A crochet snowflake is the fastest ornament you can make. The smallest ones take five minutes and a few yards of thread, and a bag of them fills a whole tree. But "snowflake" covers a lot of ground: a lacy thread flake and a chunky worsted flake are different projects with different tools. These 20 free patterns are grouped by style, and every one is written out in full on the designer's own page, with no signup and nothing to buy.
Each pattern below carries a stiffening tag, because that is the one thing that decides how much work a snowflake really is:
- No stiffening (8 patterns) — worsted, chunky or solid motifs that hold their shape straight off the hook.
- Optional (4 patterns) — it looks fine as is, and sharper with a little starch.
- Needs stiffening (8 patterns) — thread lace that will droop on the branch unless you block it and set it with starch, fabric stiffener or diluted glue.
If an abbreviation stops you, the crochet abbreviations list decodes it. The hook size guide sorts out the tiny steel hooks that thread patterns call for.
Five-minute and beginner snowflakes
Start here if you have never made a snowflake. Two or three rounds, no counting headaches, and you can make a dozen in an evening.
5-Minute Crochet Snowflake — Crochet For You Blog. Two rounds and under 5 yards of thread or fine yarn. It is small and simple enough that you can skip the starch. No stiffening. Beginner.
Simple Snowflake — Stitches n Scraps. Three rounds, written to work in either thread (about 3 inches on a 2.75mm hook) or worsted yarn (about 5.5 inches on a 4.5mm hook). One pattern, two very different ornaments. Optional. Beginner.
Puffy Snowflake Ornament — Amelia Makes. Cluster stitches give this star-shaped flake a soft, rounded look. It uses 11 yards of light worsted on an E hook, and the small hook keeps it firm. No stiffening. Beginner.
Crystal Snow Snowflake Garland — Raji's Craft Hobby. A five-point picot flake worked from one magic circle in 4-ply cotton, about 4 inches across. The designer also gives a chain-and-join method to string a batch into a garland. No stiffening. Beginner.
Classic lacy thread snowflakes
These are the snowflakes most people picture: fine cotton thread, picot tips, and real lace detail. They take longer, and all of them need blocking.
Crochet Snowflake — GoldenLucyCrafts. Four rounds in size 10 cotton thread, about 4.5 inches across. The designer notes you can drop to finer thread for more detail. Needs stiffening. Easy.
Lace Crochet Snowflake Ornament — Busy Creating Memories. Four rounds of lace-weight thread, with a step-by-step stiffening method on a foam board. If you have never stiffened anything, read this page first. Needs stiffening. Easy.
Alba Crochet Snowflake — Crochetpedia. Six rounds of lace thread on a 1.5mm hook, finishing at about 4.3 inches. The most traditional, doily-like design on this list. Needs stiffening. Intermediate.
Chunky and worsted-yarn snowflakes
Thread is not required. These use the yarn you already own, work up fast, and survive being handled by small children.
Crochet Snowflake Pattern — Repeat Crafter Me. Five rounds of white worsted on an H hook. It is sturdy enough to hang with no blocking at all, which makes it a good batch-make for a classroom or a gift tag. No stiffening. Beginner.
Simple Snowflake — Crochet Is The Way. Three rounds, about 4 inches point to point in worsted, and about 6 inches if you switch to chunky yarn. No stiffening. Beginner.
Chunky Snowflake — Yarn Bombers United. Two strands of worsted or one strand of super-chunky on a 5–6mm hook, in just two rounds. The designer suggests PVA glue with glitter if you want it rigid and sparkly. Optional. Beginner.
3D and dimensional snowflakes
Medium Textured Snowflake — Treasurie. Puff stitches and picots give this one raised texture instead of flat lace. The same page also has a small lacy version and a large spiked version, so you can make a matched set in three sizes. Needs stiffening. Easy.
Neve Crochet Snowflake — Crochetpedia. Five rounds with long looped spikes that stand away from the center. At about 3.3 inches it is small, but it has more depth than any other thread flake here. Needs stiffening. Intermediate.
