Snowflake Monday

Earlier this year, one of my co-workers bought yarn for a baby afghan she'd made in the past, but then couldn't find her pattern. She asked if I could find the 20-year-old instructions somewhere.

We found two used books with wiggle crochet baby afghan patterns, but there was no way to see if the patterns were the right ones without buying the books. We found an address for the designer of the pattern, and my co-worker wrote to her but heard nothing back. We contacted the company that originally published the pattern, but they didn’t have patterns that old in stock.

With time running out before the birth of the baby my friend wanted to work up the afghan for, I offered to graph the wiggles for her. She said she knew how to do the lattice foundation, and she remembered how to do the wiggle stitch. She just needed "a map."

She bought graph paper for me the very next day! And oh, am I having fun graphing again! It's something I did a long time ago, and I welcome the chance to renew my skills and spark my creativity.

I had never used the wiggle stitch for anything, but during the process of graphing the baby afghan for my co-worker, I kept imagining snowflake patterns incorporating the wiggle stitch.


Wiggle Snowflake Made With Bre-Aly Thread Called "Winter"
This is my first foray into what I hope might one day become a collection of wiggly 3D snowflakes.




EXCITING UPDATE! The baby was born Friday, May 9, and my friend mailed this the following week! Obviously, mom and dad are Dallas Cowboy fans...




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 inches to 6.5 inches from point to point, depending upon final round worked
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two 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

Wiggle Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), * 1 dc in ring, ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

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

Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), * 1 dc in next dc, ch 3; repeat from * around 22 times for a total of 24 ch 3 spaces; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5

Round 5: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), * 1 dc in next dc, ch 3; repeat from * around 22 times for a total of 24 ch 3 spaces; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.

Round 6: * 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: This pattern makes a lacy snowflake without the wiggles; just stop here, don't work the wiggles, stiffen, and you’re done!


Edging Option II

Round 6: * 5 sc in next ch 3 sp, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, 2 dc in same ch 3 sp in main body of snowflake base, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Edging Option III

Round 6: * 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, sl st in sc just worked (picot made), 2 sc in same sp, ch 3, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 9, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 4, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Moogly has an excellent video tutorial for wiggle crochet in the round here. Tamara's Moogly blog is an excellent resource for all kinds of crochet.

Wiggles: Following the chart below, work 1 dc over each red ch 3 sp and 3 dc over each blue ch 3 sp or dc post. If desired, work a picot at the tip of each point by working 2 dc in tip space, ch 3, sl st in top of dc just worked (picot made), 1 dc in same sp. After working all 6 arms of snowflake, sl st in starting dc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Click to Biggie Size
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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