I was trying to get today's snowflake pattern written up for last week, but I was very tardy. Two weeks ago, I thought it may become yet another Northern Lights snowflake. The colors in my initial flake background were from the (extremely generous) stash recently given to me by Sisters of the Snowflake founder Autumn.
This is what I wrote two weeks ago: Now that I've worked up what I think is a wonderful little hexagon mandala that can easily become a snowflake, the colors, to me, seem like a very appropriate representation of aurora borealis, which I am hoping I will get to enjoy again one day in my little neck of plains-meet-foothills abode at mid latitude!
That was two weeks ago. We've had northern lights twice since then. The first night was a total bust for us because we had thick smoke from raging forest fires in other states. The color was hardly visible, even via a cell phone camera, which sees more than the naked eye can see.
Last Thursday night, I finally got to see the northern lights in person!!! One of the best nights of my life! So, yes, today's snowflake is going to be another crochet representation of earth's visual magnetic storms!
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 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in at least two colors (I used sea mist, aqua, ocean green and white), 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
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.
Northern Lights III Snowflake Instructions
With mandala color, make magic ring.
NOTE: I made each mandala round with a different color in my prototype: sea mist, ocean green, sea mist, aqua, sea mist, ocean green.
Round 1: [1 pc in ring, ch 3] 5 times; 1 pc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in starting pc to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 3 tip work (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc)] 5 times; 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
Round 3: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), [1 sc over post of dc directly below, 1 sc in each of next 6 dc, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch.
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Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, [1 dc in each of next 8 sc, 3 dc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2).
Round 5: Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), 1 sc in same ch as sl st, [1 sc in each of next 10 dc, 3 sc in next dc] 6 times, omitting last 2 sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch.
Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, [1 dc in each of next 12 sc, 3 dc in next sc] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2); bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 10: NOTE: This Round is worked as surface crochet. With white or snowflake color, [1 tr around any 3rd Round 5 corner sc (or next 3rd Round 5 sc on repeats), ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 dtr around next 1st of 6 Round 3 sc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), 1 qtr around top of next Round 1 popcorn, sc picot, 1 dtr around next 6th of 6 Round 3 sc, dc picot, 1 dtr around next 1st Round 5 corner sc, dc picot, 1 dc in next middle Round 6 corner dc, dc picot, sc picot, dc picot, 1 dc in same middle Round 6 corner dc, dc picot] 6 times; sl st in starting tr; 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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