Snowflake Monday

I bought "Winter Serenade" back in about 2004 or 2005, when it was brand new, because I liked the snowflake on the cover, even though it has eight sides. I'd never heard of Jon Schmidt, who would go on to join The Piano Guys half a decade later. The CD soon became one of my favorites.

As I recently was working up the blue-green versions of this snowflake while listening to "Winter Serenade", I kept recalling a Jack in the Box my baby brother (who is gone now) used to play with during Christmas break at my grandma's house when I was a wee girl.

I kept remembering the clown popping out of the cranking musical box, making all of us kids jump then giggle, each time I pulled a popcorn stitch tight, then laughing just like we did half a century ago.

Pop Goes The Weasel!

I love the popcorn stitch. I love the bumpy, flowery texture it provides snowflakes. Because I have so many snowflake patterns featuring this stitch now, one of the top Google search terms (incorrectly) bringing readers to my page this month is "Linden Gledhill popcorn flakes." (And now including that in my blog will – erroneously – bring me more of his hits...)

Pop Goes the Popcorn!

Still working away on one of today's snowflakes and contently listening to beautiful piano music, I was caught off guard as the last song on the CD played. I had not listened to this CD in many years. I'd forgotten Annie began singing at her dad's piano concerts when she was just six years old.

Pop Goes My Heart...

Annie Schmidt's cute little six-year-old voice can't keep me sad for very long. Grown-up 21-year-old Annie died in October after falling down a sheer cliff during a hike. Her family didn't know for sure what had happened to her for four weeks. They never stopped searching. Their faith and their love still inspires me.

I've loved The Piano Guys since the first time I heard "Cello Wars" in about 2011. I have a deep love for music by all members of the Schmidt family and Piano Guys. I'm thankful they are able to keep going after such a traumatic experience because music lifts my soul as much as snowflakes.

The song below is the last Annie wrote and recorded with her brother, Spencer.


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: 4.75 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, 1.25-inch button (yes, it should work with other sizes with minimal adjustments, but do make sure the buttonholes are big enough for the crochet hook to fit through multiple times) 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

Pop Goes the Button Snowflake Instructions

Round 1: 1 sc in button hole, ch 5,[1 sc in same buttonhole, ch 5] 5 times, 1 sc in next buttonhole, [ch 5, 1 sc in same buttonhole] 5 times; ch 2, 1 dc in starting sc to form 12th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dc directly below, 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 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in next ch 5 sp, 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), ch 3, popcorn st in same ch 5 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last popcorn st and last ch 3 of final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting popcorn to form 6th ch 3 tip 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: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 5, in next ch 3 tip (between popcorns) work [ 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc]; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work [1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc], ch 2, 1 tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 5 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.
NOTE: Binding off here makes a cute little 3-inch snowflake.


No, it doesn't have a mistake on one side. It started melting in the light...
Round 4: 1 sc around post of tr directly below, * ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 7, sk next ch 5 sp, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in same sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc and last ch 5 of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.
NOTE: Binding off here makes another cute miniature snowflake.


Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 4, 5 dc over Round 4 and Round 5 chains, ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 4, 3 dc in next ch 5 tip, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 dc in same ch 5 tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

Tweet

Pin It