Crochet Snowflake Skiathos

Υou’ll need
To make this snowflake, I used cotton thread size 10 and a 2 mm crochet hook. Its final size is 10 cm (about 4 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.
To stiffen the snowflakes you will need white pva glue, stainless steel pins (or toothpicks), plastic wrap and some kind of foam/blocking board.

Instructions
Make a magic ring.

• Round 1: Ch 1, 12 sc in the ring, pull the thread end to tighten the ring and join with sl st in first sc.
• Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as tr), 1 tr in same stitch, 2 tr in next sc, * ch 3, 2 tr in each of next 2 sc; repeat from * 5 times, ch 3 and join with sl st in 4th ch of first ch4.
• Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next tr, * ch 3, sc in next 2 tr, in ch-3 sp work (sc, ch 3, tr, ch 8 and sl st in 8th ch from hook to create picot, tr, ch 3, sc) **, sc in 2 tr; repeat from * 5 times and from * to ** once more. Join with sl st in first sc.
• Round 4: Sl st in next sc and in ch-3 sp, ch 1, * in ch-3 sp work (2 sc, ch 6 and sl st in 6th ch from hook to create picot, 2 sc), ch 4, 3 sc in ch-8 loop, in same loop work (ch 6 and sl st in 6th ch from hook, 3 sc) 3 times, ch 4; repeat from * 6 times. Join with sl st in first sc.

Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

Blocking
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.