I've been so anxious for the week when I get to begin incorporating new colors into my 2023 crochet temperature project. I cannot wait to see how more pinks look in this project, and each day as I make a new motif, my imagination runs wild with what our summer months might look like.
One of the things I'm learning, though, from my 2023 crochet temperature project is that if I do this again next year, I'd like to incorporate some way of adding in weather conditions for each day. Sunny, overcast, windy (super windy, not just breezy), rain and snow. Maybe even smoke. Oh, and how can I forget hail???
I've seen some projects by others who do this with an assigned neutral to each of the weather conditions. I've seen some that use different stitches for different conditions. I'm leaning toward a different center for each weather element. Such as popcorn stitches for snow, lacy for rain, solid for sun, front post crochet for wind... Beads for hail. Ha ha ha! I haven't come up with the right combination yet, but my brain is pondering options each time we get something besides sunny, clear blue skies.
My goals during my belated Mother's Day visit with Lizard's mom last month included designing one new snowflake. I actually hoped I'd be able to do more than one. However, I completed only one new snowflake pattern during our stay, and it was done during the Nuggets' national championship win. So I guess you could say today's snowflake is inspired by my temperature project and by basketball. This is my second snowflake ever inspired by hoops! Here's the first... Wilson Peak Snowflake. It does bear a bit of stitch similarity to today's pattern, and look at that!!! I even incorporated a CD!!!
Some heavy duty memories now with today's pattern and blog post. I'd never watched a pro basketball game with Lizard or his family. I'd taken my kids to two Nuggets games back in the 1990s. The kids and I worked the concession stand at almost every home basketball game (and every home hockey game) back when they were in high school bands to help raise money for their band trips. I've still to this day never watched a pro hockey game in person, although my uncle invited the kids and me to use his "on the glass" tickets to the Salt Lake Paralympics gold hockey match, and Lizard and I spent at least a portion of many Avalanche playoff games at a fabulous pizza joint in Moab way back before life changed so dramatically.
But, back to basketball, my dad played when he was in high school until he was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. He never lost his love for basketball. His heart disease isn't what took him last year; cancer did. I made the Wilson Peak Snowflake and Mount Wilson Basketball Hoop for him for Father's Day 12 years ago. Tears streamed down my cheeks last year when I noticed he kept that basketball hoop and the mini basketball I sent him next to his desk until the very end. My mom said he often quelled his frustrations by shooting wadded up paper balls into the trash can via that hoop until he slipped into a coma. Such a simple gift, but it made a difference!
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: 4.5 inches from point to point for CD covering, 6.5 inches from point to point for standalone snowflake
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, CD(s), 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
Mount Wilson Snowflake Ornament Instructions (Make 2.)
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 10, 1 dc in 7th ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1, 2 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round; 1 fsc (foundation sc), 1 fhdc (foundation hdc), 1 fdc (foundation dc), ch 3, 1 tr in bottom of fdc to form 6th ch 6 loop of Round. (NOTE: If foundation crochet is too difficult, complete 6th spoke same as previous 5 spokes, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Begin 2nd Round by working dc into top of any ch 6 loop instead of beginning with ch 2.) Don't pull magic circle too tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of tr directly below, [in next ch 6 loop work (5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 5 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.
Round 3: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), 1 dc in next gap between 5/dc groups, ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 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 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), 1 dc in each of next 5 ch, ch 3, sk next dc, 1 dc in each of next 5 ch, ch 3, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 5, First Snowflake: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), [1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, ch 3, 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; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 5, Second Snowflake: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), [1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, ch 3, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 1, 1 sc in corresponding point of First Snowflake, ch 1, 1 dc)] 6 times, inserting CD(s) after 4th repeat, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5. KEEP READING BEFORE BINDING OFF!!! If you are planning to hang your CD ornament outside, a strand of thread for hanging likely will not be strong enough to brave the elements (and may not be strong enough to hold the weight of 2 CDs). You may incorporate a ch 30 or so at the end before binding off (I worked a ch 60 for today's ornament) to create a hanging loop (make the hanging loop big enough to fit over whatever you are going to hang the ornament from), or, you can glue or sew on a ribbon loop for hanging. A store-bought wire ornament hanger could be used, too. In the past, I have used a six-inch piece of black acrylic worsted yarn. That should be pretty darned weatherproof! If you choose to chain a hanging loop, do so, then bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 5, Standalone Snowflake: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), [1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5] 2 times, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook (sc picot tip made), ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 5; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: For CD covering, carefully dab a tiny bit of glue over the center and finishing knot of each snowflake and gently massage in, quickly cleaning up with a cotton swab, or as I did, a drop of spit on my finger, any glue you accidentally get on a CD. After making a few of these, I decided it's easier to weatherproof the flake centers (and the finishing knot of the first snowflake) prior to joining and inserting CDs, just waiting a few minutes for glue to dry a bit before finishing up the ornament. Permanently attach desired hanging device if you didn't chain a hanging loop. Hang and step back to bask in the reflections the CD scatters!
For standalone snowflake, 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.
Such a lovely, classic flake. Beautiful story about your dad. Hugs to you.
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