Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake originally was designed in about 2010. I didn't like the center, and the points were too much of a pain to try to write. (They are proving a challenge to write today, too!) If you can make it past Round 8 without losing your marbles, perhaps you should be writing snowflake patterns in my place. Huge grin!

Looking at the old snowflake center now as I write this post, I do kind of see a flower in the center. I guess that changes my perspective a tiny bit!

I reworked the snowflake and wrote the pattern one night last week when I couldn't sleep. After finishing, I finally fell asleep, and I slept until ten minutes before I had to begin working! Kind of cool to get up that late and still be "at" work on time. Ha ha!

When I began working, I discovered one of my bosses also had experienced a sleepless night and had sent work to me throughout the night. Not the best conditions for a sleepless night to occur! But I made it through the day, I got this pattern done, and it's almost 2021. Reasons to celebrate!

I'd already named a snowflake Sleepless after Lizard's total knee replacement one year ago. In French the word for sleepless could be Éveillé.

While Lizard and I were walking last weekend, I realized I went through some of the same challenges he is enduring now when I had my emergency back surgery a decade and a half ago. He gets pretty discouraged some days because he thinks he will never be back up at the level of fitness and sharp-wittedness he sported prior to our uninvited guest, Parkinson's, and before his two major surgeries in an eight-month timespan.

It is entirely possible he never will reach that level again, but I'm not letting him give up, and we're still seeing tiny little progress every day. Now, when he gets discouraged, I can remind him how he had to keep motivating me to never give up when I went through slow gait, lack of balance, pain so bad there often was no position that brought relief, sleepless nights, high blood sugar, weight gain, impatience, absence of courage, non-existent hope...

I've already named a flake Hope, too. In French, the word for home is Espérer.

Both of the French words begin with E. The first English word that popped into my head when I realized that means bubbly, vivacious and enthusiastic. That's what our world needs a ton more of right now!

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: 7 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.

Effervescent Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [Pc in ring, ch 10, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, ch 1] 6 times; sl st in top of starting pc. Pull magic circle tight. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and ch 5), [1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 5 times; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6.

Round 3: 6 sc in each ch 5 sp around; sl st in starting sc.
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: Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 3), sk next 2 sc, 1 dc in next sc, ch 3, sk next 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 4.

Round 5: Ch 5 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 4), 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, 1 dc in same dc (V-st made), ch 4, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 5.

Round 6: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), in next V-st work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), ch 5, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6.

Round 7: Ch 7 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 6), in next V-st work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), ch 5, in next V-st work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), ch 5, 1 sc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6.

Round 8: [5 sc in next ch 6 sp, 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, in next ch 5 sp work (1 sc, ch 2, 1 hdc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 tr, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 hdc, *ch 4*); turn; 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 hdc I next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 1; turn; 2 sc in each of next 2 ch 2 sp, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 2, 2 sc in same sp, 2 sc in each of next 2 ch 2 sp, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch of *ch 4*, ch 2), 1 sc in same ch 5 sp, 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, 5 sc in next ch 6 sp] 6 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 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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