The Frosted Halo Snowflake Wreath is a lacy ring of six-pointed snowflakes, crocheted in one soft white yarn and joined into a single circular wreath. The motifs cluster closely around a hollow center, and their trefoil tips and picots read like filigree from across the room. It looks especially striking against a dark door, hung from a bright red ribbon.
The wreath uses two snowflake sizes. A ring of larger snowflakes forms the outer halo. A ring of smaller snowflakes is layered on top along the inner edge, which gives the wreath its three-dimensional, crystalline depth. Everything is worked in white or cream, so the texture of the lace is the main decoration.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished wreath measures about 21 in (53.3 cm) across, with a hollow center about 8 in (20.3 cm) wide.
Construction is simple. Crochet 12 large and 12 small snowflakes in the round. Join each size into its own ring as you go, layer the small ring over the large ring, and tack them together. Then work a two-round edging along the inner edge to keep the center round. Block with starch, add the ribbon, and hang.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 21 in (53.3 cm) outer diameter; hollow center about 8 in (20.3 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate (lace motifs, join-as-you-go)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport (2), mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 24 motifs (12 large, 12 small), joined into one wreath
- Layout: outer ring of 12 large snowflakes; inner ring of 12 small snowflakes layered on top
- Piece size: large snowflake 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tip to tip; small snowflake 3 in (7.6 cm) tip to tip
- Size before border: about 21 in (53.3 cm) outer diameter. The border sits on the inner edge, so it does not change the outer diameter.
- Border depth: about 0.25 in (0.6 cm), inner edge only
Materials
Yarn advice: Choose a smooth, mercerized sport-weight cotton in white or cream. Cotton holds crisp picots and takes starch well. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because they blur the lace and sag on a door. Buy all the yarn from one dye lot so the whites match.
White, sport weight cotton: 150 g / 450 m total
- Large snowflakes: about 7 g / 21 m each, 84 g / 252 m for 12
- Small snowflakes: about 3 g / 9 m each, 36 g / 108 m for 12
- Border and tacking: about 5 g / 15 m
These quantities include a margin of about 25 g / 75 m for gauge swatching and differences in tension.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers
- Blocking mat and rustproof pins
- Spray starch or fabric stiffener
- Ruler or tape measure
- Red ribbon, 36 in (91.4 cm) long and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide, for hanging
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- Rnd – round
- MR – magic ring
- p – picot: ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
Special stitch – Trefoil Tip (tt): Ch 6, sl st in 4th ch from hook (first picot). Ch 4, sl st in the same st (center picot). Ch 4, sl st in the same st (third picot). Ch 2. This makes a short stem topped by three clustered picots, which form one snowflake point.
Joining Trefoil Tip (jtt): Ch 6, sl st in 4th ch from hook (first picot). Ch 2, sl st in the center picot of the matching tip on the neighboring motif, ch 2, sl st in the same st as the first picot (joined center picot). Ch 4, sl st in the same st (third picot). Ch 2.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one large snowflake and block it before you start the full set. Lace gauge is easiest to judge by measuring motifs at each stage.
Motif checkpoints (measured flat, lightly pressed):
- After Rnd 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- After Rnd 2: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- After Rnd 3: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across
- Large motif after Rnd 4: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across
- Large motif after Rnd 5: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tip to tip
- Small motif after Rnd 4: 3 in (7.6 cm) tip to tip
A tolerance of ±0.25 in (0.6 cm) per motif is fine.
If your motif is too big, go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 3.75 mm hook. Large motifs that are 0.5 in (1.3 cm) oversized add about 2.2 in (5.6 cm) to the wreath diameter, so check gauge before you make all 24 motifs.
