Snowflake Monday

When I discovered Leap Year Day would be on a Monday, I thought I should design something epic because the next Leap Year Snowflake Monday won't occur for 28 more years. Not likely happen again! At least not here.

Just to demonstrate the accuracy of things you read on the internet, I looked up "how long before the next Leap Day Monday?" One website I saw said 76 years. Pretty big difference! (I went year-by-year on calendars, writing down each leap day until I reached the next leap year Monday, which will be in 2044.) Of course, this pattern is on the internet, too, so do you trust it or not?!?

Today's pattern isn't epic, at least in my mind, but I did think it was pretty cool I could achieve different looks just by adding a center round. Sometimes when I work up a new flake, the rounds seem a little too bunched together, so I'll change single crochets on the first round to double crochets or double crochets on the first round to treble crochets. This is the first time, I think, I've added a whole round to the center to stretch out the stitches. Now that I've learned the magic, you probably can expect more such experiments in the future. But probably not into 2044. If my eyesight holds out that long, I hope I'm still quilting, riding my bike and taking pictures. If snowflakes are still on the hook then, well, that will be pretty darned epic with or without a pattern.

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: 3 to 3.5 inches from point to point, depending upon how many Rounds are worked
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 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

Leap Day Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, * ch 5, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 2 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc and last ch 5 of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.
NOTE: Binding off here makes a cute little snowflake.
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 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 3, in next ch 4 loop work [1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc], ch 3, in next ch 5 tip work [2 dc, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in sc, ch 4, sl st in sc (tri-picot made), 2 dc]; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: Just look what happens to both the 2-Round and 3-Round snowflakes if you add a popcorn center as Round 1 and make it a 4-Round Snowflake with minimal adjustments to the existing Round 1 when worked as Round 2!




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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