I have been using Gimp for more than a decade, but the last 3. and 3.+ versions have had bugs that broke familiar functions, among them saves are now in greyscale, RGB mode is disabled, there are file naming issues, and editing and saving preferences are only temporarily saved.
It took a bit of digging to find a 2024 version that appears to work more predictably: https://gimp.macupdate.com/app/mac/14597/gimp/old-versions.
ArahPaint has become my primary design tool. In the past year, some new features have been added, but have not yet been documented here.
There are 6 previous blog posts with suggestions on how to use the program in knit design.
This post shares my doodles in the development of a theme, not specific step-by-step instructions on how to achieve them.
Learn more about ArahPaint on the related Facebook page, YouTube shorts and videos, and by browsing the excellent manual available to download.
Some sections to explore in the PDF: using tools pp. 19-23, drawing straight lines, verticals and diagonals, and shapes pp. 28-30, working with colors 35-59, and repeat modes 63, 90-95. 
Brick repeats are narrow and long, suitable for punchcard model machines when meeting the 24-stitch restraint rules. Pillar or half-drop, depending on offset, are wide by default and only usable in electronic machine models.
A very brief review of some of the techniques used in the following designs: as the straight line tool is used, an angle for the line appears above the palette area, the value will change following the mouse movement, and the line will stay in place with the release of the mouse. 
The tool menu offers options for easy transformations and rotations on the whole canvas, on the chosen full image, or selected portions of it using rectangle select. Parts of the design may be copied and changed before pasting into place or in a new window. 
Working in multiple color palettes, double-clicking on either foreground or background selections allows for changes to those specific selections.
Changes may be made using double clicks sequentially to first protect one or more of the colors to selectively work on the background, then again, to render any color transparent, and a third time to revert to the original palette. 
I work on a Mac desktop with an M1 chip and OS 26.0.1.
The forms classified as snowflakes in knitting, cross stitch, etc., are often multiples of 4 segmental shapes at 45-degree angles.
That said, a snowflake is technically defined as a single, delicate, six-sided crystal of snow that falls from the sky.
This is the start of a coloring book virtual approach to accommodate the math for a 2D fair isle or DBJ design using pixels.
The more familiar views are developed using 60-degree guides and can vary in complexity. Some of the more complex designs become suitable for applied duplicate stitch or beading to improve the definition of stitches. The base grids are 61X61 pixel canvases to allow for single stitch centers/ pivot lines. 
Working with double line thickness lines, a 46X46 shape.
The PNGs below are not fully developed designs, and are intended for download and use to yield DIY versions that meet your own size and preferences.
Beginning with a 61X61 template with a single pixel pivotal point, the hexagon shape is identified, and it is drawn at 30-degree angles with symmetrical diagonal line placements. 
Superimposing color blocks and lines,
the shape rendered all blue, 
with the blue protected, fill ground with white, crop the result to 34X34, 
convert to BW. 
The tiled half drop repeat has negative space that will accommodate smaller added designs in DIY if preferred, 68X34
A 15-degree template, with single-line pivot points, 
to render all lines in grey or any preferred color, lock the white, follow with color bucket-filling with the chosen color. Unlock any protected color(s) before proceeding.
The new canvas is 60X60 for visibility and initial pattern drafting.
The full size is retained in the first attempted repeat; note the six-pointed star shape.
in brick, 44X88
determining missing pixels, adding others to form complete shapes.
A different approach, using colors to plot a 6-pointed star in a different orientation, follows color changes for observing different-sized “flakes”, edited as preferred.
Opportunities to explore negative spaces
30X34
30X68 
60X34
30X34 with a bolder outline. 
Not forgetting those cubes, 
a start in BW, keeping whole star shapes. 
A “small” 28X32 motif formed following lines in the template. 
33X33 with different shapings. 
Superimposed equal-size stars with one rotated, 38X38. 
If there is a need to go big, 32X58.
Pondering double-thickness lines, 
the rotated star shape, 72X60. 
The possibilities for shifting color placements can lead to endless shape variations.
The final choice then becomes as to the best method for executing any of this as a knit fabric, and whether using 3 or 4 colors is practical, whether the designs will become distorted, the rabbit holes are endless.
For a source of inspiration for more variations and shapes, visit
https://numericaldesign.blogspot.com/2016/07/exagonos-02.html
https://patterninislamicart.com/s/published-material/drawings-diagrams-analyses/publication/geometric-patterns-borders , a sample from the pub
A template for pursuing more the ideas using color, 78X44
tile as many times as needed for the base canvas, 
or begin with the same design rendered in black and white.
And here, a version of finding Waldo, look to find the different size flakes 😉