Crochet Snowflake Ithaca

Christmas is right around the corner and it’s never too early to be prepared. Crochet Christmas ornaments are so much fun to make around the holidays and this free motif is easy and quick to make, a perfect pattern for beginners.
I used cotton thread size 10 and a 2 mm crochet hook for this snowflake motif. Its final size is 9 cm (about 3,5 inches) in diameter. You can use heavier thread and bigger hook, or thinner thread and smaller hook and you will have a bigger or smaller motif.
You will also need a needle to weave in loose ends and a pair of scissors.

Instructions
Make a magic ring.

• Round 1: Ch 1, (3 sc in the ring, ch 7) 5 times, 3 sc, pull the thread end to tighten the ring, ch 4, dc in first sc (counts as last ch-7 sp).
• Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same sp, * ch 1, in next ch-7 sp work (2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc); repeat from * 5 times, ch 1, in next sp work 2 dc, ch 5 and join with sl st in 3rd ch of first ch3.
• Round 3: Sl st in next dc and in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, * ch 3, in ch-5 sp work (3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc), ch 3 **, sc in ch-1 sp; repeat from * 5 times and from * to ** once more. Join with sl st in first sc.
• Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same sc, * ch 5, in next ch-5 sp work (4 dc, ch 5, 4 dc), ch 5 **, sc in sc; repeat from * 5 times and from * to ** once more. Join with sl st in first sc.

Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

Blocking
In order to block your snowflakes, you will need white pva glue or your favorite starch, stainless steel pins or toothpicks, plastic wrap and some kind of foam/blocking board.
Print out this blocking template. It will help you make your snowflakes symmetrical. Tape it on your blocking board and then cover it with plastic wrap.
Prepare a mix of equal amounts of white craft glue and water or use your preferred stiffening solution.
Soak the snowflake in the solution, squeeze out the excess and spread out the snowflake on the plastic wrap-covered pinning board, having right side facing up. Use stainless steel pins and start by pinning the center. Work your way out pinning as you go until you reach the desired look. While it is still wet, you can sprinkle glitter and make it sparkly. Let dry completely. Remove from the board.
To hang the snowflake, attach a piece of thread, yarn, ribbon, invisible thread or wire.

The stiffening solution will permanently damage your pins, so it’s best to set the used ones aside for use in future starching projects.