Wordless Wednesday

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Somewhere Over the Rainbow

It had been so long since we'd had rain. It had been so long since we'd seen a rainbow.

Boy, did it ever lighten my heart!

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Snowflake Monday

I am so hopeful my schedule will be somewhat user-friendly in the coming month. I miss my crochet time!

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: 5.25 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, 5- to 6-inch round river rock

Hopeful Snowflake Instructions

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.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 3, 2 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 1 pc over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 3 sp work (1 pc, ch 5, 1 pc)] 5 times; 1 pc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in top of starting pc to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 8 (counts as 1 tr and [ch 5, sl st in gap between next 2 pc, ch 4, in next ch 5 sp work (1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr), ch 5] 5 times; in next ch 5 sp work (1 tr, ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 8 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, Snowflake: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, [5 sc in each of next 2 ch 5 sp, in next ch 3 sp work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 3 dc, ch 13, sl st in 13th ch from hook, * 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc) 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

NOTE: Round 4 for the Rock Covering also makes a cute flake.

Round 4, Rock Covering: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, 1 hdc in same sp, 1 sc in same sp, [5 sc in each of next 2 ch 5 sp, in next ch 3 sp work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 3 dc, * ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc) 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch as sl st to form 6th picot of Round.

Round 5: [Ch 5, sk next 5 st, 1 dc in 1st sc of next 5/sc group, ch 3, 1 tr in gap between next 2 5/sc groups, ch 5, sk next 4 sc, 1 dc in next sc, * ch 5, sl st in next picot] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in next picot to form 20th ch 5 sp 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.

Rounds 6-?: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), [1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5] 28 times; 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 20th ch 5 sp of Round. Continue with Round 6 until snowflake fits snugly around rock, leaving about a 1- to 2-inch opening on the back or bottom side.

Final Round, Rock Covering: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. Place in garden!

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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