Large Snowflake (Make 12)
Rnd 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch-3. Pull the ring closed. (12 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, sk next dc, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next dc; rep from * 4 more times, sl st to first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 3: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1; rep from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch-3. (6 shells: 24 dc, 6 ch-2 sps, 6 ch-1 sps)
Rnd 4: Sl st in next dc and into ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2; rep from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch-3. (36 dc, 6 sc, 6 ch-3 sps, 12 ch-2 sps)
Rnd 5: Sl st in next 2 dc and into ch-3 sp, ch 1. (sc, tt, sc) in ch-3 sp, ch 1, p, ch 1, sc in next sc, ch 1, p, ch 1; rep from * 5 more times, sl st to first sc. (6 trefoil tips, 18 sc, 12 picots)
Fasten off and weave in ends. Number the tips in the order you worked them: Tip 1 through Tip 6. In the finished wreath, Tip 1 points toward the center and Tip 4 points outward.
On motifs 2–12, use jtt in place of tt where noted in the Joining section.
Small Snowflake (Make 12)
Rnds 1–3: Work as Large Snowflake Rnds 1–3. (Rnd 3: 24 dc, 6 ch-2 sps, 6 ch-1 sps)
Rnd 4: Sl st in next dc and into ch-2 sp, ch 1. (sc, tt, sc) in ch-2 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3; rep from * 5 more times, sl st to first sc. (6 trefoil tips, 18 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Fasten off and weave in ends. Tips are numbered 1–6 in working order, as for the large motifs.
Make All Pieces
All 24 motifs are worked in white.
- Large snowflakes: 12, in white
- Small snowflakes: 12, in white
Layout grid, read clockwise from 12 o’clock. L = large, S = small:
OUTER RING: L L L L L L L L L L L L
INNER RING: S S S S S S S S S S S S
Each S sits directly in front of the L in the same position, closer to the center. Both rings have 12 motifs spaced every 30°, so they line up one-to-one.
Joining
Joining Method
Each ring is joined as you go on the final round, at the center picot of the trefoil tips. Then the two rings are layered and tacked by hand.
Outer Ring (Large Motifs)
- Complete Large Motif 1 fully.
- Work Large Motif 2 through Rnd 4. On Rnd 5, work Tip 2 as a jtt, joining it to Tip 6 of Motif 1. Work all other tips as normal tt.
- Continue with Motifs 3–11. Each one joins its Tip 2 to Tip 6 of the motif before it.
- On Motif 12, join Tip 2 to Tip 6 of Motif 11, and join Tip 6 to Tip 2 of Motif 1. This closes the ring.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Each motif joins at Tips 2 and 6, which flank the inward-pointing Tip 1. These two tips sit 15° off the line between motif centers. That small angle is what makes 12 straight-joined motifs curve into a closed circle.
The motif centers end up about 4.4 in (11.2 cm) apart. The outer ring measures about 21 in (53.3 cm) across, tip to tip.
Inner Ring (Small Motifs)
Use the same sequence with the small motifs on Rnd 4. Each small motif joins its Tip 2 to Tip 6 of the previous small motif, and Small Motif 12 closes the ring.
Small motif centers sit about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) apart. The ring measures about 14 in (35.6 cm) across its outer tips, with an opening of about 8 in (20.3 cm) between its inner tips.
Layering and Tacking
- Lay the outer ring flat, right side up, with every Tip 4 pointing outward.
- Place the inner ring on top, right side up. Center each small motif in front of a large motif, with the small motif’s Tip 4 pointing outward over the large motif’s Tip 1.
- With a tapestry needle and yarn, make 2 tacks per pair:
- Sew the small motif’s Tip 4 center picot to the large motif’s Rnd 4 ch-3 sp at the base of its Tip 1.
- Sew the large motif’s Tip 1 center picot to the small motif’s Rnd 3 ch-2 sp at the base of its Tip 4.
- This makes 24 tacks in total.
Tension advice: Keep the jtt chains the same length as a regular tt. A tight ch-2 pulls the tips together and cups the ring. When tacking, make 2 or 3 small stitches and snug them without puckering.
Size checkpoint: Before you add the border, check that the outer diameter is about 21 in (53.3 cm) and the opening is about 8 in (20.3 cm). A variation of ±0.5 in (1.3 cm) is fine.
