White Hooky Snowflakes

Morning All :o)

Yes, its the Whitey-white Reveal today, and of course you were all absolutely right when you guessed I've been crocheting Snowflakes. White snowflakes no less. Made with All White yarn and not a bit of colour in sight (although was mighty tempted to try these out in coloured yarn I must admit).

 

So....do you like my little venture into the World of Whiteness??

I really am thrilled with these snowflakes, I think they are just so festive, simple and pretty. And such fun to make, oh-oh-oh yes a lot of fun. And addictive too, so hard to make only a few. Much easier to make a whole snow storm.

Over the weekend I found myself slipping gently into a snowflake-making frenzy. A quiet, peaceful, happy frenzy, but my goodness, I found I could not stop making them. One after another I turned them out, trying out different sized hooks, making little piles of flakes all over the table. It really began to feel like it was snowing here at Attic24.

Did I tell you how ThRiLlEd I am with making these? And how much fun they are? And how addictive they are? Did I, did I??!!!

So anyhow, I need to tell you a little bit more about how I came to get started with making snowflakes....

Some weeks ago I received a comment on one of my posts from a very nice lady called Victoria. She thought (quite rightly too) that I might rather enjoy a spot of snowflake making, and gave me a link to a free pattern on the "Coats and Clark" website. This website has loads of free projects and patterns for all types of needlecraft, and seems to me to be a really super resource.

It took me a while to get round to trying this pattern out, and I confess I did not find it easy. I don't know about you, but I find there's something about the way crochet patterns are written which always makes them seem over complicated to me. I kind of get a brain-freeze, do you know what I mean?

I sat and tried to work this snowflake out, and I found that for the most part the pattern was excellent, but the way each round started out was very confusing. So I made a few slight alterations, scribbbling notes as I went, until I was happy with how it was working for me. I didn't change it enormously, just enough to simplify it and defrost my brain-freeze.

So please know honestly that this is not entirely my pattern. The original can be found on the Coats and Crafts website HERE, and I give full credit to the lovely Mary Jane Protus for sharing her pattern with us all.

 

After making many, many of these snowflakes, I decided that I very much wanted to share my version with you. Cos I do know many of you suffer from Crochet Pattern Brain Freeze just like me, and that a simple pattern can often seem imPOSSible to crack.
So I wrote my pattern out in plain non-abbreviated English and photographed the step-by-step making stages so that you will all be able to give it a go.

As with all my patterns and tutorials, you can find this one in my sidebar down at the bottom, listed as a page, or click HERE.

I'm hoping you're going to like it and that you'll be inspired to seek out some white yarn and hook up a snowstorm.....I'm planning on stringing my flakes vertically (with some silver beads I think) and hanging them in my bay window. Pretty-pretty.

Oh, and just before I go, a little note about the above photo.....as I mentioned in yesterday's post, the joy of spray-starch for projects such as this is not to be underestimated. You can see the difference it makes...a little stretching, pinning and starching and these snowflakes are transformed. Victoria also suggested to me that the flakes could be stiffened by pinning them out and painting them with diluted PVA glue, then sprinkling them with glitter.......gosh, now that would probably tip me over the edge into Complete Giddiness, but I may have to give it a go anyway.

How to resist the combined charms of crochet and glitter????

Impossible!

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edited to add :: don't forget you can share your photos over at the Attic24 Inspired Flickr group. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to bob in there and see new photos being added every day...lots of gorgeous Birdies, stars, wrist warmers, summer garden squares, bags, ripples....and I hope soon some snowflakes!

One more thing :: the spray starch I'm using is called "Astonish", it came from a cheap discount shop and only cost £1 for a large bottle. It's a blue spray bottle (ie a bottle with a trigger, not an aerosol), and you can find it to buy on line here. It works brilliantly, making the crochet fairly stiff and crispy without being rock hard or sticky.

Comments

[thepiglady]

I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you! You are so kind a so very generous always sharing your lovely patterns (or adapted patterns!) and you are very much appreciated - I am off now to add to my star garlands with snowflake garlands! hugs for a lovely day, Debs xx

[Jules]

These are fab Lucy!

[Bárbara - Portugal]

I have been very much inspired by you. I love knitting and hated crochet but since I know your blog I am truly addicted.
Thank you so much,

[Lindy]

Hi Lucy,

I just came across your blog by chance and just love it. The colours you use are inspirational!

Lindy
Australia

[Jude]

Love these so much! The pattern is printing as I type and already found the glittery wool I had bought on holiday in Denmark 2 years ago, for no specific purpose other than it would be good for something Christmassy!
I am lucky enough to be going on a very short spa break today-but don't think I will be in the gym much, but hooking by the pool(and that's something as I am a knitter through and through)
Thank you so much-have a lovely day!
Jude

[Cazza of North Queensland, Australia]

These are great! Thanks again for so generously sharing ideas and patterns with us all.

I'm also going to make snowflakes using the stars you showed us recently - I found a six-pointed version on the Attic24-inspired group on flickr - and they are very cute, too.

Thanks again, I love popping in to the attic from time to time. :-)

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Your snowflakes look great, Lucy!!!
Have you been at this site?
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=104&d_id=44&lang=en

I have done so many of these, they are addictive too. But now I know what to do today!! Thanks!!!

