How to Crochet Snowflake Christmas Ornaments Pattern – DIY Crafts

There is nothing quite like a handmade snowflake on the tree, is there? This delicate six-point lace snowflake works up in just three rounds, and once it is blocked and stiffened it holds those crisp points beautifully all season long.

I love making a little stack of these on a quiet evening. Hang one on the tree, tie one onto a wrapped gift, thread one onto a card, or join several together for a garland, they are pretty every single way.

Grab your finest cotton thread and your smallest hook, and let us make some snow!

Materials

• Fine lace weight cotton crochet thread, or 4-ply fingering weight cotton yarn, in white, green, or a colour of your choice
• 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm steel crochet hook, or the size matching your chosen yarn weight
• Tapestry or yarn needle, for weaving in loose ends
• Scissors
• Blocking board and rust-proof pins, optional
• Fabric stiffener, or a 50/50 mix of PVA craft glue and water, optional, for added shape stability

Abbreviations

• MR: magic ring (magic circle)
• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• ch-sp: chain space
• st(s): stitch(es)

Special Stitches

• Picot: Ch the number of chains stated, then sl st into the first chain made, forming a small loop. In this pattern you will make ch-5 side picots and a tall ch-7 peak picot at the tip of each point.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: approximately 3.5 to 4 inches (9 to 10 cm) in diameter, when made with cotton thread and blocked properly
• Worked in the round, starting from the centre outward
• Ch-3 at the beginning of a round counts as 1 double crochet (dc)
• Each round ends with a slip stitch to the starting ch-3 or stitch

Snowflake Pattern

Round 1, central star base: Create a magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 2 dc into the ring. Ch 3.

Round 1 continued: Repeat (3 dc, ch 3) into the ring 4 more times.

Round 1 continued: Pull the magic ring tail tightly to close the centre. Sl st into the 3rd chain of the starting ch-3.

Round 1 stitch count: 6 groups of 3 dc, and 6 ch-3 spaces.

Round 2, shell and point setup: Sl st across the next 2 stitches to reach the first ch-3 space.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 2 dc into the ch-3 space. Ch 5. Work 3 dc into the same ch-3 space. Ch 1.

Round 2 continued: In each of the remaining 5 ch-3 spaces, work (3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc, ch 1).

Round 2 continued: Sl st into the 3rd chain of the starting ch-3.

Round 2 stitch count: 6 shell clusters, each consisting of 3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc, separated by ch-1 spaces.

Round 3, decorative outer picots and points: Sc directly into the ch-1 space between shells.

Round 3, valley picot: Ch 5, sl st into the first chain made, creating a 5-chain picot loop.

Round 3, work up the first side of the point: In the ch-5 corner space of the shell, work 6 dc.

Round 3 continued: Ch 5, sl st into the first chain, creating a side picot. Work 1 dc into the same ch-5 corner space.

Round 3, peak picot: Ch 7, sl st into the first chain, creating the tall centre point picot. Work 1 dc back into the same ch-5 corner space.

Round 3, work down the second side of the point: Ch 5, sl st into the first chain, creating a side picot. Work 6 dc into the same ch-5 corner space.

Round 3, valley transition: Sc into the next ch-1 space, ch 5, and sl st into the first chain.

Round 3 continued: Repeat the point steps for the remaining 5 shells.

Round 3 continued: Sl st into the first sc of Round 3.

Finishing & Assembly

Fasten off: Cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Pull the loop through to secure.

Weave in the ends: Use a yarn needle to thread the tail to the back of the work, weaving it through the stitches. Pull the starting magic ring tail tightly and secure it.

Blocking and stiffening: Lay the snowflake on a blocking mat or foam board. Pin all 6 points, pulling the ch-7 peak picots to form sharp tips. Apply starch, or a 50/50 glue and water mix, to the snowflake. Allow it to dry completely overnight before unpinning.

Hanging loop: If you like, add a chain-20 loop at the top of one point before fastening off, or thread a metallic ribbon through one of the picot tips.

Tips

Keep your tension even as you work, and keep the picots and chain spaces tight and uniform for a polished finish.

Blocking really is essential for lace snowflakes, they often curl or lose their shape until they are pinned flat and stiffened into those crisp, defined points.

For a little sparkle, hold a strand of metallic thread together with your main yarn, or work the final round in a contrasting silver or gold glitter yarn.

Make several snowflakes and connect them along a long chain to create a festive holiday garland.