The Frosted Bloom Tree is a flat, lacy Christmas tree ornament made from three small flower motifs. One flower sits at the top and two sit side by side below it. A lacy mesh fill pulls the round flowers into a crisp triangle. A small square trunk and a slim hanging loop finish the tree.
The tree is worked in soft butter yellow mercerized cotton. The trunk and hanging loop are a paler ivory. Each flower has a ring of twelve cluster petals, a solid ring of single crochet, and an outer round of little chain loops. Together they give an airy, heirloom look that catches the light on the branches.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tree is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide and 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall including the trunk. The hanging loop adds about 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Construction is simple. You make three motifs and join them as you go on their last round. Then you work three rounds of fill and border around the joined flowers to form the triangle. Last, you make the trunk separately, sew it on, and add the hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall with trunk; the triangle alone is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Fingering / super fine (#1) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 3 flower motifs and 1 trunk; the hanging loop is worked directly onto the tree
- Layout: 1 motif on top, 2 motifs below, joined in a triangle
- Piece size: each motif is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across; the trunk is 1 x 1 in (2.5 x 2.5 cm)
- Size before border: joined motifs are 3 in (7.6 cm) wide x 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall
- Border depth: Fill Round 1 varies in height to square up the shape; Rounds 2 and 3 add about 0.45 in (1.1 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized cotton in fingering weight, around 170 m per 50 g. Mercerized cotton gives crisp stitch definition and blocks to a flat, stable shape. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because the lace will lose its outline.
- Color A, butter yellow (tree): 8 g, about 27 m
- Color B, ivory (trunk and hanging loop): 3 g, about 10 m
These amounts include extra for your gauge test and for weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Small scissors
- Stitch markers (3)
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking board or foam mat
- Spray bottle with water
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- dtr – double treble crochet (yarn over 3 times)
- BLO – back loop only
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitches:
- Cluster (cl): *Yarn over, insert hook in the stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops; repeat from * once more in the same stitch, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
- Beginning cluster (beg cl): Ch 2. Yarn over, insert hook in the same stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
- Joining loop: Ch 1, sl st into the matching ch-3 loop of the finished motif, ch 1. Use this in place of a ch-3.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one full motif before anything else. It is your gauge test.
- Motif gauge: one motif is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across after Round 4, lightly blocked.
- Border gauge: 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the edge.
- Trunk gauge: 6 sts and 7 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) in sc BLO.
Checkpoints on the motif:
- After Round 1: about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across
- After Round 2: about 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- After Round 3: about 1.2 in (3.0 cm) across
- After Round 4: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
If your motif is larger than 1.5 in (3.8 cm), go down a hook size. If it is smaller, go up a hook size. An error of 0.1 in (0.3 cm) per motif grows to about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) across the finished tree, so it is worth matching.
Flower Motif
Make 3 in Color A. Work Motif 1 all the way through. Join Motifs 2 and 3 on Round 4 (see Joining).
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in the ring. Pull the ring closed. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (12 dc)
Round 2: Beg cl in the same st, ch 2, cl in next st, ch 2; repeat from * 10 more times. Join with sl st to top of beg cl. (12 cl, 12 ch-2 sps)
These clusters are the twelve flower petals.
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in the same st, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next cl, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; repeat from * 10 more times. Join with sl st to first sc. (36 sc)
This is a conversion round: 12 sts worked one per cluster + 24 sts added in the spaces = 36 sc. It makes the solid ring around the flower.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in the same st, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, sk 2 sts; repeat from * 10 more times. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-3 loops)
Fasten off Motif 1 and weave in the ends. Check that it measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Make All Pieces
- Color A: 3 flower motifs (Motif 1 complete; Motifs 2 and 3 joined on Round 4)
- Color B: 1 trunk
Layout grid (as the tree faces you):
[ 1 ]
[ 2 ] [ 3 ]
[trunk]
Motif 1 is the top. Motif 2 is bottom left. Motif 3 is bottom right. The trunk is centered under the point where Motifs 2 and 3 meet.
Joining
Join the motifs as you go on Round 4, using one loop per join. Each joining loop replaces a ch-3 with ch 1, sl st into the neighbor’s loop, ch 1. The count stays at 12 sc and 12 loops per motif.
Motif 2: Work Rounds 1–3. On Round 4, work the first sc, then make a joining loop into any ch-3 loop of Motif 1. Finish Round 4 as normal.
