The Lavender Frost Snowflake is a small, lacy ornament with a clear six-point star outline. A wheel of 12 double-crochet spokes forms the center. Six solid wedges radiate from it, and each point ends in a three-loop picot trefoil.
It is worked in a single soft lavender cotton. The color looks wintry without being stark white, and it stands out against green branches and warm string lights. The style is classic and tidy, with crisp, open shapes that block flat.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished snowflake measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) from point to point after blocking. A chain hanging loop at the top adds about 3 in (7.6 cm) of hanging length.
The construction is simple. You work four rounds in the round for the center and wedges, then one edging round that adds the sc outline and the six trefoil points. The hanging loop is added at the end. You don’t need to make several pieces or join anything.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point
- Skill level: Easy–Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport-weight cotton (weight 2)
- Hook: 3.0 mm (US C/2–D/3)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single motif worked in the round, no joining
- Piece size (after Round 4): 3 in (7.6 cm) across the wedge tips
- Size before border: 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) at each point, about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) along the edges between points
Materials
Yarn advice: Use a smooth, mercerized sport-weight cotton. Cotton holds sharp picots and takes starch well, which matters for a hanging ornament. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy acrylic, because the points won’t stay crisp.
- Lavender: 10 g / 33 m (36 yd) per snowflake, including the hanging loop
Tools:
- 3.0 mm (US C/2–D/3) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
- Blocking board or foam mat
- Rustproof pins
- Fabric stiffener or spray starch
- Ruler or tape measure
The yarn quantity includes a margin of about 30% for your swatch, the hanging loop and weaving in ends. If you plan a set of six, buy 60 g of one dye lot.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together: [yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] twice, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- yo – yarn over
Special stitch – Trefoil Point:
Ch 4 (this is the stem). Ch 4, sl st in the top stem chain (the 4th ch of the stem). Rep from * 2 more times. You now have 3 picot loops at the top of the stem. Sl st in each of the 3 remaining stem chains to return to the base.
For a slightly larger center loop, as on the original, make the second loop ch 5 instead of ch 4. The pattern below uses 4–5–4.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge isn’t critical for an ornament, but it controls the final size. Make one snowflake first and measure it after each stage.
Gauge: Rounds 1–2 = 1.75 in (4.4 cm) in diameter.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- After Round 2: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
- After Round 3: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across
- After Round 4: 3 in (7.6 cm) across the wedge tips
- After Round 5 and blocking: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point
If your snowflake is too big: go down to a 2.75 mm hook, or check that your ch-5 and ch-4 spaces aren’t loose.
If your snowflake is too small: go up to a 3.25 mm hook. Tight chains are the most common cause, so try loosening only your chains first.
If Round 2 ruffles or cups: your spokes and chains don’t match. Ruffling means the chains are too long, so use a smaller hook for the ch-2 spaces only. Cupping means the chains are too tight.
Pattern: Center and Wedges
Round 1 – Center Ring
Make a magic ring.
Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small open hole about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) across. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Count: 12 dc.
Round 2 – Spoke Wheel
Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). Dc in next dc, ch 2. Rep from * 10 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5.
Count: 12 dc, 12 ch-2 sps.
These 12 dc are the spokes. Keep the chains even so the wheel lies flat. Measure now: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.
Round 3 – Wedge Base
Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same sp, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5.
[3 dc in next ch-2 sp] twice, ch 5. Rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Count: 36 dc in 6 groups of 6 dc, plus 6 ch-5 sps.
Each 6-dc group sits over 2 spokes and becomes the base of one wedge. Each ch-5 sp becomes the bottom of an open window. Measure: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across.
Round 4 – Tapered Wedges and Windows
Ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as first dc2tog). Dc2tog over the next 2 dc, then dc2tog over the next 2 dc. Ch 4, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 4.
[Dc2tog over the next 2 dc] 3 times, ch 4, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 4. Rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the first dc (skip the beginning ch-2).
Count: 18 dc2tog in 6 groups of 3, plus 6 sc and 12 ch-4 sps.
The 3 decreases turn each 6-dc base into a solid triangle that narrows outward. The sc pulls the middle of each ch-5 sp outward, and the two ch-4 arches on either side make a small open triangular window between neighboring wedges.
Measure: 3 in (7.6 cm) across the wedge tips. Don’t fasten off.
For reference below, call the 3 dc2tog in each wedge A (first), B (center) and C (last).
Border: Edging Round and Trefoil Points
Round 5 is the border. It outlines the whole star in sc and adds one Trefoil Point at the center of each wedge.
Border gauge: 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the edge.
Round 5 – Sc Outline with Points
Ch 1, sc in the same st (A of the first wedge). Sc in B. Work 1 Trefoil Point, finishing with the hook back at the base, on B.
