Morning All :o)
Yes, its the Whitey-white Reveal today, and of course you were all absolutely right when you guessed I've been crocheting Snowflakes. White snowflakes no less. Made with All White yarn and not a bit of colour in sight (although was mighty tempted to try these out in coloured yarn I must admit).
So....do you like my little venture into the World of Whiteness??
I really am thrilled with these snowflakes, I think they are just so festive, simple and pretty. And such fun to make, oh-oh-oh yes a lot of fun. And addictive too, so hard to make only a few. Much easier to make a whole snow storm.
Did I tell you how ThRiLlEd I am with making these? And how much fun they are? And how addictive they are? Did I, did I??!!!
So anyhow, I need to tell you a little bit more about how I came to get started with making snowflakes....
Some weeks ago I received a comment on one of my posts from a very nice lady called Victoria. She thought (quite rightly too) that I might rather enjoy a spot of snowflake making, and gave me a link to a free pattern on the "Coats and Clark" website. This website has loads of free projects and patterns for all types of needlecraft, and seems to me to be a really super resource.
It took me a while to get round to trying this pattern out, and I confess I did not find it easy. I don't know about you, but I find there's something about the way crochet patterns are written which always makes them seem over complicated to me. I kind of get a brain-freeze, do you know what I mean?
I sat and tried to work
this snowflake out, and I found that for the most part the pattern was excellent, but the way each round started out was very confusing. So I made a few slight alterations, scribbbling notes as I went, until I was happy with how it was working for me. I didn't change it enormously, just enough to simplify it and defrost my brain-freeze.
So please know honestly that this is not entirely my pattern. The original can be found on the Coats and Crafts website HERE, and I give full credit to the lovely Mary Jane Protus for sharing her pattern with us all.
After making many, many of these snowflakes, I decided that I very much wanted to share my version with you. Cos I do know many of you suffer
from Crochet Pattern Brain Freeze just like me, and that a simple
pattern can often seem imPOSSible to crack.
So I wrote my pattern out in plain non-abbreviated English and photographed the step-by-step making stages so that you will all be able to give it a go.
As with all my patterns and tutorials, you can find this one in my sidebar down at the bottom, listed as a page, or click HERE.
I'm hoping you're going to like it and that you'll be inspired to seek out some white yarn and hook up a snowstorm.....I'm planning on stringing my flakes vertically (with some silver beads I think) and hanging them in my bay window. Pretty-pretty.
Oh, and just before I go, a little note about the above photo.....as I mentioned in yesterday's post, the joy of spray-starch for projects such as this is not to be underestimated. You can see the difference it makes...a little stretching, pinning and starching and these snowflakes are transformed. Victoria also suggested to me that the flakes could be stiffened by pinning them out and painting them with diluted PVA glue, then sprinkling them with glitter.......gosh, now that would probably tip me over the edge into Complete Giddiness, but I may have to give it a go anyway.
How to resist the combined charms of crochet and glitter????
Impossible!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
edited to add :: don't forget you can share your photos over at the Attic24 Inspired Flickr group. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to bob in there and see new photos being added every day...lots of gorgeous Birdies, stars, wrist warmers, summer garden squares, bags, ripples....and I hope soon some snowflakes!
One more thing :: the spray starch I'm using is called "Astonish", it came from a cheap discount shop and only cost £1 for a large bottle. It's a blue spray bottle (ie a bottle with a trigger, not an aerosol), and you can find it to buy on line here. It works brilliantly, making the crochet fairly stiff and crispy without being rock hard or sticky.
This White Hooky Snowflakes is a wonderful workouts..http://www.vivamagonline.com/index.php I like lean to do such designs.. Can you please update the steps? Waitng for new hosting.. Well done
Posted by: Snowflakes | February 23, 2011 at 10:18 AM
I have been looking EVERYWHERE for some understandable snowflake patterns! I should have know to stop by the Attic :) Thanks!!!
Posted by: Kay | December 16, 2010 at 02:41 AM
Thanks for sharing! They look great. I'm sure gonna try this out!
xx Monica
Posted by: Me-Bear | February 19, 2010 at 03:05 AM
I just tried your snowflake pattern, made a big one and a small one, and they are full of win. I'm sure I will be making more.
Thank you.
Posted by: Ann | December 17, 2009 at 02:47 AM
Lucy :) your are so kind and generous as well darn good at making stuff! Thank you so much for your totally inspirational blog and access to all your fab patterns.
Your photos always make my day...your site is soooo colourful and uplifting. Thank you and all the very best for your new arrival in the coming year.
Posted by: sheila andrews( aka woolbrain knitter!) | December 15, 2009 at 03:29 AM
Oh god, I love these! Now I want to make a snowflake garland...
Posted by: Hope | December 10, 2009 at 09:31 PM
Oh so lovely. Thank you for the easy instructions. Can't wait to see them all strung together & hung.
Posted by: Shelley(crochetedsass on crochetville) | December 06, 2009 at 03:59 AM
They look fantastic!
Posted by: Mildawg | December 05, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Hello Lucy i am glad all is well with you and the baby is coming along nicely! Wishing you well with that! Thank you for sharing your wonderful patters they certainly keep me busy and my family happy!
