Snowflake Monday

I've been making a lot of little owls lately. I wanted to make one from each of the colors I dyed last year.

When it came time to make a snowflake, I thought it might be cute to incorporate some owls into the pattern. I did that once before six years ago... Twilight Peak Snowflake at the height of vampire movie popularity right around Halloween. Today's owl motif may be used as an applique or as a gift tag or as a jewelry charm.

I haven't run out of mountain names containing the word pyramid, but today's triangle-themed flake deserves to be named after its inspiration, which was the growing collection of colorful owls watching me crochet each day on the train.


After the prototype, which required quite a bit of frogging and reworking to make the six sides equal, I realized the motifs also could be smiley faces, bear faces, cat faces or even hearts. (And each of the motifs for each of those snowflake patterns are interchangeable with one another.) The below owlflake turned out pretty darned cute, but I had to perform a few more modifications to get the flakes that followed to lie flat without pooching in the center or extreme stretching during the pinning stage. That's why the pink one doesn't look exactly like the pattern.


I'm kind of hoping now I can come up with even more motifs for future flakes as I try to create another bevy of critters from my hand-dyed thread... Plus, those googly eyes are just so darned cute! Although when you order them 300 pairs at a time, you can end up with an odd set or two...


One of my co-workers the other day suggested we start publicizing our Christmas craft fair now so we crafters don't get caught at the last minute trying to make things in November for a pre-Thanksgiving event. I think today's snowflake pattern also is a great way to start stocking up for my annual Christmas gift to Children's Hospital (which I didn't get to do last year because elbow and neck pain kept me off the crochet hook for most of the year). I intend to make a personal visit to drop off my kid flakes again this year, and I expect the experience will brighten more Christmases than just my own.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes and/or owls you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 6.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two or more colors, size 7 crochet hook, optional beads, buttons, felt, embroidery thread, permanent marker or googly eyes for eyes, optional embroidery thread for beak and talons, 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

Owl Motif Instructions (Make 3.)

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring. Do not join on this or any Round for motif only. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc.

Round 3: * 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times for a total; of 18 sc.
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: 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, to shape first ear, in next sc work 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 2, sl st in top of dc, 1 dc and 1 hdc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, to shape second ear, in next sc work 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 2, sl st in top of dc, 1 dc and 1 hdc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, [2 sc In next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] 2 times, 1 sc in next sc, sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Owl Pyramid Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (beginning popcorn stitch made), [ch 2, 1 sc in bottom middle of owl motif and in each of next 11 st up side to ear picot, 1 sc in picot, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in same ear picot, 1 sc in each of 6 st across top of owl motif head, 1 sc in 2nd ear picot, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in same ear picot, 1 sc in each of next 11 st down side of body, ch 2, 5 dc in ring, 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),] 2 times; ch 2, work around 3rd owl motif same as 1st and 2nd owls, ch 2, sl st in top of starting popcorn st. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), [1 dc in 7th outline sc of next owl motif, ch 3, 3 dc in next ear picot, ch 3, 3 dc in same picot, ch 5, 3 dc in next ear picot, ch 3, 3 dc in same ear picot, ch 3, sk next 5 sc, 1 dc in next sc, ch 3, 1 tr in top of next popcorn st] 3 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), [sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 sp (at ear), work 3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 3 dc; ch 7, in next ch 3 sp (at ear) work 3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 3 dc; ch 3, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next dc, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 tr in next tr] 3 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3.
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: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), [sk next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 sp (at ear) work 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc, in ch 5 sp work 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc, in next ch 3 sp work 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc, ch 3, 1 sc over both ch sp below, ch 3, at next ear, in each ch sp work 3 dc, ch 3 and 3 dc, ch 3, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 tr in next tr] 3 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6.

Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), [ [[(point sequence) sk next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 sp work 1 tr, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3 and 1 dc, ch 5, 1 sc in next gap between 3/dc shells, ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work 1 sc, ch 5, 1 hdc, ch 7, 1 dc, ch 9, 1 dc, ch 7, 1 hdc, ch 5 and 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc in next gap between 3/dc shells, ch 5, in next ch 3 sp work 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3 and 1 tr]], sk next ch 3 sp, 1 tr in next sc, repeat [[(point sequence)]] 1 time, sk next ch 3 sp, 1 tr in next tr] 3 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3; 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.

Apply eyes in desired manner. I glued googly eyes on with Elmer's Glue-All.

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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