Snowflake Monday

A few weeks ago, I decided to make the annual survey of my spam folder in Blogger. To my horror, the junkmail included comments from readers, including Mrs. Micawber! After reading and approving each real comment, I immediately went to work fixing the typo in a 2012 pattern noted in a comment left by a reader back in about November, you know, back when people were actually making snowflakes and trying to get them done before the holidays.

I couldn't believe it when Blogger wouldn't let me save the corrected post! The only thing that changed was the placement of an asterisk. This particular pattern, as do all my patterns, included a link back to my blog (because that was a method several years ago of helping direct readers of the pattern back to my blog after reading it on a scraper blog – a lazy blog with content plagiarized from genuine blogs). The photos also were linked to my professional SmugMug photography site.

Turns out Blogger now requires all links to include the secure http “s” in the web address, such as https://www.snowcatcher.net. (Although all links will automatically redirect to the https version if there is one. All my websites are now https.) This new requirement means all 454 of my published snowflake patterns need to be updated.

Talk about a tedious task!!!

I can tell you right now that duty is not going to be completed in the next few weeks. Perhaps not even this year. Unless Blogger begins blocking everything that doesn't have updated links...

At which point I will be forced to make the time to make corrections, both online and in my Microsoft Word file backups. This is not a project to which I am looking forward. You could say I dread it. But it will get done at some point, along with the updating of my cycling journal, my snowflake directory and the links to snowflake patterns on my SmugMug site. It's just going to take a while. I cannot perform all the changes on my phone, and I do not have adequate internet access to keep up with all the technology changes necessitated by people with nefarious goals. It's difficult enough just keeping up with the blog!

In the meantime, here's a pattern with a hole in the middle. It feels rather symbolic of how my blog feels to me right now.


Oh, and it's also my responsibility to make sure Blogger's cookie announcement is appearing to all European readers. Blogger made it possible for blog authors to check their site by typing in a country code at the end of the web page address instead of the .com. This handy little trick isn't available to bloggers who have custom domains, such as me, and yet, it's still our responsibility to make sure the disclaimer is visible.

So, I appeal to you, dear readers. Do any of you in European countries see “my” Blogger/Google announcement that cookies are being used and an explanation of what data is being collected (by Google; not me!!!)? Thanks for being loyal readers! I truly appreciate your visit, especially now that these crazy flavorless cookie recipes must be served universally.

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 8 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

Hole in the Middle Snowflake Instructions

Foundation Round: [Ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 7, sl st in 7th ch from hook] 5 times; ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, [[ch 1]]; taking care not to twist work, sl st into tail end of starting dc picot; ch 3, 1 tr in [[ch 1]] to form 6th ch 6 loop of Round.

Round 1: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, * ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch 6 loop; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting 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 2: * Ch 7, 5 dc in next ch 6 loop, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in top loop of 1st dc of this 5/dc group, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through top loop of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made), ch 3, popcorn stitch in same ch 6 loop, ch 10, sl st in top of popcorn just made, ch 3, popcorn stitch in same ch 6 loop, ch 7, sl st in next sc; 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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