While the northeast is thanking lucky stars winter is over, we here in Colorado have enjoyed a few halcyon days. We had three weeks of winter in February, and now spring is busting out all over.
Halcyon is derived from Alcyone in Greek mythology. The daughter of Aeolus, god of the wind, married Ceyx, who died in a shipwreck. Alcyone was so devastated, she threw herself into the sea. The Greek gods turned Alcyone and Ceyx into kingfishers, among the most photogenic of birds. Oh, how I wish I had a photo of a kingfisher to insert right here!
According to the Roman poet Ovid, waves threatened Alcyone's waterborne nest, and her father Aeolus calmed the weather for seven days every year to protect Alcyone's brood. This time is called halcyon days. The spell is broken when the eggs hatch, the nestlings take wing and the water returns to normal.
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: 2.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 20 crochet thread, size 12 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, school glue (make sure it is water soluble), water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line (NOTE: This snowflake may be made with size 10 thread and a size 8 crochet hook, and it will be a little larger than 2.5 inches.)
Halcyon 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. Don't pull magic ring too tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same st as sl st, *sk 2 st, 3 dc in next st, ch 3, 3 dc in same st; repeat from * around 4 times; 3 dc in same st as starting dc; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (counts as final ch 3 sp).
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 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (point made), 1 dc over post of final dc of Round 1, * ch 6, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp (start of V-stitch made), ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next ch 2, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 4 more times; ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 7.
Round 4: *Ch 6, 3 dc in ch 2 at top of next point, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 2, ch 6, sl st in next V-stitch dc, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 3, sl st in next V-stitch dc; repeat from * around 5 times, ending with sl st in final sl st of Round 3; 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. 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.
Another special project in the works as of December 2015, which means more Easter Eggs to scatter and hide throughout my blog as I renew and revise old favorite patterns.
I LOVE finding Easter eggs; don't you? I love finding plush Mickey Mouse animals hiding in Disney movies, and I love finding Star Wars' R2D2 hiding in science fiction movies, such as Star Trek "Into Darkness." It's thrilling! Like finding treasure on a mountain hike!
I hope you enjoy the Easter egg snowflake patterns I've being hiding around my website! Here's another of my favorites!!!
Alcyone Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), 1 dc in ring, * ch 5, 1 dc in ring; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round. Don't pull magic ring too tight.
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 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * 3 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 3 dc in next ch 5 sp; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.
Round 3: Ch 10 (counts as 1 dc and ch 8), 1 tr in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch (rounded point made), 1 dc over post of final dc of Round 2, * ch 6, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp (start of V-stitch made), ch 8, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch (rounded point made), 1 dc in same ch 3 sp (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 4 more times; ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 10.
Round 4: * Ch 6, 3 dc in ch 5 at top of next rounded point, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 5, ch 6, sl st in next V-stitch dc, ch 2, 2 dc over ch 6 of Round 3, ch 3, 2 dc over same ch, ch 2, sl st in next V-stitch dc; repeat from * around 5 times, ending with sl st in final sl st of Round 3; bind off. Weave in ends.
Oh, my gosh! Another one!!!
Ceyx Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in ring, * ch 3, 3 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.
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 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 * around 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.
Round 3: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (point made), 1 dc over post of final dc of Round 2, * ch 6, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp (start of V-stitch made), ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next ch 2, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 4 more times; ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 7.
Round 4: * Ch 6, 3 dc in ch 2 at top of next point, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 1, 3 dc in same ch 2, ch 6, sl st in next V-stitch dc, ch 3, 1 dc over ch 6 of Round 3 into gap between shells, ch 3, sl st in next V-stitch dc; repeat from * around 5 times, ending with sl st in final sl st of Round 3; bind off. Weave in ends.
Those gods were always helpful after people had already died haha good spring has sprung, still cold and lots of snow here, ugg
ReplyDeleteBy golly, you are right, Pat! They weren't much in the powerful department, were they??? :) We could still get a big snow here. Got one on Mother's Day last year... I just hope it doesn't freeze again until October...
DeleteCool story. Having climbed Colorado's 14er, Aeolus, I thought it was all about wind. I had no wind that day. Next time I'm on its flanks, I'll have more of a halcyon perspective.
ReplyDeleteGlad I gave your vocabulary a new and wonderful word, Lizard! I'm anxious to see some 14ers up close and personal again!
DeleteBeautiful! What brand of thread did you use? I lov the blue white combination.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I don't know what brand of thread has the blue and white. It's from a destash on eBay, and I believe it's hand-dyed. It is pretty thread.
DeleteA lovely name, and lovely story, for a beautiful snowflake.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty thread too! :)
That's one of my favorite snowflake names so far, too, Sue. I love the thread, too. I'm going to have to see if I can dye some to match it because I'm running out, and I don't want to!
Delete