Beaded and sparkle snowflakes
Sparkle Crochet Snowflake — ChristaCoDesign. Worked in worsted-weight glitter yarn on a 6mm hook, about 5 inches tip to tip. The sparkle comes from the yarn, so there is no glue and no mess. No stiffening. Beginner.
Beaded Crochet Snowflake — The Cozy Cuttlefish. Seed beads worked directly into five rounds of fine thread. The designer wrote it as a pair of earrings, but the motif makes a lovely tiny ornament — just add a thread loop instead of an ear wire. Needs stiffening. Intermediate.
Snowflakes for appliqué and garland
Flat, small motifs that are made to be multiplied. Sew one onto a hat, glue one to a card, or chain twenty together.
Crochet Snowflake Appliqué — Sandra Stitches. Three rounds of crochet thread for a small, flat flake. It sits neatly on a gift bag, a mug cozy or a card. Optional. Beginner.
Crochet Snowflake Star Garland — Sarahndipities. Five-round worsted motifs joined with a chain into a garland. The designer used a shimmer yarn and skipped the starch, but says a light spray helps. Optional. Easy.
Giant and wall snowflakes
Snowflake Wall Hanging — Blue Star Crochet. Four rounds with long picot spikes, stiffened flat with diluted PVA glue on a blocking board. Made large, it reads as wall art rather than an ornament. Needs stiffening. Easy.
Giant Crocheted Snowflakes — Flax & Twine. A thread-snowflake technique scaled up with bulky yarn or several strands held together, with separate stiffening steps for the big size. Hang a few in a window. Needs stiffening. Intermediate.
Granny-hexagon and granny-square snowflakes
Solid granny fabric holds its own shape, and these double as blanket or pillow motifs if you make extra.
Granny Snowflake Hexagon — Crafting Happiness. A six-round worsted hexagon with a snowflake worked into the center. Hang one as an ornament, or join a stack into a winter throw. No stiffening. Easy.
Snowflake Granny Square — Loopara. A two-color, 2.5 inch square: a solid body, then a white snowflake worked on top in front loops only. No stiffening. Easy.
How to stiffen a crochet snowflake
Pin the wet snowflake flat on a foam board or blocking mat, with a rust-proof pin in every tip. Then pick one of three finishes:
- Spray starch. The easiest option. It gives a light hold and washes out. Good for the "optional" patterns.
- Fabric stiffener. Soak, squeeze out the extra, pin, and let it dry for a full day. It gives a firm, permanent hold.
- Diluted school glue. Mix roughly equal parts white PVA glue and water. It is the cheapest option and the stiffest. Stir in fine glitter if you like.
Let every snowflake dry completely before you unpin it, or the tips will curl back. The same method sets the lace on a doily lamp and the doilies it is made from.
For the rest of the tree, pair these with flat crochet Christmas ornaments, amigurumi ornaments and a crochet garland. If you want a matching winter door, the wreath roundup has a snowflake option, and the snowman patterns keep the theme going past Christmas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thread is best for crochet snowflakes?
Size 10 mercerized cotton thread on a 1.5mm to 1.8mm steel hook is the classic choice. It holds a crisp picot and takes starch well. For a bigger, faster snowflake, use worsted-weight cotton or acrylic on a 4mm to 5mm hook instead.
Do I have to stiffen crochet snowflakes?
Only thread-lace snowflakes truly need it. Worsted, chunky and granny-style snowflakes keep their shape without help. Every pattern above is tagged, so check the tag before you start.
How long does one crochet snowflake take?
A two-round beginner snowflake takes 5 to 10 minutes. A six-round lace snowflake takes 30 to 45 minutes, plus a day to dry after stiffening. Chunky yarn snowflakes sit in between, at about 15 minutes each.
Can I wash a stiffened snowflake?
A starched snowflake can be washed and re-starched. A snowflake set with fabric stiffener or glue should not go in water, because it will go limp. Dust it gently instead, and store it flat between sheets of tissue paper.
