Abbreviations: ds  ~ double stitch, R ~ ring rw ~ reverse work,        turn upside down Ch ~ chain, Rep ~ repeat cl  ~ close, sep ~ separated P   ~ picot, ps ~ picots

Here No 20 thread is used for a motif 1.25″ across. Other thicknesses can be used.

1-Colour Motif – Wind thread from ball on to shuttle, but do not cut!
2-Colour Motif – Wind ring-colour thread on to shuttle. Use a second colour for chains.

Note: A hyphen indicates a picot, and a plus sign indicates a joining picot:

R:    3 - 3 - 3 - 3   rw
Ch:  3 - 3 - 3 - 3   rw   Start with tiny picot for pulling through thread at end of motif.
* R:  3 + 3 - 3 - 3   rw   Join to previous R.
Ch:  3 - 3 - 3 - 3   rw
Repeat from * 4 times, but for 6th ring work 3 + 3 - 3 + 3, joining last ring to first.
Work last chain, cut threads and tie into tiny picot at start of first chain. (Alternatively, omit tiny picot and tie ends through ring).

This pattern could also be represented in written style:

R of (3 ds, p) x 3 , 3ds, cl, rw.
Ch of (3 ds, p) x 3, 3ds cl, rw. (Start with tiny picot for pulling through thread at end of motif.)
*R of 3 ds, join to last p of previous r, (3 ds, p) x 2, 3ds, cl, rw.
Ch of (3 ds, p) x 3, 3ds cl, rw.
Repeat from *4 times, joining last p of last r to first p of first r.
Work last chain, cut threads and tie into tiny picot at start of first chain. (Alternatively, omit tiny picot and tie ends through ring).

It is easy to be creative with this basic pattern by changing the picots to suggest a snowflake, adding another round of chains for a flower and so on. Try bigger and smaller rings and chains too. No patterns here – you can work out your own variations!