Introduction
If you enjoy adding a touch of elegance to your home or gifts, this lacy teardrop crochet ornament is the perfect project. This beautiful motif features a graceful teardrop shape crafted with intricate stitches, creating a delicate look that’s ideal for window hangings, festive ornaments, garlands, or even as a statement jewelry piece like earrings or a pendant. The main sample is worked in a deep, rich red yarn, which perfectly showcases the open, lacy texture and the elegant shape. The motif includes clustered shells that radiate outward, framed by loops and chains, giving the finished piece both visual interest and lightness.
Making this ornament is fun and rewarding, as it combines the meditative repetition of basic crochet stitches with the satisfaction of fast, visible progress. The project is ideal for small leftover amounts of yarn. Whether you’re decorating for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or just want to add a handmade flourish to your décor, this motif is a lovely way to showcase your crochet skills. Its versatile, flat design means it can easily be personalized with color variations or embellishments.
Project Overview
This teardrop ornament is constructed in rounds, beginning with a chain foundation that forms the inner outline of the teardrop. The lacy border is built outward in a series of decorative shells and chain loops, worked all the way around the initial shape. The project is worked in a single color, but you can change colors at the border for a more intricate look. A hanging loop is incorporated at the top for easy display. You will create the ornament in one solid piece—no separate motifs required.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate: This project uses basic stitches like chains and double crochet, plus shell and cluster techniques. Some stitch counting, shaping, and working into chains are needed, but there are no complex color changes or advanced shaping.
Materials
- Yarn: Light worsted weight cotton or mercerized cotton (category 3/light DK), about 25 m (27 yds) in your chosen color. Sample shown in red.
- Crochet Hook: 3.0 mm (US C/2–D/3), or size needed for a firm but flexible fabric.
- Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends.
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers (optional): To mark the start of the round or key points.
- Spray starch or blocking pins (optional for finishing for best results).
Finished Size
Approximate finished size: 12 cm (4.75 inches) tall from bottom point to top of hanging loop, and 8.5 cm (3.25 inches) across at the widest point. The size can be adjusted by changing your yarn weight and hook size: use thicker yarn and a larger hook for a bigger ornament, or finer thread and a small hook for a delicate earring or pendant size.
Gauge
None of the stitches are highly dependent on gauge, but to achieve the sample’s proportions: one shell (5 dc cluster) plus its adjacent chains should measure about 2 cm (0.8 inches) wide. Small deviations in gauge will only slightly alter the finished size. Keep your tension consistent throughout for a neat, even ornament.
Stitches and Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- shell – 5 dc worked in the same stitch or space
- picot – ch 3, sl st into 1st ch (optional adornment at shell peaks)
- sp – space
- st/sts – stitch/stitches
- rep – repeat
Pattern Notes
- Work in rounds, beginning with a chain teardrop foundation joined into a ring.
- Chains count as stitches only where specified; make sure to count stitches at the end of each round for symmetry.
- To maintain the crisp look, try not to crochet too loosely. Chains forming the open teardrop are the base—keep them taut but not tight.
- Use a stitch marker for the start of the round or to track the lower point of the teardrop.
- When changing colors for the border, join the new color in any indicated stitch with a sl st and continue as written.
- Right side is always facing you. Work neatly into chain spaces to ensure even spacing for shells and clusters.
Crochet Pattern Instructions
Teardrop Center Foundation
- Chain 32. Join with a sl st to the first ch to form a large ring.
- Shape the teardrop: Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each of next 10 chs, then 2 sc into next ch (start narrowing top point). Sc into next 10 chs, 2 sc into next ch, sc in last 10 chs. (Total 34 sc.) Join with sl st to first sc.
- Adjust the shape: Sl st in next 3 sc to move to the base. This is now the starting (bottom) point of your teardrop. (Optional: Place a marker here for reference.)
