Bearflake Monday

This is Bear Week here at Snowcatcher! All week long!

Anyone who's been following along for a while may have figured out I like bears. I like making little bears...


I like taking creative pictures of the little bears I make...


I like taking my little bears on hikes...


I like seeing real bears in real life...


And I like taking pictures of real bears in real life. As long as I can stay safe.

Today's Bearflake was inspired in part by the wonderful sight of a grizzly and her cub last month in Yellowstone.


I had to make a Bearflake because I thought it might be a cute idea for Halloween, but also because our Sisters of the Snowflake Yahoo Group has decided to make snowflakes for children's hospitals or senior centers this autumn. I thought a Bearflake would be an adorable snowflake for a child in need of hope and/or smiles. I've got a couple more cute snowflakes suitable for giving to children up my sleeve the next couple of weeks, and I hope you'll join us in trying to make the world a little brighter this winter.

I'm taking brief breaks from my special project to make snowflakes for Children's Hospital in Denver. If you would like to participate in this service project and don't have a facility in your area you would like to donate to, Children's is one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country. My adopted daughter was treated there many years ago. I know a couple of doctors and several staff members there, and I have known many children who have been treated there over the years. I currently have one friend whose infant is being treated there.

Although I think this is a fun snowflake for children, snowflakes are addictive because they are all different. The snowflakes we give away should all be different, too! The bear motifs on this snowflake may be attached to just about any snowflake bigger than 1.5 to 2 inches.

Here is a Bearflake made with a popcorn center Blanca Snowflake (which pattern is available only via tax-deductible donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in my name or my husband's name. This year's fund-raising has ended, and a new donation page and snowflake booklet will be available in about December.


Here's a version with last week's Island in the Sky Snowflake.




This Bearflake is made from the first motif snowflake pattern I designed, Pyramid Peak Snowflake.


Here are some snowflake patterns my five-year-old neighbor thinks would make the best gifts to children:

Candid Snowflake
Candy Corn Snowflake
Christmas Stocking Snowflake
Little Bear and Blanca Snowflake (pattern available only via tax-deductible donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in my name or my husband’s name and specifying the second booklet)
Lollipop Snowflake
Loveland Pass Snowflake Key Chain
Medallion III Snowflake
Northern Lights Snowflake
Peacock Snowflake
Skullflake
Snowflower Snowflake
True Love Snowflake (inspired by the movie, “Frozen”)
Turtleflake (pattern available only via tax-deductible donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in my name or my husband’s name and specifying the third booklet)
Twilight Peak Snowflake
Webflake
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 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, 6 removable stitch markers, optional 12 seed beads for eyes and 6 seed beads for nose (eyes and nose may be embroidered, may be made from small buttons, may be made with googly eyes and tiny pompoms, may be made from tiny pieces of felt, may be drawn with Sharpie after stiffening or may be skipped altogether); empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, glue, water, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line
NOTE: For small children who tend to put everything in their mouths, the best eye/nose option may be to skip them altogether.


Bear Motif Instructions (make six)

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st, 2 dc in each dc around for a total of 24 dc.
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: Sk next dc, 7 dc in next dc (first ear formed), sk next dc, sl st in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, 3 sc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sl st in next dc, sk next dc, 7 dc in next dc (2nd ear formed), sk next dc, sl st in next dc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Place stitch marker in middle st in bottom of each bear motif.


Bearflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 1 sc in ring, * ch 3, 1 sc in ring; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in starting dc to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 1 sc over post of dc directly below; * ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 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 over post of tr directly below, * ch 7, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 dtr in starting sc to form 6th ch 7 sp of Round.

Round 4: 1 sc over post of dtr directly below, * ch 12, 1 sc in next ch 7 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 12, sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * 6 dc in next ch 12 sp, yo and draw up loop in same ch 12 sp, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, insert hook into dc next to stitch marker, draw up loop and pull through 2 loops on hook (joining dc) made; repeat joining dc in next 2 st of main body of snowflake and bear motif; joining stitches should be centered at bottom of bear motif when done; 6 dc in same ch 12 sp, 1 dc in next sc, ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc (tri-picot made, sl st in top of dc, 6 dc in same ch 12 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 instead of last dc of final repeat, ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc, sl st in same ch as join; 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.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Apply eyes and noses, dabbing with an extra drop of glue if necessary. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. 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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