Snowflake Monday

Snowflakes aren't such a hit in summertime, and last year I was on a serious rainbow kick during the hot months. I searched Ravelry and at the time didn't find anything even remotely similar to the idea in my head, so I decided a giant lacy thread hexie with optional snowflake points would be a great summertime project. Then the prototype snowflakes (with hand-dyed thread from numerous sources) RAN when I stiffened them!!! YIKES!!!

(In my experience, liquid starch seems to be hand-dyed unfriendly when stiffening snowflakes. School glue and water do not seem to be as harsh on hand-dyed thread. In my experience, Epsom salts have not caused hand-dyed thread to run, but they do make the color appear duller, but stiffening with Epsom salts also provides a unique frosty appearance on mercerized thread.)

This snowflake pattern has been sitting around for long, long months. I was so discouraged. I didn't want to make all those snowflakes over again. Especially given they might run again...

Then along came the Ravellenics, an event I look forward to every two years, and I wanted to make, among other things, a rainbow project. This snowflake was one of the first ideas that popped into my head. Inspired by the courage of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, I was no longer discouraged by runny snowflakes.


I freshened up the pattern just a bit, changed a few things to make it more unique, and played with some of my own hand-dyed thread. My peacock feathers are in full spread because with the exception of the commercial turquoise dye (which comes with a warning that it is the most difficult of all the dye colors to rinse completely out), MY thread did not run!!! (Happy dance! Happy dance!)

Not only is this pattern a cheery and colorful break from routine white Snowflake Mondays, the first version also may be worked in in lace weight or sock yarn without points to make joinable motifs, worsted weight or chunky to make dish cloths, placemats, or motif projects such as scarves, hats, vests or afghans, or even multiple strands of worsted weight yarn in as many rounds as desired for a cool rug project.


I've included the basic pattern without the flourishes just in case you'd like to make a motif project. While testing the pattern in my natural- and solar-dyed worsted weight cotton, I decided to try making a hat from the giant hexie, and I've included that pattern as well. The name comes from the Olympic sport I was watching while making both hats.

The fancy version of the pattern is the last pattern today. I gave it the same name as the hat because while I am writing this, I'm still struggling to come up with a good name for the basic pattern. Unnamed Snowflake just sounds so... blah!

Relief! The Lizard just named the basic snowflake. He said he likes the name Freestyle.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes and motifs you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 8 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in 7 colors (or desired number of colors), 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

TIP: There are a lot of ends to weave in on these projects. To prevent having to go back and weave in ends at completion of project, weave in ends as you go.

Color Key for Rainbow Stripes:
Main Color: White or MC
Color A: shades of maroon or red
Color B: shades of orange (I ran out of the orange thread I used in the first project, so I used a combination orange and yellow thread for the updated project.)
Color C: shades of yellow (not used in the updated project)
Color D: shades of green
Color E: shades of blue
Color F: shades of violet


Freestyle Snowflake Instructions
NOTE: This pattern is written without the fancy edging on the above snowflake to enable crocheters to use it as a motif. Four fancy edgings are included altogether in both patterns and are interchangeable if minor adjustments are made to accommodate the number of rounds worked.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With White or MC, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc); 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: With Color A, 1 dc in any dc, ch 2, 1 dc in same dc (V-stitch made), ch 2, sk next dc, * ch 2, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, 1 dc in same dc, ch 2, sk next dc; repeat from * around 4 times; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 3: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch, * 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch, ch 2, 2 dc in same V-stitch; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting dc; bind off.

Round 4: With Color B, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same sp (V-stich made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 5: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 3 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 6: With Color C, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk 2, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 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 7: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 5 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 8: With Color D, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * [ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 3 times, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 2 times, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 9: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 7 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 10: With Color E, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * [ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 4 times, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 3 times, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 11: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 9 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 12: With Color F, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * [ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1dc in next dc] 5 times, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc] 4 times, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 13 (for motif projects): With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 11 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Round 13 (with tips as shown on smaller pink and blue snowflake): With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each ch 2 sp across side, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 7, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, ch 5, 1 dc in same ch, ch 5, sl st in same ch, ch 4, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 2 dc in same V-stitch/ch 2 point (snowflake tip made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.


As stated above, my finished worsted hexagon was huge! 25 inches across!!! If I'd had enough of the rhubarb-dyed yarn, I'd have kept going to make an exploded lace vest or jacket. My husband also thought it might be a cute skirt if I made a matching one, but I didn't have enough rhubarb-dyed yarn. I wondered how it would look to make as many more same-size hexagons with as much of the rest of my natural-dyed yarn as I could and join them together in an afghan. I think it might take only six or nine hexagons!

