We will look at Lily Morales' way of hiding ends this week. http://www.frontiernet.net/~TammyRodgers/lilys_way.html

We will be working on a snowflake this week that is originally posted at http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2001/fraufaden.html please refer to the photo and diagram found there. I have translated the pattern in to English using SCMR. The way I have done this will give you a lot of practice in hiding ends.

SCMR = Self-Closing Mock Ring
CH = Chain
P = Picot
SLT = Shoe Lace Trick
CTM = Continuous Thread Method
+ = Construction picot where a join will occur
- = Decorative picot

Center CTM:
SCMR 5 + (join will be made here later) 8 + (join will be made here later) 8 + (next SCMR joins here) 5
SCMR 5 + (joins to last P of previous SCMR) 8 +(join will be made here later) 8 (join will be made here later) 5 (4x)
SCMR 5 + (joins to last P of previous SCMR) 8 (join will be made here later) 8 + (joins to first P of first SCMR) 5
Tie cut hide ends

Second round consist of 6 triangular sections hooked to the center and each other.
Each Triangle is worked CTM
SCMR 4 - 4 + 4 - 4 SLT
CH 4 - 4 DO NOT DO SLT
Throw off a SCMR 4+4 (join is to free P of center) DO NOT DO SLT
Ch 4 - 4 SLT
SCMR 4 - 4 + 4 - 4 SLT
CH 4 + (joining triangle attaches here) 4 - 4 - 4 SLT
SCMR 4 + (join to center picot of previous ring) 6 - 6 SLT
CH 4 - 4 SLT
SCMR 6 + 3 - 6 - 3 - 3 SLT
CH 4 - 4 DO NOT DO SLT
Throw off a SCMR 5 - 5 DO NOT DO SLT
Ch 4 - 4 + (join to 3rd P of previous SCMR) 4 - 4 SLT
SCMR 6 + (join to 2nd P of previous SCMR) 6 + (join to 2nd P of first SCMR) 4 SLT
CH 4 - 4 - 4 +(joining triangle attaches here) 4 Attach to base of first SCMR tie cut hide ends.

Continue making five more triangles to complete the snowflake.

For those feeling adventurous you can take a look at how to add beads ON to decorative P, CH, SCMR. http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes/beads.html

A bead can be used in place of each decorative P without having to do anything more than sliding a bead into the spot you would leave the space of thread. Remember to load all beads onto your ball thread before loading your needle or shuttle CTM.