Well, I knew I'd been busy, distracted and overwhelmed the past couple of months, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I finally got to check my visit total again for the first time since probably October. I think I was at roughly 8,700,000 then. I didn't expect to roll the zeroes again until about February or March.
Does that mean my blog has been interesting, even though I don't feel like I contributed much? That possibility is an absolute thrill!
So, what's the best way to celebrate reaching 9 million visitors??? Why, a new flake, of course!!! And, let's use, as inspiration, a snowflake from the storm that likely was raging when I hit my milestone!
Oh, look!!! A 7-pointer for my mom!!!
I shot 135 images after I got off work the night of Winter Storm Finn. I didn't finish going through my shots for a week. I still have some editing to do, but I had to clear the deck (or patio, I guess) in time to shoot the next storm, which is leaving us with not much snow but some significant Brrr!!!
For kicks, I looked up Finn Snowflake (an interesting search, if you'd like to give it a go) because a Finn character exists in a movie franchise of which I used to be quite a fan. (I haven't seen any of the new movies, only the originals.) I didn't know if I want to name a flake after a Star Wars character (and yet, snowplow names such as Snowda, Luke Snowalker and Han Snowlo... how can I resist???). I probably won't use Finn because it looks like there are just too many non-crochet snowflake connections. However, my Finn Snowflake search led me to a blog post about a 1934 snowflake quilt. (Don't ask me why this came up in my search; it has absolutely nothing to do with Finn, as far as I can see.) I'm so glad I stumbled upon this!!! What a treat! This gem makes me want to quilt snowflakes more than ever! For now, though, digital snowflake quilting will have to do. In the meantime, a different snowplow name won this week's snowflake because it's SO, SO wonderfully cold outside my bedroom window as I type today's pattern!
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: 7.5 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
Brrr Ito Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
Round 2: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), [sk next sc, 1 dc in next sc] 6 times; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 7.
Round 3: [In next ch 5 sp work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, ch 10, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc)] 6 times; 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 4 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 2), in next ch 10 loop work (2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, [ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc] 2 times, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc), ch 2, 1 dc in joint between next 2 sc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 4.
Round 5: Ch 19 (counts as 1 trtr in joint dc and [ch 14), 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 5 ch, ch 7, 1 trtr in next joint dc] 6 times, omitting last trtr; sl st in 5th ch of starting ch 19.
Round 6: [1 sc in each of the next 7 ch, working up spoke, 3 sc in next sc, sl st in next sc, 3 hdc in next sc, sl st in next sc, 3 dc in next sc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, in tip of spoke work [(3 dc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook)] 2 times, working back down spoke, 3 dc in next sc (right across from 3 dc on opposite side of spoke), sl st in next sc, 3 hdc in next sc, sl st in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 7 ch] 6 times; sl st in starting sc; 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.
Fun name for a fun flake!
ReplyDeleteI loved that 30s snowflake quilt story.