Snowflake Monday

A storm by the name of Zephyr was dumping 10 inches of snow on my beautiful garden while I designed this snowflake, which is based on the snowflake on page 35 of Kenneth Libbrecht's little book called Snowflakes.


Zephyr Snowflake with a Photoshop filter called Zephyr
We were en route to Moab to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first date (which just happened to be in Moab) as I worked on this snowflake. I didn't know what my garden would look like when we got home, but we were headed for better weather than what was pounding the Rockies! Or so we thought, but that's another story for another day.


12 May 2014, courtesy of my neighbor
Zephyr also was the second name of Denver's first baseball team. The team was called the Bears until 1984, the year my adopted son was born. The name was changed to Zephyrs in honor of the passenger train that ran between Chicago and Denver from 1936 until 1971. My dad is a train fanatic.

Oh, and I make little bears.


The Zephyrs, a feeder team for the Chicago White Sox, moved to New Orleans in 1993 when the Colorado Rockies baseball team was born. My adopted son played for a team called the Rockies on the wonderfully named Northern Lights Little League. I've already designed a Northern Lights Snowflake.


Most of the flowers in my garden are blue, but there are some purple, pink and white ones, too. My prototype Zephyr Snowflake was made with my blue, purple and pink snow-dyed thread I made during the last big snowstorm that hit Denver. Back in winter, when snowstorms are supposed to rage. May 11 really isn't a good time for a big snowstorm! But Zephyr is a great name when it does happen.


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: 5.5 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

Zephyr Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 17 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic ring tight.

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

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next dc, * 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 3 sc in same sp, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 dc in same sp, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
NOTE: Doesn't it make a cute little snowflake if you stop here and bind off?




with picots


with single crochet


with popcorn


with lacy center, clusters and long picots
Round 4: 1 sc in same ch as sl st and in each of next 2 dc, *1 hdc in next hdc, 1 dc in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, ch 3, 1 dc in same sc, 1 dc in next sc, 1 hdc in next hdc, 1 sc in each of next 4 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.
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 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 5 st, * ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 3 tip, ch 6, 1 sc in same tip, ch 3, 1 dc in each of next 10 st; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 6 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 6: 1 dc in 1st dc of any 10/dc group, * ch 4, sk next 8 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), [ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook] 2 times, ch 1, 1 dc in 1st dc of next 10/dc group; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 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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