Snowflake Monday

I totally ran out of white thread for my special project one day on the train, but I had my indigo hand-dyed thread, so I designed another snowflake. I just love my indigo thread, yarn and fabric. I think the denim color might be my favorite of everything I've dyed.

Blue is my favorite color, and I especially like it with white. Very snowflakey, right?

Imagine my surprise when this faded denim blue jewel landed on my desk recently.


No return address, so I don't know who sent it, but I wasn't expecting anything so beautiful, so I excitedly tore into the envelope.


It must be from someone who likes winter, birds, snowflakes and blue as much as I do, but I don't know who. I love, love, love this treasure, and I'm trying to think of something really special to make for it... maybe I can use it as an inset in a new denim jacket to use up some of the beyond-mending jeans I've been saving for the last ten or more years, and then I can wear the masterpiece to work and show it off to everyone in my office! (And everyone on the commuter train, too!) This piece is just incredible!


I have a little sister in heaven who knew of my snowflake passion, and so every time I hear the "snowflakes are angel kisses" phrase, I always think of her. I wonder if she blows snowflakes at me and giggles when they catch me by surprise. So this cross-stitch is more dear than the giver may ever know.

I've received a few unexpected gifts from readers over the years, and each of them delights me. Each has arrived when I needed an extra little pump to get me through a stressful day. Or week. Or month...

This one came from Beth, thanking me for my patterns. I've had her address buried on my clipboard at work for two years because I fully intended to send something special in return. The office where I work was total chaos at the time, with a new building owner and new security measures, remodeling and construction, office and floor moves, department and boss changes galore, and I'd just received the devastating post-diagnosis on my bike wreck six months earlier that changed my life. Although I never lost Beth's address in all the office moves, I forgot to thank her for sending me rainbows when my world was looking pretty darned dark.


One of my readers recently asked if she could make scarves for our Makeover Madness project. It broke my heart to tell her the facility we were serving was closed due to lack of funds, and other existing facilities do not allow the residents/clients to have scarves. Sadly, scarves (and other everyday items we take for granted) can be used as weapons. So our project died an untimely death, and my co-workers and I have been searching for something else we can do to make our little corner of the world better.

Members of the Sisters of the Snowflake group on Yahoo recently came up with a brilliant idea: to make snowflakes for children's hospitals in their own towns this autumn in time for Christmas distribution. I'll be announcing more details about that in a couple of weeks.

There is a lot of darkness in the world these days. Some people are kicking that darkness to the curb in order to brighten the lives of others. May we all try to bring happiness and smiles to our own little space in the universe.

Because, after all, happiness makes the world go round!

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: 4.5 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

Denim Frost Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (starting popcorn stitch made), * ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 5 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in top loop of 1st dc of this 5/dc group, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through top loop of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last popcorn stitch of Round; sl st in top of starting popcorn stitch. Pull magic circle as tight as you can get it with all those stitches in the center. The object here is to make the snowflake center poufy and 3D.

Round 2: Ch 7 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), * 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 sc in next sc tip, ch 6, 1 sc in same tip, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 tr in next popcorn, ch 3; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr and ch 3 of final repeat; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.
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 4 (counts as 1 tr), * 2 trtr in next ch 6 tip, 2 dtr in same sp, 2 tr in same sp, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 1, 2 tr in same ch 6 tip, 2 dtr in same tip, 2 trtr in same tip, 1 tr in next tr; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in4th ch of starting ch 4; 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.

As much as I love this snowflake in hand-dyed denim thread, I made a white one for my special project!

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