This trefoil crochet snowflake combines six open petals with six small clover-shaped tips. Powder blue gives the lace a clear outline on pale wood or ivory fabric. Long chain spaces connect the outer fans, leaving plenty of room around the center.
Two joined rounds form the motif. Pairs of double crochet stitches and chain loops establish the foundation; the next round adds five-stitch fans, connecting arches, and trefoils. Each trefoil has three equal loops anchored to the same treble crochet stitch.
This is an original interpretation inspired by the supplied reference, rather than a transcription of its photograph or chart. The written counts and diagrams describe this two-round version. The stitch arithmetic has been checked, but the design has not been physically crocheted or tested.
Trefoil Crochet Snowflake Materials
- Smooth powder blue cotton yarn, or cotton thread for a finer decoration.
- A crochet hook suitable for the strand you choose.
- A tapestry needle, scissors, and a removable stitch marker.
- A blocking surface and rustproof pins.
- Optional thin hanging cord and a stiffener suitable for your yarn.
A firm, smooth strand makes the three tiny loops at each tip easier to separate. Choose one yarn weight for the whole motif and keep the same hook throughout. No measured gauge, finished diameter, or yarn consumption is supplied; the yarn, hook, tension, and shaping determine the finished size.
This pattern suits a crocheter comfortable with joined rounds and finding the top of a tall stitch. The small trefoils require more attention than the open chain spaces. Work the first motif slowly and check the six repeats before making a set.
US Abbreviations and Stitch Notes
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- sp(s) = space(s)
The Craft Yarn Council abbreviation guide explains the standard US terms. Work both rounds with the same side facing you; do not turn. The beginning ch 3 in each round counts as one dc. Slip stitches used for joining, repositioning, and closing trefoil loops are not additional dc or tr stitches.
Treble crochet
Yarn over twice, insert the hook in the indicated space, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through two loops three times. Each fan has one tr at its center, taller than the two dc on either side.
Trefoil: three loops in one anchor
After completing the central tr, identify its top V. Ch 3, then sl st under both loops of that same top V. Repeat [ch 3, sl st under both loops of the same tr top] twice more. You now have three small loops sharing one anchor. Spread them gently with your fingers before continuing.
For the second and third closing slip stitches, return to the original tr top. Do not insert the hook into the first chain of the previous loop or into the previous closing slip stitch. A marker placed loosely through the tr top can help identify the anchor; remove it before making the closing stitches.
Trefoil Crochet Snowflake Counts
| Round | Working stitches | Chain spaces and tips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 dc in six pairs | Six ch-5 petal spaces |
| 2 | 24 dc and 6 tr | Six ch-5 bridges and six trefoils |
The dc totals include the beginning ch 3. Round 1 therefore uses eleven actual dc stitches plus that beginning chain. Round 2 uses twenty-three actual dc stitches, its beginning ch 3, and six tr stitches. Each trefoil has three ch-3 loops, so six trefoils contain eighteen loops altogether.
Free Two-Round Trefoil Crochet Snowflake Pattern
Round 1: six paired-stitch petals
Make an MR. Ch 3, then dc into the ring. Ch 5. Repeat [2 dc into the ring, ch 5] five times. Close the ring gently and join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. 12 dc in six pairs, with six ch-5 spaces.
Arrange the pairs evenly around the ring before pulling the tail firmly. Each pair has two separate stitch tops, while the ch 5 between pairs makes an open petal. Do not crochet those five chains back into the ring; they remain a free loop between the groups.
Move into the first petal
Sl st into the next dc, then sl st around the following ch-5 space. These two slip stitches move the hook from the first dc top into the first open petal. They do not add another pair or chain space.
Round 2: six fans with clover tips
In the same ch-5 petal space, work: ch 3, dc, tr, trefoil, 2 dc. The beginning ch 3 counts as the first dc, so this fan has two dc, one tr, and two more dc. Make the entire trefoil at the tr top before returning to the petal space for the final two dc.
Ch 5 to bridge to the next petal. Repeat [work (2 dc, tr, trefoil, 2 dc) around the next ch-5 petal space, ch 5] five times. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Fasten off. Six five-stitch fans: 24 dc, 6 tr, six trefoils, and six ch-5 connecting bridges.