Border (Inner Edge)
The border is worked only along the inner edge. It connects the 12 inward tips of the small ring and keeps the hollow center from stretching out of round.
Border gauge: 17 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), which is 4.25 sts per inch. The border is worked into chains and spans the open gaps between tips, so it has its own gauge. It is not based on a motif’s stitch count.
Each “side” of the border is one segment, running from one small motif’s Tip 1 to the next. There are 12 segments.
Rnd 1: Join yarn with sc in the center picot of Tip 1 of any small motif. Ch 8, sc in center picot of Tip 1 of next small motif, ch 8; rep from * 10 more times, sl st to first sc. (12 sc + 96 ch = 108 sts; 9 sts per segment)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc and in each ch around, sl st to first sc. This is a conversion round with no added stitches: 12 sc worked over existing sc + 96 sc worked over existing ch = 108 sc. (9 sc per segment)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works:
- The inner tips sit on a circle about 4.1 in (10.4 cm) from the wreath center.
- At that radius, adjacent Tip 1s are about 2.1 in (5.3 cm) apart.
- At 4.25 sts per inch, 2.1 in needs about 8.9 sts, which rounds to 9 sts per segment.
- 12 segments × 9 sts = 108 sts.
- 108 ÷ 4.25 = 25.4 in (64.5 cm), which matches the ring’s inner circumference of 12 × 2.1 in.
The edging therefore lies flat. It does not ruffle, and it does not pull the tips inward.
Final Blocking
- Soak the wreath in cool water for 10 minutes. Press out the water in a towel; do not wring it.
- Lay the wreath on a blocking mat and pin it to a 21 in (53.3 cm) circle. A string compass helps you mark the circle.
- Pin the inner border to an 8 in (20.3 cm) circle.
- Pin each large motif’s Tip 4 outward, and open all three picots on every trefoil.
- Pin the side picots of the large motifs so they point away from the tips.
- Spray generously with starch. Lift the small ring slightly with your fingers so it sits raised over the large ring.
- Let it dry completely, for 24 hours.
- Unpin the wreath. Thread the ribbon through the outer ring at 12 o’clock, behind the joined tips, and tie it in a loop to hang.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 12 large and 12 small motifs, all with 6 trefoil tips
- Every tip has three open picots
- 12 joins on the outer ring and 12 on the inner ring, with no gaps
- 24 tacks, all secure
- Border has 108 sc, 9 per segment
- Outer diameter about 21 in (53.3 cm); center about 8 in (20.3 cm)
- Wreath lies flat with no cupping
- All ends woven in invisibly
- Ribbon centered at the top
Troubleshooting
Ring cups or bowls: The jtt chains are too tight. Rework those joins with looser chains, or block the wreath firmly flat.
Ring won’t close, or has a gap: A motif is oversized, or one join used the wrong tips. Check that every join connects Tip 2 to Tip 6.
Picots collapse: Use more starch, or a fabric stiffener, and pin each picot open while it dries.
Inner border ruffles: Your chains are too loose. Rework Rnd 1 with ch 7, or go down a hook size.
Inner border pulls the tips in: Your chains are too tight. Rework Rnd 1 with a hook one size larger.
Motifs vary in size: Re-block the odd motifs on their own to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) or 3 in (7.6 cm) before assembly.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap, lay it flat to dry, and re-starch if needed. Store it flat, or hang it out of direct sunlight between seasons.
Final Notes
The measurement chain:
- Rnd 3 of each motif measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
- Large motifs block to 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and small motifs block to 3 in (7.6 cm).
- Twelve joined large motifs make a 21 in (53.3 cm) outer ring.
- Twelve joined small motifs, layered on top, frame an 8 in (20.3 cm) center.
- The 108-stitch inner border holds that center round at 4.25 sts per inch.
Check each stage before moving on, and the wreath will close neatly and hang flat.
Optional: for a smaller door, you could make a single ring of large motifs only. That variation is not covered by this pattern’s measurements.
Happy crocheting!