Snowflake Monday

I love rainbows, hand-dyed thread and stripes. I love being able to incorporate these elements into snowflakes.

This project was inspired in part last year by a handful of tiny bears that garnered a wonderful donation to my MS-150 fund, kick starting my fundraising efforts this year and also forcing me to abandon the throes of depression and start thinking positive.


I wasn't able to participate in last year's MS-150, even though I'd trained and raised adequate donations for the cause, just $5 short of High Roller status. In the days leading up to the actual ride, something in my back went horribly awry, and I was on my back for nearly a whole month attempting to survive a diagnosis that wasn't offering much hope. I thought I was done riding. Forever.

When heavy duty painkillers didn't knock me out, I made tiny little bears. They were easy, fun, eye candy and small enough I could do in bed while I rested. I made a bear with each of the hues of the rainbow in my then-growing collection of purchased hand-dyed thread.

Lining up the bears for photos gave me the idea for today's snowflake, which I also imagined as a great dishcloth when made with cotton yarn. (Last week's pattern.)


The bear photo on my blog triggered a commission project in exchange for an extremely generous donation three months later that made me WANT to ride the MS-150 this year, whatever it takes.

Sitting back then hurt so bad, it was so difficult to write the pattern for this snowflake as I went. So I didn't. I jotted down the first four or five rounds, but I couldn't sit any longer .

Then I stiffened the snowflake.


Heartbreak
I probably would have published this pattern back then if depression hadn't already had me in a stranglehold. When the hand-dyed thread ran, my world felt shattered. It's very difficult for me to overcome a hard knock when I'm already down for the count. I stacked the snowflake away where I wouldn't have to look at it, and I went back to making bears. The Lizard told me last week I never even showed that snowflake to him until last week.

As grim as it seems, this story does have a happy ending. I was finally approved for physical therapy last winter, six months after the diagnosis, and I finally began seeing light at the end of the tunnel as I progressed in learning all over again how to walk and sit. I'd been unknowingly compensating for the pain resulting from an injury of undetermined cause to my back way back in 2004, and after my bike wreck last spring, I'd re-injured a vertebra without knowing it. Ride the Rockies and my garden helped me figure it out. The very hard way.

My disc is still damaged, and discs don't heal. The pain could become unbearable again at some point. But for now, every moment is a bonus. The debilitating and depressing pain I've dealt with on an escalating basis for the last nine years finally is becoming manageable, and I can proudly say I'm beginning to take my life back now!

Feeling good ignited my creativity while working up this snowflake again and again and again last week. I came up with several variations I like better than the first snowflake, so I've included instructions for each of the deviations. All the variations are interchangeable. All the tip variations are at the end of the pattern. Tip patterns are in brackets in an effort to make it easier for crocheters to discern which steps may be transferred.




Rainbows are the essence of rebirth, refreshment and the sun shining again after a dark storm. How perfect this snowflake articulates my journey of the last 13 months!

One of the things this project taught me is hand-dyes can run when exposed to liquid starch, my second-favorite stiffening agent (cornstarch being first). The second snowflake prototype is made with more hand-dyed thread, but was stiffened with good old watered-down school glue, and with the exception of the blue in one round, the colors did not run. Most of the snowflake variations I made to write and test this pattern are made with my own hand-dyed thread, and they did not run when I stiffened them with watered-down school glue or Epsom salts (scented with a drop of lavender oil!). I'm still quite the beginner at hand-dyeing, so if my threads can stand up to school glue and Epsom salts, I believe most other hand-dyed threads can, too.


The only spot on my own hand-dyed thread that ran.
I was glancing through my list of unused mountain names, trying to find a name other than "buttonhole" (which is what it feels like when pulling the snowflake tips through the final round of chain loops) for this pattern, when my heart kept leaping each time my eyes read Many Thunders. Many Thunders is the name of a short little 8,000-foot-plus bump in the landscape near Red Feathers, Colorado, a tiny village in the mountains west of Fort Collins, and a popular camping and recreation area. There are trails to get to the top of Many Thunders, but the peak doesn't get attention from hardy climbers because it just isn't tall enough.

Given the many thunders I experienced prior to and during the creation of this snowflake pattern, I may just have to visit Red Feathers one day and walk up that hill! After all, I expect to be able to climb again one day!


As if this post wasn't long enough already, I'm going to add just a wee bit more that has nothing to do with this week's pattern. Last weekend was the Denver National Quilt Festival. I fell in love with this quilt. This was the only snowflake quilt, and I absolutely adore the message. More festival photos on Wednesday. (And perhaps the next five or six Wednesdays... I took more than 300 shots of fantastic inspiration!!!)








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!


