A layered blue and white star at the top, an openwork coil beneath it edged in white scallops with small flowers tucked into the turns, silver beaded snowflake charms hanging on fine chain either side, and a two tone tassel at the bottom.
This is the most delicate thing I make on this construction. The coil is lace rather than solid fabric, the charms are on metal chain rather than crocheted cord, and the whole piece is built to catch light rather than to carry colour. It belongs outside on a frosty branch more than it belongs on a tree.
What you’ll need
Size 3 crochet cotton in mid blue, pale blue and white.
A 2 mm hook.
You’ll also want small silver beads and pearl beads, fine silver chain or beading wire, six small silver snowflake charms or six more crocheted ones, fabric stiffener, rustproof pins, a small scrap of fibrefill, and a tapestry needle.
Finished length is about 42 cm.
Abbreviations are US terms. ch is chain, sl st is slip stitch, sc is single crochet, hdc is half double crochet, dc is double crochet, MR is magic ring, sp is space.
Part 1. The star
Two layers, blue behind and white in front, offset so the blue shows as points behind the white ones.
Blue layer. 6 sc in MR (6), inc six times (12), sc and inc repeated six times (18). For the points, sl st in the next stitch, work sc, hdc, dc, ch 2, sl st in the second ch from the hook, dc, hdc, sc into the next stitch, sl st in the next, repeated four more times for a six point star. Sew a pearl to each point tip.
White layer. Work the same six point star in white, slightly smaller by starting the points one round earlier, at 12 stitches. Sew it centred on top of the blue star so the blue points peek out from behind the white ones. Sew a large pearl in the very centre.
Part 2. The lace coil
This is worked as open mesh rather than solid fabric, which is what makes it lace.
In mid blue, ch 90.
Row 1. Ch 4, then dc into the fourth chain from the hook, then ch 1, skip one chain, dc into the next, repeated all the way across. Do not fasten off.
That mesh row is already curling as you finish it, because the ch 1 spaces let the fabric twist far more freely than solid stitches would.
Row 2. Turn and work dc into each dc with ch 1 between, keeping the open squares stacked above the ones below.
Change to white.
Row 3. Work sl st, ch 2, sl st into the same stitch, repeated into every second stitch, all the way along the outer edge, for the scalloped white trim.
Fasten off.
There is no wire in this coil. Mesh cotton stiffened properly holds its own shape, and wire through open lace tends to show through the gaps, which looks wrong. Instead, soak the whole coil in fabric stiffener once it is finished, wind it gently around a length of dowel or a thick marker, and let it dry there completely before you touch it again.
Part 3. Small flowers, make six
In pale blue. 5 sc in MR, then into each stitch work sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st, for five petals. Sew a silver bead in the centre of each.
Sew them into the turns of the coil once it is stiffened and dry, spaced down its length, tucked into the mesh rather than sitting on top of it.
Part 4. The snowflake charms
If using bought silver charms, skip to assembly. For crocheted ones, make six in white.
MR, ch 1, 12 sc into the ring, join. Ch 3, skip one, sl st in the next, repeated around for six loops. For each arm, ch 6, sl st in the second ch from the hook, sc in the next 2 ch, ch 2, sl st in the second ch from the hook, sl st back into the stem, sc in the remaining chains, sl st into the next loop.
Stiffen these flat and let them dry before attaching anything.
Part 5. The tassel
Cut two colours of card, one 12 cm for blue and one 14 cm for white.
Wrap mid blue around the shorter card about thirty times, and white around the longer card about twenty times. Slide both off and hold together with the tops aligned, so the white hangs slightly below the blue at the bottom.
Tie tightly at the top with blue, cut the loops at the bottom and trim level, keeping the two lengths visible rather than cutting them flush.
Cap. In blue, 6 sc in MR, inc six times (12), sc and inc repeated six times (18), then sc around (18). Stuff lightly and sew it over the tie at the top of the tassel like a small dome.
Putting it together
Sew the top of the coil to the underside of the star, going through the same spot several times.
Attach a small green leaf pair just below the star where the coil begins, worked as two tiny pointed leaves in sage.
Cut six lengths of fine silver chain, three of varying length for each side, between 4 cm and 10 cm.
Attach the charms to the chains and hang them from the outer edges of the coil, alternating sides as you work down. Because the coil is open mesh, you can hook the chain through an actual mesh square rather than sewing, which keeps the attachment nearly invisible.
Attach the tassel to the very bottom of the coil.
Make a hanging cord in mid blue by chaining 40 and slip stitching back along it, and attach it behind the star.
Notes and variations
An all white version with clear glass beads instead of silver is beautiful and reads as pure winter rather than Christmas.
Swap the snowflakes for small icicle drops made from a simple decreasing chain of graduated bobbles.
For an outdoor hanging under a porch, this piece handles cold and damp better than most of my others, since it has almost no stuffed parts to hold moisture. Bring it in during heavy rain regardless.
Questions I get asked
Why is my mesh not opening into lace? Your ch 1 spaces are too tight, or you are pulling the dc snug against them. Relax the tension on row 1 specifically.
Do I need the wire? No, and adding it will show through the open squares. Stiffening does the job here.
Why did my coil come out flat rather than curled? Not enough stiffener, or it dried flat rather than wound round a former. Redo the stiffening step properly.
How long does it take? About seven hours plus overnight drying.