Snowflake Monday

Lowly 10,406-foot Hardscrabble Mountain was on my list of mountains to climb before I even knew where it was because the name sounded interesting. I added the mountain's name to my list of potential snowflake names more than 18 months ago for the very same reason.

When we were rerouted through Hardscrabble Canyon due to forest fires during this year's Ride the Rockies, I finally learned where Hardscrabble Mountain, Pass and Creek are located.

When you are in Salida, Colorado, trying to get to Canon City, Colorado, via bicycle in a day and Highway 50 is closed, Hardscrabble Pass becomes the next best option. Hardscrabble Pass, according to The Lizard, is rough pavement, tight curves, steep and dangerous. Plus, blankets of forest fire smoke did not make the ride any easier.

Originally named a mouthful — San Buenaventura de los Tres Arrollos — Hardscrabble was a trading post settled in 1844 and abandoned less than five years later due to the hard scrabbling by first farmers to get in a crop. Although the area didn't see many travelers or settlers during the next few years, the name Hardscrabble rubbed off on neighboring land features. (Ironically, the original name means something to the tune of Good Luck of Three Creeks.)

I still have yet to climb Hardscrabble, both the mountain and the pass, but The Lizard has promised we will go back so I can take my stab at them when there is no forest fire smoke in the air.

If only some of the rain we have had in the last ten days could have fallen back in June and put out some of those forest fires...

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: 3.5 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

Hardscrabble Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: * 2 sc in ring, ch 1; repeat from * 4 times; 2 sc in ring, 1 hdc in starting sc to form 6th ch 1 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: 3 sc over post of hdc just worked, * ch 2, 3 sc in next ch 1 sp; repeat from * 5 times; 1 dc in starting sc to form 5th ch 2 sp of round.

Round 3: 3 sc over post of dc just worked, * ch 5, 3 sc in next ch 2 sp; repeat from * 5 times; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, 2 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * 4 times; ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, 2 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.
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: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), * 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 3 sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 3 and dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.

Round 6: Sl st into ch 3 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc in same sp, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 8, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in same ch, ch 4, sl st in same ch ( tri-picot made), ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 4 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * 5 times omitting last 4 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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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