Many Thunders Snowflake Instructions

Finished Size: From 3 to 11 inches from point to point, depending upon how many rounds are worked
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in up to 8 colors for large snowflake or up to 4 colors for smaller snowflake, 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


Color Key for 8-Round Snowflake:
Color A: white
Color B: spearmint and lavender thread by Lizbeth
Color C: spearmint, powder blue, lavender and purple thread by Sara's Colorwave
Color D: yellow, spearmint, apple, purple, lavender and blue thread from eBay


Color Key for 15-Round Snowflake:
Color A: white
Color B: shades of maroon from eBay
Color C: shades of orange from Flora (discontinued)
Color D: shades of yellow from eBay
Color E: shades of green from eBay
Color F: shades of turquoise from Lizbeth
Color G: shades of violet from Bre-Aly
Color H: shades of pink from Lizbeth

All the rest of the snowflakes are made with my own hand-dyed thread.

TIP: There are a lot of ends to weave in on this project. To prevent having to go back and weave in ends at completion of project, weave in ends as you go. Contrast color ends are very easy to bury at start of each new main color round by working 5/dc groups over ends.

Round 1: With Color A (main color), ch 6, sl st in 5th ch from hook; repeat from * 4 times; ch 1, sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6, ch 2, 1 tr in sl st to form 6th ch 5 loop.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same loop, * 3 dc in next ch 5 loop, ch 3, 3 dc in same loop; repeat from * around 4 times; 3 dc in next ch loop, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off.

Round 3: With Color B, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, * ch 4, 1 sc between next 2 3/dc groups, ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 10, sl st in 10th ch from hook; 1 sc in same ch 3 point; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off.


This is what the snowflake will look like if you end here and use the diamond tip option for the points.
Round 4: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3, * sk over (and behind) next ch 10 loop, 5 dc in next ch 4 sp; 5 dc in next ch 4 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off.


This is what the snowflake will look like if you end here and use the heart tip option for the points.
Round 5: With Color C, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, ch 3, 1 sc in same point, * ch 4, 1 sc between next 2 5/dc groups, ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 3 point, ch 3, 1 sc in same point, ch 10 (you don't have to sl st to make ch 10 loops from this round on), 1 sc in same point, ch 3, 1 sc in same point; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 sc and ch 3 of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off.
NOTE: If desired, you may pull ch 10 loops on this round from behind through ch 10 loops of Round 3 to see what the chained loops will look like. The chained chains may not stay put as you work the following rounds, but that's okay. It's not ruined if the chained chains come undone. All the chain loops may be chained (or rechained) after finishing all rounds.

Round 6 ending Round with shaped sides and diamond points: With Color A, 3 dc in any ch 3 sp just left of ch 10 loop, * 2 dc next ch 4 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 11, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 1, sk over (and behind) next ch 10 loop, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.


This is what the snowflake will look like if you end here and use the diamond tip option for the points.
Round 6 if you intend to keep going after this Round: With Color A, 3 dc in any ch 3 sp just left of ch 10 loop, * 5 dc in each of next 2 ch 4 sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, sk over (and behind) next ch 10 loop, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 7: With Color D, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, * ch 4, 1 sc between next 3/dc group and next 5/dc group, ch 4, 1 sc between next 2 5/dc groups, ch 4, 1 sc between next 5/dc group and next 3/dc group, ch 4, 1 dc in next ch 3 point, ch 10, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off.

Round 8 if you intend to end after this Round: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 3 ch 4 sp, [ch 8, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 8, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 6, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 2 (3-pronged tip made)], * 5 dc in each of next 4 ch 4 loops, [ch 8, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 8, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 6, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 2 (3-pronged tip made)]; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends if not already done.


This is what the snowflake will look like if you end after Round 8 and use the 3-pronged tip option for the points.


This is what the snowflake will look like if you end after Round 8 and use the heart tip option for the points.
Round 8 if you intend to keep going: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 3 ch 4 sp, ch 3, * 5 dc in each of next 4 ch 4 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 9: With Color E, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, * ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 4, [1 sc between next 2 5/dc groups, ch 4] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 10, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off.

