If you’re looking for an eye-catching holiday project, this adorable crochet Christmas tree ornament is a wonderful way to add handmade charm to your seasonal décor. The finished piece takes on a classic tree shape, built in elegant green rounds that taper upward, topped with a delicate bow. A thick, creamy-white spiral garland wraps around the tree, giving it depth and texture. The ornament is finished off with petite plaid bows, bright red and gold baubles, and a metallic bell as its stand, making it truly festive and unique. This ornament is perfect for hanging in your tree, gifting to loved ones, or adding a touch of cheer to your window sill or holiday display. With its inviting texture and decorative flourishes, this project will quickly become a favorite to make each season — and a conversation piece wherever it’s displayed.
Project Overview
This Christmas tree ornament is constructed primarily in the round, shaped as a three-dimensional cone. The tree itself is crocheted in continuous rounds of green, gradually increasing in width to achieve the tapered pine shape. The white spiral garland is worked separately using a long chain and clever increases to create a curly, three-dimensional twist. Embellishments — including bows (made of ribbon or crocheted), small red and gold ornaments, and a decorative bell base — are attached after the main tree is finished. The top features a neat bow and a hanging loop to complete the look.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate. This project uses common crochet stitches, working in the round, and simple shaping. Assembling the spiral garland and securely attaching embellishments may require a bit of patience, but overall, it’s approachable for anyone familiar with basic crochet techniques and amigurumi-style construction.
Materials
- Yarn:
- Worsted weight (category 4) cotton or acrylic yarn
- Green – 35g (main color, for tree layers)
- Cream or white – 15g (for garland)
- Red – 5g (for optional crocheted bow, or use ribbon)
- Crochet Hook: US size G/6 (4.0 mm) or size needed for firm, dense stitches
- Yarn needle/tapestry needle (for sewing and weaving ends)
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (especially for marking rounds)
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing (enough for lightly stuffing the conical tree)
- Small jingle bell or gold bell shape (approx 2.5 cm / 1″ base for stand)
- Red and gold beads (12–14 of assorted sizes, about 8–12 mm diameter)
- Fabric ribbon (plaid, about 1/4″ wide) for bows, or you may crochet bows instead
- Hot glue gun or craft glue (for attaching beads and bows securely)
Finished Size
Approximate finished height: 15 cm (6 inches) from base of bell to top of bow.
Approximate diameter at base: 8 cm (3.25 inches).
To adjust the size, use a larger or smaller hook and yarn, or increase/decrease the number of increase rounds in the tree body.
Gauge
Gauge is not critical but aim for firm, dense stitches so the ornament holds its shape. Approximate gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4″ (10 cm) square.
Small variations in gauge will slightly affect overall size and shape.
Stitches and Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- inc – increase (2 sc in same stitch)
- sc2tog – single crochet decrease over 2 stitches
- MR – magic ring
- FLO – front loop only
- BLO – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Important Pattern Notes
- Work the tree cone in continuous rounds (do not join at the end of each round). Use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round.
- Chains at the start of rounds do not count as stitches.
- For color changes, finish last stitch of the previous color with the new color. Pull ends to the inside to weave in later.
- The spiral garland is worked separately and sewn or glued onto the finished tree.
- Stuff the tree lightly as you go, adding more on the final rounds before closing the top.
- Bows can be made from ribbon or crocheted; use fabric glue or sew them on securely.
- Beads and bell can be attached with strong craft glue or stitched securely with thread.
Detailed Crochet Pattern
Part 1: The Tree Cone
- With green yarn, make a magic ring.
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
- Round 2: [inc] in each st around. (12 sts)
- Round 3: [sc in next st, inc] around. (18 sts)
- Round 4: [sc in next 2 sts, inc] around. (24 sts)
- Round 5: [sc in next 3 sts, inc] around. (30 sts)
- Round 6: [sc in next 4 sts, inc] around. (36 sts)
- Round 7: [sc in next 5 sts, inc] around. (42 sts)
- Round 8: [sc in next 6 sts, inc] around. (48 sts)
- Rounds 9-10: Sc in each st around. (48 sts per round)
- Round 11: [sc in next 7 sts, inc] around. (54 sts)
- Round 12: Sc in each st around. (54 sts)
- Round 13: [sc in next 8 sts, inc] around. (60 sts)
- Rounds 14-15: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)
- Round 16: [sc in next 9 sts, inc] around. (66 sts)
- Rounds 17-18: Sc in each st around. (66 sts)
- Round 19: Sc in BLO around. (66 sts) This creates a subtle ridge at the base.
