A Snowflake For Ruby.doc

Techniques:

rings, chains and picots, 3D flowers (Mary Maynard), enclosure of mirrors or a large sequin, shuttle joins and rings on chains.

Equipment:

two ľ inch / 2 cms mirrors or a large sequin
two shuttles, size 20 thread
fine crochet hook for shuttle joins and picot joins.

Wind two shuttles with 5 mtrs or 5 ˝ yds on each.

Round 1 - the centre `flowers`
With Shuttle 1:
Sm R   3, p, 3, p, 2, p, 2, p, 3, p, 3,   cl
L R   6, p, 6, p, 2, p, 2, p, 6, p, 6,   cl
*Sm R  3, + to last picot on the previous small ring, 3, p, 2, p, 2, p, 3, p, 3,   cl
L R   6, + to last picot on previous large ring, 6, p, 2, p, 2, p, 6, p, 6  cl **
Repeat from* to ** four times REMEMBERING TO JOIN THE SIXTH SMALL RING TO THE FIRST SMALL RING AND THE SIXTH LARGE RING TO THE FIRST LARGE RING AT THE LAST / FIRST PICOTS. This forms a 3D flower. DO NOT CUT THE THREAD.

With shuttle 2 make a second flower the same as the first.

Round 2 To enclose the mirrors / sequin:
Use one of the shuttles as a `ball`, and position the `flowers` back to back and make a join into the 1st picot of the large rings of both flowers, thus joining them together.
CH   3, p, 8, p, 8, p, 3,  shuttle join to the picots between the next large rings of both `flowers`.
CH   3, + to last picot of previous chain, 8, p, 8, p, 3, shuttle join to the picots between the next large rings on both `flowers`.
Repeat this chain, joining the flowers together and remembering to slip in the mirrors back to back when you are half way round.
On the 6 th chain join to the first chain (the beginning of the round) at the first picot of the 1 st chain before you work the last 3 sts
Cut and tie the last chain to the beginning of the round.

Round 3
Fully wind two shuttles CTM
Join to the picot between two chains of round 2 and start with a chain
Shuttle 1
*CH   4, (p, 2,) x4, p, 1, RW
R a)  6, + to picot on the chain of round 2,  6,  cl  RW
CH  1, (p, 2,) x 5, 2,   change shuttles
Shuttle 2
R b)   4, + to last picot on chain just made, 5, p, 5, p, 4,  cl
R c)   4, + to last picot on ring b), 6, p, 2, p, 2, p, 6, p, 4,  cl
R d)   4, + to last picot on ring c) 5, p, 5, p, 4, cl   change shuttles
Shuttle 1
CH   4, + to last picot on ring d) 2, (p, 2) x 3, p, 1,   RW
R e)   6, + to same picot as ring a) 6,  cl   RW
CH   1, (p, 2,) x 5, 2,  shuttle join to joining picot between the next two chains of round 2**
Repeat from * to ** five times. Cut and secure ends start of round 3.

Block and stiffen to shape.