This week's Moda Blockheads 2 project is Carrie Nelson's interpretation of the classic Pennsylvania block.
This is another 6-inch block with a tiny center block, and once again, I was seriously tempted to enlarge the pattern so I could design a bigger flake, but it all comes down to my excitement about making a quilt with blocks of many different sizes.
As an added benefit, there's nothing like a quick and easy pattern snowflake during the heatwaves of summer.
So then I thought... I've already done so many tiny flakes, I'm not sure I can do another one that would be different. I was about to flip through my Garden Snowflake patterns when I decided to peruse Alexey Kljatov's snowflake collection for inspiration. Today's snowflake is not a rehash of one of my Garden Snowflakes or modeled after one particular snowflake, but instead is a representation of a snowflake shape I admire.
Once again, I have loved seeing block interpretations by other Blockheads!
When it came time to type a name on the pattern below, Pennsylvania definitely did not stand out as a snowflake name. It took me all of about 3.9 seconds to figure out a Colorado name with a Pennsylvania flair or connection.
Pennsylvania is the Keystone State, and Keystone also is the name of a very popular ski area in Colorado. Plus, Keystone, in my mind, might look somewhat like the shape of today's snowflake.
I do have to throw a crucial fact out there, though... Pennsylvania also is known as The Chocolate State.
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: 1.5 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
Keystone Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), * 1 dc in ring, ch 1; repeat from * 10 times for a total of 12 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3. Pull magic circle tight.
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: * 1 sc in next ch 1 sp, in next ch 1 sp work 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; 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.
Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict and My Quilt Infatuation.
Keystone is a fine name. Can be fun to see how they come about. Pennsylvania makes me think of Monopoly.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! I think you may have just given me a name for my next pattern!!!
DeleteThat's the perfect little flake for that block!
ReplyDeleteSo fun to see all the interpretations. I just now figured out what "hst" stands for. :)
Chocolate State, eh? Hmmmmmmm....