Snowflake Monday

This was the snowflake I saw in my head when I found the dice beads I used in last week's snowflake. But the dice did nothing for the appearance of the snowflake, so I took the beads out.

Hence, this week's No Dice Snowflake.

To string my dice beads last week, I painted the end of the thread with a couple of coats of fingernail polish and allowed it to dry thoroughly before threading my beads. The dried fingernail polish allowed the thread to be used like a needle. Glue and wax may be substituted for the fingernail polish if desired. For today's snowflake, I used a regular sewing needle with size 20 thread to string my beads.

Chris asked last week if strung beads get in way while I'm crocheting snowflakes. I keep my thread in a sealable plastic bag while I work, with the seal open only an inch or two, allowing the thread to bounce around as necessary without coming out of the bag. A yarn bowl would work the same way. Making beaded snowflakes is not a process I'd use on public transportation because it does take more concentration and space, but I don't have difficulty when working with beads at home or other comfortable spots where I can work undistracted and allow strung beads to fall to the floor.

A couple of years ago, Denise asked how beaded snowflakes should be stiffened. In the past I was able to touch up glue spots on beads with a water-moistened cotton swab, but I'm no longer using glue to stiffen my snowflakes. This week's beaded snowflake and last week's High Roller Snowflake are stiffened with liquid starch, and the starch did not defile the beads.

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
NOTE: The beaded snowflake is worked with size 20 hand-dyed thread, size 10 crochet hook and 6/0 glass seed beads.

No Dice Snowflake Instructions

If making a beaded snowflake, string 60 beads onto thread.

Ch 4, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic ring too 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 as sl st, sk next dc, * 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc, sk next dc; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 dc in same ch as starting dc, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (counts as final ch 3 sp, and you will be working over dc in next round).

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over dc just worked; 2 hdc over same dc, *(if using beads, pull up one bead here), 2 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 hdc in next ch 3 sp (starting sp), 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 4: 1 sc in same ch as sl st, 1 sc in next dc, * ch 5, sk next 4 hdc, 1 sc in each of next 2 dc, 2 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 15, 1 dc in 14th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: * 7 dc in next ch 5 sp, sl st in next hdc, ch 1, 30 dc in next ch 15 loop, ch 1, sk next 2 dc and next hdc, sl st in next hdc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sl st of final repeat; sl st in 1st dc of starting 7/dc group.

Round 6: *Ch 2, sk 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, sl st in next dc, sk next dc (in 1st of 30/dc group), [1 sc in next dc , ch 3, sk 2 dc] 9 times (if using beads, pull up one bead on the 2nd ch of each ch 3); sk next dc (last dc of 30/dc group), sl st in 1st dc of next 7/dc group; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sl st of final repeat; sl st in final sl st of Round 5; bind off. Weave in ends.

While making the ecru snowflake for my rock, I noticed on Round 5 I'd made a serious mistake and omitted one of the chain 15 loops on the previous round, so I had to unravel. While I was redoing, I decided to shorten the chain loops so I could use a smaller rock. The instructions that follow are for the smaller version of the snowflake.


Round 4: 1 sc in same ch as sl st, 1 sc in next dc, * ch 5, sk next 4 hdc, 1 sc in each of next 2 dc, 2 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 2 dc in same sp, ch 7, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: * 7 dc in next ch 5 sp, sl st in next hdc, ch 1, 13 dc in next ch 7 loop, ch 1, sk next 2 dc and next hdc, sl st in next hdc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sl st of final repeat; sl st in 1st dc of starting 7/dc group.

Round 6: *Ch 2, sk 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, sl st in next dc, sk next dc (in 1st of 13/dc group), [1 sc in next dc , ch 3, sk 1 dc] 5 times; ch 2, sk next dc (last dc of 13/dc group), sl st in 1st dc of next 7/dc group; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sl st of final repeat; sl st in final sl st of Round 5; 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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