by Hello! below is a clear, beginner-friendly, round-by-round text tutorial that produces a delicate snowflake-style medallion converted into a joinable square. Uses US terms. Counts/checks after key rounds so you can verify as you go. Perfect for ornaments, runners, shawls or a lacy blouse when joined.
Materials & finished size
- Yarn: fingering → DK (for crisp snowflakes use cotton or mercerized cotton; for wearable panels use DK cotton-blend or soft acrylic).
- Hook: 1.75–3.5 mm for thread/fine yarn; 3.5–4.5 mm for DK.
- Notions: tapestry needle, blocking pins/mat or towel, rust-proof pins, scissors.
- Finished motif (blocked): approx 8–13 cm / 3–5 in depending on yarn & hook. Make 1 test motif to confirm.
Abbreviations (US)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- pic = picot (ch 3, sl st into base)
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- rep = repeat
Pattern overview (concept)
Worked in rounds from center out: a small center → chain loops forming snowflake points → decorative ribs/arches → tidy round → optional side & corner loops to square the motif → scalloped/picot outer round used for Join-As-You-Go. Blocking is essential to open the snowflake lace and make a crisp square.
Round-by-round (work rounds joined with sl st)
Work and join rounds with a sl st unless otherwise noted. After each Check: confirm counts.
Round 1 — tiny center (magic ring)
- Make a magic ring. ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 15 dc into the ring. (ch-3 + 15 dc = 16 dc.)
- Pull ring closed, sl st to top of ch-3 to join.
Check: 16 dc.
Round 2 — loop foundation (snowflake spokes)
- ch 5, skip next dc, sl st in next dc — repeat around.
→ You’ll make 8 ch-5 loops (spokes) because there are 16 dc and you anchor every other dc. Join with sl st.
Check: 8 evenly spaced ch-5 spokes.
Round 3 — small anchors
- Into each ch-5 loop work: (sc, ch 3, sc) to make a small anchored loop. Join.
Check: 8 little anchored loop motifs around the center.
Round 4 — snowflake points (long points)
- In each ch-5 loop work one point cluster all into the same loop:
(sc, hdc, 5 dc, tr, 5 dc, hdc, sc).- This makes a pointed snowflake arm with a tall center (tr). Use 7 dc + tr for a fuller point if you prefer.
- Sl st to next ch-5 loop and repeat for all 8. Join.
Check: 8 long pointed arms radiating out.
Round 5 — tidy round (flatten & frame)
- Rejoin between arms. Work sc evenly around the bases of the arms to form a tidy circular frame — distribute roughly 8–12 sc per arm area (adjust to keep the round flat).
- Join with sl st.
Check: smooth circular boundary, not ruffled.
Round 6 — lacy arches / webbing
- From the outer edge of an arm: sl st to outer tip → ch 7 → anchor into the sc round between the next arms with (tr, ch 2, tr) or (tr, ch 2, tr, ch 2, tr) depending on how lacy you want it.
- Repeat around to create 8 arches linking arms and producing the snowflake web. Join.
Check: 8 arches forming the outer lace ring.
Round 7 — decorative ribs inside arches
- Into each chain-arch work: sl st to arch base → ch 3 → dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc → ch 3 → sl st into arch base.
- Simpler: 3 dc separated by ch-1 across each arch.
- Repeat all around and join. These ribs add the snowflake texture.
Check: each arch has 3 inner ribs.
Round 8 — convert circle → square (side & corner loops) — recommended
- Mark four quarter points (every 2 arms = 90°). Rejoin at a quarter marker.
- Work each side between corners with identical counts. Example distribution (adjust to motif size):
sc 8, (sc, ch 4, sc) × 2 (side loops), sc 8 → ch 6 (corner loop).- The goal: make the side lengths match on all 4 sides so tiles join squarely. Choose X & Y so the side looks even for your yarn.
- Repeat for four sides, join and fasten off or continue.
Check: motif has 4 ch-6 corner loops and matching side loops — blocks into a square.
Round 9 — outer scallop & picot finish (join round)
- Rejoin and work a delicate scalloped/picot edge around the outside. Example repeat: sc 3, (pic: ch 3, sl st into same st), sc 4 across each small side section — tweak counts to make scallops lie flat.
- This round is ideal for Join-As-You-Go: when your new motif meets a finished neighbour, replace that picot/sl st with sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the finished motif to join.
- Join, fasten off, weave in ends.
Check: scallops & picots even; motif looks snowflake-lacy after blocking.
Blocking & stiffening (important for snowflake look)
- Pin the motif to blocking board/towel, stretching each arm and arch to a symmetric shape. Pin corner ch-6 loops out to square it. Pin every picot for sharp points.
- Mist with water and let dry fully. For ornaments or display, use light spray starch or dilute PVA (1 part PVA : 3 parts water) to stiffen — test on a scrap first. For garments skip heavy stiffening.
Join methods & projects
Join-As-You-Go (JAYG) — recommended for a flat fabric
- Make first motif complete. For each new motif work rounds up to Round 9. On Round 9 (outer scallop) when you reach a point that meets an existing finished motif, sl st into the corresponding stitch/picot of the neighbour instead of making the standalone picot. Work around to attach sides and corners as you build rows. This gives tidy, flat joins.
Sew-after (block then sew)
- Make & block all motifs. Pin layout, then sew with matching yarn using a mattress stitch or neat whipstitch through the side-loop anchors or outer sc round. Good if you want to rearrange layout before joining.
Project ideas: ornaments, a snowflake garland, runners (1×N or 2×N), shawls (rectangular or triangular layouts), or a lacy blouse made of joined squares (JAYG recommended).
Stitch counts & quick checks
- R1: 16 dc.
- R2: 8 ch-5 spokes.
- R4: 8 long arms.
- R6: 8 arches.
- R8: 4 corner ch-6 loops + matching side loops (user chosen counts).
If a count is off, undo to the last correct round and fix — it’s easier to keep joins accurate that way.
Troubleshooting & tips
- Arms too short / droopy: increase center cluster (use 7 dc instead of 5) or lengthen arch chains, then block firmly.
- Motif cups/ruffles: shorten arch chains (ch-6 instead of ch-7) or reduce sc in tidy round; try slightly larger hook for arch rounds.
- Squares not lining up: ensure Round 8 side sc/loop counts are identical on every motif before joining. That’s the most common cause of misalignment.
- Picot/joins loose: use slightly firmer tension on joining sl sts or add an extra sl st for reinforcement.
- Want a crisper snowflake ornament: use smaller hook and cotton thread, then stiffen after blocking.
Variations
- Smaller delicate snowflake: use crochet thread + 1.5–1.75 mm hook and reduce point dcs to
3 dceach side of the center tr. - Bolder lacy tile: use DK yarn and larger hook; increase R4
5 dc→7 dcand make arch chains longer (ch-9). - Two-colour: work rounds 1–4 in Color A (arms), switch to Color B for arches & square conversion to highlight the web.
- Beaded snowflake: thread tiny beads onto yarn and place one at each picot or on the tr of each arm for sparkle.
VIDEO:
