Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake pattern celebrate's Lizard's desire to once again watch a hot air balloon being inflated and then actually hanging on and powering through to accomplish his goal!!!

One year ago, we went to the nighttime "glow" at the Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs, a bit more than an hour from our home in normal traffic. There is no normal traffic on the weekend of a big event like the Lift Off. After too long a journey to reach the venue, we were able to find an unoccupied table along the lake just south of the actual launch site in the hopes of getting awesome nighttime reflection photos. We had brought dinner, and we enjoyed it while waiting for the sun to set. The "glow" was delayed by wind, and Lizard wasn't able to stay in the soon-crowded location more than a few minutes longer. I shot a few photos and one brief movie of the overall scene as we made our way back to the car. On the bright side, we didn't have to deal with traffic on the way home.

I didn't think we'd ever be able to watch balloons live in person again. So this year's event is a HUGE milestone. Lizard was able to tolerate the noise and the crowds just long enough for one balloon to launch. He kept telling me he would wait in the car so I could keep taking pictures. I told him being there with him to watch a balloon go up is all I need! We both hope we can keep doing this for many years!

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: 6.5 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, optional 4- to 5-inch smooth

Aloft 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: [Pc in ring, ch 12, 1 tr in 12th ch from hook] 6 times; sl st in top of starting pc. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: [In next ch 11 loop work (3 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 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 3: Ch 9 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 7), in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc), ch 7, 1 dc in next gap between petals] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 9.

Round 4: Ch 9 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 7), in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 5, 1 tr, ch 7, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 dc), ch 7, 1 fpdc around post of next joint dc] 6 times, omitting last fpdc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 9; 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.

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