Snowflake Monday

I knew I was going to need at least one more Northern Lights Snowflake this year for my digital temperature quilts! And sure enough, September 16 rolled by without sharing any visual evidence on my cameras. At least I have this magnificent work of art to display the gorgeous colors I saw on live cams that night, particularly Banff...

The initial flake for today's pattern was created with my hand-dyed lime green, spring green, mint green, cotton candy pink and deep space (appropriate, right?!?). I had so much fun trying to match the colors in the screenshot above. I then made a white version and changed it up just a tad on the final round. Then I played with surface crochet on the first (colored) snowflake to create today's unique Northern Lights II Snowflake.

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

Northern Lights II Snowflake Instructions

NOTE: The following instructions are for the white snowflake. To make a colored flake, change to desired color on each Round.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 1), 1 sc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in ring] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same ch as sl st, [sk next 3 st, 5 dc in next dc] 5 times; 2 dc in same ch as starting 2 dc; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same ch, [ch 1, 1 dc in next gap between 5/dc shells, ch 1, sk next 2 dc, in next dc work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in starting ch 2 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: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), 1 sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in next ch 1 sp, in next ch 3 tip work V-stitch (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
NOTE: Working a picot instead of ch 3 on spike joints and chaining 7 on tips instead of ch 3, then binding off here makes a cute little flake.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, [sk next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 sp work (1 tr, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, 1 tr), sk next ch 3 sp, in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, ch 3, in same sp work 3 dc, [in next ch 3 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc), in next ch 5 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 10 (or ch 3 for colored snowflake), * 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Northern Lights II Snowflake Surface Crochet Instructions

NOTE: I've embedded an extra large photo above to assist with surface crochet placement. One day I'll try to diagram this pattern, but not today.

Make 1 Northern Lights II Snowflake in desired color(s). Do not stiffen yet.

Round 1: With white thread, [1 dc in front (right side) of any Round 2 5/dc shell (or next Round 2 5/dc shell on repeats), ch 3, 1 dc on other side (left side) of same Round 2 5/dc shell, ch 3, 1 sc in next Round 3 lone dc, ch 3] 6 times, omitting last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in starting dc to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round, sl st in 6th Round 3 lone dc.

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 3), 1 dc before (right of) next Round 5 tip 3/dc first shell, ch 5, 1 dc after (left of) same Round 5 tip 3/dc second shell, ch 3, 1 dc in next surface crochet sc] 6 times, omitting last dc and 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 5 to form 12th ch 3 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.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), [sl st in Round 6 ch 3 joint tip, 1 tr in next surface crochet ch 3 sp, ch 3, in next Round 6 ch 3 sp work V-st (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc),1 dc in next Round 6 ch 3 tip, ch 3, in next surface crochet ch 5 tip work (1 trtr, ch 5, 1 trtr), ch 3, 1 dc in same Round 6 ch 3 tip, in next Round 6 ch 3 sp work V-stitch, ch 3, 1 tr in next surface crochet ch 3 sp] 6 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of surface crochet starting ch 3; 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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