Snowflake Monday

I'd never heard of Juneteenth until I began working in downtown Denver. Close to Juneteenth, too! I marked my 29th anniversary with my employer last week. Juneteenth has a more powerful presence now than it did back in the '90s. I'm very thankful the world is beginning to take notice of this special day.

I played around in AI, or artificial intelligence, with no expectations, just the prompt "Juneteenth celebration in Downtown Denver" with different styles and actually had fun this time. Typically, I get very frustrated with AI because I can't get it to do what I see in my head. I'll often upload one of my own photos to try to help the engine visualize what I'm trying to create, and that typically makes the renditions worse. I finally realized most artistic AI engines are trained NOT to copy images because they have no way of knowing what is copyrighted and what isn't. AI is simply supposed to draw -- not duplicate -- from existing inspiration, exactly as all artists supposedly do. Even the Downtown it created for me bears little resemblance to the actual Denver location, but I still think some of the renderings turned out awesome. They inspire me, and, ultimately, I think that's part of what AI should do.

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: 6.5 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

Juneteenth Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 8, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 2, 2 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 2, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 4 sp of Round, ch 2, 1 tr in top of dc just made to form 6th ch 5 loop of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 1 sc over tr directly below, [ch 5, in next ch 5 loop work (1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc)] 5 times, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 loop, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 hdc over dc directly below, 1 sc in same sp, [1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, in next ch 3 tip work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, * ch 3, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 point 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.
NOTE: Binding off here makes a cute little snowflake.

Round 4: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, * ch 7, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 3, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 6th ch 7 tip of Round.
NOTE: Binding of here would make a nice little flake, and I finally had a chance to make one!!!

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, [in next ch sp work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 3, 3 dc), 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, in next ch 5 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc), in next ch 7 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 10, * 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; 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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