I really hadn't planned to do a snowflake this week because it's still crazy here, but Margie recently inspired my Halloween gifts for my grands this year.
Initially I had planned to make a trip on pay day to the local craft and fabric shops plus the department store in search of Halloween buttons. Yet I also have Halloween-like fear instilled in me… I do not want to put Lizard at risk. I do not take him with me anywhere other than his in-person medical appointments, yet I could still bring a nasty germ home to him at any time, and I don't want to do that. As a result, I have minimized ALL outside adventures. We walk in our neighborhood, I pick up his prescriptions (yes, I could have them delivered, but I like picking my own fresh vegetables and fruit while I'm there), and I've done contactless hauls of sand, rocks, brick and flagstone for my backyard terracing project.
So, for Halloween buttons, I did the next best thing. I shopped online. Amazon's Halloween button selection (and prices) stunk, and eBay wasn't much better. But oh, my, did Etsy ever provide a literal pirate's treasure trove!
At first, I was just trying to find enough buttons so I could send one Halloween snowflake to each grandkid. But there were SO many fun ones! I went a little overboard. I think I bought 10 extra buttons. I'm sure I will find a creative use for the extras.
As I prepared to check out, I noticed four of the nine packages I'd selected were from one shop, and it just happened to be located in Silver City, New Mexico. I can't go Halloween shopping outside my home, but I can certainly go shopping in Silver City via the internet and help out a fellow New Mexican! I searched the shop, and sure enough, all the buttons I selected were available in that one shop. I deleted the ones from other shops and bought all nine packages from one supplier, which really saved on shipping and handling, which also really saved on gas and stress!
I could not have obtained this wide a variety if I had shopped in person in all the craft stores within a 50-mile range of my home. Kind of makes me want to reopen my own Etsy shop…
My new Halloween stash from Button Jones arrived on Wednesday, and I picked up that crochet hook each night after I got off work and finished making dinner and doing other household chores. Leave it to Halloween to give me back my winter groove!
Today's pattern is another super simple one, and it doesn't necessarily need to be stiffened, but if you're making gifts for grands, you definitely want them to glow in the dark!
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: 1.75 inches from point to point Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, optional bead, button, jewel or other embellishment, 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
Mojo Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and pull tight. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
Round 2: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [2 sc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc] 5 times; 2 sc in next dc; sl st in starting ch. 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: Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 3), 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sk next 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch; bind off. I used my tail ends to tie the buttons into place AFTER stiffening, then clipped the ends and covered them with another tiny drop of glow glue.
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.
These are so fun and funky! Great finds on Etsy.
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