This little lace bow is made for the Christmas tree. It has two fan-shaped upper wings with open mesh holes and two pointed tails that widen into a scalloped hem. A ridged band wraps the center, and a thin loop at the top lets it hang from a branch.
It uses one color, a soft ivory or cream cotton thread. The lace shows clearly against green branches and warm lights. One ornament is quick to make, and a set of six looks lovely on one tree.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished bow measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide and 3 in (7.6 cm) tall. The hanging loop adds about 2.75 in (7.0 cm).
You make six small parts separately: two wings and two tails, each worked in rows from a narrow point outward, plus a center band and a hanging loop. Each wing and tail gets a scalloped edging. Then you stack the pieces, gather them at the center, wrap the band around them and sew everything together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 3 in (7.6 cm) tall, plus a 2.75 in (7.0 cm) hanging loop
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate (simple stitches, small-scale work)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 cotton crochet thread (similar to light fingering)
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 6 (2 wings, 2 tails, 1 center band, 1 hanging loop)
- Layout: wings point left and right, tails point down and outward, band covers the center
- Wing size: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across the scalloped edge
- Tail size: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long x 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across the scalloped edge
- Size before edging: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long for both wings and tails
- Edging depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Choose a mercerized cotton thread in size 3. It holds the lace shape, blocks crisply and has a soft sheen under tree lights.
Yarn (one ornament):
- Ivory/cream: 5 g, about 15 m (16 yd)
For a set of six ornaments, plan on 30 g, about 90 m (98 yd).
These amounts include a margin of about 15 percent for your test piece, sewing tails and small differences in tension.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Small tapestry needle
- Small sharp scissors
- Rust-proof pins and a foam blocking mat
- Spray starch or fabric stiffener (optional)
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- BLO: back loop only
- sp(s): space(s)
- sk: skip
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
- rep: repeat
Special stitch: Scallop. Sk 1 sc, 5 dc in next sc, sk 1 sc, sc in next sc. One scallop uses 4 stitches of the row below and makes 6 new stitches (5 dc + 1 sc).
Turning chains: At the start of a dc row, ch 4 counts as 1 dc + ch 1, ch 5 counts as 1 dc + ch 2, and ch 6 counts as 1 dc + ch 3.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge isn’t critical for an ornament, but it controls the final size. The target is 9 dc and 3.5 dc rows = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one wing first, edging included, and use it as your test piece. Measure it before you make anything else.
Checkpoints:
- Wing after Row 4: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) from the starting point to the top of the mesh
- Wing after edging: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across the scallops
- Tail after Row 4: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long and about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide
- Tail after edging: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide
- Center band: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long
If your wing is too big, go down to a 2.0 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 2.5 mm hook. Because the bow has two wings, any error in one wing counts twice across the full width, so it’s worth adjusting.
Wings (Make 2)
Each wing is a fan worked in rows. It starts at a single point, which will sit under the center band, and opens outward into a mesh.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 4, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook. Turn. (3 dc; the skipped 3 ch count as the first dc)
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in first st, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next dc, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in top of turning ch. Turn. (6 dc, 5 ch-1 sps)
Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in next dc, *ch 2, dc in next dc; rep from * 4 times, working the last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (6 dc, 5 ch-2 sps)
Row 4: Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), dc in next dc, *ch 3, dc in next dc; rep from * 4 times, working the last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (6 dc, 5 ch-3 sps)
From Row 2 to Row 4, the count stays at 6 dc. The fan widens because the chain spaces grow from 1 to 2 to 3 chains, and those spaces become the open lace holes.
Checkpoint: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) from the starting point to the top of Row 4. Don’t fasten off. Go on to the wing edging in the Border section.
Tails (Make 2)
Each tail is a narrow wedge. It starts at a point, widens for two rows, then works one straight row.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 4, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook. Turn. (3 dc)
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in first st, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in top of turning ch. Turn. (5 dc, 4 ch-1 sps)
Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in first st, ch 1, *dc in next dc, ch 1; rep from * 2 more times, (dc, ch 1, dc) in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (7 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)
Row 4: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next dc, *ch 1, dc in next dc; rep from * 4 times, working the last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (7 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)
Checkpoint: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long and about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide. Don’t fasten off. Go on to the tail edging in the Border section.
Center Band (Make 1)
The band is a small strip worked in BLO. This creates the horizontal ridges that look like wrapped thread.
Foundation: Ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (5 sc)
Rows 2–12: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st across. Turn. (5 sc)
Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail for sewing.
Checkpoint: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
Hanging Loop (Make 1)
Ch 55 loosely. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail at each end. The chain measures about 5.5 in (14.0 cm). Folded in half, it makes a loop of 2.75 in (7.0 cm).
Make All Pieces
All pieces use the same ivory thread.
- Wings: 2
- Tails: 2
- Center band: 1
- Hanging loop: 1
Layout (front view):
[ loop ]
||
[ WING ] [ BAND ] [ WING ]
[ TAIL ] [ TAIL ]
The wings sit on top, with their starting points meeting at the center. The tails sit behind the wings. Their starting points also meet at the center, and they angle down and slightly outward.
Joining
You assemble the bow with a tapestry needle, short tacking stitches and the wrapped band.
