I've been on a real bear kick the last few weeks, but I'm not so sure I was ready to craft today's snowflake. I really had to pay attention to the stitch counting on this one, and I'm shocked the final product looks anything like a snowflake because I kept making so many mistakes!!! (Yes, I frogged. When I caught them.) I also didn't have a pizza box big enough to stiffen the prototype. So, we got Hawaiian pizza for dinner!
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: 11 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in up to 7 colors (I used white, black and five of my hand-dyed thread colors that look like they could be bear hair... including two hues from my avocado-dyed thread stash!!!), size 7 crochet hook, 6 removable stitch markers, optional 12 seed beads for eyes and 6 seed beads for nose (eyes and nose may be embroidered, may be made from small buttons, may be made with googly eyes and tiny pompoms, may be made from tiny pieces of felt, may be drawn with Sharpie after stiffening or may be skipped altogether);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.
Bear Motif Instructions (make six)
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 as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, 2 dc in each dc around for a total of 24 dc.
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: Sk next dc, 7 dc in next dc (first ear formed), sk next dc, sl st in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, sl st in next dc, sk next dc, 7 dc in next dc (2nd ear formed), sk next dc, sl st in next dc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Place stitch marker in middle st in bottom of each bear motif.
Lair of the Bear Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: [1 Pc in ring, ch 6] 6 times, omitting last ch 3 of final repeat, 1 tr in starting pc to form 6th ch 6 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), over post of tr directly below work (1 dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc, [in next ch 4 tip work (3 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc)] 5 times; in next ch 6 tip work (3 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
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 13 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 12), 1 sc in middle dc of next 3/dc group] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 13.
Round 4: [In next ch 12 sp work (3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, 3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc] 6 times; 1 sc in starting sc.
Round 5: [Ch 2, sk next 2 sc, 1 hdc in next hdc, ch 2, sk next 2 hdc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 tr in next tr, ch 2, sk next 2 tr, in next ch 3 tip work (1 tr, ch 3, 1 dtr, ch 3, 1 trtr, ch 5, 1 trtr, ch 3, 1 dtr, ch 3, 1 tr), ch 2, sk next 2 tr, 1 tr in next tr, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 hdc, 1 hdc in next hdc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, draw up loop through each of next 2 sc, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (sc dec made)] 6 times, omitting last sc dec of final repeat; sl st in starting sc.
NOTE: Binding off here makes a really wonderful flake, but I may not get a chance to make and stiffen one in time for this blog post to be published.
Round 6: [2 sc in each of next 3 ch 2 sp, 2 hdc in next ch 2 sp, 3 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, in next ch 5 tip work (5 dc, ch 1, 4/dc cluster in bottom middle of bear motif, ch 1, 5 dc), 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, 3 hdc in next ch 3 sp, 2 hdc in next ch 2 sp, 2 sc in each of next 3 ch 2 sp] 6 times; sl st in starting sc. Bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: Working a ch 3 tip instead of joining the bear motif on each point also makes a great flake, but I probably won't get a chance to make and stiffen one in time for this blog post to be published.
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. If desired, glue eyes and nose in place on each bear motif (or embroider, stitch or draw nose and eyes). I used permanent glue to attach my googly eyes and bead nose prior to stiffening, and the googly eyes now have water-soluable streaks. The streaks will come off with water, but I didn't remove them prior to photographs, unfortunatly.
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.
How cute are these? As usual a lovely snowflake.
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