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the bell base later.
Lightly stuff your tree as you go, especially after round 15, so it keeps its 3D shape. Ensure the top is well-shaped, but not overly packed.
Part 2: Spiral Garland
- With cream or white yarn, ch 120. (If your tree is smaller or larger, adjust chain length as required. The goal is to coil once around each layer thickness.)
- Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, work as follows:
[2 sc in next ch, sc in next ch] across (ends with 2 sc in last ch).
This creates a spiral effect. The exact number of chains is flexible; you can curve it around your tree to check the fit. - Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
If you prefer a fuller garland, add one more increase per repeat (e.g., [2 sc in next ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next ch]) to intensify the curl.
Part 3: Red Bow (Optional Crochet Version)
- With red yarn, ch 20.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (19 sts)
- Rows 2–3: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (19 sts)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Roll strip to desired bow shape (about 1.5″ wide), pinch middle and wrap yarn tail around several times. Tie tightly. For tails, ch 10 and attach to back of bow center if desired.
- Alternatively: Use fabric ribbon in a festive plaid as shown in the photo. Cut to bows (about 2.5″ each) and tie with thread or glue center.
Part 4: Hanging Loop
- With green or white yarn, ch 28, knot ends together to form a loop.
- Sew midpoint of chain securely to the top center of the tree, inside the top bow or just behind it.
Part 5: Assembly
- Lightly stuff the tree.
- Attach the bell: Center the base of the tree over the upturned bell. Sew or glue in place using the long tail from the tree base, securing into the small hole at the top of the bell (many bells have a hole for tying on a string; if not, hot glue can be used).
- Attach spiral garland: Coil the spiral garland around the tree, starting at the top and spiraling evenly downward. Use sewing pins to hold in place, then sew or tack at several points along the spiral with the yarn tail and tapestry needle, making sure it sits snug but not too tight.
- Add bows: Secure 3–4 small plaid bows (fabric or crocheted) evenly spaced along the turns of the garland with a small stitch or dot of glue.
- Bead ornaments: Sew or glue red and gold beads around tree in between the garland layers for an ornament effect. Space them evenly to mimic the look in the photo.
- Attach hanging loop: Sew the loop securely at the tree’s top, behind or underneath the bow.
- Top bow: Attach the crocheted or fabric bow to the very tip of the tree, right above the loop.
Assembly and Finishing
- Weave in all loose yarn ends with the tapestry needle, pulling them into the body so they are invisible.
- If using glue, allow to fully dry before handling the ornament.
- Adjust bows and garland so they sit evenly and do not obstruct each other.
- If desired, gently block the tree by steaming lightly (do not press flat) to smooth out stitches and help the cone keep its shape.
Customization Ideas
- Use metallic yarn for the garland for extra sparkle.
- Make the tree in different colors (e.g., snowy blue, or use glittery green for the tree base).
- Switch out the bell for a wooden spool or a crocheted cylinder for a rustic look.
- Skip the bell and sew a flat bottom for a tabletop mini tree instead of an ornament.
- Turn the motif into a mini wall decoration by sewing onto a round of felt.
- Add more or fewer garland layers for a custom look.
- Scale up with bulkier yarn and a larger hook to make a plush toy or centerpiece tree.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If the tree curls too much: Check your tension — tight stitches help hold the cone shape, but overstuffing or uneven increases can cause curling. Lightly block if needed.
- Uneven edges: Count stitches carefully in each round, making sure not to add or lose any.
- Tree too tall or short: Add or subtract increase rounds in the cone section for a taller or wider base.
- Loose color changes on the garland: Consider crocheting tighter or using the invisible join technique at the end of the spiral.
- Garland won’t curl: Try adding more increases per repeat to intensify the curve of the spiral.
- Bows or beads won’t stay put: Fix with a couple of small stitches or strong craft glue for best results.
Care Instructions
- Spot clean gently with a damp cloth. Avoid machine washing if beads or embellishments are glued.
- If made with acrylic or cotton yarn, the item is durable but keep away from open flame or hot lights.
- Store in a box in a dry place after the holidays to prevent crushing the shape.
Final Notes
Check stitch counts at the end of each round for best results and be sure to keep a snug but not tight tension. Adjust the number of garland coils or tree rounds as needed for your yarn and hook. Use the sample image as a visual guide, especially when placing bows and beads for the most festive effect. Enjoy bringing this handmade holiday ornament to life, and happy crocheting!