Round 1: Preparing for Shells
- Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Skip 1 sc, dc in next sc. *Ch 2, skip 1 sc, dc in next sc*; rep from * to * around the teardrop shape. You should end with a ch 2; join to top of beginning ch-3 with a sl st. If needed, adjust the number of skipped sts at the narrow top to ensure symmetry, with one fewer or one more ch 2 space for even shell placement. (Approx. 17 ch-2 sps.)
Round 2: Shell and Lacy Border
- Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Shell (5 dc) in same sp, ch 1. *Sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, shell (5 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1*; rep from * to * around until you reach the topmost ch-2 sp. In topmost sp: shell, ch 3, sl st to top of shell (forms the hanging loop), ch 1, continue down the other side. Resume *sc in ch-2 sp, ch 1, shell in ch-2 sp, ch 1* pattern to the end. Join with sl st to first dc of first shell. (You will have about 8 shells per side, with a hanging loop at the top.)
Round 3: Picot Edge and Final Embellishments (Optional)
- Ch 1. *Sc in 2nd dc of shell, (picot: ch 3, sl st in 1st ch), sc in 4th dc of shell, sl st in next sc between shells*; repeat from * around, placing a larger picot (ch 6, sl st in same st) at the topmost point if you wish to accentuate the loop. Continue around the motif, then join to first sc of round and fasten off.
Adjusting and Counting
- Ensure that shell and sc placements are symmetrical on both sides to create a balanced teardrop. Adjust starting position as needed if tension caused the piece to shift. You should have the same number of shells and picots on each side, with the hanging loop at the top and the marked point at the base.
Assembly and Finishing
- Weave in all ends neatly on the wrong side with a tapestry needle.
- Shape while damp or block to open up the lacework. To do this, gently mist your piece with water or use spray starch (for extra crispness), then pin out each point and curve on a blocking mat. Allow to dry fully.
- Check the symmetry and pinch shell clusters into points if needed once dry. Gently tug each shell outward for best results.
- If you made a hanging loop at the top, ensure it stands upright. Thread a decorative ribbon or metallic yarn through the loop for added sparkle, if desired.
Customization Ideas
- Color Options: Use metallic thread, white for a snowflake look, or gradient yarns for ombre effects. Try alternating colors for each round for a striped pattern.
- Size Variations: Make smaller motifs by using crochet thread and a 1.5mm hook for earrings. Go larger for wall décor.
- Embellishments: Sew on seed beads at shell tips, edge with sparkly yarn, or attach a tassel at the bottom.
- Alternative Uses: Use as gift tags, bookmarks, Christmas tree ornaments, or as appliqués on bags and garments.
Troubleshooting
- Curling Piece: If your ornament curls, your tension may be too tight or you may have too few chain stitches in the foundation. Gently stretch and block the motif after finishing.
- Uneven Edges: Double-check that your shells are worked into the correct spaces. Count stitches in every round, making sure each shell aligns over a ch-2 sp, and that chain loops are not missed.
- Too Large or Small: Gauge variation is the cause. Switch to a smaller or larger hook and adjust the starting chain (add or subtract in multiples as needed), but keep the overall layout proportional.
- Loose Color Changes: Always join new yarn with a sl st, leaving a tail to weave under at least 2-3 stitches for strength. Securely fasten off ends to prevent unraveling.
- Uneven Tension: Practice shells and clusters separately. Maintain even loops while drawing up yarn, and avoid pulling too hard on chain stitches in the border rounds.
Care Instructions
For best results, hand wash your finished ornament gently in cool water with mild soap. Lay flat to dry on a towel, reshaping as it dries. If using cotton, spray starch and block to maintain crispness. Avoid wringing or twisting, especially if you have beads or delicate thread.
Final Notes
Keep an eye on stitch counts at each stage, especially as you transition from the foundation to the shell rounds for a smooth, symmetrical teardrop. Adjust your tension as needed and feel free to use the project image as a visual reference as you progress. Enjoy experimenting with colors, sizes, and embellishments to truly make this lacy teardrop ornament your own!
