It was 10:31 p.m. Saturday night, and I didn't have a snowflake pattern ready for Monday. The Front Range of Colorado was gifted a glorious snow day two days before Thanksgiving, which meant longer work hours the day before and the day after plus tons of shoveling. Literally. Tons. I'm not making this up!
That was followed by family obligations throughout the four-day holiday weekend. (That's not a complaint.) Add to that 15 Christmas gifts I've been trying to crochet for grandkids.
Where in the world did this week go?!? Heck, where did November go?!?
One project that did escape my hook in completed form was in response to my friend Concetta's request for a three-color Veteran's Day Starflake. She'd asked for a patriotic version with a blue star and a red outline. Following the original pattern as written would have resulted in 10 knots and 20 ends to weave in on the final Round. Not my idea of fun.
So I've reworked the pattern just a bit. It took multiple tries to get this just the way I liked it, and tons of frogging was involved. Literally. Just like the mountains of snow on my front steps, driveway and sidewalk!
In the final stages of working through the pattern, I crocheted the final chain round on the patriotic version of the flake into the last Round. In the Christmas tinsel version, I left the chains free on the back of the flake. Feel free to do likewise, according to personal preference.
This pattern works up nicely as a Christmas star when worked in tinsel colors. And oh, how beautiful that Lizbeth metallic thread is! But boy, I think I'd rather shovel snow than work with that splitty thread again until my next sparkly inspiration hits me!!!
You may do whatever you'd like with starflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!
Finished Size: 4.75 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in three 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
Snovember Starflake Instructions
SPECIAL STITCHES:
Popcorn Stitch (pc)
Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.
Octuple Treble (octtr)
Yo 9 times, draw up loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 10 times.
With Main Color or Color A, make magic ring.
Round 1: 15 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Don't pull magic ring too tight.
Round 2: 1 pc in next sc, [ch 3, sk next sc, 1 pc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 pc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 pc in next ch 3 sp] 4 times; ch 3, sk next sc, 1 pc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in top of starting pc to form 12th ch 3 sp of Round. Bring loop and thread toward front of work. Bind off if desired, but not necessary; Round 4 will be worked over and in front of Round 3.
Round 3: With Color A and working behind Round 2 loop and thread, [1 trtr in next Round 1 sc with no pc, ch 5] 5 times; sl st in starting trtr; bind off. No need to weave in ends yet. They will be behind the next Rounds.
Round 4: Picking back up main thread from Round 2, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in next ch 3 sp in front of Round 3 ch, ch 1, sk over Color A trtr and work 1 dc in same ch 3 sp with Round 3 ch behind work, in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 4 times; 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, sk over next Color A trtr, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 5th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in each of next 9 st, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp] 4 times; 1 dc in each of next 9 st, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 5th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in each of next 11 dc, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp] 4 times; 1 dc in each of next 11 dc, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 5th ch 3 tip of Round. Bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 7: With Color A, [1 trtr around any post of Color A trtr of Round 3 (or next trtr post in repeats), ch 5] 5 times; sl st in starting trtr. Bind off. Weaving in ends not necessary at this point as they will be behind following Rounds.
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 8: With Main Color, [1 dc in any ch 3 point (or same ch 3 point on repeats), keeping Round 6 ch in back of work, 1 dc in each of next 7 dc, ch 1, sk over next trtr and dc behind it, 1 dc in each of next 7 dc, 1 dc I next ch 3 tip, ch 3] 5 times, omitting last 2 ch of final repeat, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 5th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 9: Ch 2, (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in each of next 15 st, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp] 5 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 5th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 10: Ch 2, (counts as 1 dc), [1 dc in each of next 17 st, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same ch 3 sp] 5 times omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 11: With Color A, [1 sc in any ch 3 tip (or same ch 3 tip on repeats) 1 octtr around post of next Round 6 trtr, ch 17, 1 octtr around top of same post of Round 6 trtr, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp] 5 times, sl st in starting sc. Bind off. Weave in ends if desired, or keep them behind work and clip off these and all loose Color A ends after stiffening.
Round 11: With Color B, [1 sc in 3rd sc of any point (or next sc in repeats)1 sc in next octtr, sk dc directly behind octtr, keeping Color A chain behind work (or crocheting over Color A chain while holding it to back of work) 1 sc in each of next 17 dc, sk next dc, 1 sc in next octtr, 1 sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc] 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 starflake 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 starflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow starflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel starflake 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 starflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Starflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.
Look at all that snow!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou'd rather shovel snow? Say it isn't so lol Ugg shoveling snow is such a pain in the everywhere.
ReplyDelete