Snowflake Monday

Today's Snowflake Monday almost didn't happen. I asked to leave work early on Friday to ride Waterton Canyon with The Lizard, who had the day off, so we could enjoy the gorgeous spring weather together.

But just a couple of miles from home, I earned my third Over the Bars Scar Club patch, broke my right wrist, thought I broke my big fancy camera, made kneeburger and spent most of the rest of the day in the emergency room. Things could have been far worse, so I am very thankful.

I'm trying to learn to type with left fingers only, and it's a lot more challenging than I thought it would be, but not quite as difficult as learning to brush my teeth and my hair with my left hand, as well as all sorts of other everyday tasks I rarely gave a second thought because they came so naturally.

I'm very thankful I finished up all my other posts for this week before last Friday because I'm not sure I'd do them now if they weren't already done. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to blog next week, although I do hope to have another snowflake pattern done for next Monday.

Before my little drama, I had not quite finished this sunflake and basket, which have been in my head since last year. I originally planned to make a bunch of tiny snowflake flowers with size 50 thread and size 14 hook. Crocheting, however, is one of the everyday things I have been taking for granted, and at this point, I can do only 18 stitches at a time before I have to give my wrist and elbow a break. I am unable to do anything significant with a size 14 hook right now, and it is entirely possible I might not be able to for six more weeks. But, I can do 18 stitches at a time with a size 8 hook! While wearing a cast!

I can't ride for two more weeks, so I challenged myself to try to finish up today's pattern and projects and perhaps build up my endurance and tolerance level so I can function normally at work this week. Project photos for today's pattern were taken with my iPhone while my Nikon was undergoing necessary surgery, its second this year!

Just as the Lord protected me when I summersaulted over my bike, He helped me get through this project.

Sunlight Peak, 14,059 feet, is one of three remote 14ers in the Weminuche Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in Colorado. Most people who climb this group of mountains shorten the lengthy approach by taking a ride aboard the Silverton-Durango railroad and getting off at Needleton, the approximate halfway point along the narrow gauge railway. Climbers then hike into Chicago Basin from Needleton.

The summit of Sunlight Peak is a really big boulder on top of a bunch other really big boulders requiring some stretching and maneuvering to get on top. Some people just touch the top of the top boulder instead of trying to get onto it. Getting atop that top boulder is considered by many to be the most difficult single move on any 14er in Colorado, although there exists a 1930s-era black and white Colorado Mountain Club photo of famous mountaineer Carl Blaurock doing a handstand atop the precarious summit.

Rather fitting for this week's snowflake, don't you agree?

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: Sunflake: 8 inches from point to point; basket: 3.75 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall with a 2-inch opening
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, two colors for sunflake, size 8 crochet hook, narrow satin ribbon for basket, optional thread or yarn scraps for basket grass, empty pizza box, 1.5-inch-wide and 1-inch tall lid from pill bottle or any other suitable round object to shape basket, small jar of lip balm or beeswax or other suitable lid for basket shaping, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Instructions


Sunlight Peak Snowflake Basket

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.
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: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch, 2 dc in each dc around for a total of 24, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch, 1 dc in next ch, * 2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch; repeat from * around for a total of 36 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 4: Ch 2, (counts as 1 dc), working in back loop only for this round, 1 dc in each st around, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), sk 1 dc, working in both loops of dc on this round and through remainder of project, *1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc; repeat from * around for a total of 16 dc and 18 ch 1 sp; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3.

Round 6: Sl st into next ch 1 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp, 2 dc in each ch 1 sp around for a total of 36; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *1 dc between next 2 2/dc groups, ch 1; repeat from * around for a total of 18 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 8: Sl st in next ch 1 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same sp, 3 dc in each ch 1 sp around for a total of 48 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2
.
Round 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc, *ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in same dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 sc between next 2 3/dc groups, ch 3, sk 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around for a total of six points and omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 10: 1 sc in same ch as sl st, *1 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in same loop, ch 18, 1 sc in 8th ch from hook, ch 4,sk 4 ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in same ch 6 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in same loop, sk next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 4, 1 sc around next sc into sp between 2 3/dc groups below, ch 4, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 11: *5 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 3 sc in ch 7 tip, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 4, 3 sc in same tip, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Sunlight Peak Snowflake

Make magic ring.

Round 1: *1 sc in ring; ch 8; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in ring, ch 3, 1 trtr in starting sc to form 6th ch 8 loop. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: 1 sc in loop just made, *ch 6, 1 sc in next loop, ch 6, 1 sc in same loop; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 6, 1 sc in next loop, ch 2, 1 dtr in starting sc to form final ch 6 loop.

Round 3: 1 sc in loop just made, * ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 6 loop, ch 6, 1 sc in same loop; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 6 loop, ch 2, 1 dtr in starting sc 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 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc loop just made, *ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook, 2 dc in same loop, ch 5, 1 sc over next sc, ch 5, 2 dc in next loop; repeat from * around for a total of six points and omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 5: 1 sc in same ch as sl st, *1 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in same loop, ch 16, 1 sc in 8th ch from hook, ch 4,sk 4 ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in same ch 6 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in same loop, sk next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 6, 1 sc in next sc, ch 6, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st into starting sc.

Round 6: *6 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 3 sc in ch 7 tip, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 4, 3 sc in same tip, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Sunflake

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch, 2 dc in each dc around for a total of 24, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
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 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch, 1 dc in next ch, * 2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch; repeat from * around for a total of 36 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next ch, *2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch; repeat from * around 10 times, 2 dc in next dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Total of 48 st. If making a two-color flake, bind off here and begin with new color on Round 5.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc, *ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in same dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, sk 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 3, sk 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around for a total of six points and omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 6: 1 sc in same ch as sl st, *1 dc in next ch 6 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in same loop, ch 16, 1 sc in 8th ch from hook, ch 4,sk 4 ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in same ch 6 loop, ch 5, 1 dc in same loop, sk next dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 4, 1 sc in next sc, ch 4, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st into starting sc.

Round 7: *5 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 3 sc in ch 7 tip, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 4, 3 sc in same tip, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 6 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I shaped the basket in four steps.

First I stiffened the base of the basket with the lid from an allergy medication bottle and water and water-soluble school glue, allowing the glue mixture to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Then I stuck a container of Carmex beneath the lid and stretched out the points, pinning them and shaping them as I would any snowflake. I stiffened them with liquid starch so I could further shape the basket petals after they dried and once again allowed them to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

To curl the petals, I finger-shaped them, pinned them one more time and painted them with the glue/water mixture. After these petals dried, I pulled a 9-inch piece of ribbon through the tops of the remaining two points, opposite each other, and tied a bow.

I then cut up some green thread and placed it in the basket to serve as grass. Yarn would work for this, too. My intention was to make a few tiny flowers, tiny snowflakes and tiny eggs in pastel colors to put in the basket, but, I'm all thumbs and clumsy right now. Makes a great basket for treats.

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