Sc in C, 4 sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in next sc, 4 sc in next ch-4 sp.
Sc in A, sc in B, Trefoil Point, sc in C, 4 sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in next sc, 4 sc in next ch-4 sp. Rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
Count per side (one point to the next point):
– A, B and C: 3 sc
– First ch-4 sp: 4 sc
– Window sc: 1 sc
– Second ch-4 sp: 4 sc
– Total: 12 sc per side
Round total: 6 sides × 12 sc = 72 sc, plus 6 Trefoil Points.
Why the math works:
– The 12 spokes from Round 2 split into 6 pairs.
– Each pair holds one 6-dc wedge base: 6 × 6 = 36 dc.
– Three dc2tog reduce each base to 3 stitches: 6 × 3 = 18.
– In Round 5, each section covers the wedge’s 3 stitches plus two ch-4 spaces (4 sc each) and the window sc: 3 + 4 + 1 + 4 = 12.
– Six equal sections keep all six points evenly spaced at 60° apart.
Each ch-4 sp holds 4 sc, which is enough to fill the arch without ruffling it or pulling it tight. Each Trefoil Point adds about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) past its wedge tip, so the 3 in (7.6 cm) Round 4 piece grows to 3 + 0.75 + 0.75 = 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point.
Hanging Loop
Choose one point as the top. Join the yarn with a sl st in its center (larger) picot loop. Ch 40, sl st in the same picot loop to form a loop, then fasten off.
The 40-ch loop is about 6 in (15.2 cm) of chain, which folds into a hanging loop about 3 in (7.6 cm) long. Weave in all ends along the back of the sc edge so they don’t show through the open windows.
Final Blocking
- Wet the snowflake in cool water and gently squeeze out the extra water. Don’t wring it.
- Mix the fabric stiffener according to the label, or have spray starch ready.
- Dip the snowflake in the stiffener and blot it on a towel.
- Lay it on a foam board with a printed or drawn 4.5 in (11.4 cm) circle underneath, divided into 6 sections of 60°.
- Pin the center ring open with one pin.
- Pin the tip of each Trefoil Point’s center picot on the circle line, one per 60° mark.
- Pin each side picot outward and slightly open so each trefoil spreads like a small fan.
- Pin each window sc on the Round 5 edge so the spaces between points curve inward evenly.
- Leave it to dry completely, about 12–24 hours.
- Remove the pins and measure: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Round 1 has 12 dc and the center hole is small and round.
- Round 2 has 12 spokes with 12 even ch-2 spaces.
- Round 3 has 6 groups of 6 dc (36 dc) and 6 ch-5 sps.
- Round 4 has 18 dc2tog (3 per wedge), 6 sc and 12 ch-4 sps.
- Round 5 has 72 sc (12 per side) and 6 Trefoil Points.
- Each trefoil has 3 loops with a larger center loop.
- All six points are the same length.
- The hanging loop is attached to a center picot and measures about 3 in (7.6 cm).
- Ends are woven in and hidden.
- The blocked size is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and the snowflake lies flat when it dries.
Troubleshooting
The center bulges up: Round 2 chains are too short. Redo it with a slightly looser ch-2.
The wedges look floppy instead of triangular: you probably worked dc instead of dc2tog in Round 4. Count 3 stitches per wedge.
The windows close up: the Round 4 ch-4 arches are too tight. Chain more loosely, or use a 3.25 mm hook for the chains only.
The points are different lengths: stem chains vary in tension. Count exactly 4 stem chains and sl st down all 3 remaining stem chains each time.
The trefoil loops twist: sl st into the same top stem chain each time, working through the back bump if the front loops are too crowded.
The edge ruffles: you may have worked 5 sc in a ch-4 sp. Use exactly 4.
The snowflake curls after drying: it needs more stiffener. Re-dip it and pin it again.
Care
Hand wash in cool water only if needed, then re-stiffen and pin it flat to dry. Store it flat between tissue paper so the points keep their shape.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain for the whole snowflake:
| Stage | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 1 in (2.5 cm) across |
| Round 2 | 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across |
| Round 3 | 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across |
| Round 4 | 3 in (7.6 cm) across the wedge tips |
| Round 5 | Adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) per point |
| Blocked | 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point |
| Hanging loop | About 3 in (7.6 cm) long |
The stitch counts follow the same logic as the measurements: 12 spokes, then 36 dc, then 18 dc2tog, then 72 sc. Every stage is a multiple of six, so the six points stay even.
Once you have made one snowflake and checked it against these measurements, the next ones go quickly. Make a few in the same lavender and hang them at different heights in a window for a soft winter display.
Happy crocheting!