Snowflake Monday

This is a short work week for most, and sometimes you just need an easy snowflake pattern that doesn't require too much thought.

I worked up my second Gratitude Snowflake using Lizbeth's metallic thread. The thread has a nice texture and a beautiful sheen but can be difficult to work with because it's pretty splitty, in my opinion. Here's the flake unstiffened, finger-shaped. Further into this post, right before the pattern, is a photo of the snowflake stiffened. Snowflakes made with the metallic thread don't necessarily require stiffening, but I think I like them better stiffened.


I designed this tiny gem back in 2012, using cheap thread I found at a bargain store, then wrote the pattern in 2014. I looked up the creation date and the pattern date in my journal to see what was going on in my life back then, and it was a bit fun stepping back in time so I could see how far I've come.

On February 11, 2012, I'd exceeded a goal of designing a snowflake a day every day for seven days by one day. I don't know which of the eight snowflakes resulted in today's pattern, but I was really excited about two of the eight flakes, which later became Mount Eolus and Mill Creek. I suspect I didn't make any snowflakes on Day 9 because we were busy packing after church for our first trip to The Wave. On Day 10, we departed the Denver metro area shortly after 3 a.m. with the goal of arriving in Kanab, Utah, by 4:30 p.m. to stop by the BLM office to find out what we'd need to do on Day 11 to enter The Wave same-day lottery. (Complete instructions are all online now.) On Day 11, we didn't have to go through the lottery after all because there were only three of us vying for 10 passes, and I recorded what I've always referred to as my best Valentine's Day ever. Oh, how fun it was to go back and read that blog post and relive the photos!!!






On January 1, 2014, we were expecting snow, which never came. I'd finished that year's pdf snowflake booklet "I Dream in Sixes" the day before, and today's snowflake pattern didn't make the cut. I spent most of the day editing photos of The Wave to use as greeting cards and toying with my first ring flash, which didn't work out of the box. Earlier this year, my dad offered to take a look at the collection of inexpensive ring flashes I'd purchased and never been able to use because they wouldn't power up, regardless of what kind of batteries I tried to use. My dad got the first one working for me, and I've been using it for macro photography ever since. The remainder of the ring flashes, he said, were "trash," and not even good for parts. I wish now I'd sent him that first one as soon as I discovered it wasn't working, sparing me the nickel and diming of the other flashes, but also so I could have put that baby to work a few years earlier. It's amazing!






I am so thankful my grandmother taught me to crochet. I am so thankful for snow. I am thankful for the heavenly gifts of photography, writing, journaling, creativity, inspiration, technology and weekends. I am thankful I've been able to see The Wave twice now. I'm thankful I get to keep trying to see it again one day. I'm thankful for my family. And I'm most thankful for the best husband and companion a girl could ever desire.

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: 2.75 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

Gratitude Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 3 sc in ring, ch 6, sl st in 3rd sc (loop made), * 2 sc in ring, ch 6, sl st in 2nd sc; repeat from * 3 times; 1 sc in ring, sl st in starting sc, ch 1, 1 dtr in same sc to form 6th loop. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: * In ch 6 loop just made (or next ch 6 loop in repeats), work (1 sc 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in sc, ch 4, sl st in sc ((tri-picot tip made)), 1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc), ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook (picot made); 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.

Tweet

Pin It