Snowflake Monday

I've been working from home now for 14 weeks, and it looks like I'll be able to continue working from home for a few more months. I am very grateful.

About a month ago, the company I work for sent me a tiny laptop to enable me to do tasks I could not do with my own computer. I set up the new tablet-sized wonder in the tiny spare bedroom we call "the office." It's barely big enough for two computer desks, and it has one small window that opens to a view of rocks and siding of the house next door. I truly cannot imagine anyone ever calling that bedroom home! It's just too darned small, and there is no view!

Well, actually, from my old sit-down computer desk (my current computer is on a standing desk and I stand most of the day while I work), there is a view of the little bookcase that holds many pattern magazines, some crochet thread, many unburned CDs, all my old calendars, and a pile of snowflakes for which I've not written patterns.

Today's gem was one of my first attempts, perhaps as long ago as about 2010, at making a flower flake. I wasn't terribly impressed with it, and I later came up with other patterns I like far more. So into the stack of unstiffened "ick" snowflakes it went. And there it has sat for all these years.

While I was doing some necessary tasks on the work laptop last week, I noticed this little flower flake peeking out at me, and I decided it isn't so bad. I wrote the pattern, made up a couple more, then played with the pattern and decided I really like it with a few modifications. So I've included those here. This is another flake that doesn't necessarily need to be stiffened. I pinned and shaped all of my samples after photographing them soft, and I like them better stiffened. But you certainly are free to stiffen or not, according to your own preferences.

I didn't try making a motif project with my flakes because I don't have time for a new project right now. But this pattern would work nicely as a join-as-you-go hexie project. I'd love to see what you come up with if you join your Decade Flakes!

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: 3.25 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in 3 or more colors (if desired), 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:

4-Treble Cluster (Petal) Stitch (4tr cluster st)

The Third Round of this pattern includes a 4-tr cluster st similar to the 5tr cluster st demonstrated in the video above, but you will be working each tr in the next st, as opposed to all 4 in one st. Work 4 tr in across next 4 st, holding final 2 loops of each st until after working first two segments of 4th tr; you and draw through all 5 hooks on loop. Step by step, with one loop on hook, [yo 2 times, draw up loop through next st, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook 2 times] 4 times; yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook.


Decade Snowflake Instructions

With Color A, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, 2 dc in each of next 11 dc for a Round total of 24 dc. Bind off.

NOTE: For an attractive modification, work every other dc in Round 2 as a fpdc.


Round 3: With Color B, [4tr cluster st across next 4 dc, ch 8] 6 times; st st in top of starting 4tr cluster st.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

NOTE: For a really attractive petal, work 2 tr in each of the 4 dc instead of one, making an 8tr cluster st instead of a 4tr cluster st.


Round 4: With Color C, [in any ch 8 sp (next ch 8 sp in repeats) work (2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc] 6 times; 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 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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