Today's pattern was (roughly) designed just before Christmas 2009, the first year I began writing and publishing snowflake patterns (September 21). I would venture to guess this probably is one of my ten oldest original snowflake designs. I wanted to fix a couple of things I didn't like about the prototype, and this lonely flake sat all these years, at the bottom of a box, awaiting being found once again. Can you see what I "fixed" when I revised the flake?
This prototype was rediscovered in a rather odd manner, compared to how most of my "lost" patterns are revived, which is via a stack of snowflakes I keep on my desk to one day remake and then write patterns for. I've been working on my 2023 digital snowflake temperature quilt all year long, and my goal from the beginning has been no snowflake duplicates.
I have written more than 800 unique patterns now, so there are more than enough for a digital quilt to showcase at least 712 of them, two for each day of the year, a high temp and a low temp. I compiled all my snowflake photos in a digital folder alphabetically and have been working my way through them since January 1.
I finally made it to the N-names, and today's snowflake was filed as "No Pattern". That was the name I designated on the photo! I tried looking up the snowflake in my directory, and sure enough, I'd never written a pattern for this one! I donated a box of very old snowflakes to Operation Ornaments earlier this year, so I didn't even have the original flake to which I could refer. Just a very old photograph. Which makes me think of this old song...
Today's snowflake feels as old as that song!!! Donated ornament distribution is happening now, so I'm hoping this old flake went to a good home and inspires joy, hope and faith in better days to come.
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 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.
Wayward Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: [1 pc in ring, ch 3] 5 times; 1 pc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in starting pc to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc)] 5 times; 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, 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), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in each of next 4 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc)] 5 times; 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 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 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [1 dc in each of next 8 dc, in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 9, sl st in 7th ch from hook, ch 2, 2 dc)] 5 times; 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 2, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round, ch 3, 1 tr in top of dc just made to form 6th ch 6 loop of Round.
Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, ch 5, in same sp work (1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc), [1 dc in next ch 2 sp, sk next dc, 1 dc in each of next 10 dc, sk next dc, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, in next ch 6 loop work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 7, * 1 tr, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3; 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.
Definitely like the updated version! Great name too.
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