Materials
Worsted or light-worsted cotton/acrylic yarn: medium brown, dark brown, tan, deep green, Christmas red, cream, white and a small amount of gold.
3.0–3.5 mm crochet hook.
Fiberfill.
2 black safety eyes, approximately 10–12 mm, or black embroidery thread.
Black yarn for nose and mouth details.
Tapestry needle, scissors and stitch markers.
Pearl-style beads in several small sizes.
Narrow plaid ribbon and red-and-white striped ribbon, or crocheted substitutes.
Small gold bell.
Optional miniature candy-cane decorations.
Optional plastic canvas or firm felt circle for the base.
Strong sewing thread for beads and decorative pieces.
Abbreviations
MR = magic ring
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet
inc = increase (2 sts in one st)
dec = decrease
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
st/sts = stitch/stitches
R = round or row
FO = fasten off
Method
Crochet the dog head, muzzle and ears first. Build a small central body that will support the tree-shaped skirt. Make several separate ruffled tiers in red and green, graduating from narrow at the top to wide at the bottom. Edge each tier in cream and stack them so they overlap. Finish with the Santa hat, tiny tree topper, bows, beads, candy canes and bell.
Formation / Construction Plan
Make and stuff the dog head.
Add muzzle, nose, eyes and floppy ears.
Crochet the central body cone.
Make 6 layered skirt/tree ruffles in alternating green and red.
Add cream scalloped edging to every tier.
Join the head to the body and stack the ruffles.
Make the Santa hat and miniature green tree.
Decorate with pearl beads, bows, candy canes and the center bell.
Reinforce the base so the finished piece stands upright.
Full Pattern
Pattern note: This is an original approximation developed from the visible design language of the reference image. Exact stitch counts cannot be recovered from a photograph, so yarn, gauge and stuffing may change the finished proportions. Adjust the number of rounds if needed while keeping the same overall silhouette.
Dog Head
With medium brown yarn make an MR.
R1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
R2: inc around. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x6. (18)
R4: [2 sc, inc] x6. (24)
R5: [3 sc, inc] x6. (30)
R6: [4 sc, inc] x6. (36)
R7: [5 sc, inc] x6. (42)
R8: [6 sc, inc] x6. (48)
R9–16: sc around. (48)
R17: [6 sc, dec] x6. (42)
R18: [5 sc, dec] x6. (36)
R19: [4 sc, dec] x6. (30)
Insert the eyes between R11 and R12, approximately 8–9 stitches apart. Begin stuffing.
R20: [3 sc, dec] x6. (24)
R21: [2 sc, dec] x6. (18)
Stuff firmly, keeping the front rounded.
R22: [1 sc, dec] x6. (12)
R23: dec around. (6)
FO and close.
Muzzle
With tan or lighter brown yarn make an MR.
R1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
R2: inc around. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x6. (18)
R4–5: sc around. (18)
R6: [1 sc, dec] x6. (12)
Stuff lightly. FO with a long tail. Embroider or attach a small black nose at the center. Add a short vertical stitch and two tiny curved mouth stitches. Sew the muzzle below the eyes.
Floppy Ears – Make 2
With dark brown yarn ch 13.
R1: Starting in 2nd ch, 11 sc, 3 sc in last ch; work along opposite side with 10 sc, 2 sc in final ch. (26)
R2: inc, 10 sc, 3 inc across rounded end, 10 sc, 2 inc.
R3: sc around, placing increases only around both rounded ends so the ear stays flat.
R4–8: sc around without increasing.
R9: Work 2–3 evenly spaced decreases near the lower half to taper the end.
FO, flatten without stuffing and sew one ear to each side of the head around R8–R12. Allow the ears to hang naturally.
Central Body Cone
With green yarn make an MR.
R1: 6 sc. (6)
R2: inc around. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x6. (18)
R4: sc around.
R5: [2 sc, inc] x6. (24)
R6–7: sc around.
R8: [3 sc, inc] x6. (30)
R9–10: sc around.
R11: [4 sc, inc] x6. (36)
R12–14: sc around.
R15: [5 sc, inc] x6. (42)
R16–19: sc around.
Stuff firmly as you work. Add a firm circular base before closing if you want the decoration to stand independently.
Ruffled Tree Tiers
Make 6 separate tiers. Alternate green and red, beginning with green near the neck. The exact width can be adjusted to fit your body cone.