Love Anna xxx

[louise]

ooooh i love them. We're putting up the christmas tree at the weekend so i might just have to make some glitery sparkly ones.
I might make some for the staff room at work too :)
Thanks Lucy x

[lykkejoe]

simply beautiful!but then i knew they would be. i´ll try one right after fixing lunch for the guys!thank you so much lucy.xo,j.

[Emma]

Thank you so much for sharing - your blog is so inspiring! Looking forward to having a go at these :)

[Debbie]

They are really lovely Lucy. Thank you for sharing the pattern. I am off to find some white yarn right now!

[Nicky in Enfield]

Hi Lucy,

Afer seeing your gorgeous stars last week, I went looking for a snowflake pattern and found the same Coats & Clark one. Bought some very snowy yarn which is difficult to crochet with but give amazing fluffy snowy flakes. It's chunky so I decided to do just the first two rounds. Works a treat. Unfortunately I'm not as quick as you so have only made a couple so far.

You are an inspiration and you brighten my days in the office. Your blog is a lovely lunchtime treat. Many thanks.

[SparklePetal]

They are just delightful! I had a go at the Coats and Clark pattern after reading Victoria's comment here and I will be very interested to compare your method! I must say I am so spoiled by your fantastic tutorials that when I look at any other pattern I do get the old 'brain freeze' and have to really make myself sit down and try it out. Thanks for spoiling us once again with a beautifully presented tutorial!

[Jenny]

Oooohhhh Lucy!! Fabulous, I feel a little snow flake session coming on, erm after the hosue work, I promise :-S x x x

[Siobhan]

I LOVE your pattern Lucy! I can't wait to try it so I can have 2 types in my garland. It's all about what is left out of patterns isn't it? - like what chain exactly, and join what to where. Sometimes I have brain ache with patterns and sometimes I don't. I like to be treated like the idiot I know I am - nothing too obvious for me! Sometimes, well it can all be a bit arghhh!! I love my snowflakes I have done already but I think I like yours even better with their longer shaping so I can't wait. I am being told to stick pale blue iridescent sequins on mine to make them shimmer a bit, which does look nice but I'm not sure they need it. My window is titchy so I will have them going all across with some dropped down underneath. So much excitement to have with them! Silver beads sounds lovely, and so pretty. I have beaded the stars - mine are only one colour. The Christmas trees are fully decked out too. All lovely fun to do. Thank you so much for all your hard work in putting the tutorial together - I know it will be just perfect and step by step. In the olden days before we were all born they used sugar water to stiffen such things. I'm off to start on my new snowflakes now, I'm so glad you posted early today!

[EMMA ANGEL]

Dearest Lucy, thank you so much for the tutorial. I have been looking for something like this for a while now but have struggled because they all seem to use very thin yarn. I am terrible when it comes to skimpy yarn as i get in total kerfuffle and lose my way.
I would like ask you which starch you have used? I tried to starch a couple of things last week with a starch that came in a an aerosol but it just sat on the top of the wool and left a sort of greasy feel. Not nice at all.
I hope you don't me asking.
I would have emailed but have been unable to find an email address. My brain does not function in this cold weather!
Love and kindest regards Emma x

[Kelly]

I was up early, early before the sun this morning and hoped to be the first to say WOW! But alas, look at all these lovers of hooking commenting here on your blog. Lucy, you delight us with each post. I love the snowflakes and am running back to my blog right now to add your link to my tutorials list to share and to remind me that I should hook up some of these for myself. Maybe on a snowy day as that is bound to happen one day very soon! ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[Nina - Tabiboo]

'Oh-oh-oh' in return Lucy, they are adorable.

Nina x

[Isobel]

I think you must have mind reading powers, hehe. I was looking for a crochet snowflake pattern and what I find here today?! Thank you so much and I am definitely giving it a go.
xx

[Shelley in SC]

Oooh, I do LOVE the idea of hanging the snowflakes vertically and interspersed with silver beads! Then throw in the glitter. Wow! Sounds beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

[Carole]

OMG Lucy STOP i can`t keep up ha ha! My arthritis in my hand is killing me!! The snow flakes are sooo gorgeous. I`ll just have to fight through the pain and make some. You really are soo inspirational. Fab Fab!!
Thanks for your brilliant blogs
Love Carole from Rossendale
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[Sarah]

Ooh thank you! These are very pretty. I'm tempted to make a nice snowflake garland for the fireplace, think they will look lovely!

You mentioned the spray starch, where would one purchase it and what brand do you use?

[Rachel]

Hi Lucy
Love the snowflakes, so delicate! I saw this on Flickr and thought of you!/iamshttp://www.flickr.com/photosusie/4121661411/ Just in case you were tempted by colourful backgrounds
Happy hookin
Rachel x

[Siobhan]

P.S... Sorry, me again! (reporting back from the coal-face as it were). Your pattern is brilliant - irons out all the tricky little bits; so clever! Really really clear instructions and pictures; everyone can do this - a fantastic first pattern to try as it tells you exactly what to do and you will be thrilled with your snow flakes.

[Rachel]

Oh sorry, the link didn't work but it's in my flickr favourites if yo get time to take a peek!
Rachel (again)