Winter Storm Archer just barely grazed Colorado, but it left 10.5 inches in our backyard, and I was able to spend about half an hour on my porch shooting some of those precious crystals.
Denver got only about a third of an inch from this late first storm, and I was shocked to learn this late October storm didn't even make the top ten latest first snows. I remember the top spot, in 2021, when the first snowfall shattered the 1934 record of November 21 and still remains the latest first snow on record: December 10. I think we broke all kinds of heat records that year, too.
I was in Colorado for five of the top ten latest Denver first snows, which all occur after November 14, a day that occupies three slots on the list. November 15 takes up another four slots. The list dates back to 1894. Higher Colorado elevations, however, generally receive snow much earlier in the year because the mountains actually can (and often do) receive snow all year long.
That's happened a few times since I've been in the Rocky Mountain state. Denver's average first snowfall is October 18, we we were only 9 days off of that this year. The first Colorado snowfall this year happened on September 11 and temporarily closed Trail Ridge Road. The average first snowfall in the state is mid-August, and I've been on or very near mountain tops receiving snowfall that early in the year!
Oh, those were the days. I miss cross-country skiing. I miss climbing 14ers. I miss biking mountain passes. But I guess I don't really miss driving on icy roads...
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: 4.25 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
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.
Winter Storm Archer Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: [3 sc in ring, ch 3] 5 times; 3 sc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in starting sc to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Pc over dc post directly below, [in next ch 3 tip work (pc, ch 7, pc)] 5 times; pc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 1 tr in top of starting pc to form 6th ch 7 tip of Round.
Round 3: Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 5), in next ch 7 tip work (1 sc, ch 10, 1 sc)] 6 times, omitting last sc and last 5 ch of final repeat; 1 trtr in 1st ch of starting ch 6 to form 6th ch 10 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 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of trtr directly below, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 hdc and 3 sc over same trtr post, [in next ch 5 sp work (3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc), in next ch 10 tip work (3 sc, 3 hdc, [ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc] 2 times, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 hdc, 3 sc)] 5 times; in next ch 10 tip work (3 sc, 3 hdc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: 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.
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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