Snowflake Monday

I recently had to redo one of my old snowflake patterns to help a reader from another country who thought she was having difficulty due to language barrier. Of course, the revision is in pink instead of white because it's Pink October!

As I tried to follow the instructions while riding a cramped, bumpy commuter train, I realized my foreign reader may have understood more of the language than she realized. I was the one with the problem!

My King's Crown Snowflake was my 67th published pattern, but I think it was the 20th or 30th pattern I had written. I was still pretty much a novice at that point, and the flake pattern itself was... well, a little beyond complicated.

A few years ago, when it was more common for readers to leave comments on blogs, I would sometimes get some pretty snarky complaints, often not helpful in discerning what the reader was upset about. I always tried to imagine a rude comment was coming from someone like one of my grandmothers (none of whom lived to see the computer age), someone who had not grown up with computers and may have been more frustrated with the computer than with me. It helped me a tiny little bit to control the hurt and depression these sometimes rude comments would ignite.

Now, reading back over one of my early patterns, before I really got the hang of complicated instructions, I realize those readers may well have been perplexed with my immature instructions. And for that, I sincerely apologize. I hope I have improved with age and experience.


My Newest King's Crown
I also sincerely appreciate the readers who have hung in there and tried to make the best of my less-than-perfect patterns, especially those who always took the time to thank me for providing patterns for free. And then there are those who supported my charitable fund-raising efforts year after year after year, regardless of how poor the instructions may have been.

Fixing up my old King's Crown pattern inspired today's new snowflake, as well as the name. It's October, my pink snowflake month. I have my little pink tree up at work, covered with pink snowflakes I've been trying to create for the past month or so, since I've been slowly working back into crocheting again, to replace all the pink snowflakes I sent away this year after two more of my friends were diagnosed with breast cancer.


My Pink Tree I 2016
I can't remember what year I bought that little pink tree at the grocery store the instant I noticed it, spending all of about $9, I think, but it's been a GREAT little tree for many years. This year, the lights have gone the way of old Christmas lights. But even without lights, my little pink tree still brightens my office, my attitude and my Pink October! (I'll try to add a new unlit tree photo a little later.)

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 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
Special Stitches: dc cluster – [yo and draw up loop through designated ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook

Prince of Pink Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 18 sc in ring; sl st tightly into starting sc. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: 1 sc in same sc as sl st, * ch 4, dc cluster in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, dc cluster in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, sk 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times; omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off.
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: * 3 dc in any ch 3 tip (or next ch 3 tip in repeats), ch 1, sl st in top of dc just made (picot made), 2 dc in same ch 3 tip, ch 4, dc cluster in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 4, dc cluster in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting dc; 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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