I concocted eight conventional dye shades last month to see if I could obtain a deep-shaded rainbow of crochet thread. I was pleased with my results, especially since my solar dyeing didn't get much heat in January.
I typically don't try to solar dye in winter. Lizard's medical procedures this winter have kept us home most of the winter, and I needed some bright and cheery imagination stimulation to lighten my mood. Solar dyeing isn't a huge time hog, except for winding hanks to be dyed. Solar dyeing this time of year sometimes doesn't even get warm, but I'm finding the freeze/thaw cycles create some very nice effects on my crochet thread. As well as some fun photo opps...
I decided the rainbow needed a darker blue and a darker purple, although I love the shades I got on the first round. I did a second batch with only dark shades I have used before but wasn't able to obtain the deep hue I thought I'd get. I've been experimenting this winter, trying to see how I can achieve deeper colors without overdyeing. One of the dark blues actually is darker than the first time I tried it, about two years ago!
Because I loved my new dark hues so much, I reused three of the dyes for a variegated hank. I haven't made my own variegated thread since October 2018. Of course, second dip will never produce as dark a shade. But I am so in love with this new thread, which I call Winterberry, I've created two more variegated hanks since then!
I'm even going to try speed through the third batch to see if I can make a truly valentine version of today's pattern, which was inspired by my Winterberry thread, before Friday.
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: 5.5 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
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.
All of My Heart Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 3] 6 times; sl st in top of starting pc. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: [In next ch 3 sp work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc)] 6 times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 3: Ch 15 (counts as 1 tr and ch 12), sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 6, [1 tr in top of next 1st Round pc, ch 12, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 6] 5 times; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 15.
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 4: [Over next ch 6 work (3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc) 1 sc in next ch 5 tip, ch 15, *1 dc* in 4th ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook and in next ch, 1 dc in top of next *1 dc* post, 1 dc in bottom of same *1 dc* post, sk next 2 ch, sl st in next ch (heart picot made), ch 6, 1 sc in same ch 5 tip, over next ch ch 6 work (3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc)] 6 times; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: For the red-hued snowflake above, I added five chains on each side of the spike chain loop to see if I could get more heart definition when pinning. I liked the effect so much, I made the next two samples the same way. For the hibiscus-hued snowflake below, I forgot the 2nd Round but didn't notice until I began pinning, so I couldn't fix it. I also tried two sc on each side of the ch 5 tip on Round 5 instead of just one. I liked that enough to use it again on the final sample at the end of this post. The pink sample at the bottom of this post has heart picots at the end of each sequence, between 3/sc groups, and I like that so much, I'll probably do that when I make a white version of this snowflake.
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.
Great that you could get all colors of the rainbow. The deep space blue really catches the eye indeed.
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