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Lace Snowflake (R4)

lace snow-flake against cloudy sky

Lace snowflakes are delicate decorations that look especially good when hung up against the light.

A printable version of this pattern is available.

You will need:

  • white thread (lace weight yarn or sewing cotton)
  • silver beading wire
  • glue / clear nail varnish
  • 4 x double ended knitting needles (2mm)
  • tapestry needle
  • scissors
  • needle nose pliers

Pattern:

Cast on 6 stitches and divide them evenly between three needles. Join into a round and then begin.

(A list of abbreviations is available.)

  1. Row 1: [kfb] x 6 (12)
  2. Row 2 and all following even rows: k –
  3. Row 3: [yfwd, k1] x 12 (24)
  4. Row 5: [k1, yfwd, k1, yfwd, k2] x 6 (36)
  5. Row 7: [yfwd, k2togtbl, yfwd, k1, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, k1] x 6 (48)
  6. Row 9: [k1, yfwd, k2togtbl, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2] x 6 (48)
  7. Row 11: [yfwd, k2togtbl, yfwd, k3, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, k1] x 6 (60)
  8. Row 13: [k1, yfwd, k2togtbl, yfwd, sl1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, k2] x 6 (60)

If you would like to make a small snowflake, you can skip straight to Making Up. For a larger snowflake, continue as follows.

  1. Row 15: [{yfwd, k2togtbl}x2, yfwd, k1, yfwd, {k2tog, yfwd}x2, k1] x 6 (72)
  2. Row 17: [k1, {yfwd, k2togtbl}x2, k1, {k2tog, yfwd}x2, k2] (72)
  3. Row 19: [{yfwd, k2togtbl}x2, yfwd, k3, yfwd, {k2tog, yfwd}x2, k1] x 6 (84)
  4. Row 21: [k1, {yfwd, k2togtbl}x2, yfwd, sl1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, {k2tog, yfwd}x2, k2] x 6 (84)

If you would like to make the snowflake even bigger then all following rounds are based on rows 15 to 22. Simply add a further multiple of the section in {curly brackets} and repeat. For example the next part of the pattern is

  1. Row 23: [{yfwd, k2togtbl}x3, yfwd, k1, yfwd, {k2tog, yfwd}x3, k1] x 6 (72)
  2. Row 25: [k1, {yfwd, k2togtbl}x3, k1, {k2tog, yfwd}x3, k2] (72)
  3. Row 27: [{yfwd, k2togtbl}x3, yfwd, k3, yfwd, {k2tog, yfwd}x3, k1] x 6 (84)
  4. Row 29: [k1, {yfwd, k2togtbl}x3, yfwd, sl1, k2tog, psso, yfwd, {k2tog, yfwd}x3, k2] x 6 (84)

Continue until the snowflake is the size you want. Do not cast off. Go straight to Making Up.

Making Up:

Take your silver wire and begin transferring stitches onto it from the double ended needles. Be very careful. I once let go of the wire by mistake and dropped half the stitches of a giant snowflake. Lace knitting is hell to pick up once dropped. I said a very bad word.

Once all the stitches are on a loop of wire you can spread them out so that the snowflake is pulled taught and you can see the pattern.

Next make the loop to hang your snowflake. Trim the wire so that it has a couple of inches spare at either end.

Diagram showing the start position of wires.

Use the pliers to bend one length of wire into a loop.

Diagram showing a wire bent into a loop.

Wrap the second length of wire around the first for a neat finish.

Diagram showing how the wire wraps around the loop.

There are two loose ends of thread left. Tie them off and dab the knot with a tiny amount of glue or clear nail polish to fix it in place. Work a short length of thread back into the pattern then trim.

Notes:

Needle/Yarn Size

As with most ODDknit patterns the yarn and needle sizes in the "you will need" section are just a guide. Feel free to improvise with whatever needles and yarn you have lying around - that's half the fun!