The Snow Storm Blanket: A Tapestry Crochet Hexagon Blanket Pattern

There is something quietly appealing about the idea of a snowflake blanket – not as a novelty, but as a proper winter throw. Something you could actually use on a cold evening, with a snowflake motif detailed enough to be worth looking at up close. That was the starting point for the Snow Storm Blanket: a tapestry crochet hexagon design, each motif carrying its own snowflake, all joined together as you go into a generous rectangular throw.

The pattern was first commissioned by Crochet Now magazine for their December issue, which was a lovely fit – they wanted frosty seasonal designs, and I had been wanting to make a tapestry crochet snowflake in hexagon form for a while. It came together naturally. The Snow Storm Blanket has since been republished in the Crochet Now Ultimate Blanket Collection supplement, which I was really pleased about.

The pattern is available on Etsy and Ravelry.

Where the Idea Came From

The brief from Crochet Now pointed me in a direction I was already looking. Hexagon motifs and tapestry crochet are a natural pairing – the hexagon’s geometry lends itself to the kind of symmetrical, repeated colourwork that tapestry crochet does well, and a snowflake fits perfectly within that framework. Snowflakes are radially symmetrical by nature, which means they translate cleanly into a hexagon motif without any awkward cropping or distortion.

What I wanted to capture was a particular kind of winter cosiness – the sort where you are warm inside and the weather is doing whatever it likes outside. A snowflake blanket that actually keeps you warm, rather than one that simply looks seasonal on a shelf. The finished throw is large enough to be genuinely useful: 138 x 191 cm, which is a comfortable size for curling up under.

What the Blanket Looks Like

The Snow Storm Blanket is created from 28 whole hexagons and 4 half hexagons, each one containing a single snowflake worked in tapestry crochet. The hexagons are joined as you go, so the blanket grows in a satisfying, continuous way – there is no pile of motifs waiting to be seamed at the end, which I find makes the whole project more enjoyable to work through.

The finished blanket is generally rectangular, with the two long sides having a gentle zig-zag. The combination of whole and half hexagons fills in the short edges to create straight sides there, rather than the stepped outline you get with an all-hexagon layout. It is a well-proportioned throw, wide enough to tuck around you properly.

I made my sample in Paintbox Simply DK in Tea Rose and Stormy Grey: a warm, muted pink as the background with a cooler grey for the snowflake detail. The contrast between them reads clearly without being stark. I also made a test hexagon in Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK in cream and navy, and the snowflake stands out very crisply in that combination – if you prefer a more classic winter palette, that would be a good direction to explore.

The Tapestry Crochet Technique in Hexagons

Tapestry crochet works by carrying unused yarn colours across the back of the work as you go, crocheting over them so they are enclosed within the stitches. When you need a colour, you simply pick it up – the carried yarn is already in place. The result is a fabric with good structure and clean colourwork on the right side.

The snowflake chart for each hexagon is included in the pattern. Written instructions are also provided in full – the chart is a visual reference, not a replacement for the written guide.

If you are new to tapestry crochet or would like to build your confidence with the technique before starting a project this size, the Tapestry Crochet hub has step-by-step guidance and linked tutorials.

Working tapestry crochet in hexagons rather than flat rows or continuous rounds introduces one additional consideration: you are working in shaped motifs, which means ends and joins are handled motif by motif. The join-as-you-go method in this pattern means each hexagon is attached to its neighbours during the final round of the motif itself, rather than afterwards. It takes a little concentration to follow the first time, but once the rhythm is established it becomes quite straightforward.

Pattern Details

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK – DK weight, 100% acrylic, 302 yards (276m) per 100g ball
• Yarn quantities (sample blanket): 10 balls Tea Rose (shade 142), 5 balls Stormy Grey (shade 104)
• Total yardage: approximately 4,527 yards (4,139m)
• Hook size: 3.5mm (US E)
• Gauge: 16 stitches and 9 rows = 10cm (4 inches) in rounds of tr stitches (UK) / dc stitches (US)
• Finished size: 138 x 191cm (approximately 54 x 75 inches)
• Construction: 28 hexagon motifs and 4 half hexagons, joined as you go
• Skill level: Intermediate
• Terminology: Both UK and US versions included as separate PDF files
• What’s included: Full written instructions, colourwork chart, schematic, comprehensive pattern notes, and links to video tutorials covering tapestry crochet techniques

Choosing Colours and Yarn

Colour contrast is the most important factor in tapestry crochet. The snowflake motif relies on the two colours reading as distinct from one another – if the contrast is low, the detail disappears into the background. As a general guide, hold the two yarns you are considering next to each other and half-close your eyes: if you can still clearly distinguish them, the contrast is sufficient.

The Tea Rose and Stormy Grey combination I used leans warm and soft rather than sharp. It reads as a winter palette without being cold – which suited what I was going for. Navy or charcoal against cream or off-white would give a crisper, more graphic result. A deep teal or forest green against a pale neutral would work beautifully if you wanted something a little less traditional.

Any DK weight yarn will work in this pattern, provided you can meet the gauge. Paintbox Simply DK is an affordable, widely available acrylic with good stitch definition, which makes it a sensible choice for a larger project. If you prefer a natural fibre, a DK-weight merino or wool blend with similar structure would be well suited – just swatch first, as natural fibres often need a slightly different hook size to achieve the same gauge.

For more on choosing colours for crochet blankets, this post on how to choose colours for your crochet blanket might be useful.

A Pattern with a History

The Snow Storm Blanket was originally commissioned by Crochet Now magazine and appeared in issue 63, published in December 2020. It was later selected for inclusion in the Crochet Now Ultimate Blanket Collection supplement (issue 108), which collects some of the magazine’s standout blanket patterns – a nice thing to be part of.

The pattern is now available directly via Etsy and Ravelry, with both UK and US term versions included.

Get the Pattern

The Snow Storm Blanket pattern is available on Etsy and Ravelry. Both include the full written instructions, chart, schematic, and video tutorial links.

New to Tapestry Crochet?

This pattern is rated intermediate – it assumes you are comfortable with the basic stitches and working motifs, but does not require prior tapestry crochet experience. The technique is well-explained within the pattern, and video tutorials are linked for the key methods.

If you would like a gentler introduction to tapestry crochet before taking on a project of this scale, the Tapestry Crochet hub is a good place to start – it covers everything from the basic technique to reading charts and managing yarn.

Explore More

For more blanket patterns and resources, the Crochet Blanket Resource Hub brings together tutorials, guides, and pattern ideas in one place.

If geometric blanket designs appeal to you, this post on geometric crochet blanket patterns has some good options to browse.

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About the Author

Catherine is a crochet designer based in Surrey, UK, specialising in tapestry crochet and colourwork blankets. Her work has been published in Crochet Now magazine, and she is a featured designer in the book 100 Crochet Tiles. She has designed patterns in collaboration with Sirdar and WeCrochet. You can find her patterns on Etsy and Ravelry, and her tutorials on YouTube.