How I Create Snowflakes

Creating a snowflake is a LOT of work!

Step 1: First I choose the pattern out of a book, and crochet the snowflake with a very thin yarn called crochet thread, using a tiny crochet hook (or needle). It takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to crochet one snowflake.




Step 2: This is what a snowflake looks like after it's been crocheted. Just a lump!




Step 3: I then soak the snowflake in a mixture of fabric stiffener (a glue) and water.




Step 4: I squeeze all the excess moisture out of the snowflake (ending up with hands covered in glue!), and place it on my prepared board. (I used a quilting board covered in plastic wrap.)




Step 5: Then I have to stretch the snowflake out and put a pin in every single little edge, or it won't look right. This particular snowflake required 60 pins!!! By the way, you have to use rust-free pins. Since those aren't made anymore, I had to buy some old ones on ebay. If I don't use a rust-free pin, the pin will actually rust and leave a mark on the snowflake.




Step 6: I stretch & pin 15 to 20 snowflakes at a time. It's a pain!!! It takes anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours just to pin 15 snowflakes!




Step 7: After all the snowflakes dry, I have to pull the pins out. Also a pain! And then I add some fishing line to hang each one. It takes about an hour to remove the pins and add the hanger to 15 snowflakes. And here's the finished product: a stiffened snowflake you can hang on your tree or in a window.

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