Crochet Christmas Ornaments: Star, Tree and Bauble
Three flat crochet Christmas ornaments in cotton, a five-point star, a small tree and a round bauble, with hanging loops, stiffening methods and ideas for trees, garlands and gifts.
Project at a glance
Materials
- Small amounts of worsted-weight cotton in white, green, red and brown
- G-6 (4 mm) crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Rustproof pins and a blocking mat
- Spray starch or white craft glue
Flat motifs are the fastest crochet Christmas ornaments to make: each one takes a few yards of cotton and well under an hour. This set has three shapes that look good together on a branch: a five-point star, a small tree and a round bauble. All three lie flat, stiffen well and store in an envelope.
Materials
- Worsted-weight (#4 medium) cotton in white or cream, green, red and a little brown. Each ornament uses well under 10 yards (9 m), so leftovers are ideal.
- G-6 (4 mm) hook
- Yarn needle and scissors
- Rustproof pins and a blocking mat or folded towel
- Spray starch or white craft glue for stiffening
Cotton gives the sharpest stitch definition and takes stiffener evenly. A DK-weight (#3 light) cotton with a smaller hook makes the same shapes about a fifth smaller.
Gauge and finished sizes
Gauge is about 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 in (10 cm), but it is not critical. Work tightly enough that the fabric has no gaps.
| Ornament | Approximate size | Worked in |
|---|---|---|
| Star | 3.5 in (9 cm) point to point | Rounds, then five points |
| Tree | 3 in wide x 3.25 in tall (7.5 x 8 cm) | Rows, tip to trunk |
| Bauble | 2.5 in (6.5 cm) across | Joined rounds |
Abbreviations (US terms)
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- inc = 2 sc in the same stitch
- sk = skip
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
The three patterns
Five-point star
The center is a small circle that starts with 5 sc and gains 5 stitches per round, so it ends with 15 stitches: exactly 3 for each point. Work the first three rounds in a continuous spiral.
- Round 1: 5 sc in a MR. Pull the ring closed. (5)
- Round 2: Inc in each st around. (10)
- Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] 5 times. (15) Sl st in the first st of the round.
- Points: [Ch 6. Working back down the chain, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, tr in the last ch. Sk 2 sts on the circle, sl st in the next st] 5 times. (5 points)
- The last sl st lands in the same stitch as the sl st that ended Round 3. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Small tree
The tree is a triangle that grows by one stitch per row. Because the increase is always at the start of the row and the work is turned each time, the two sides widen evenly.
- Row 1: With green, ch 2. Work 2 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (2)
- Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the last st. (3)
- Rows 3 to 13: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each remaining st. Each row has one more stitch than the row before. (14 after Row 13)
- Fasten off green.
- Row 14 (trunk): Sk the first 5 sts of Row 13. Join brown with a sl st in the 6th st, ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next 3 sts. Leave the last 5 sts unworked. (4)
- Rows 15 and 16: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4)
- Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Round bauble
This is a flat circle in double crochet, which starts with 12 stitches and gains 12 per round. A final round of single crochet in a second color frames it.
- Round 1: With red, make a MR. Ch 3 (counts as the first dc here and in Round 2), work 11 dc in the ring, and join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (12)
- Round 2: Ch 3, dc in the same st, 2 dc in each remaining st around, join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (24)
- Fasten off red.
- Round 3: Join white with a sl st in any st. Ch 1 and, starting in the same st, [sc in 1 st, 2 sc in the next st] 12 times, join with a sl st to the first sc. (36)
- Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Hanging loops
Every ornament gets the same loop. Join yarn with a sl st at the top: the tip of any star point, the first stitch of the tree’s Row 1, or any stitch on the edge of the bauble. Ch 12, then sl st in the same place to close the loop. Fasten off, knot the two tails together on the back and weave them in. A 12-chain loop slips over most branch tips. For thick branches or a door knob, chain 20 instead.
Stiffening and shaping
Unstiffened motifs curl, and star points curl most of all. Two methods work well on cotton:
- Spray starch for a light hold. Pin the ornament to shape, spray both sides and let it dry fully before unpinning.
- Thinned craft glue for a firm hold. Mix white craft glue with an equal amount of water, dampen the ornament with it, squeeze out the excess, then pin it flat on a surface covered with plastic wrap.
Pin each star point at its tip and stretch it gently outward. Pin the tree at its tip, its two lower corners and the trunk. More detail on pinning is in the guide to blocking and finishing crochet decor.
Watch out
Keep yarn ornaments well away from candles and from any bulb that gets hot. Hang them where they cannot swing into a flame, and out of reach of pets and small children, who may chew or pull them.
Ways to use the set
- On the tree: make three or four of each shape in two or three colors so the set repeats around the branches.
- As a garland: thread the loops onto a long chain or a length of cord, spacing the ornaments about 4 in (10 cm) apart. The same joining idea is used in the crochet bunting garland.
- On a gift: tie an ornament into the ribbon as a tag the recipient can keep.
- Around the house: hang single ornaments on cabinet handles, a mirror corner or a window latch, as with year-round crochet hanging decorations.
Stored flat between sheets of tissue paper, stiffened ornaments keep their shape from one year to the next. If you enjoy seasonal makes, crochet pumpkins cover the fall months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make these ornaments in acrylic yarn?
Yes. The stitch counts are the same, though acrylic motifs are softer and springier, so they need a firmer stiffener to stay flat. Cotton shows the shape of the star points and the tree edges more clearly.
How do I make the ornaments double-sided or thicker?
Make two identical pieces, hold them with the wrong sides together and join them around the edge with single crochet or whipstitch. A doubled ornament hides the yarn ends inside and holds its shape with little or no stiffening.
Will stiffened ornaments last from year to year?
They generally keep their shape if they are stored flat and dry. Starch can soften in humid conditions, so a piece may need another light spray and pinning before it goes back on the tree.
