This little pinecone is a classic tree ornament with a soft, natural finish. It is covered in overlapping crocodile-stitch scales that point downward, just like a real cone. Every scale is outlined in a thin tan edge that catches the tree lights.
The palette is simple: a warm cream for the body and scales, and a light tan (caramel) for the scale outlines. The look is rustic and Scandinavian, so it suits natural, gold, or white tree themes.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide. With the 2 in (5.1 cm) hanging loop, it is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) tall in total.
You work it bottom-up in one piece. Start at the tip with a tiny single-crochet disk, then build nine tiers. Each tier has three rounds: a post round, a scale round, and a tan edging round. The number of pairs goes up from 6 to 9 and back down to 6. A short cream neck closes the top, and a chain cord forms the loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall x 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide; loop 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate (crocodile stitch in the round)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (weight 3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E/4)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: single 3D ornament, 9 tiers of scales, 69 scales in total
- Piece size: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) x 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- Size before border: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide at the widest tier
- Border depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm) tan outline on each scale edge
Materials
Choose a smooth, matte DK cotton with good stitch definition. Fuzzy or splitty yarn hides the scale shapes. The quantities below assume a yarn with 110 m per 50 g.
- Cream (main color): 30 g, about 66 m
- Light tan (edging color): 20 g, about 44 m
Both quantities include a margin of about 15 percent for tension differences.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E/4) crochet hook
– Polyester fiberfill, about 5 g
– 1 locking stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
- pair – 2 dc worked in the same st or sp
Special stitch – Crocodile Scale: Turn the work so the first dc of the pair lies horizontally. Work 4 dc around the post of that dc, going from top to bottom. Ch 1 (this is the scale tip). Work 4 dc around the post of the second dc of the pair, going from bottom to top. Each scale = 8 dc + 1 ch-1 tip. The tops of the dc form the curved outer edge of the scale.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Use the ornament itself as your test piece. Work the tip and Tiers 1 and 2, then measure before going further.
- Tip Rnd 2: the 12-sc disk measures 0.8 in (2.0 cm) across.
- Pair repeat: one pair plus its ch-2 sp measures 0.75 in (1.9 cm) along a post round.
- Post round height: 0.45 in (1.1 cm).
- Single scale: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide x 0.6 in (1.5 cm) long, including the edging.
Height checkpoints (from the lowest scale tip to the top of the newest post round):
- After Tier 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- After Tier 3: 1.65 in (4.2 cm)
- After Tier 6: 3 in (7.6 cm)
- After Tier 9: 4.35 in (11.0 cm)
- After the neck: 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
Width checkpoint: At Tiers 4–6, the post round circumference is 9 x 0.75 in = 6.75 in (17.1 cm). The finished width across the scales is 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
If your piece is too big: Use a 3.25 mm (D/3) hook, or work the ch-2 spaces more tightly.
If your piece is too small: Use a 3.75 mm (F/5) hook. Don’t add extra chains, because longer spaces leave gaps between the scales.
Pattern: Tip
With cream, make a MR.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Pull ring closed. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (12 sc)
Pattern: Tier Structure
Every tier uses the same three rounds.
Post round (cream): This round builds the pairs. Each pair is 2 dc in one st or sp, followed by ch 2. Join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. The ch-3 counts as the first dc.
Scale round (cream): Work a Crocodile Scale over the first pair (the ch-3 and its dc), then sl st in the next ch-2 sp. Crocodile Scale over the next pair, sl st in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around. The final sl st lands in the last ch-2 sp, between the last pair and the first pair. Remove the hook and put the marker in the live cream loop. Do not cut the cream.
Edging round (tan): Work the Tan Scale Edging from the Border section. Fasten off tan, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail to tuck inside.
Picking up cream: Fold all the scales of the finished tier down toward the tip. Put the cream loop back on the hook. The next post round starts in the same ch-2 sp where the loop sits.
Pattern: Tiers 1–9
Tier 1 post round: Ch 3, dc in same st, ch 2, sk next st, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk next st; rep from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch-3. (6 pairs: 12 dc, 6 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 6 scales (48 dc, 6 tips, 6 sl sts). Edging round: 60 sc.
Tier 2 post round (increase): Ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 2, 2 dc between the 2 dc of the next pair (behind the scale), ch 2, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2; rep from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch-3. (7 pairs: 14 dc, 7 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 7 scales (56 dc). Edging round: 70 sc.
Tier 3 post round (increase): Work as for Tier 2, repeating from * 5 more times. (8 pairs: 16 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 8 scales (64 dc). Edging round: 80 sc. Checkpoint: 1.65 in (4.2 cm) tall.
Tier 4 post round (increase): Work as for Tier 2, repeating from * 6 more times. (9 pairs: 18 dc, 9 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 9 scales (72 dc). Edging round: 90 sc.
Tiers 5 and 6 post rounds (no change): Ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 2, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2; rep from * 7 more times, sl st to top of ch-3. (9 pairs: 18 dc, 9 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 9 scales (72 dc). Edging round: 90 sc.
