Batflake Monday

Today's snowflake was more challenging than a corn maze!

The pattern went through several iterations as I attempted to get the bat shape correct. After one particular fail, I was inspired by The Lizard's comment: “Those wings must be really difficult to make.”

I'd been trying to fit the wings to the snowflake. Lizard helped me realize it might be easier to fit the snowflake to the bats. I immediately crafted the first half of a rainbow of bats.


The next flake was successful!

Next, I had to come up with a name. I could call it Bat Flake. Like Bat Phone and Bat Mobile. But that seemed too... easy. Especially given the effort designing this flake had required.

We were driving along the Black Canyon of the Gunnison as I toyed with different Colorado mountain names aloud, causing The Lizard to chuckle and roll his eyes.

Mount Batbert. La Bata Peak. Batstone Peak. Grizzly Bat Peak. Mount Silverbats. Mount of the Holy Bat. Bat Mountain.

I jokingly suggested Bat Canyon of the Gunnison. Lizard chimed, “Bat Canyon is perfect!”

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, 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


Bat Instructions

Because the bat wings are created in a non-typical snowflake fashion, let's start by making one bat, and then perhaps the final round of the actual snowflake won't be as difficult to explain.

Chain 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (wingtip picot made), [ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook] 4 times.


1 hdc in sc just made.


3 dc over next ch between picots.


1 dc in next picot.


3 dc over next ch between picots. Ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (1st bat ear made), [yo 2 times, draw up loop through next wingtip picot (or same wingtip picot in repeats), yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 2 times] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (tr cluster and bat body made). ( SPECIAL STITCH: TR Cluster st used but not described in snowflake pattern!)


Ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (2nd bat ear made).


1 sc in top of 3rd dc of last 3/dc group made (bat head/neck shaping).


3 dc over next ch between picots. 1 dc in next picot. 3 dc over next ch between picots. 1 hdc in last picot. Bind off. Weave in ends.


Bat Canyon 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 * 4 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), * 1 tr in next ch 3 sp, ch 5, 1 tr in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 tr in next ch 3 tip, ch 2, 1 tr in 3rd ch of starting ch 3 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of tr directly below, * 5 dc in next ch 5 tip, ch 3, 5 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times, 5 dc in next ch 5 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 4: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dtr), * 1 dtr in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (first wingtip made), [ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook] 4 times (remaining 4 wingtip picots made), ch 3, 1 dtr in same ch 3 tip of main flake body; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dtr 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 5: * Sl st in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next picot, 3 dc over next ch between picots, 1 dc in next picot, 3 dc over next ch between picots, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (1st bat eat made), tr cluster in next picot (see tr cluster instructions and photo tutorial in bat instructions), ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (2nd bat ear made), sc in top of 3rd 3d of last 3/dc group made (refer to photo in tutorial above) to shape bat head and neck, 3 dc over next ch between picots, 1 dc in next picot, 3 dc over next ch between picots, 1 hdc in next picot, sl st in next 2 ch; repeat from * around 5 times; 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.

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