Round 10: With Color A, 3 dc in any ch 3 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 4 ch 4 sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, sk over (and behind) next ch 10 loop, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.
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 11:With color F, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, ch 4, 1 sc between next 3/dc group and 5/dc group, [ch 4, 1 sc between next 2 5/dc groups] 3 times, ch 4, 1 sc between next 5/dc group and 3/dc group, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 10, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

THIS ROUND IS COMPLICATED! EACH FLOWER IS WORKED IN A CONTINUOUS SPIRAL BEFORE RETURNING TO SNOWFLAKE BODY. (Regular Round 12 instructions follow this variation.)
Round 12 with flower tips and shaped sides: With Color A, 5 dtr in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 tr in next ch 4 sp, 2 dc in next ch 4 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 5 tr in next ch 4 sp, 5 dtr in next ch 4 sp, [ch 7 (4th ch from hook will be the center of the flower), 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch (3 petals made), [[ch 3, sl st in back of next petal making sure to catch at least 2 threads, ch 3, 1 sc between next 2 petals]] 3 times for a total of 6 ch 3 sp on back of flower, [[[sl st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp]]] 6 times for a total of 6 2nd level petals, ch 3 (flower tip made)], * 5 dtr in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 tr in next ch 4 sp, 2 dc in next ch 4 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 4 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 5 tr in next ch 4 sp, 5 dtr in next ch 4 sp, MAKE ANOTHER FLOWER HERE ([ch 7, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch [[ch 3, sl st in back of next petal, ch 3, 1 sc between next 2 petals]] 3 times, [[[sl st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp]]] 6 times, ch 3]); repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends if not already done.


This is what the snowflake will look like if you end after Round 12 and use flower tip option for the points and shaping for the sides.
Round 12 if continuing on: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of point, 5 dc in each of next 5 ch 4 sp, ch 3, sk over (and behind) ch 10 loop, * 5 dc in each of next 6 ch 4 sp, ch 3, sk over (and behind) ch 10 loop; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc.

Round 13: With Color G, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, * ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 4, [1 sc between next 2 5/dc groups, ch 4] 5 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp, ch 10, 1 sc in same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off.

Round 14: With Color A, 3 dc in any ch 3 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 6 ch 4 sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, sk over (and behind) next ch 10 loop, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 15: With Color H, 1 sc in any ch 3 point, ch 4, 1 sc between next 3/dc group and 5/dc group, [ch 4, 1 sc between next 2 5/dc groups] 5 times, ch 4, 1 sc between next 5/dc group and 3/dc group, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 10, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 16 with 3-prong tips: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 7 ch 4 sp, [ch 8, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 9, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, ch 6, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 2 (3-pronged tip made)], * 5 dc in each of next 8 ch 4 loops, [ch 8, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 9, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, ch 6, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 2 (3-pronged tip made)]; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends if not already done.

Round 16 with heart tips: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 7 ch 4 sp, [ch 9, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in top of next dc (prior to ch 5), 1 dc in bottom of same dc, sl st in next ch, ch 2 (heart tip made)], * 5 dc in each of next 8 ch 4 loops, [ch 9, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in top of next dc (prior to ch 5), 1 dc in bottom of same dc, sl st in next ch, ch 2 (heart tip made)]; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends if not already done.

If you are having trouble with the hearts, here is a photo tutorial I hope will help.

Round 16 with diamond tips: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 7 ch 4 sp, [ch 11, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 1 (diamond tip made)], * 5 dc in each of next 8 ch 4 loops, [ch 9, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in top of next dc (prior to ch 5), 1 dc in bottom of same dc, sl st in next ch, ch 2 (heart tip made)]; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends if not already done.

THIS ROUND IS COMPLICATED! EACH FLOWER IS WORKED IN A CONTINUOUS SPIRAL BEFORE RETURNING TO SNOWFLAKE BODY.
Round 16 with flower tips: With Color A, 5 dc in any ch 4 sp just left of ch 10 loop, 5 dc in each of next 7 ch 4 sp, [ch 7 (4th ch from hook will be the center of the flower), 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch (3 petals made), [[ch 3, sl st in back of next petal making sure to catch at least 2 threads, ch 3, 1 sc between next 2 petals]] 3 times for a total of 6 ch 3 sp on back of flower, [[[sl st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp]]] 6 times for a total of 6 2nd level petals, ch 3 (flower tip made)], * 5 dc in each of next 8 ch 4 loops, MAKE ANOTHER FLOWER HERE ([ch 7, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch, ch 3, sl st in same ch [[ch 3, sl st in back of next petal, ch 3, 1 sc between next 2 petals]] 3 times, [[[sl st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, sl st in same sp]]] 6 times, ch 3]); repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends if not already done.




Finish: Pull Round 5 ch 10 loops through Round 3 ch 10 loops from behind. Pull Round 7 ch 10 loops through Round 5 ch 10 loops from behind. Pull Round 9 loops through Round 7 ch 10 loops from behind. Pull Round 11 loops through Round 9 ch 10 loops from behind. Pull Round 13 loops through Round 11 ch 10 loops from behind. Pull Round 15 loops through Round 13 ch 10 loops from behind. Pull Round 16 tips, whatever tips are used, through Round 15 loops from behind.

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.

Tweet

Pin It