I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I put up my Christmas tree on the 30th November this year... I usually have a not-before-Dec-1st rule, but I've just been feeling so festive this season that I threw caution to the wind and said, what the hey, nothing wrong with feeling festive, and I marched right out, got a tree, and decorated the hell out of it. And it felt gooood. 

I make these crochet snowflakes every year*, and am always amazed at how easily and quickly they come together. This time around I actually timed myself and I can officially announce that each snowflake takes 4 minutes and 16 seconds start to finish, so I think it's safe to say that in one short evening you could end up with enough of these bad boys to decorate the entire house. If that's not festive, I don't know what is.

You will need:

• White / ivory / cream / yarn. We used Wool and the Gang Jersey Be Good, which creates satisfyingly chunky snowflakes that work just as well as coasters as they do decorations!
• The relevant size hook, as dictated by your choice of yarn. Remember, the chunkier your yarn and hook, the bigger your snowflake
• Scissors to cut the yarn when you're done
• String to hang your snowflakes decorations (optional)

How to make a crochet snowflake

Chain 6. Join in the first stitch with a slip stitch to make a loop.

Round 1: Chain 3 – this forms your first mock treble. 1 treble into the centre of your loop. Chain 3, *make 2 trebles into the centre, chain 3. Repeat from * 3 more times so that you end up with 5 clusters of 2 trebles, each separated by a chain 3 bridge.

Close the round with a slip stitch at the top of the first chain 3.

Round 2: Slip stitch over to the first available chain 3 space – this should be no more than 2 slip stitches. To make the picots in each chain 3 space: chain 3, double crochet into the chain 3 space, chain 6, double crochet, chain 3, double crochet. Slip stitch over to the next chain 3 space and repeat the picot.

When you come to the end of the round, seal with a slip stitch and tie off your yarn.

At this point, you could either use the tail of yarn to create a hanging loop, or you could weave that tail in and use some sparky gold embroidery thread, or that lovely red and white bakers twine, to string a whole bunch of them up to hang as a garland. Or, stick the kettle on and use your snowflake as a coaster!

*If you're a total crochet virgin, London-based and don't want to miss out on all the crochet snowflake fun, I'll be teaching a class at The Village Haberdashery on Thursday 3rd Dec 7-9pm. Come say hi!