Snowflake Monday

Because everything in my garden is once again popping up, I've been busy making more garden rocks. I've been writing each pattern as a snowflake if I like the way a specific rock turns out. Meanwhile, I still get a lot of questions about how to cover a rock with crochet. So I thought I should write another snowflake rock pattern to assist those who are having difficulty.


The hard thing about following a snowflake rock pattern is you have to find a rock the same size as the one used in the pattern, and that's not always easy. You also have to match the gauge of the pattern writer, which in this case would be me. Thread crochet is different for many people; it is much more difficult, in my opinion, to match someone's stitch gauge in thread crochet than in yarn crochet.

Nevertheless, some people prefer written instructions rather than trying to improvise, so below is the pattern for the entire rock, as well as the snowflake.

In my opinion, the most difficult part of covering a rock with a crocheted snowflake is the final round, closing up the hole on the back of the rock. If the rock is big and/or heavy, all of the rounds encasing the rock are a bit more difficult due to the weight of the rock. In my opinion, the most important thing is to take care not to scrape the hook against the rock. Sometimes it can't be helped; just keep in mind the rock can be stronger than the hook. Scissors cut paper, rock crushes hook...


Brenda's Snowflake


Johanna's Snowflake
The winners of our Pineapple Sorbet Snowflake embellishing challenge are Brenda and Johanna. Johann selected a greeting card set as her prize, and Brenda has not selected a prize yet. Thank you for participating, and keep up the excellent embellishing work!

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


Finished Size: 1.5 to 2 inches from point to point, depending upon snowflake made
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, 2-inch round, flat rock if making Garden 11 Snowflake, 2-inch round, flat rock if making Garden 12 Snowflake, 2.5-inch round, flat rock if making Garden 13 Snowflake


Garden 11 Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, *ch 3, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Don’t pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: 2 sc over post of dc just worked, * 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 2 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 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 tr just worked, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 tr in same sp, * 1 tr in next ch 5 sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 tr in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 tr in next ch 5 sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, then:

FOR SNOWFLAKE: Ch 5, sl st in starting sc, bind off, weave in ends. You are done.


FOR ROCK: Ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round. Keep on going with the following Rounds.

Round 4: 1 sc around post of tr just worked, * ch 5, 1 sc in gap between next 2 tr, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 5, 1 sc in gap between next 2 tr, ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 12th ch 5 sp of Round. Gently squeeze rock into snowflake. 4th Round chains may be tight, and that’s okay. If they are too tight and you can’t get the rock in, unravel the last round and add one ch to each ch 5 sp. Or get a smaller rock. If the snowflake is too loose on the rock, that should be okay, too. It should tighten up in the next Round.

Round 5: 1 sc around post of tr just worked, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 10 times; ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc to form 12th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 6: 1 sc around post of dc just worked; * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 10 time; ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc to form 12th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each ch 3 sp around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.


Garden 12 Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc); 1 dc in ring, * ch 3, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Don’t pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc); 2 dc over post of dc directly below, *3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp; repeat from * 4 times; 3 dc in next ch 3 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.

NOTE: This pattern makes a cute little snowflake if you bind off at the end of Round 3.


Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dc directly below, * 1 sc in gap between next 2 3/dc groups, 9 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * 4 times; 1 sc in gap between next 2 3/dc groups, 4 dc in starting ch 3 sp, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, then:

FOR SNOWFLAKE Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 5, 1 dc in next sc, ch 5, 2 dc in middle (5th) dc of next 9/dc group, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 1, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off, weave in ends. You are done.


FOR ROCK Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 5, 1 dc in next sc, ch 5, 2 dc in middle (5th) dc of next 9/dc group, ch 5, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Keep on going with the following Rounds.

Round 5: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, * ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 tip; repeat from * around 5 times, gently squeezing rock into snowflake before the opening becomes too small; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round. 4th Round chains may be tight, and that’s okay. If they are too tight and you can’t get the rock in, unravel the last round and add one ch to each ch 5 sp. Or get a smaller rock. If the snowflake is too loose on the rock, that should be okay, too. It should tighten up in the next Round.

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

Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each ch 3 sp around; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.


Garden 13 Snowflake Instructions

NOTE: 13 is my lucky number!

Make magic ring.

Round 1: * 2 sc in ring, ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook; repeat from * 4 times; 2 sc in ring, sl st in starting sc, ch 1, 1 dc in sl st to form 6th ch 3 loop of round. Don't pull magic circle too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in same loop, take loop off hook, insert hook into top of 2nd ch of starting ch 2, put loop back on hook and pull through ch (popcorn st made), * ch 1, 5 dc in next ch 3 loop, take loop off hook, insert hook into top of 1st dc of same 5 dc group, put loop back on hook, pull through top of 1st dc (popcorn st made), ch 5, work another popcorn st in same loop; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, work popcorn st in next ch 3 loop, ch 2, 1 tr in top of starting popcorn st to form 6th ch 5 sp of round.

Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, * 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form 6th ch 5 sp of round.

Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, and then...

FOR SNOWFLAKE: Ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5; bind off, weave in ends. You are done.


FOR ROCK: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 sp of round. Keep on going with the following Rounds.

Round 5: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, * ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 5 tip; repeat from * around 5 times; ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 7 sp of round. Gently insert rock before closing round.

Round 6: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, * ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp; repeat from * around 5 times; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 sp of round.

Round 7: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 5 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 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of next 5 ch 3 sp; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish For Snowflakes: 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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