- Stack the pieces. Lay the two tails RS up with their starting points touching, forming an upside-down V. Lay the two wings RS up on top, with their starting points touching at the same spot.
- Tack the center. Thread a 12 in (30.5 cm) strand. Sew through all four starting points with 3 or 4 stitches so they can’t shift.
- Gather. Pinch the wings at the center. Wrap the strand 4 times around the pinch and pull firmly. The base of each wing should fold into 2 or 3 small pleats. Knot at the back.
- Wrap the band. Place the band across the front of the center, ridges horizontal, and bring both short ends to the back. Sew the 5 sts of Row 12 to the 5 foundation chains, stitch to stitch. Tack the band to the pieces underneath with 2 stitches.
- Add the hanging loop. Thread both ends of the loop up through the back of the band. Knot them together inside the band and weave in the ends.
Tension advice: Pull the gathering wraps firmly. Sew the band seam with even, moderate tension. If the band is too tight, it flattens the wings. If it’s too loose, it slides.
Size checkpoint: The assembled bow should measure 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from wing tip to wing tip and 3 in (7.6 cm) from the top of the wings to the bottom of the tails.
Border (Scalloped Edging)
Each wing and tail gets a two-row scalloped edge plus sc along both sides. Border gauge: one sc row is about 0.1 in (0.3 cm) tall, and the scallop row is about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall. Together they add 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Wing Edging
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first dc, *3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next dc; rep from * 4 times, working the last sc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (21 sc: 6 worked into the dc + 15 worked into the spaces)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc, work Scallop 5 times. (5 scallops: 6 sc + 25 dc = 31 sts)
Side edging: Don’t turn. Ch 1. Working down the side edge, sc in the end of Row 5, then 2 sc in the end of each of Rows 4, 3, 2 and 1 (9 sc on this side). Ch 1 at the starting point. Working up the other side, 2 sc in the end of each of Rows 1, 2, 3 and 4, then sc in the end of Row 5 (9 sc on this side). Sl st in the first sc of Row 6. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Tail Edging
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first dc, *sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc; rep from * 5 times, working the last sc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (13 sc: 7 worked into the dc + 6 worked into the spaces)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc, work Scallop 3 times. (3 scallops: 4 sc + 15 dc = 19 sts)
Side edging: Work exactly as for the wing: 9 sc down one side, ch 1 at the point, 9 sc up the other side, then sl st in the first sc of Row 6. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Why the Math Works
Each Scallop uses 4 stitches, and Row 6 begins with 1 sc. So the sc row below it needs (4 x number of scallops) + 1 stitches.
- Wing: 6 dc + (5 spaces x 3 sc) = 21 sc, and (4 x 5) + 1 = 21. Five scallops fit exactly.
- Tail: 7 dc + (6 spaces x 1 sc) = 13 sc, and (4 x 3) + 1 = 13. Three scallops fit exactly.
On the wing, each 5-dc group lands in the middle sc of a 3-sc space, so every scallop sits centered over a lace hole. Each side edge has 4 dc rows at 2 sc each plus 1 sc row at 1 sc, so every piece gets 9 sc per side.
Final Blocking
- Block the wings and tails before assembly for the crispest result. Leave the sewing tails hanging.
- Soak each piece in cool water for 10 minutes. Press out the water in a towel, without wringing.
- Pin each wing to 1.75 in (4.4 cm) from point to scallop tips and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across. Put one pin in the tip of each scallop.
- Pin each tail to 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across the scallops. Keep the side edges straight.
- Open each mesh hole with the tip of a pin so the lace reads clearly.
- Spray lightly with starch and let the pieces dry completely, at least 6 hours.
- Assemble the bow, then shape the wings by hand so they curve gently forward from the band.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each wing has 5 even scallops and 5 clear lace holes in the top mesh row.
- Each tail has 3 even scallops at the bottom.
- Both sides of every piece have 9 sc of edging, with no puckering.
- The two wings match in size, and so do the two tails.
- The band covers the gather completely, with ridges running horizontally.
- The bow measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide and 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
- The hanging loop is centered and secure.
- No ends show on the front.
Troubleshooting
The wing curls into a cone. The chain spaces are too tight. Work the ch-2 and ch-3 spaces a little looser, or block firmly flat.
The wing ruffles. The chains are too loose. Also check that Row 5 has 21 sc, not more.
The scallops come out uneven. Recount the sc row. It must have 21 sts on a wing or 13 sts on a tail. One extra sc shifts every scallop after it.
The side edging pulls. Make sure you work 2 sc into each dc row-end, not 1.
The band slides off center. Add 2 more tacking stitches through the back of the band into the gathered pieces.
The bow hangs crooked. Move the loop knot so it sits exactly in the middle of the band.
Care
Spot clean with cool water and mild soap, then reshape and dry flat. Between holidays, store the ornament flat in a box so the scallops keep their shape.
Final Notes
Every wing and tail measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) after Row 4. The 0.5 in (1.3 cm) edging brings each piece to 1.75 in (4.4 cm). Two wings meeting under the center band give a bow 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide, and the tails bring it to 3 in (7.6 cm) tall. Check your first wing against these numbers, and the rest of the ornament will follow. Happy crocheting!