Snowflake Monday

NOTE: Formal fundraising on Snowcatcher has been paused. I haven't had time to create a new snowflake pattern booklet, and we don't know if or when we will be able to participate in organized charity rides again. If things favorably change, I will announce such in a new Snowflake Monday blog post. In the meantime, the previous eight booklets are still available, and I will do my best to respond to requests for them in a timely manner.

I wanted to crochet Don Komarechka's December 18 snowflake for my Christmas Day snowflake pattern, but this one was a doozie! Several times during the construction, deconstruction and reconstruction process, I wanted to save today's pattern for Halloween and call it Prickly Picots, Count Cruel or Nightmare on Pin Street.

Yet, it is such a beautiful snowflake. So, proceed with extreme caution.

Precarious Peak stands at 13,380 feet, but it doesn't sound like a mountain I will be climbing. The loose and blocky 13er is further along on the very same ridge with Pyramid Peak, another dangerous mountain, and is near Gothic and Schofield Pass. I think we've been atop (or near the top of) Mount Bellview, which gazes over at Precarious across Rustler Gulch, but I didn't know enough about the range at the time to snap photos I could have included with today's pattern. Mosquitoes may have been involved, too...


Speaking of things I won't be doing, it looks like we will not be participating in any big organized rides this year. We really had our sights set on Ride the Rockies, and Lizard wanted to return to the Triple Bypass for the 30th anniversary. We weren't sure about these rides and the MS-150 because I've been asked to shoot another out-of-state niece's wedding, and we also plan to attend my parents' 50th anniversary.

Add to that my inability so far to get past 21 miles now that I'm back on my bike. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to pedal 70 miles or more in a day again. I will keep trying to improve, but winter doesn't make that task easy. Whatever happens, I will be grateful for the miles I can pedal. Any miles are better than no miles.

I've been fielding lots of inquiries lately about "this year's snowflake booklet" and where donations may be made. I haven't put together a new booklet for this year because I didn't get to crochet much last year, due to the same elbow and neck problems that kept me off my bike.

However, I am now invested in the battle to wipe out Parkinson's Disease.

I still have potential covers (and plentiful inspiration) for three more booklets, so I don't think I'm done yet, but I just did not get the opportunity to complete a new booklet for this year.


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: 8.5 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

Deadly Design Snowflake Instructions

(just teasing)


Precarious Peak Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2, 1 dc in ring, ch 2, sl st in ring, * ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 2, sl st in ring; repeat from * 4 times for a total of 6 petals, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to complete 6th petal.

Round 2: Sl st into next dc, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 12, * 2 dc in 1st dc of next petal, 2 dc in 2nd dc of same petal, ch 12; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of 6 petals and 6 ch 12 sp, sl st in 2nd ch os starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), * 7 dc in next ch 12 sp, ch 2, sl st in same sp, ch 2, 7 dc in same sp (M-shaped arch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
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 4: Sl st into gap between ch 2 and next dc, ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and * ch 4), [yo and draw up loop through 3rd ch from hook, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (double dc picot made), ch 9, draw up loop through 2nd ch from hook and through each of next 2 ch for a total of 4 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 4 loops (3 sc dec made), 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, 3 sc dec across next 3 ch, ch 5, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook (sc picot made), ch 6, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, 3 sc in next ch, ch 3, double dc picot in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, sk over M-shaped arch, 1 dc in next gap between 7/dc groups, ch 1, 1 dc in same sp (V-stitch made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 1 and last dc of final repeat; 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 6 to form 6th V-stitch of Round.

Round 5: Sl st over hdc directly below, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc) 4 dc in same sp, 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), * ch 4, double dc picot in 3rd ch from hook, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, [ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook] 2 times, ch 4, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 6, double dc picot in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, 5 dc in top of next V-stitch, 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), beginning spoke ch 6, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, sl st in each of next 2 ch, **ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch,** ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, working back down spoke sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sl st in spoke ch between 3/sl st picot and 4/sl st picot on opposite side of spoke, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sl st in spoke ch between 4/sc picot and 5/sl st picot, ch 6, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sl st in spoke ch between 5/sl st picot and 5/sc picot, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sl st in spoke ch between 5/sc picot and leaf-shaped picot, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next ch, sl st in each of next 2 ch, sl st in next 2 spoke ch, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in next 3 spoke ch, sl st in top of popcorn st; 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 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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