Snowflake Monday

I took off an extra day in September to go leaf-hunting with Lizard. We crossed the Grand Mesa in a snow storm, then traversed the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison en route to home.

My first trip along the north rim was before I knew much about the Black Canyon. I had taken my then six-year-old pre-adoptive son on a weekend autumn leaf-hunting road trip, and we discovered the Maroon Bells together for the first time ever. Oh, my heavens!!!


I used a very old handheld Cokin filter (because I never did buy the mount for the filter, much less any other Cokin filters) to capture the sunrise on the peaks on 35mm film. We later left Aspen and turned at Carbondale just to see where the road went.

We detoured into Marble, just to see what was there, having no clue the famous Crystal Mill stood between us and Crested Butte, which I also didn't know existed at the time. Probably a very good thing, given Schofield Pass is considered one of the most dangerous four-wheel drive roads in Colorado. Definitely not the kind of place a young mom and her little son would want to get stuck. Or worse.


I vaguely remember my little six-year-old, affectionately and appropriately nicknamed Taz by my relatives because he was the perfect human rendition of the cartoon Tazmanian Devil, climbing the marble statues on the lawn in front of the tiny Marble country store, but back then, I had no clue about the history of the area. I didn't even realize I'd been there before when I traveled to Marble again in 2003 after my first Ride the Rockies.


We returned to the McClure Pass road and continued through Hotchkiss and Crawford before reaching the north rim of the Black Canyon. I remember thinking for the first few miles that this landscape was nothing compared to the Grand Canyon and Flaming Gorge. I don't think we even stopped at the classic Curecanti rest stop and viewpoint, which was among the highlights of my first Ride the Rockies.




Now, Lizard and I have been to the Black Canyon many times in all four seasons. I drove the north rim alone in June while Lizard and the rest of Ride the Rockies pedaled the south rim.


The snow had stopped by the time we reached the north rim together last month, and the autumn color was phenomenal. Daylight hours were quickly waning, though, so we couldn't spend as much time as I would have liked. I could have stayed there a couple more days! But Lizard had to be at work early the next morning.

It may be a while before we get back to the North Rim again, so the few photos we shot along the way will have to feed the craving for a while.


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

North Rim Snowflake Instructions

With white, make magic ring.

Round 1: 18 sc in ring; sl st tightly into starting sc; do not pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in same sc as sl st, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (starting popcorn stitch made), * sk next sc, 5 dc in next sc, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made), ch 3, 1 popcorn st in next sc; repeat from * around 4 times; sk next sc, 1 popcorn st in next sc, 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 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
NOTE: Binding off here makes one heck of a cute little flake.


Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 10, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch (fat picot made), ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (skinny picot made), ch 14, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip (spoke completed); 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.


Same pattern with minor alterations: ch 5 instead of 3 for Round 2 snowflake tips,
hdc instead of ch between fat and skinny picots on Round 4.


alternate blocking
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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