I was seriously hoping to get some snowflake inspiration from our 30-inch blanket last week. I'm SO sad we had 30 solid hours of snow, and all I could shoot was five minutes here and there when work slowed down, which also coincided with slightly warmer temps, causing the snowflakes to melt in flight. I even tried freezing my glass to help the flakes maintain shape while I tried to focus.
We don't often get this much snow in one storm anymore, and this was the biggest one we'd had since 2021, when we got 19 inches, also on Pi Day. That reminds me I wanted to make a pi or pie snowflake, but I will try to keep that inspiration on the back burner for now. I have to come up with something meaningful to commemorate Winter Storm Qadir.
I've been through all 123 of my photos (most not clear or clean enough to share or even bother editing). I really need to crochet a capped column because this storm brought the most I'd ever seen. Capped columns are very difficult (for me) to photograph because so much depth of field is lost in macro photography. That means the amount of focus between the foreground and background. But it's so exciting to see them, even when they melt too quickly. They are just so unusual, in my opinion. Until this storm...
It's going to take me a while to figure out how to make a column that can hold its shape, so I'm sticking with two-dimensional snowflakes for now. Rest assured the challenge is not going unanswered!!! I will create a capped column. But today's pattern is inspired by one of three snowflakes I captured. Can you see which one influenced today's 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: 7 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
Winter Storm Qadir Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 12, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 7, 2 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 12, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic circle to tight.
Round 2: [Ch 2, sk next 2 dc and next 2 ch, sl st in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 4 ch, ch 8, sk over ch 4 picot, * 1 sc in each of next 4 ch, sl st in next sc] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; 1 sc in next ch, yo and draw up loop through each of next 3 ch, draw up loop through top of Round 1 final dc and 1st loop on hook (tunisian sc), [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook (tunisian sc)] 2 times.
Round 3: [Ch 3, sk over 2 sc on next spoke and sl st in 3rd sc, 1 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 ch, ch 5, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 4, sl st in sc (tri picot made), 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, sl st in next sc] 6 times.
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 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), [sk next 3 ch, 1 dc in next sc, ch 15, sk over tri picot and next 4 sc, 1 dc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 7.
Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc) [1 dc in each of next 5 ch and in next dc, sk next 3 ch, in next ch work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), sk next 3 ch, in next ch work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), sk next 3 ch, in next ch work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc), sk next 3 ch, 1 dc in next dc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; 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.
Wow, those capped columns are amazing! So many great snowflake photos in this post. And what a stunning pattern.
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