Tier 1: Ch 30, join. R1 sc around. R2 [1 sc, inc] around. R3 work 3 dc in every second stitch to create a strong ruffle.
Tier 2: Ch 36, join. Repeat the same structure.
Tier 3: Ch 42, join.
Tier 4: Ch 48, join.
Tier 5: Ch 54, join.
Tier 6: Ch 60, join.
For a fuller skirt, add one extra ruffle round to the lower three tiers: ch 2, work 2 dc in each stitch around. The lower tiers should flare more strongly than the upper ones.
Cream Edge: Join cream yarn to the outer edge of every tier. Work [sc, ch 2, sc] into every second or third stitch, adjusting spacing so the edge forms a small soft scallop. FO and weave in ends.
Attaching the Tiers
Slide or wrap the smallest tier around the upper body and sew it securely. Add each larger tier below it, overlapping the previous tier by approximately 1–2 cm. Alternate green and red so both colors remain visible. Keep the scalloped cream edges free and slightly lifted. The lowest tier should sit flat enough to help support the decoration.
Santa Hat
With red yarn make an MR.
R1: 4 sc in MR. (4)
R2: sc around.
R3: [1 sc, inc] x2. (6)
R4: sc around.
R5: [2 sc, inc] x2. (8)
R6: sc around.
R7: [3 sc, inc] x2. (10)
R8: [4 sc, inc] x2. (12)
R9: [1 sc, inc] x6. (18)
R10–11: sc around.
Change to cream.
R12: FLO sc around.
R13: [sl st, ch 2, sl st in next st] around for a soft trim.
Make a small cream pom-pom or crochet ball and sew to the tip. Shape the hat gently to one side and sew it to the head.
Mini Christmas Tree Topper
With green yarn ch 7.
R1: sc across. (6)
R2: dec, 2 sc, dec. (4)
R3: sc across.
R4: dec twice. (2)
R5: dec. FO.
Make a second identical piece if a thicker tree is desired and sew the two together. Add a tiny gold star at the top and position the tree behind the Santa hat.
Neck Bow and Bell
Use striped ribbon or crochet a narrow red-and-cream strip. Form a bow approximately 6–8 cm wide. Secure the center with thread and add a small bead. Sew a gold bell directly beneath the bow. Attach the finished bow at the front where the dog head meets the first green tier.
Mini Crochet Bow Option
Ch 16 with red yarn. Join into a ring.
R1–3: sc around.
Flatten the ring. Wrap cream yarn tightly around the center several times to form the bow. Add short striped tails if desired. This can replace purchased ribbon.
Candy-Cane Accent
With red yarn ch 14 and FO. Make the same chain in cream. Twist both chains together tightly and tack them with sewing thread. Curve the top into a hook and stitch it in place. Make several small candy canes and attach them between the ruffles.
Pearl and Plaid Decorations
Sew pearl-style beads individually across the red and green tiers. Keep the spacing irregular but balanced. Add several tiny plaid bows between the pearls and candy canes. Reinforce every embellishment from the back of the ruffle so the thread does not show from the front.
Assembly and Finishing
Sew the muzzle to the head and check that it is centered. Attach both ears at equal height. Sew the hat and miniature tree to the top of the head.
Attach the head firmly to the top of the stuffed body cone. Add the six ruffled tiers from smallest to largest. Rotate the tiers slightly so the decorations do not line up in rigid vertical rows.
Add the neck bow and bell first, then distribute pearl beads, plaid bows and candy-cane accents over the skirt. Use the photograph as a placement guide rather than trying to make both sides perfectly identical.
If the piece leans, open the base and insert a circle of plastic canvas, thick felt or firm cardboard sealed inside fabric. Add extra stuffing around the support and close securely.
Approximate Finished Size
Using worsted or light-worsted yarn with a 3.0–3.5 mm hook, the finished decoration may measure approximately 28–35 cm tall and 22–28 cm across the widest lower tier. Thinner yarn will produce a smaller ornament; thicker yarn will create a larger centerpiece.
Adjustment Notes
If the skirt looks too flat, increase more frequently in the final ruffle round. If it becomes too wavy, reduce the number of increases. The dog head should remain slightly smaller than the widest skirt tier so the finished silhouette still resembles a Christmas tree.
Keep the cream edging consistent on every layer. This repeated light border is important because it separates the red and green tiers and gives the design the detailed layered appearance visible in the photo.