I adore the look of your lemon cake it looks so moist plz plz can you tell me where i can get the recipe you used for this?
Posted by: Rainbow In the grey sky | December 04, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Dear Mrs,
I have found your blog on the net a couple of days before and already made your lovely snowflakes, crocheted bag and fabric postcard all inspired with your blog. I'm from Croatia, mum of three beautiful children (6,4 and 1), love all sorts of crafts. Don't remember the last time I've seen such an inspiring place on the net. Thank you for sharing your work. I would like to show you mine but as I'm not so used to putting pictures on the net perhaps it will take some time. Must ask my husband for help! Hope my English is not very bad as it's not my mother tongue!
Ivana
Posted by: Ivana | December 03, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Hi Lucy,
I'm one of those lurkers whose world is daily cheered by being allowed a small glimpse into your life over there in the attic!
The snowflakes are lovely. I zoomed into them, and it was only by the third flake I began to get this uneasy feeling that something was amiss...sure enough, living in North America, I read "dc" as our dc, not as our sc... my snowflakes turned out quite on the huge side as a result...not sure if I want to keep them as they are, or redo them in the smaller size!
Hugs to you! and thanks for all the lovely, lovely patterns!
Posted by: Martha | December 03, 2009 at 05:23 AM
Lucy Dear, I am somewhat new to your blog but am checking in everyday as I enjoy and appreciate it so much. As I looked back in your archives I found a darling circle scarf you had made. I looked around in your blog for the pattern but couldn't find it. Have you posted it and I missed? Thank You for sharing your crochet goodies with the rest of us. Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | December 03, 2009 at 04:36 AM
Hi Lucy, lovely snowflakes.
When you say: chain 1 (counts as 1dc).That means only when we start the new round ?
Posted by: Marigio | December 02, 2009 at 11:48 PM
You explained the confusion I feel when looking at a crochet pattern so well! Perfectly I think ;-) I get so muddled that I haven't yet even tried to crochet but a chain! I'd like to but knitting is so less stressful to me. I must prevail though and you give me much hope. If you can create such lovely crocheted loveliness with a brain freeze to boot...than I can...I think;-)
Beautiful snowflakes dear!
Lots of love,
Sommer
Posted by: Sommer | December 02, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Beautiful! I must add these to my list of things to make. I'm new to crochet and your blog is so inspiring. I have made some of the stars, and have a big bottle of the spray starch, but cannot for the life of me work out how to do it. When I follow the instructions on the bottle, the iron completely flattens my stars. What am I doing wrong? Do you block them out first? Kate xx
Posted by: Kate | December 02, 2009 at 09:04 PM
Lucy!!! Love your snowflakes. Yesterday I was at the knitting and crochet books section at Borders and saw a delightful book that made me think of you... it's called "Beyond-the-Square Crochet Motifs: 144 circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and other unexpected shapes" by Edie Eckman.
I also was thinking... have you done any felting?? I think that you would have lovely felted results... (hope my english is understandable).
=)
Shanti
Posted by: Shanti | December 02, 2009 at 04:53 PM
I love your tutorials. They're so easy to follow and the pictures help a lot. And thanks for putting what kind of stitches are used and how you do them on there as well. (I still confuse them sometimes!)
I will try to make some snowflakes when I get home from work tonight.
Posted by: Marlies | December 02, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Thank you, thank you Lucy for posting this pattern. I have made three snowflakes so far. I've just starched them and they look fab. I'm going to hang them on my Christmas tree.
Posted by: Sue Scott | December 02, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Ok now you really need to make some Snowmen, Christmas trees and Stockings!!! I am busy doing some right now and would love to see some Attic 24 ones :-) Love your Snowflake! Finally a pattern I can understand! Thank u thank u thank u
Posted by: Shelly | December 02, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Lovely.
Thanks for the links.
Posted by: paula | December 02, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Lucy, as always, chatty, upbeat, fab photos, clear and concise tutorials, and most of all, a generosity of spirit! I love your blog and am learning so much from you. Wait until my daughter sees this snowflake... in fact better go and buy the white wool now! Lots love Martina x
Posted by: Martina Tierney | December 02, 2009 at 11:56 AM
love them love them love them xoxoxoxoxox
Posted by: driftwood | December 02, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Hi Lucy,
words can not express my gratitude to you and your blog. As I have only recently taken up crochet I have had my frustrating moments but with your blog I have made hex's and a snow flake ( run out of white wool! but really thrilled with it ) and have found your tuts so easy to follow. Thank you so much Lucy cant wait to see what else you come up with!
Take care
Jilly
Posted by: Jillyuk | December 02, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Lucy, these are so pretty. I think I'll get out my hook again in the new year. It only had one rather disastrous outing this year... Oh well. Lovely snowflakes are definitely worth a try. Aoife x
Posted by: little pink room | December 02, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Hello Lucy
How nice of Victoria to forward the pattern to you. Crochet is just so versatile! I understand much better when shown how to crochet rather than have to follow it from a pattern. Can't do without patterns so am going to have to improve on paattern reading!
Enjoyed your previous post too. You certainly know how to brighten up a dull rainy day!
Take care
Isabelle x
Posted by: Suzy's Vintage Attic | December 02, 2009 at 09:05 AM