I decided to play around a bit and try making the hexagon into a super slouchy hat because I had enough yarn for that. I made the hexagon and turned it into a hat while watching Sage Kotsenburg of the United States win the gold in the first Olympic snowboard slopestyle event. So of course, slopestyle is the name I had to give the hat. After all, this is a pretty radical hat...


Super Slouchy Slopestyle Hat Instructions

Finished Hexagon Size: 25 inches from point to point
Finished Hat: 14 inches across when laid flat, 22 inches around
Materials: Approximately 150 yards of worsted weight yarn in white or desired Main Color, small amounts of worsted weight yarn in 6 (or desired number) of colors, size H crochet hook, size 8 circular knitting needles.
NOTE: I used two sets of size 8 circular knitting needles for brim.

Work Rounds 1-12 same as above.

Round 13 : With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 11 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; ch 1, 1 hdc in top of starting dc to form 6th ch 2 tip 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 14 : Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), * 1 dc between next 2 dc groups, ch 1; repeat around for a total of 78 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3. Hexagon is now drawn into a bowl shape.

Round 15 : Draw up a loop through each dc around and place on knitting needles.

Round 16 : * K1, P1 around, decreasing 6 st evenly spaced for a total of 72 st.

Rounds 17-28 : * K1, P1 around. Bind off after 12 rounds of straight ribbing. (I began running out of the cream-colored (rhubarb) yarn on the first hat, so I repeated the rainbow pattern with 2 rounds each of each of my rainbow colors, then bound off with the end of the cream.)


NOTE: To make hat less slouchy, work fewer hexagon rounds, such as 9 or 11. Pick up 66 st when beginning knitted Rounds. I worked a less-slouchy version using 9 rounds and using random natural- and solar-dyed yarn from last summer's garden. The second hat is just perfect for my Goldilocks. It measures 10.5 inches across when laid flat and 18 inches around.


Slopestyle Snowflake Instructions

NOTE: I didn't have any plain orange variegated thread for this snowflake, so I used an orange and yellow variegated thread and skipped the yellow altogether in this rainbow. It is 2 rounds smaller than the first snowflake pattern.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With White or MC, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc); 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: With Color A, 1 dc in any dc, ch 2, 1 dc in same dc (V-stitch made), ch 2, sk next dc, * ch 2, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, 1 dc in same dc, ch 2, sk next dc; repeat from * around 4 times; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 3: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch, * 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch, ch 2, 2 dc in same V-stitch; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting dc; bind off.

Round 4: With Color B, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same sp (V-stich made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 5: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 3 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 6: With Color C, 1 dc in any ch 2 point, * ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, sk 2, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 dc in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 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 7: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 5 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 8: With Color D, 1 tr in any ch 2 point, * ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 tr in next ch 2 point, ch 2, 1 tr in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 9: With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each of next 7 ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 10: With Color E, 1 dtr in any ch 2 point, * ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 tr in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk 1 dc, 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 hdc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 tr in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 tr in next ch 2 point, ch 5, 1 tr in same point (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off.

Round 11 (blue and white snowflake pointed tips and fancy sides): With MC, 2 dc in any ch 5 sp, * 2 tr in same sp, ch 3, sl st in sop of tr just worked, 2 tr in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 2 dc in next ch 2 sp, 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, sk next ch 2 sp, in next ch 2 sp [1 tr, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made)] 3 times, 1 tr in same sp, sk next ch 2 sp, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in next ch 2 sp, 2 dc in next ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 11 (rainbow snowflake with heart tips): With MC, 6 dc in any V-stitch/ch 5 point, * 3 dc in each of next 3 ch 2 sp, sk next ch 2 sp, in next ch 2 sp [1 tr, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made)] 3 times, 1 tr in same sp, sk next ch 2 sp, 3 dc in each of next 3 ch 2 sp6 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 6, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (first half of heart picot made, and you will be working into last dc made to finish heart picot), ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 dc in top of last dc of first half of heart picot, 1 dc in same dc, sl st in next ch (heart picot made), 6 dc in same ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 6 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 11 (smaller lavender snowflake and first rainbow snowflake with lacy tips): With MC, 2 dc in any V-stitch/ch 2 point, * 3 dc in each ch 2 sp across side, 2 dc in next V-stitch/ch 2 point, ch 7, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, ch 5, 1 dc in same ch, ch 5, sl st in same ch, ch 1, 2 dc in same V-stitch/ch 2 point (snowflake tip made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in starting dc; 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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