Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st, ch 8, *2 dc in next st, ch 8; repeat from * around 4 times, omitting last ch 8 of final repeat and working ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form final ch 8 sp.

Round 3: 1 sc in sp just formed (working over body of tr just made), ch 8, *1 sc in next ch 8 sp, ch 8; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: *Sl st in next ch 8 sp, 2 sc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 8, sl st in 8th ch from hook, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 sc in same sp, sl st in same sp, ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 6 and last sl st of final repeat and instead working sl st into starting sl st, ch 2, 1 dc in same sl st to form final ch 6 loop.
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 5, green snowflake: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), *1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 7 dc in next ch 8 loop, ch 8, sl st in top of dc just worked, 6 dc in same loop, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in same loop, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 6, sl st, dc and ch 3 of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5, ch 2, dc in sl st to form final ch 6 loop.

Round 5, white snowflake: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), *1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, 7 dc in next ch 8 loop, ch 8, sl st in top of dc just worked, 6 dc in same loop, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in same loop, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 6, sl st, dc and ch 3 of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5, ch 2, dc in sl st to form final ch 6 loop.

Round 6: *1 sc in same loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 1 dc in same loop, 3 tr in next ch 8 loop, 3 dc in same loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 1 sc in same loop, ch 3, sl st in sc, 1 hdc in same loop, 3 dc in same loop, 3 tr in same loop, 1 dc in next ch 6 loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 1 sc in same loop, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in each of next 3 ch, sl st in next ch, ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. 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 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 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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