Snowflake Monday

I was asked to make another Patriot Snowflake (with appropriate colors) for Christmas for the Estonian mother of a dear friend. I initially was excited to dig out my hand-dyed colors, but in my BIG, GIANT bag of blues, I do not have the right shade!!! Oh, no!!!

And, well, I've never been able to get a true black. I really like two unusual colors I acheived, shown below with black Cebelia for comparison, but they are not black at all.

So, I had to dig into my store-bought stash, which I'd thought a few years ago I should gift to a needy crocheter because I hardly ever use it anymore. Guess it's a good thing I never got around to getting rid of it. I needed two colors I actually own!

However, have you ever noticed that black crochet thread (and sometimes brown, dark red or dark blue) is not as plump a size 10 as lighter colors??? I'd forgotten that's why I attempted to dye my own black thread. I have an ages-old motif project which incorporates black (and white) to join my colorful flower flakes. I'd initially planned to make this into the outer layer of a petticoat-type skirt. My store-bought black (in six different brands!!!) is so darned thin, well, that's why I've yet to finish the project. I was really hoping I could get my hands on a stash-worthy bundle of true size 10 black crochet thread somewhere, somehow, some day. (And yes, I do indeed plan to share the pattern once the project is complete.) (And yes, I do intend to complete the project, even if I have to use what feels like size 20 thread.)

I was able to pick up a whole spool of thicker black thread from overseas many moons ago, but the black hue doesn't match what's in progress. And the texture isn't quite up to the softness standards to which my crocheting fingers have grown accustomed.

I tried another huge cone of "black cotton thread" that may actually be warping for weaving. It's a big too thick, but at least it's soft and black. Made me wonder if perhaps size 5 black thread might work???

So, it's back to good, old, thin Red Heart or Cebelia size 10-ish black crochet thread for now. Or Lizbeth, which comes the closest in size to the white thread I'm using. The requested snowflake was finished in time for Christmas giving. I started out referring to my 2017 pattern but had to retool the flag because I needed three stripes. I decided I wanted a whole new snowflake after the first couple of rounds because... Well, because I often like to play with my patterns to see if I can make them better, more unique, more fun, more eye-catching, more creative, more colorful, more meaningful... Whatever. Then I decided I should make a bunch of different flags of the world because I have so many friends of different nationalities. But as I started the Italian flag (with stripes going the opposite direction, so yet another redo), I decided I want to make a whole new flake... again... Sigh.......... Vicious cycle!!! Enjoyable, but so diabolical!

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: 5.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in three or more colors (I used blue, black and white), 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

NOTE: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

Estonian Flag Motif Instructions

With blue, ch 16. (NOTE: I chose to finish the motif with white so I wouldn't have to bind off and rejoin thread in a new color to begin the snowflake portion of the pattern. Feel free to work your flag motif in whatever colors and in whatever order you desire.) Row 1: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 14 ch; ch 1; turn.

Row 2: 1 sc in each sc across; ch 1; turn.

Rows 3-4: Repeat Row 2. At end of 4th Row, change colors prior to finishing last loop of final sc, or bind off and start Row 5 with black or desired color.

Rows 5-8: With black or desired color, repeat Row 2. At end of Row 8, change colors prior to finishing last loop of final sc, or bind off and start Row 9 with white or desired color.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Rows 9-12: With white or desired color, repeat Row 2. At end of Row 12 (if making snowflake), change colors (if necessary) prior to finishing last loop of final sc, or bind off and begin Snowflake Rounds with white or desired color as instructed below. If already using white and planning to make flake in white, do not bind off. Just keep going with pattern instructions below. If making just the motif; bind off. Weave in ends.

Patriot Snowflake II Instructions

Round 1: With white or desired color, 1 sc in finishing motif corner or in same sc as last motif sc; ch 10, 1 sc in bottom left corner of motif, ch 10, sk next 7 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 10, 1 sc in bottom right corner of motif, ch 1, 1 sc in top right corner of motif, ch 10, sk next 7 sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 5, 1 dtr in starting sc to form 6th ch 10 loop of Round.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in top of dtr directly below, [ch 3, 1 dc in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in 5th ch of next ch 10 loop, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch] 5 times; ch 3, 1 dc in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in 5th ch of next ch 10 loop, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, sk next dc, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
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 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), 1 dc over dc directly below, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, [ch 3, sk next 6 st, 1 sc in gap between 2 sc, ch 3, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 tr, ch 7*, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 7; 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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