Checkpoint after Tier 6: 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide. Stuff the lower half lightly through the open top.
Tier 7 post round (decrease): Ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 2, sk next ch-2 sp, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2; rep from * 6 more times, sl st to top of ch-3. (8 pairs: 16 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 8 scales (64 dc). Edging round: 80 sc.
Tier 8 post round (decrease): Work as for Tier 7, repeating from * 5 more times. (7 pairs: 14 dc, 7 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 7 scales (56 dc). Edging round: 70 sc.
Tier 9 post round (decrease): Work as for Tier 7, repeating from * 4 more times. (6 pairs: 12 dc, 6 ch-2 sps)
Scale round: 6 scales (48 dc). Edging round: 60 sc. Checkpoint: 4.35 in (11.0 cm) tall.
Tier totals: 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 = 69 scales.
Pattern: Neck and Hanging Loop
Pick up the cream and fold the Tier 9 scales down.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 2 sc in same ch-2 sp, sc between the 2 dc of the next pair, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc between the 2 dc of next pair; rep from * 4 more times, sl st to first sc. (18 sc: 6 repeats of 3 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in next st, sc2tog; rep from * around, sl st to first sc. (12 sc)
Stuff the ornament firmly now, shaping it into an even oval.
Rnds 3–4: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (12 sc) The neck is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc2tog 6 times, sl st to first sc. (6 sc)
Loop: Ch 31, then sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (30 sl sts) Sl st in the st directly opposite on Rnd 5 (3 sts away) to form the loop. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Weave the tail through the remaining front loops of Rnd 5, pull closed, and hide it inside.
Border: Tan Scale Edging
The tan outline is the border of this piece. Work it at the end of every tier, before the next tier covers the tops of the scales.
Border gauge: 10 sc + 1 ch-1 tip per scale. The outline adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) to each scale edge.
Edging round: Join tan with sl st in the ch-2 sp holding the last cream sl st. Sc in top of each of the next 4 dc, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the ch-1 tip, sc in top of each of the next 4 dc, sl st in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around. The last sl st lands in the joining sp. Fasten off.
Count per scale side: Each side gets 4 sc on its dc plus 1 sc at the tip. That is 5 sc per side, including the tip stitch, for 10 sc per scale.
Counts per tier:
- Tiers 1 and 9: 6 scales x 10 = 60 sc, 6 ch-1 tips, 6 sl sts
- Tiers 2 and 8: 7 x 10 = 70 sc, 7 tips, 7 sl sts
- Tiers 3 and 7: 8 x 10 = 80 sc, 8 tips, 8 sl sts
- Tiers 4, 5, 6: 9 x 10 = 90 sc, 9 tips, 9 sl sts
Why the math works: Each side of a scale has 4 dc, so 4 sc sit on them one-to-one. The extra sc on each side of the tip, with ch 1 between, lets the edge turn the point without pulling. The sl st goes into the ch-2 sp that already holds the cream sl st, so no stitches are added between scales. Before the border, the widest tier measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm). The outline adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on each side, giving 2.25 + 0.25 = 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Final Blocking
- Check that the stuffing is even. If any area feels soft, push small tufts in through the gaps between scales with the tip of the hook.
- Lightly mist the ornament with water until it is just damp, not wet.
- With your fingers, curve each scale slightly outward and downward so it cups over the tier below.
- Straighten any tip that has flipped upward.
- Roll the ornament gently between your palms to even out the oval shape.
- Check the width: 2.5 in (6.4 cm), within 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
- Hang it by the loop until completely dry, about 6 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Height is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) without the loop.
- Widest point is 2.5 in (6.4 cm), just below the middle.
- Scale counts per tier read 6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6.
- Every scale has an unbroken tan outline with a neat pointed tip.
- Each tier’s scales sit between the scales of the tier below.
- No tan or cream tails show on the outside.
- The neck is a clean cream band 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide.
- The loop is centered and stands 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
- The ornament hangs straight, without leaning.
Troubleshooting
Scales curl upward: You may be working the scale dc in the wrong direction. Work down the first post and up the second.
Scales gap open between tiers: Your ch-2 sps are too loose. Work the chains more tightly or use a smaller hook.
Ornament is too round or squat: Your post rounds are too short. Pull each dc up to its full height.
Tan outline puckers: Work the edging sc more loosely, or use a hook 0.25 mm larger for the tan round only.
Pair count is wrong: Count the ch-2 sps of the previous post round before you start the next one. Each tier has as many sps as pairs.
Care
Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. If it needs washing, hand wash in cool water, press out the water in a towel, reshape, and hang to dry.
Final Notes
The whole ornament depends on one chain of measurements. A 0.8 in (2.0 cm) tip disk leads to a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) pair repeat and 0.45 in (1.1 cm) post rounds. Nine tiers with 6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, and 6 scales build a 4.35 in (11.0 cm) body. The neck brings it to 4.75 in (12.1 cm), and the tan outline turns a 2.25 in (5.7 cm) width into 2.5 in (6.4 cm). Check each stage, and your pinecone will come out the same size every time.
Happy crocheting!