SaveA snowflake that has not been stiffened curls into a small cotton crisp within a week. It is not a fault in the pattern. Crochet in thread has no structure of its own, and a flat piece with long unsupported arms will always cup toward whichever side dried first.
Part of our seasonal library.
So the pattern matters less than what you do afterwards. All twenty below work. Nine of them hold their shape reasonably well unstiffened, which is noted where it applies, and those are the ones to choose if you would rather skip the drying stage.
Classic six-point
Beginner30 min
Magic ring, six chain spokes, picots along each arm. The one everybody pictures.
Eight-point dense
Easy40 min
Heavier and more structural. Holds its shape unstiffened.
Simple beginner flake
Beginner20 min
Three rounds only. A good first attempt at working in thread.
Lacy star flake
Intermediate45 min
Long chain loops between the points. Beautiful and needs firm stiffening.
Solid centre flake
Beginner25 min
A filled middle with open arms. Holds its shape unstiffened.
Picot-edge flake
Easy35 min
Tiny picots all the way round the outside. Fiddly and worth it.
Double-layer flake
Intermediate50 min
Two flakes worked separately and stacked offset. Rigid without stiffener.
Chunky worsted flake
Beginner20 min
Worked in worsted rather than thread. Far quicker, far more forgiving, holds shape.
Beaded flake
Intermediate45 min
Seed beads strung on the thread before starting and worked in as you go.
Angular flake
Easy30 min
Straight arms with no curves. The easiest to block square.
Spiral flake
Intermediate40 min
Arms that curve the same direction. Needs stiffening or it twists further.
Tiny flake, 4 cm
Beginner15 min
For garlands and gift tags. The fastest here.
Large flake, 12 cm
Easy45 min
A window centrepiece. Stiffen this one hard, it is heavy.
Twelve-point
Advanced1 hour
Alternating long and short arms. The only genuinely difficult pattern on this list.
Openwork mesh flake
Easy35 min
Built from chain spaces rather than solid stitches. Very light, very floppy unstiffened.
Puff-centre flake
Easy35 min
Six puff stitches in the middle give it body. Holds shape unstiffened.
Star flake hybrid
Beginner25 min
Five points rather than six, so it reads as a star from a distance.
Snowflake coaster
Beginner30 min
Worked in worsted cotton at coaster size. Functional, holds shape, no stiffening.
Layered two-tone
Intermediate50 min
White over silver, offset. Structural because of the double thickness.
Gift tag flake
Beginner15 min
A small flake with a chain loop, tied onto a parcel instead of a bow.
Stiffening, tested
Four methods, and they are genuinely different. Pin the piece out on foam with rustproof pins while it dries, whichever you use.
| Method | Mix | Dries | Lasts | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar water | 2 parts sugar to 1 water, boiled | 12 hours | One season | Slightly tacky in damp rooms |
| PVA glue | 1 part glue to 1 water | 6 hours | Years | Firm, dries clear |
| Commercial stiffener | Neat | 4 hours | Years | Rigid, almost plastic |
| Spray starch | Neat, several coats | 1 hour | Weeks | Soft, needs redoing |
Use rustproof or plastic-headed pins. An ordinary steel dressmaking pin leaves a brown rust mark on wet white cotton within hours, and it does not wash out.
If you want to skip stiffening entirely, work in worsted cotton rather than thread. The flake comes out about 10 cm across, holds its own shape, and takes a third of the time.
Questions
How do I stiffen crochet snowflakes?
PVA glue diluted one to one with water is the best balance. Soak the flake, squeeze out the excess, pin it flat on foam and leave it six hours.
Can I use sugar water to stiffen crochet?
Yes, two parts sugar to one part water, boiled and cooled. It lasts a season and goes slightly tacky in a damp room, but it composts.
What thread is best for snowflakes?
Size 10 cotton thread on a 1.75 mm hook for classic small flakes. Worsted cotton on a 4.0 mm hook if you want them bigger and quicker.
Why do my snowflakes curl?
They have not been stiffened, or they were dried without pinning. Crochet thread has no structure of its own and long arms always cup.
How long does a crochet snowflake take?
Fifteen minutes for a small one, up to an hour for a twelve-point in thread.
Can I wash stiffened snowflakes?
No. Washing removes the stiffener. Dust them with a soft brush and re-stiffen every few years if they soften.