Project

Crocheted Snowflakes

One of nature's best decorating ideas is the snowflake: It adds sparkle to upturned eyelashes, embellishment to bare tree branches. With crocheted versions of this seasonal icon, you can bring its frosty filigree indoors.

Photography: Annie Schlechter

Source: Martha Stewart Living, Volume 109 December 2002

Introduction

Crocheting a scarf or vest might take a month, but you can complete a simple flake in about an hour. Adorn your Christmas tree with these lacy beauties as the Victorians did, or use them in one of our projects, such as the snowflake garland or the frosty stockings. Add one to a gift bow, take a half dozen to a tree-trimming party, tie one to your sweater's zipper pull, or suspend a bunch from the ceiling to imitate a blizzard.

This pattern uses the single-crochet stitch in four rounds and calls for counting stitches. Starch and block your snowflakes before hanging so that they hold their shape. Then give the house a cheery dusting with your delicate creations. And if you're a beginner, review crocheting basics before you start.

Thin yarn and small hooks create airy, delicate snowflakes. U.S. sizes 5 to 8 hooks are good for novices. Experienced needleworkers may use threads to size 20 or 30 and hooks to U.S. size 13 or 14. Try making a few fuzzy flakes with mohair or angora; it's more difficult, but the result is dazzling. As you crochet, the emerging design may look floppy or askew, but starching and blocking will turn the piece into a symmetrical marvel.

Counting StitchesAs you follow the directions, the loop on the hook does not count as a stitch. The stitch just below it should be the first in your reckoning.

Keysc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain
rnd = round

Slip Stitch (sl st)
The sl st is used to join a stitch that was just worked with another one. Insert the hook into a stitch that you want to join with another; catch the yarn, and draw it through all the loops on the hook.

materials

Size 10 crochet cotton

Crochet hook

Snowflake template

Download the PDF

Scissors

Glue

Cardboard

Clear packing tape

Fabric stiffener

Bowl

Tweezers

Paper towels

Pins

Blocking board

steps

Enlarge the snowflake template to 150 percent. Cut it out, then glue to a 6-inch square of cardboard. Cover cardboard with clear packing tape; set aside. Pour fabric stiffener (available at crafts stores) into a bowl. Soak snowflake in stiffener, 1 minute. Remove with tweezers; pat dry with paper towels. Pin tautly to blocking board, using lines as a guide. Let dry overnight; wiggle pins to remove.
Pattern 1:
ch 12; join with sl st to form the foundation ring.
Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as first sc), 17 sc into ring, join with sl st.
Rnd 2: ch 1, *sc in next sc, ch 16, skip next 2 sc.* Repeat from * to * 5 times more; join with sl st. Rnd 3: *sc in each of next 8 ch’s (through one loop only), ch 18, sl st in 12th ch from hook, ch 12, sl st in 13th ch from hook (same loop as before), ch 12, sl st in 13th ch from hook (same loop as before), ch 6, sc in each of next 8 ch’s (through one loop only), skip first sc of previous row.* Repeat from * to * 5 times more; join with sl st. Finish off; weave in ends.
Pattern 2:
ch 8; join with sl st to form the foundation ring.
Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as first sc), 17 sc into ring, join with sl st.
Rnd 2: ch 2 (counts as first sc), sc in each of next 2 sc, ch 2, *sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 2.* Repeat * to * 4 times more; join with sl st.
Rnd 3: ch 2, turn over and work in the opposite direction, 2 sc into hole (made by 2 ch’s on last rnd), ch 3, *3 sc into next hole, ch 3.* Repeat * to * 4 times more; join with sl st.
Rnd 4: ch 2 (counts as first sc), sc in each of next 2 sc, ch 6, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 2, *sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 6, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 2.* Repeat * to * 4 times more; join with sl st. Rnd 5: *sl st in next sc, ch 6, sl st in 7th stitch from hook (same loop as before), sl st in next sc, ch 16, sl st in 8th ch from hook, **ch 8, sl st in 8th ch from hook (same loop as before).** Repeat ** to ** 2 times more, ch 6, sl st in first sc of next group of 3 sc.* Repeat * to * 5 times more; join with sl st. Finish off; weave in ends.
Pattern 3:
ch 6; join with sl st to form the foundation ring.
Rnd 1: *ch 5, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 9, sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 11, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 13, sl st in 12th ch from hook, ch 11, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 9, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 11, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 13, sl st in 12th ch from hook, ch 11, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 9, sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 1, sc in ring.* Repeat from * to * 5 times more, join with sl st. Finish off; weave in ends.
Pattern 4:
ch 6; join with sl st to form the foundation ring.
Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as first sc), 11 sc into ring; join with sl st.
Rnd 2: sl st in first sc, *ch 5, sl st in 6th ch from hook (same loop as before), sl st in each of next 2 sc.* Repeat * to * 5 times.
Rnd 3: sl st in each of next 3 ch's (of the 5 ch's of previous rnd) to the top of first loop, *ch 5, sl st in 3rd ch (top of loop).* Repeat * to * 5 times; join with sl st.
Rnd 4: *ch 8, sl st in 9th ch from hook (same loop as before), ch 12, sl st in 10th ch from hook, ch 14, sl st in 12th ch from hook, **ch 12, sl st in 13th ch from hook (same loop as before).** Repeat ** to ** once, sl st in each of next 3 ch's (working toward center), ch 10, sl st in 11th ch from hook (same loop as before), sl st in each of next 3 ch's (working toward center), ch 8, sl st in 9th ch from hook (same loop as before), ch 6, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 2, skip 5 ch's of previous rnd, sl st in next stitch.* Repeat * to * 5 times; join with sl st. Finish off; weave in ends.