Whenever I took my kids to the beach, they loved searching for sea shells and sand dollars. I think it quite possibly may have been one of their most favorite things to do in their youth. Well, that, and splashing in the waves...
We once rented a little cottage on the beach outside of Vancouver, and my kids lined the wooden porch railing with sea shells and sand dollars they wanted to dry and bring home. I can't remember if any of the collection actually made it home. I remember the smell, and I remember cleaning the sand off the porch before we checked out.
Little did I know way back then all the meaning behind a sand dollar! I thought one might look beautiful on a necklace. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the story potentially lurking within each sand dollar!
Some believe sand dollars are coins dropped by mermaids or residents of the City of Atlantis. Dreaming about sand dollars means you have hidden gifts and/or abilities. Some believe dreaming about sand dollars represents the ability to walk away from toxic environments/people.
Sand dollars cannot survive more than a few minutes out of water and are not white while they are alive. The sun bleaches beached sand dollars white over time. (My kids never found or collected colored sand dollars, only white ones.)
According to Catholic tradition, the top of the sand dollar features the Star of Bethlehem, representing the birth of Christ. The star is outlined by an Easter lily, representing the resurrection. The four holes along the edge of the sand dollar represent the nails in Christ's hand and feet, and the hole in the center represents the sword that pierced His side. The back side of the sand dollar displays the outline of the traditional Christmas flower, a poinsettia. If you break open a sand dollar (who would do such a thing?!?), it reveals five dove-shaped pieces. I can't attest to that last one; I've never broken a sand dollar. But it is thought when you break open a sand dollar, the five doves, representing peace and love, release goodwill into the world. (Oh, I guess that's why you would break one...)
We recently got to visit with my husband's nephew and his wife, and his wife was overwhelmed by the crochet-covered rocks in my garden. She asked if I could make one for her to take home to her mother. I got to make TWO covered rocks for this week!
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: 4.5 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, 4- to 5-inch smooth, round, flattish river rock
Sea Biscuit Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next sc, [ch 10, 1 dc in each of next 2 sc] 5 times; ch 4, 1 trtr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 10 petal of Round.
Round 3: Ch 11 (counts as 1 sc and ch 10), [1 sc in next petal, ch 10] 5 times; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 11.
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 in each of next 4 ch, 3 dc in next ch, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 4 ch, 1 dc in next sc] 6 times; omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.
Sea Biscuit Snowflake Rock Covering Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: 12 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in next sc, [ch 10, 1 dc in each of next 2 sc] 5 times; ch 4, 1 trtr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 10 petal of Round.
Round 3: Ch 11 (counts as 1 sc and ch 10), [1 sc in next petal, ch 10] 5 times; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 11.
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 in each of next 4 ch, 3 dc in next ch, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 dc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 4 ch, 1 dc in next sc] 6 times; omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
Round 5:Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), [1 dc in next ch 5 sp, [[ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp], 2 times, ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp] 5 times, omitting last 3 ch and last dc of final repeat; 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 24th ch 5 sp of Round.
Round 6: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), 1 dc in next ch 5 loop] 22 times, omitting last dc and last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 24th ch 5 sp of Round.
Rounds 7-?: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and ch 5), [1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 5] 22 times; 1 dc in next ch 5 sp, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 24th ch 5 sp of Round. Continue with Round 7 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.
I had never heard all those sand-dollar theories - fascinating! How fun that you got to make two rocks for your visitor. What a treasure for her.
ReplyDeleteI had no clue sand dollars were so interesting, either. I wonder if my kids know now... And my niece loved her rock!
Delete