All five tall stitches of each fan go around one petal space. The trefoil closes into the tr top, while the final two dc return to the original petal space below. Leave the Round 1 dc tops unworked when crossing from one fan to the next.
The final ch 5 is essential: it connects the last fan to the first and matches the other five outer bridges. Do not add another fan beside the join. Count six clover tips, then six bridges, before weaving in the outer tail.
Check One Complete Repeat
Follow a single arm from the center outward. Two neighboring dc pairs support one ch-5 petal space. The next round fills that space with five tall stitches. The middle tr carries three small loops, and a separate ch-5 bridge connects the completed fan to its neighbor.
Six fans multiplied by four dc give 24 dc. Six fans multiplied by one tr give 6 tr. The trefoils contribute 54 chains: six tips × three loops × three chains. The six outer bridges add another 30 chains. These chain totals stay separate from the thirty working tall stitches in Round 2.
Finishing and Shaping the Lace
Weave in the ends
Thread the center tail through the backs of several dc stitches, change direction, and weave it through again before trimming. Hide the outer tail through solid fan stitches rather than across a chain opening. Keep the fabric flat as you work so the hidden yarn does not draw one arm inward.
Block the six arms evenly
If the yarn care instructions permit damp blocking, lightly dampen the motif and press out excess water without wringing. Place the center flat on the blocking surface. Arrange the six tips around it, aligning each pair of opposite arms through the center.
Pin the fans into position before opening the tiny trefoils. Then separate the three loops on each tip so they resemble a clover. Open the six petal spaces and the six outer bridges gently. Avoid pulling one long bridge tighter than the others; that can tilt the neighboring fans.
Let the motif dry completely before removing the pins. Blocking helps arrange the lace, but it cannot correct a missing chain space or an extra fan. If a section remains uneven, check its count and anchor locations before applying more tension.
Optional stiffener and hanging cord
For a firmer ornament, choose a product suitable for your fiber and follow its directions. Test it on a yarn scrap first to see how it affects color and texture. Follow the yarn label for any cleaning or heat treatment.
Pass a thin hanging cord around solid fan stitches immediately below one trefoil and tie it into a loop. Support the cord across nearby stitches instead of hanging the weight from one tiny clover loop. Lift the ornament gently to check the balance and attachment before displaying it.
Troubleshooting the Trefoil Crochet Snowflake
The center has five petals
Round 1 begins with one pair and is followed by five repeats, making six pairs altogether. Each pair must be followed by ch 5, including the last one before joining. A missing final loop leaves no space for the sixth fan.
The trefoil looks like three links in a chain
Each ch-3 loop must return to the same original tr top. Closing the next loop into the previous loop makes a chain of loops instead of a clover. Undo the trefoil to the tr top, identify both loops of its V, and remake the three closures there.
The hook will not fit into the trefoil anchor
Keep the closing slip stitches relaxed. They secure the loops without needing to cinch tightly around the tr top. If the first closure is too tight, undo it before adding the other two; forcing the hook through can split the yarn or distort the tall stitch.
The outer edge pulls inward
Check that every fan is followed by five chains. The tiny ch-3 trefoil loops do not replace those bridges. If the counts are correct, compare your chain tension with your dc tension and remake an unusually tight bridge before blocking.
One tip is taller than the others
Each fan has one tr surrounded by two dc on each side. An extra tr changes the fan profile. Also check that every trefoil uses three equal ch-3 loops; longer chains at one tip can make that arm appear stretched even when the fan count is correct.
More Winter Motifs
For separate short and long picots, try the three-round picot fan snowflake. The puff stitch snowflake adds raised texture, while a two-round crochet star gives an ornament set a different outline.
Pins and Trefoil Crochet Snowflake Charts
The complete paper chart shows both rounds, including the beginning chains and the three loops at each tip. The second paper chart enlarges one fan. The final panel explains the shared trefoil anchor. Colors distinguish rounds or details for reading; the ornament itself uses one yarn color. Follow the written joins and counts when working the charts.
