Welcome to Grandma’s Crafts! White crochet snowflakes are a lovely way to bring handmade details into your Christmas decorating. This Snowflake Ornament by Katherine Eng has a delicate-looking outline, with open spaces and small loops that show beautifully against green tree branches.
Unlike the fine-thread snowflakes you may have seen, this version uses Red Heart Super Saver yarn. It offers a different starting point for anyone who enjoys a decorative ornament but would prefer to work with a regular yarn and a larger hook. Keep the original PDF close by for the full four-round pattern.
The slightly fuller stitches give this snowflake a cozy charm while still leaving plenty of open space in the design. White is a classic choice, but cream or pale blue could look lovely alongside your favorite decorations. Try placing your finished ornament against a few different backgrounds to see where its details stand out best.
This is also a nice project to keep between your larger crochet makes. You can enjoy working on a small decoration without committing to a whole blanket or a long list of pieces to join. Make one first to get familiar with the pattern, then decide whether you’d like a matching set or a few in different colors.
A finished snowflake can become more than a tree ornament. Tie one to a wrapped gift, add it to a winter wreath, or share a few with someone who loves handmade decorations. Those little touches can make holiday preparations feel more personal, especially when the recipient knows you made them with your own hands.
A Single Design with Lots of Decorating Possibilities
The stated finished size is 5 inches in diameter, approximately 12.7 cm. It is large enough to notice on a tree without needing an oversized decoration, and its white outline can stand out among traditional red, green, or gold ornaments.
The original pattern is rated Easy. That does not mean you need only one stitch: the design includes single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, chains, and slip stitches. Understanding those US crochet terms before beginning makes the short pattern more comfortable to follow.
The ornament is worked outward from a small starting ring. Its layers of chain spaces, grouped stitches, and decorative loops build the final outline. The complete placement of those elements stays in the PDF, where the repeats and joining instructions can be followed together.
Materials Used in the Original Pattern
The source lists one skein of Red Heart Super Saver in White (311) and a 3.75 mm crochet hook, US F/5. A yarn needle is also required for weaving in the ends. The listed solid-color skein contains 7 oz (198 g) and 364 yards (333 m).
That is a supply listing, not a statement that one snowflake consumes the entire skein. The PDF does not give a per-ornament yardage or an exact number of ornaments per skein, so avoid planning a large batch from an assumed yield.
You will also need scissors and a hanging loop of your choice. The pattern explicitly leaves the loop choice to the maker. A small loop of suitable thread or yarn can be discreet, while a narrow ribbon can become part of your decorating palette.
Why This Is Different from a Thread Snowflake
Regular yarn makes a fuller-looking ornament than fine crochet thread. The resulting stitches are easier to see in the sample and give the white decoration a soft, substantial appearance. If you substitute thread, you are changing the scale and character of the piece, not simply choosing another white material.
For a yarn substitution, compare its thickness and the clarity of the stitch pattern. A smooth yarn helps the openwork stay visible. A fuzzy yarn may blur the little loops, while a much thicker yarn can produce a larger ornament that behaves differently on the branch.
The 3.75 mm hook is the source starting point. Judge a substitute by the fabric and the finished measurement rather than by whether its label recommends the same hook.
Download the Free Pattern PDF
Keep the original pattern nearby for the complete stitch instructions, counts, and finishing directions. The notes below help you plan your project and choose materials.
This PDF uses the finished ornament as its gauge reference: the snowflake should measure 5 inches in diameter. There is no separate stitches-and-rows swatch measurement to match. Measure the finished piece arranged gently flat, rather than pulling the points outward until they reach the target.
Keep the chains even and comfortable. Some joining stitches also form the final loop of a round, so the ending can look different from a simple slip-stitch join. Read the whole round before beginning and note where that join belongs.
A paper clip or removable marker can help you keep track of an anchor stitch if you pause midway through a round. Avoid placing it through a strand in a way that splits the yarn; the small open loops look tidier when their strands remain intact.
Choosing a Color and a Place to Display It
White gives the most familiar winter appearance and makes an easy companion to ornaments you already own. Against green branches, the holes in the crochet become part of the design, with the darker background showing through them.
Cream or pale blue could make a softer variation. If you choose a metallic or textured yarn, test one ornament first to see whether the small loops remain readable. A little shine can be festive, but the yarn still needs to work comfortably with the chosen hook.
Beyond the tree, try a snowflake on a wrapped present, a winter wreath, or a ribbon hung across a small display. These are decorative suggestions for the finished ornament, not additional projects included in the PDF.
Finishing Tips for a Neat Ornament
Weave in the ends securely on the back without pulling the center or the points out of shape. Take the time to check the final join, because a small ornament has little space to hide an untidy tail.
Attach the hanging loop to a sturdy location and keep its size appropriate for your branch or hook. A very long loop may make the snowflake hang lower than you expect; a short loop may be awkward to place on a thick branch.
The original PDF does not require fabric stiffener. If you decide you want a firmer decoration, treat stiffening as an optional experiment and check that the product is suitable for your chosen yarn. Test one ornament before treating a full batch.
Making a Small Holiday Collection
Work one complete snowflake before planning a larger set. That first piece gives you a useful reference for tension, size, and how the hanging loop sits. Set it beside later ornaments to check their consistency without expecting every handmade stitch to look identical.
You could keep a few for your tree and use others as reusable gift toppers. Choose simple wrapping so the crochet remains easy to see, and include a note if the recipient might not realize the decoration can be kept.
Store finished ornaments flat when possible, with hanging loops tucked neatly beside them. Follow your actual yarn’s care instructions and allow any washed or treated decoration to dry completely before putting it away.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Save the Pattern for Your Next Craft Session
Ready to make your own? Download the PDF below and read through the original directions before you begin. You can print it or keep it open beside your work so the pattern is easy to follow.
Pattern credit: Snowflake Ornament by Katherine Eng for Red Heart/Coats & Clark, pattern RHC0518-022203M. Materials, size, and skill level follow the supplied PDF.
