Thursday, December 8, 2016

Snowflakes for Free!

Technically, all "real" snowflakes are free, and sometimes we even have to pay someone to get rid of too many of those free snowflakes. However, today's free snowflake is a pattern! We wanted to give a little holiday gift to our readers, and given the season, we thought a snowflake was appropriate.

This lovely piece of silk, herringbone fabric has been sitting on my (Kara's) shelf waiting for the perfect project, and the creamy wool was a perfect complement to the neutral silk. Throw in some silk ribbon, bugle beads, Weeks hand-dyed pearl cotton, and some vintage buttons, and the project was ready to go. The seam binding was the right shade, but in the end, I decided not to use it.


First, I printed two copies of the pattern; one to look at and trace, and one to cut. Then I cut out the star portion of the pattern, sprayed a little temporary spray adhesive (505) on the back, and then traced my star onto the wool using a grey gel pen. This is the first time I had used spray adhesive on a pattern for a wool project, and I loved how it worked. Once it was traced, I cut out the wool star with some very pointy and sharp scissors to get the little star cutouts. The point of the scissors went right through the wool, making it very easy to get a clean cut.


Next, I stitched the star to the background using one strand of embroidery floss. 
Press and Seal plastic wrap is one of my favorite tools for transferring a design onto wool. I placed a piece of Press and Seal over the uncut pattern, and using my white, roller-ball gel pen, I traced the snowflake portion of the design. Since the embroidery is mostly straight lines, you could probably eyeball it easily enough.
Using the pearl cotton, I stem-stitched the six, straight, snowflake arms that were on the wool. The bugle beads were used for the little, straight, lines off those arms. After that, I used the 4mm, cream silk ribbon to make fly stitches and straight stitches that completed the arms. The final touch was two buttons—one mother of pearl and the other a metal one that I scavenged off of a thrift store sweater.
The completed snowflake
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As I was looking for threads and background for this project, I found another piece of silk in light blue that would give a "cooler" tone to my snowflake. I was looking for some sparkle, when I came across this glittery, variegated, thread in tones of blue.
















Because the background was thin, I backed the fabric with a piece of flannel before I began to stitch. This also allowed me to stitch without using a hoop.












There were a few little puckers after the embroidery was done, but those went away with a little bit of steam from the iron on the back of the project.


I didn't have any buttons that would work but I did have quite a few Swarovski crystals left over from my Irish dance, dressmaking days. Voila! A sparkly, snowflake with a totally different look than the one in the neutral palette.

An icier snowflake
Bring on the bling!

 An 8" frame with a 5.5" opening was the perfect size to highlight both snowflakes.




To get the free pattern please click HERE.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our readers! 

60 comments:

  1. "Little Drummer Boy". Too many to name just one!

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  2. Favorite holiday song Thank God for kids, sang by Oak Ridge Boys

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  3. Oh my - there are so many, but 'Silent Night' has to be my favorite Christmas song - it gives me such spirit of Christmas, especially on Christmas Eve! Thanks for the beautiful pattern and the tutorial - wonderful!

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  4. O Come O Come Emmanuel by Enya

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  5. White Christmas is my favorite Christmas song. Love your snowflakes!

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  6. Mary did you know
    Thank you so much for the pattern 😍

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  7. First, thank you for such a charming pattern and the opportunity to win the kit! I have two favorite songs - "Silver Bells" which was always my mother's favorite and also the fabulous duet of "Little Drummer Boy" by Bing Crosby & David Bowie.

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  8. Beautiful snowflake. My favorite Christmas song is "The Cherry Tree Carol" but it ties with "What Child is This".

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  9. My favorite Christmas carol is O Come Let Us Adore Him. I sing the chorus year round.

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  10. Mary Did you Know - I cry everytime I hear it - I don't know why, but I still love to hear it.

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  11. Away in the Manger is my favorite. I used to sing my boys to sleep with it and they were born in April and June.

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  12. Winter Wonderland, there are many.

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  13. Little Drummer Boy. Thanks so much for the awesome giveaway!

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  14. Mary Did You Know is my most favorite song.
    This snowflake is so beautiful!
    Thank you for sharing this pattern and for such detailed instructions!

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  15. My favorite song? The First Noel, especially the version by Nat King Cole.

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  16. How sparkly and beautiful! I'm afraid I couldn't pick just one favorite Christmas song. I love too many! Thanks for sharing.

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  17. these are so beautiful the wool pairs nicely with your sparkly embellishments. love love love this pattern can't wait to try it...

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  18. Away in the manger is a favorite and your work is gorgeous, thank you for the free pattern.

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  19. This is beautiful. Thanks so much for the free pattern. I would have to say my favorite Christmas carol is Silent Night.

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  20. Thanks for the free pattern!! Love it!! My favorite Christmas Carol is Silent Night.

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  21. My favorite Christmas song is Oh Christmas Tree.

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  22. I love your snowflakes, they would make a great decoration for my neighbour as a gift. My song is silent night.

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  23. We Three Kings! The snowflakes ate lovely!

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  24. Favorite has always been "Little Drummer Boy". I would love to work with wool and embroidery - very pretty kit.
    Thanks
    Jan

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  25. Such a cute little snowflake! It would be great made into an ornament in addition to framing. Thanks for offering the giveaway.

    My favorite Christmas songs are Do You Hear What I Hear and Carol of the Bells. And anything off Amy Grant's Christmas album.

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  26. My favorite holiday song is Silent Night.
    THank you for sharing your tutorial and give-away. I think I would try a dbl-sided fusible between the two wool layers or fray check along the cut edge of the wool to keep from unraveling. Happy Holidays! Cathy von Jess in MA.

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  27. My favorite holiday tune to play on my hammered dulcimer is "Jingle Bell Rock!"
    I love your flakes! will give it a try as an ornament!

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    1. ...and *thanks* for the pattern and ideas!

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    2. Thank you,and you're welcome!! Please share a photo of your ornament with us. ❄️

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  28. thank you for the lovely snowflake, this will make a unique gift! My favorite holiday song is Oh Christmas Tree.
    Happy Holidays

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  29. My favorite song is Silent Night. Sums up the season for me. Thanks for the pattern. Very pretty and versatile.

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  30. Such as wet little snowflake. Thank you for making it available. Joy to the World is my favorite Christmas hymn.

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