Snowflake Monday

Pumpkins aren't always orange. White or "ghost" has been growing in popularity since about 2005. Red is said to have been the inspiration for Cinderella's carriage. Blue and blue/gray pumpkins, developed in Australia, were introduced to the US in 1932. Pink pumpkins were cultivated in Arizona in 2011, and in 2012 the Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation was created to help in the fight against breast cancer. A portion of proceeds from the sale of every pink pumpkin goes toward breast cancer research.

I had seen pink pumpkins a couple of times, but I had no idea! So of course, I have to make a pink pumpkin snowflake!!!


There's also Sisters of the Snowflake news in the wind. Anyone in a Yahoo Group learned last week that Yahoo Groups as we know them are going away. Autumn, Diane and Brenda have been moderating Sisters of the Snowflake since Autumn cooked up the idea. I'm not sure Autumn is around anymore; it's been at least a couple of years since I've heard a peep out of her. I didn't mention it then because I didn't want to embarrass her, but my Autumn's Last Stand Snowflake was named in her honor.

When Autumn started the group back in 2013, Ravelry was the only social media where I had a bit of a presence, and most of my activity was via Quilters Knitting group.

When I announced to the Sisters of the Snowflake group that the file-uploading functionality of the group will be gone after next week, I noted that many other interest groups are migrating to different platforms. I mentioned to our group that I try to at least check Facebook and Instagram on weekdays and that I post a photo to Instagram five days a week. I then listed the platforms I am aware of, including Ravelry (which has a Open Ravel, FiberKind and Facebook. (I'm hoping at some point I can list my snowflake patterns on Open Ravel and FiberKind, as well as update my own snowflake directory…)

When I posted the announcement, I was kind of hoping someone might volunteer to jumpstart and moderate the group in a new home. In the meantime, other Yahoo Groups I belong to (but also am not active in because the entire Yahoo platform - as well as all social media and personal email - is blocked from me five days a week, often more than 10 hours a day) were discussing options, and one person complained about the price tag of opening a group page on Facebook.

I'm a member of several photography, crochet and quilting groups on Facebook, and except for the groups moderated by businesses, I wasn't aware of any financial charge for setting up groups there. The next time I had access, I began the test process of setting up a Sisters of the Snowflake group on Facebook, just to see if it could be done. Within five minutes, it was official, and I was the moderator because I started it. It didn't cost a dime.

Sisters of the Snowflake
I was nervous about the prospect of moderating the group all by myself, but I thought I could give it a try, and ask for help down the road if the task becomes overwhelming. Or if I just stink as a moderator...

I posted the link in the Yahoo Group, and the next morning, I had 18 of my Snowflake Sisters in the new group! Talk about thrilling!!!

I realized I could do something in the new group that hasn't been too successful here on my blog because blogging just isn't a thing anymore. Many viewers (not just here) don't take the time to read. They just scroll, looking for pretty pictures and free patterns.

I think contests and challenges could be much more successful via the new Facebook group. I'm not ready to walk away from my blog just yet, but it was exciting to think I might be able to garner the participation I dreamed of when I launched largely ignored contests and challenges here.

I still don't know yet how this is all going to work out in the long run, but I'm giving it a shot, and if I can't keep my head above water, I'll scream for help. I am Snowcatcher; hear me roar!


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: 5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two or more colors, 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

Pumpkin Motif (Make 6.)

With orange, peach or other pumpkin color, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring. Do not join. Pull magic circle tight.

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

Round 3: [Sl st in next sc, in next sc work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc), 1 dc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, in next sc work (1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc)] 2 times; sl st in next sl st; bind off. Weave in ends.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Stem and Vine (if not making snowflake)

Stem: With green or leaf color, start with a slip knot on the hook. Working from back of pumpkin and on either flat end, yo and draw up loop through sc right of sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through sc on left of sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook; bind off here if all you want is a stem. If you want a vine, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in each of next 6 ch, sl st in stem. Bind off. Weave in ends. Pumpkin motif may be stiffened or left as is, depending upon personal preference.

Winter Squash Snowflake Instructions

With green or leaf/vine color, make magic ring.

Round 1: [In ring work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, 1 hdc)] 6 times; sl st in starting sc. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 8 (counts as 1 tr and ch 5), [1 tr over next sc into magic ring, ch 3, 1 tr over same sc into magic ring, ch 5] 5 times; 1 tr over next sc into magic ring, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 8.
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 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5 (leaf ch 5), 1 dc into 3rd ch from hook, in same ch work (1 hdc, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 3, sl st (leaf made)), sk next ch of leaf ch 5 (it's going to be pulled extremely tight because of all those stitches in the last ch anyway, so if you don't see it, don't worry), sl st in next ch of leaf ch 5, 3 sc in same Round 2 ch 5 sp, in next ch 3 sp work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc), ch 5 (vine ch 5), working from back of pumpkin motif and on either flat end, yo and draw up loop through sc right of sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw up loop through sc on left of sl st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (stem made), ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc in each of next 6 ch, sl st in stem, sl st in next ch of vine ch 5, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, in same Round 2 ch 3 sp work (1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc] 6 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.

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