How to Knit Snowflakes

Crocheting is a better method to get light, lacy snowflakes.

The delicate pattern of a snowflake is easier to replicate with crochet than with knitting. That said, there are a few projects that create a snowflake pattern on a more solid background, either with color variation or with raised stitches. These projects can be used as decorations or housewares, depending on the type of yarn you use. To change the size of the snowflake, use smaller needles and a lighter-weight yarn. For a larger snowflake, use larger needles and heavier yarn.

Things You'll Need

• Size 8 knitting needles
• 1 ball worsted weight yarn
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. Cast on 158 stitches. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit one, (yarn over, purl two together) 12 times, knit one. Knit one. This is row one.

   To start row two, purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl one, knit 24, purl one. Purl one in the last stitch.

2. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, purl one, slip one stitch onto the cable needle and keep it to the front of your work, purl the next two stitches, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl five, slip two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it to the back of your work, knit the next two stitches, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, purl five, slip two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it to the back of your work, knit one, purl the two stitches on the cable needle, purl one, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row three. You should now have 146 stitches on your needle.

3. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit four, purl one, knit five, purl four, knit five, purl one, knit four. Purl in the last stitch. This is row four.

4. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, purl two, slip one stitch onto the cable needle and keep it to the front of your work, purl the next two stitches, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl one, slip two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it to the back of your work, knit the next two stitches, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it toward the front of your work, knit two stitches, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, purl one1, slip two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it to the back of your work, knit one, purl the two stitches on the cable needle, purl two, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row five. You should now have 134 stitches on your needle.

5. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit five, purl one, knit one, purl eight, knit one, purl one, knit five. Purl in the last stitch. This is row six.

6. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, purl three, slip two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back of your work, knit two, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, knit four, slip two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it toward the front, knit two, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, purl three, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row seven. You should now have 122 stitches on your needle.

7. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit four, purl 12, knit four. Purl in the last stitch. This is row eight.

8. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: Purl two together, slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle toward the back of your work, knit two, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, slip one stitch onto the cable needle toward the front, purl two stitches, knit the stitch on the cable needle, knit two, slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle and hold it toward the back, knit one, purl the two stitches on the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle and hold it in the front, knit the next two stitches, knit the two stitches on the cable needle, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row nine. You should have 110 stitches on your needle.

9. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit seven, purl four, knit seven. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 10.

10. Knit onoe. Repeat the following pattern six times: Purl two together, purl five, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep in to the front, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it to the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl five, purl two together. Knit the last stitch. This is row 11. You should have 98 stitches on your needle.

11. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit six, purl four, knit six. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 12.

12. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: Purl two together, Slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the front, purl two stitches, knit the stitch on the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep toward the front, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit the next stitch, purl the two stitches on the cable needle, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 13. You should have 86 stitches on your needle.

13. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit three, purl eight, knit three. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 14.

14. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, purl one, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, knit one, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, knit one, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the front, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl one, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 15. You should now have 74 stitches on your needle.

15. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit two, purl eight, knit two. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 16.

16. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl one, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit one, knit the stitch on the cable needle, knit two, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit one, knit the stitch on the cable needle, knit two, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the front, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl one. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 17. you should still have 74 stitches on your needle.

17. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit five, purl two, knit five. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 18.

18. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, purl three, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl three, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 19. You should have 62 stitches on your needle.

19. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: Knit four, purl two, knit four. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 20.

20. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, purl two, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl two, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 21. You should have 50 stitches on your needle.

21. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit three, purl two, knit three. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 22.

22. Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: purl two together, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the back, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto the cable needle and keep it toward the front, knit the next stitch, knit the stitch on the cable needle, purl two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 23. You should have 38 stitches on your needle.

23. Purl one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit one, purl four, knit one. Purl in the last stitch. This is row 24.

    Knit one. Repeat the following pattern six times: knit two together, knit two, knit two together. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 25. You should have 26 stitches on your needle.

24. Purl 26 stitches. This is row 26.

    Knit one. knit two together 12 times. Knit in the last stitch. This is row 27. You should have 14 stitches on your needle.

25. Purl 14 stitches.This is row 28. Break yarn and draw though all 14 loops on your needle with a tapestry needle.. Pull tightly and knot. Use the tail to sew the seam.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your finished snowflake as a trivet or potholder.

References

• Berroco: Snowflake
• Tia Judy: Snowflake Star; Judy Gibson; October 2002