As I was sitting in the waiting room of the cancer surgical center for my turn under the needle, my Pikes Peak Snowflake continued to pop into my mind. And heart. And soul.
I'd already decided earlier in the week if surgery was necessary, my main cycling goal this year would be the summit of Pikes Peak. I didn't know if I'd be allowed to do Ride the Rockies (assuming we are drawn) if it turned out this most recent breast cancer scare wasn't just a scare. The motto of the miners searching for gold, "Pikes Peak or Bust," kept coming to mind, and I couldn't help but apprehensively giggle at the intentional pun.
I decided to crochet away my edgy moments by making another Pikes Peak Snowflake. This year's three suspicious lumps and twisted emotions affected the 1st and 5th Rounds. Thank heavens, my lumps turned out to be cystic fiber, once again. And now I have a snowflake to commemorate both the nerves and the relief of that stormy experience.
The Lizard said this version looks a little melted and refrozen. How appropriate! He really likes this version! I decided I should write the pattern.
For kicks, I threw in some extra lumps (beads) in the pink version. Sparkly lumps!
After pinning and stiffening my waiting room snowflake, I was horrified to find yet another rust spot in one of the lumps. How symbolic! I have yet another marker inside me designating the location of another of my lumps. My newest mammie, showing all the markers of bygone scares, looks a bit like a Christmas tree!
Someone on Ravelry had suggested something to remove single rust spots from cotton (hydrogen peroxide, perhaps???), but I couldn't remember what, so I did a quick internet search. Several websites indicated a gentle dab of lemon juice with a cotton swab, followed by a sprinkling of salt and an incubation period for the salt to draw out the metallic stain. I'd used up all my lemons, but I had one lone lime, so I gave it a try. It worked!
Hmmm, I wonder if I should do a lime/Epsom salt soak before I board another plane or before my next annual... oh, never mind!
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: 7.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 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
Pun Intended Snowflake Instructions
Make magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (popcorn stitch made), * ch 5; 5 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made); repeat from * 4 times; ch 2, 1 tr in top of starting popcorn to form 6th ch 5 sp of Round. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, ch 9, * 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 9; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in starting sc.
Round 3: Ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), *2 dc in next ch 9 sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 3 sc in same sp, 2 hdc in same sp, 2 dc in same sp, 1 tr in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.
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 4 (counts as 1 tr), 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook (counts as 2 tr increases), * 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 hdc in each of next 2 hdc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 1 hdc in each of next 2 hdc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 tr in next tr, 2 dc in bottom loops of tr just worked (see photos below) (counts as 2 tr increases); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr and increases of final repeat; sl st in 4th ch of starting ch 4.
Round 5: 1 sc into next dc (middle tr increase), * [ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook (picot made)] 3 times, ch 1, 1 popcorn st in middle sc of next 3/sc group, ch 20, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 2 sc in next ch, 3 sc in each of next 12 sc (some chains will pull very tight when the adjacent chain is filled with 3 stitches, and it's okay to skip those chains, as long as you skip roughly the same number of chains on each spoke), 2 sc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, sl st in next ch, sl st in top of popcorn, [ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook (picot made)] 3 times, ch 1, 1 sc in next middle tr increase; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: 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 the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I try to help crocheters having difficulty with my patterns when possible, but I do not have (and do not want) 24-hour internet access.
If you need immediate assistance, please consider asking for assistance on Ravelry (either the Snowflake group or the Techniques group), Crochetville or Sisters of the Snowflake. All three are totally free and wonderful resources loaded with friendly, experienced and helpful crafters. Thank you for being patient and considerate.
