I finally got a chance to unpack my new computer on Friday, but then I remembered I still needed to write today's pattern. And then I remembered I promised to make a purple and white Squeaky Clean Key Chain for one of my co-workers, who moonlights as a gatekeeper during home Rockies games. In time for Opening Day. Which was… last Friday. Yikes. I guess that computer will gather a bit more dust for a while longer…
A few Mondays ago, I'd hoped to be on the road on the way to Lizard's neurologist by 6 a.m., thanks to the forecast of up to 12 inches of glorious white stuff I'd rather be shooting than navigating via automobile. Lizard, who often can't sleep through the night but who now tries to quietly occupy himself and not wake me so I can be alert and coherent during my work day, forgot about the appointment and turned off the alarm so it wouldn't wake me. I woke at precisely 6 a.m., shocked to see the time and the snow that had just begun falling. But not yet sticking. Thankfully!
Not so thankfully, the storm was a disappointment. The snow was pretty much done by the time we got home from the neurologist. We were on the road by 6:30 a.m. (Wowza!!!); we made it to the appointment half an hour early without any trouble at all, and we arrived back home two minutes late for me to begin working from home. (My bosses were great – and happy we'd made it safely and so quickly.)
Later that night, I sat down to begin working on the next already-published pattern with a reported mistake from my fix list but decided to work up a white version of Blizzaster instead. I've been very slowly going through my snowflake directory in an attempt to finish an update suggested many, many years ago... to make a white version of each flake and photograph each against a plain dark background to make it easier for crocheters to see each flake's stitches and construction.
Lo and behold, I found an error in Blizzaster. Initially, I wondered if I'd accidentally put it in the wrong list, that it needed to be fixed and not just remade in white. I glanced through the comments to see if anyone had posted about problems with the pattern (no one had; I guess Blizzaster either isn't a loved/popular pattern or the mistake was easy enough to correct without asking for help) and found instead Ms. Micawber's suggestion for a new snowflake name and word to coin. Thank you, Sue! Sorry it took so long to use your new word!!! It fit SO perfectly for that last storm of ours!
This is a textured all-white version of my Spectrum Snowflake. Given the current world events, I also thought about working an all-white version with just plain sc like the Spectrum Snowflake, then embellishing the stiffened center with a yellow and blue bird button or patch, whatever I can find, or embroidering or painting the stiffened center with a yellow and blue bird. I haven't had time to follow through on that idea yet, but I certainly invite you to give it a go and share results to show our collective support for and our solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
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 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
Blizzappointment 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. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: [2 sc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc] 6 times for a total of 18 sc. No need to join at the end of each Round (until directed to do so) unless that makes it easier for you to keep track of where you are with increases.
Round 3: [1 sc in each of the next 3 sc, 1 fpdc around post of 10th Round 1 dc (moving ahead 2 dc on each repeat, i.e., 12th Round 1 dc, 2nd Round 1 dc, 4th Round 1 dc, etc.)] 6 times for a total of 24 st.
Rounds 4-6: 1 sc in each st around, evenly spacing 6 sc inc as you go for a total of 30, 36 and 42 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 7: [1 sc in each of the next 7 sc, 1 fptr around 6th Round 3 fpdc (advancing to next fpdc each repeat)] 6 times for a total of 48 st; sl st in starting sc. Round 8: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same sc as sl st, [sk next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, sk next 2 sc, in next sc work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch and last 3 dc of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 9: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [3 dc in each of next 2 sc, in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch and last 3 dc of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 10: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), sk next 5 dc, 1 tr in next dc, ch 3, 1 tr in next dc, ch 3, sk next 5 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat); sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5.
Round 11: [3 sc in next ch 3 sp, 5 sc in next ch 3 sp, 3 sc in next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 tip work (3 sc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 3 sc)] 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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