A festive hanging set made from six Christmas toppers – a gingerbread house, decorated tree, wrapped gift, bell, smiling star and stocking – each joined to a striped crochet spiral with tiny dangling decorations at the bottom.
The trick is to keep the topper compact and let the long spiral create the movement. Every spiral is built from the same strip, so the set becomes much faster after the first one.
Finished length is approximately 28 to 34 cm each.
What you’ll need
DK cotton in red, white, green, gold, caramel brown, cream and small amounts of pink.
A 2.5 to 3 mm hook, tapestry needle, small amount of stuffing, 5 mm safety eyes if desired, embroidery thread, fine jewellery chain or strong thread for the tiny hanging charms, and optional 0.6 to 0.8 mm florist wire for extra spiral definition.
Shared spiral strip
Ch 66.
Row 1. Starting in third chain from hook, work 2 dc in each chain across.
Row 2. Turn, ch 1, sc in each stitch across.
For a two-colour stripe, change colour every 1 or 2 rows, or surface-slip-stitch a contrasting line along one edge.
Shape by twisting gently around your fingers or a cardboard tube. Add wire along the inside edge if you want the coil to hold a perfectly open spiral.
1. Gingerbread house topper
Work two small brown rectangles, about 18 stitches wide and 12 rows tall.
For each roof half, work a triangle by decreasing one stitch at each side every row until one stitch remains. Sew the roof pieces to the house front and back.
Join front and back with a thin layer of stuffing.
Decorate with white icing along the roof, a tiny green door, cream window outlines and miniature red-and-white flower or candy details.
Attach to a brown-and-cream spiral.
2. Christmas tree topper
Start at the top with ch 2.
Row 1. 2 sc in second ch.
Row 2. Ch 1, turn, inc in first and last stitch.
Repeat the increase row until the tree is about 11 to 13 stitches wide.
Work one straight row, then fasten off.
Make two matching pieces and join lightly stuffed. Add a tiny brown trunk, gold garland, bobble ornaments and a star.
Attach to a green-and-gold spiral.
3. Wrapped gift topper
Make two red squares, approximately 16 by 16 sc.
Join with light stuffing. Surface crochet or embroider a green vertical and horizontal ribbon. Make a small green bow from two tiny leaves and a centre knot.
Attach to a red-and-white spiral.
4. Bell topper
Begin at the top in gold.
Round 1. 6 sc in MR.
Round 2. Inc around. (12)
Rounds 3 to 5. Sc around.
Round 6. Sc, inc around. (18)
Round 7. Sc around.
Round 8. 2 sc, inc around. (24)
Round 9. Sc around.
Round 10. Work a slightly flared edge with hdc inc every third stitch.
Add a small brown or gold clapper underneath. Finish with a red bow and green leaves.
Attach to a caramel-and-cream spiral.
5. Smiling star topper
Make two five-point stars.
For a simple star, begin with 10 sc in MR. For each point work: sl st in next stitch, ch 5, starting in second ch work sc, hdc, dc, tr, then sl st in next base stitch. Repeat five times.
Join two stars with light stuffing. Add eyes, an embroidered smile and blush cheeks.
Attach to a gold spiral.
6. Stocking topper
Work two stocking shapes flat in red.
Start with a short rectangle for the leg, then continue over about two-thirds of the stitches for the foot. Round the toe with decreases.
Make two identical pieces, join and stuff lightly.
Add a white cuff, white toe and heel, and small holly leaves with red berries.
Attach to a red-and-white spiral.
Tiny hanging charms
Use the small spaces below the spirals for miniature crochet balls, stars, snowflakes, candy shapes, bells or gift boxes.
A tiny ball is made with 6 sc in MR, inc to 12, one round even, then decrease to close.
Hang the charms on strong thread at mixed lengths. Keep the arrangement asymmetrical.
Assembly
Sew each topper to its spiral, hiding the join behind the lower edge of the figure. Add a hanging loop of 18 to 22 chains at the top.
Arrange the six ornaments along a natural branch or narrow rail. Keep 6 to 9 cm between them.
Questions I get asked
Can I skip the wire? Yes. A tightly increased dc strip naturally twists, but wire makes the open spiral more controlled.
Can I make them child-safe? Use embroidered eyes, omit beads and metal charms, and avoid exposed wire.
How long does one take? Around two to three hours depending on the topper and the number of miniature decorations.