This little tree is one of the quickest Christmas ornaments you can crochet. It lies flat, it has a bumpy puff stitch texture that looks like branches, and a short brown trunk finishes it off. The design is by Rachel of the Desert Blossom Crafts channel on YouTube. She also has a free written version of the pattern on her blog, desertblossomcrafts.com, if you like to follow along on paper.
Crochet Christmas tree ornament: what you are making
You start at the bottom with a row of 15 single crochet. Then you work rows of puff stitches, one fewer puff in each row, so the piece narrows into a triangle on its own. A single crochet on top makes the point. The trunk is worked last, in brown yarn, right over the bottom row. If you need a refresher on the basic stitches, see how to single crochet and how to half double crochet.
Yarn weight and hook size
Rachel uses worsted weight yarn (a number 4, medium) with a 4 mm hook. Her green is Caron Simply Soft, and the trunk is Lion Brand Heartland, which has a marbled look like bark. She also made one in off white for a snowy tree.
Any worsted yarn from your stash will do. Scraps are perfect. A 4 mm hook is a bit small for worsted, and that is on purpose. It keeps the puffs firm and the tree stiff enough to hang well. If your yarn is on the thick side, a 4.5 mm or 5 mm hook is fine.
Finished size and how long it takes
In worsted yarn the tree comes out roughly 4 inches across the bottom and about 5 inches tall with the trunk. Your size will vary with your tension. A beginner should plan on 45 minutes to an hour for the first one. Once the puff stitch feels natural, they go much faster. Each tree uses only a small amount of yarn, so one skein of green will make a whole set.
Adding a hanging loop
The video ends with the trunk. To turn the tree into an ornament, leave a long tail when you fasten off at the point. Fold the tail into a loop about 3 inches long, then thread it on a yarn needle and stitch the end back into the top of the tree a few times so it holds. Thin gold cord or narrow ribbon also works if you want a little sparkle.
Blocking the tree flat
Rachel strongly recommends blocking, and it makes a real difference. Pin the tree to a foam board, shape the sides into a straight triangle, mist it with water and let it dry. The edges settle and the puffs line up. See how to block crochet for the method.
Gift ideas and variations
- Gift toppers. Tie a tree onto a wrapped present in place of a bow.
- A garland. Make five or six and string them along a length of yarn for a mantel.
- Colors. Try cream for snow, a darker green, or red.
- Smaller trees. Use sport weight yarn and a 3 mm hook.
For more to hang beside it, try a crochet snowflake.
Troubleshooting
- Lopsided puffs. Pull every loop up to the same height. Uneven loops make uneven puffs.
- A crooked edge. End each row in the top of the last puff, not in the turning chain.
- The tree curls. Block it. Puff stitch pulls a little, and blocking flattens it.
- The trunk is off center. Pull it out and start again closer to the middle puffs.
