Snowflake Monday

NOTE: Formal fundraising on Snowcatcher has been paused. I haven't had time to create a new snowflake pattern booklet, and we don't know if or when we will be able to participate in organized charity rides again. If things favorably change, I will announce such in a new Snowflake Monday blog post. In the meantime, the previous eight booklets are still available, and I will do my best to respond to requests for them in a timely manner.

My MS-150 fundraising came to an early end in 2013 when the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society closed out its books for the year on October 1. Typically, registration for the next year's ride is in December for High Rollers and Premium Pedalers. The organization notified me they might be ready for registration for next year's ride a little earlier than that.

October and November typically are the months when I receive the most donations in exchange for the current year's snowflake pattern booklet. This year, the fundraising site isn't open yet, so I expected a lot of disappointed and/or frustrated crocheters who waited until snowflake season to make their donations or who have just been introduced to my website.

I recently received an email from the National (not state!) Multiple Sclerosis Society IT department notifying me a donation was made in another state via that state's chapter. The donor had asked their own state organization to track me down so they could get their snowflake booklet.

The IT department had indeed tracked me down, and my 2015 account was credited with the donation from another state's chapter!!!

About the same time this was transpiring, another crocheter contacted me to find out if there was any way to make the donation now so she could begin working on her Christmas gift list. Yes, my chapter allowed donations in my name even though registration was not opened!

So, even though registration may not be open for another couple of months (although I hope it is sooner), I had two donations toward 2015!

The early bird gets the snowflake!

To obtain a pdf copy of my most recent pdf booklet, please make a charitable contribution of at least $10 to your choice of The Davis Phinney Foundation (which has a goal of making life better for people who have Parkinson's), or The Michael J. Fox Foundation (which has a goal of finding a cure).

Each time a donation is made, I receive an email notifying me of the donation, and I email the pdf booklet as a token of my gratitude. I try to respond to each donation on the day they are made. However, please bear in mind I am not always able to check email 24 hours a day, especially during the work week. If you make a donation and don't hear from me within three days, it's possible I did not receive notification. In that case, please notify me at flake at snowcatcherphotos dot com.

My previous pdf booklets are available also. I will send all eight of the old booklets to anyone who makes a donation of $40 or more, which is the equivalent of $5 per booklet. If you would like fewer than the whole set, please make sure I know which pdf booklets you want.

All donations to the Davis Phinney Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation are tax deductible.

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: 4.25 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

Early Bird Snowflake Instructions

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, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: 1 sc in same ch, * ch 3, sk 1 dc, 1 sc in next dc; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc 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 3: 1 sc around post of dc just worked, * ch 14, 1 dc in 7th ch from hook and in next ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, ch 2, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.

Round 4: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dtr and ch 3), 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), * 2 dtr in next ch 6 sp, 2 tr in same sp, 3 dc in same sp, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 dc in same sp, 2 tr in same sp, 2 dtr in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 dtr in next sc in main body of snowflake, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last picot and dtr of final repeat; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 7; 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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