Hopefully, you are going to love one of the reasons I chose to name today's snowflake. 13,919-foot Gladstone Peak sits just east of Wilson Peak, Mount Wilson and El Diente in the Lizard Head Wilderness. There were enough cool peak names around Mount Wilson (last week's snowflake), I decided I will use the rest of them this month, sort of making an unofficial Lizard Head Wilderness Month.
Lizard Head Wilderness was named for a 13,113-foot fragment of a once-volcanic spire resembling, some say, a lizard's head. I never quite see the lizard, but you know I love the name! And you know my favorite number is 15, right? :)
Nearby Gladstone Peak was named in honor of British Prime Minister William Gladstone. I am very sorry to report I don't have a photo of the peak or its namesake. However, I am fond of the Lizard Head Wilderness and hope one day to be able to return there. I think the area probably is covered in photogenic wildflowers right now!
Check out these awesome photos of Gladstone Peak.
Wilson Peak (I think) with Gladstone peaking over its shoulder on the left (I think)
With a name like Gladstone, the snowflake belongs on a rock, too, right? I had a goal last year or the year before, can't remember which, after we had our new porch steps poured, to make one new covered rock for the garden each week. I don't think I finished more than about three or four. Now that summer's here again - and it's getting hot - I should get back into rock coverings to help the garden on the hottest days.
This is the rock my new Gladstone Peak Snowflake Rock will replace. It was damaged a few years ago during a wild hail storm. More hail this year has really taken a toll.
Now that I've made a very large rock covering with today's snowflake pattern, I understand why I didn't get as many rocks finished back when I set my weekly goal. Working on it during my lunch hours, this baby took me four days. Smaller rocks don't take near as long!!!
And you know I'm recycling CDs into snowflake ornaments to donate to Operation Christmas Ornaments Near and Far, right? For those of you who aren't on Facebook, you may read more about the project here.
Look how many states are still missing! I know some of you Sisters out there have connections. Let's get every single state represented this year!
Ornaments do NOT have to be snowflakes OR CDs. Any handmade ornament is sincerely appreciated. Recipients have lost EVERYTHING following floods, fires, storms... Read over some of the thank you notes the organization has received following previous ornament distributions, and get ready for some serious tears! This is such a great way to make a difference in the world, and the whole family can participate. Perhaps this is just the perfect time to teach that friend or loved one who's been asking for years to learn to crochet.
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, optional CD(s), optional smooth river rock a bit bigger than the snowflake (my rock is nearly 7 inches across and about an inch thick), 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
Gladstone Peak 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: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), [1 dc in next dc, ch 2] 11 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 4.
Round 3: 3 sc in each ch 2 sp around; sl st in starting 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 4: Ch 8 (counts as 1 tr and [ch 5), 1 sc in next joint between 3/sc groups, ch 5, 1 tr in next join between 3/sc groups] 5 times; ch 5, 1 sc in next joint between 3/sc groups, ch 4; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 8.
Round 5: Sl st into next ch 5 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), in same sp work (1 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc), [in next ch 5 sp work (2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc), ch 3, in next ch 5 sp work (2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc)] 5 times; in next ch 5 sp work (2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc), ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 6, standalone snowflake: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in gap between next 2 2/sc groups, ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 tr, * ch 3, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 6 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 6, smaller standalone flake: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in gap between next 2 2/sc groups, ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 10, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, * 1 tr, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 6, CD ornament (Make 2!): Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in gap between next 2 2/sc groups, ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, * 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 7, standalone snowflake: Ch 6 (counts as 1 tr and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, in next ch 3 sp work 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 3, * 1 tr, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends. For rock, do not bind off!
Round 7, CD ornament, first snowflake: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, in next ch 3 sp work 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, * 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: I joined the top three ch 3 sp of each point on this CD instead of joining just the tip on each spoke to stretch the flake out a bit more because the flake is just a little loose on the CD.
Round 7, CD ornament, second snowflake: (Insert CD after completing 4th point joining.) Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), 1 tr in corresponding ch 3 sp of first snowflake, ch 1, 1 dc over post of dc in second snowflake directly below, in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 1, 1 tr in corresponding ch 3 sp of first snowflake, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 sc in corresponding ch 3 tip of first snowflake, ch 1, * 1 dc, ch 1, 1 tr in corresponding ch 3 sp of first snowflake, ** ch 1, 1 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. If chaining a hanging loop, ch about 60 here **, sl st over tr joining, then proceed to finish ornament. Weave in ends.
Round 8, covered rock: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), [[1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5]] 3 times, sk next ch 5 sp, [[1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 5]] 3 times, 1 sc in next ch 3 tip] 6 times, omitting last sc and last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr in 1st ch of starting ch 6 to form final ch 5 sp of Round.
Round 9, covered rock: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), 1 sc in next ch 5 sp] 3 times, [ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, [[ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp]] 6 times] 5 times; ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, [ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp] 2 times; ch 2, 1 tr in 1st ch of starting ch 6 to form final ch 5 sp of Round.
Rounds 10-???, covered rock, hexagon mesh: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), 1 dc in next ch 5 sp] 40 times (or all the way around; it doesn't matter if you have a different number of ch/5 spaces); ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7.
Rounds 10-???, covered rock, diamond mesh: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), 1 sc in next ch 5 sp] 40 times (or all the way around; it doesn't matter if you have a different number of ch/5 spaces); ch 2, 1 tr in 1st ch of starting ch 6.
Repeat Round 10 until snowflake stretches around rock about 2/3rds of the way if you stretch it.
Final Round, covered rock: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each ch 5 sp around, inserting rock after about 2/3rds of Round, gently stitching while finishing Round and closing up hole so as not to damage crochet hook; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off, leaving 4- to 5-inch tail. Weave end through final Round of dc and pull tight. Bind off again, weave in end.
Lazy Crocheter Finish, Round 10, covered rock: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and ch 5), then 1 sc and ch 5 in each ch 5 sp around, treating that initial ch 6 sp as just another ch 5 sp, working around and around and around until big enough to cover rock with approximately one inch opening if you pull tight. Then don't ch 5 and work 1 dc in each ch 5 sp around, inserting rock after about 2/3rds of final uncounted Round, gently stitching while finishing Round and closing up hole so as not to damage crochet hook; sl st in top of starting dc; bind off, leaving 4- to 5-inch tail. Weave end through final Round of dc and pull tight. Bind off again, weave in end.
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.
All the iterations of this snowflake look lovely, and it was great to see Lizard's smiling face.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Lizard Head spire was El Diente at first - it looks more like a tooth than a lizard for sure.