Snowflake Monday

Mount Harvard, at 14,420 feet, is the third tallest mountain in Colorado and fourth tallest in the lower 48. Named in 1869 by members of the first Harvard Mining School class while on expedition with professor Josiah Dwight Whitney (whose name rests upon the tallest mountain in the lower 48, Mount Whitney in California), Mount Harvard is one of five Collegiate Peaks names after big schools. That initial expedition set out to prove (or disprove) rumors of 17,000-foot peaks deep in the Rockies. I wonder how surprised they were when they found only 14,000-foot peaks?

Three Harvard graduates attempted to erect a 14-foot metal pole atop Harvard when I was two years old to to raise the mountain's height enough to make it the second tallest in the contiguous US. Darkness foiled their ploy with only a few hundred yards to go, but Tim Wirth (who later became a member of the U.S. Senate), his brother John and another man finished the job the following year. The pole lasted until the mid-1980s, more than 20 years, before it disappeared.

Many alumni of the five schools of the Collegiate Peaks continually jest about raising the height of "their" respective peak with rock piles to make it the tallest.


This is yet another snowflake with broomstick loops, worked on the 3rd round. See a photo tutorial for working broomstick crochet in the round here. When I first began naming my snowflakes after Colorado mountains, I vowed to use or learn a new method for each of the Collegiate Peaks. This snowflake is the third broomstick crochet snowflake I designed, so I think it fits in nicely with the third highest summit in Colorado.

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: 7 inches from point to point, depending upon size of loop holders used
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, 6 loop holders, 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

Mount Harvard Snowflake Instructions

NOTE: For the white snowflake version of this pattern, I used breath mint tins as loop holders, creating very large loops, and then I pinned them out of the round just to see what it would look like. I liked the shape, so I stiffened the angular loops. For the rock version of this snowflake, I used three straws cut into halves, and I gave each loop two twists before placing it upon the straw, just to see how that might visually affect the final stitch appearance. The technique makes the bottom of the loops favor a double crochet base, in my opinion, and I like the look enough I may be trying that again in another broomstick pattern to see if it further improves the overall appearance.

Ch 3, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: * Ch 12, 1 sc in ring; repeat from * 4 times for a total of 5 petals; ch 5, trtr in ring to form 6th petal. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in same petal, 10 dc in each of next 5 petals; 5 dc in next petal; 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: Pull up loop and place on loop holder; pull up a loop in each of next 9 dc and place on loop holder ; * draw up a loop in each of next 10 dc and place on a new loop holder; repeat from * around 4 times.

Round 4: Yo hook as if to make a sl st and pull up to same height as loops. Give hook an extra twist. * 1 sc in top of combined next 5 loops, 1 hdc in same loops, 1 dc in same loops, ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in same loops, 1 hdc in same loops, 1 sc in same loops, ch 8, 1 sc in next 5 loops, 1 hdc in same loops, 1 dc in same loops, ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in same loops, 1 hdc in same loops, 1 sc in same loops, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 3; 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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