Motif 3: Work Rounds 1–3. On Round 4, work the first sc. Make a joining loop into the Motif 1 loop that is 2 loops away from the Motif 1–Motif 2 join. This leaves exactly 1 free loop on Motif 1 between the two joins. Sc in next st, then ch 3 as normal; this free loop faces the center. Sc in next st. Make a joining loop into the Motif 2 loop that is 2 loops away from the Motif 1–Motif 2 join, again leaving 1 free inner loop. Finish Round 4 as normal.
Result: each motif has 2 joined loops, 1 inner loop facing the small center gap, and 9 free outer loops. Leave the 3 inner loops unworked. They frame a tiny open triangle of lace at the center.
Tension: keep the joining sl sts relaxed. If you pull them tight, the motifs pucker and the triangle will not lie flat.
Size checkpoint: the joined trio measures 3 in (7.6 cm) wide and 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall.
Border (Triangle Fill and Edge)
Border gauge: 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) on Round 3.
Find the corner loops. On each motif, the corner loop is the free loop directly opposite its inner loop, 6 loops away. Place a marker in each of the 3 corner loops. Each side of the tree runs between two corner loops and has 4 free loops on each motif plus 1 join.
Round 1 (shaping round)
Each loop gets a group of stitches tall enough to reach the straight edge of the triangle. Short stitches go where the flower already touches the edge. Tall stitches go into the gaps.
Join Color A in the corner loop of Motif 1. Ch 4 (counts as tr), tr, ch 3, 2 tr in the same loop.
Each side: 3 hdc in next loop, 3 sc in next loop, 3 hdc in next loop, 3 dc in next loop, dtr in the joining sl st between motifs, 3 dc in next loop, 3 hdc in next loop, 3 sc in next loop, 3 hdc in next loop, (2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in the corner loop.
Repeat the side twice more. On the last side, stop after the 3 hdc and join with sl st to the top of beg ch-4. Do not work a corner there, because you already made it at the start.
Count per side: 2 tr + 12 sts on the first motif + 1 dtr + 12 sts on the second motif + 2 tr = 29 sts, not counting the corner ch-3 sps. That is 14 sts from each motif plus exactly 1 seam stitch. The seam stitch is shown here and is not added anywhere else. (87 sts, 3 corner ch-3 sps)
Checkpoint: the triangle measures about 4.1 in (10.4 cm) per side.
Round 2 (mesh round)
Sl st in next tr and into the corner ch-3 sp. Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), dc in the same sp.
Each side: dc in first st, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st; repeat from * 13 more times, ending with a dc in the 29th st. (dc, ch 3, dc) in the corner sp.
On the last side, do not work the final corner. Instead, join with sl st to the 3rd ch of beg ch-6.
Count per side: 29 sts worked over 29 sts (15 dc + 14 ch-1 sps) + 2 corner dc added = 31 sts, not counting the corner ch-3 sps. (93 sts, 3 corner ch-3 sps)
The dc’s land on the odd-numbered stitches. The 15th stitch is the dtr at the seam, so it gets a dc, which keeps the mesh centered on each side.
Checkpoint: about 5 in (12.7 cm) per side.
Round 3 (edge round)
Sl st into the corner ch-3 sp. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the same sp.
Each side: sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp across (31 sc). (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner sp.
On the last side, stop after the 31 sc and join with sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
Count per side: 31 sts worked one per existing stitch + 2 corner sc = 33 sc. This count includes the corner sc at each end but not the ch-2 corner sps. (99 sc, 3 corner ch-2 sps)
Why the Math Works
All three sides come from the same layout: 2 motifs, 4 loops each, and 1 seam. That means every side has the same count in every round: 29, then 31, then 33. At 6 sc per inch, 33 sts gives 5.5 in (14.0 cm) per side. A triangle with three equal 5.5 in (14.0 cm) sides is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall. The middle stitch of the bottom side is stitch 17, so stitches 14 to 20 center the trunk.
Trunk
With Color B, ch 7.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (6 sc)
Rows 2–7: Ch 1, turn, sc in BLO of each st across. (6 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The trunk is 1 in (2.5 cm) square. Turn it so the BLO ridges run up and down. One row-end edge, with 7 row ends, becomes the top.
On the bottom side of the tree, count stitches 14 to 20 and mark them. Whipstitch the 7 row ends of the trunk to these 7 stitches, one row end to each stitch. Weave in the ends.
Hanging Loop
Join Color B in the top corner ch-2 sp. Ch 20, sl st in the same sp. Turn, work 28 sc into the ch-20 loop, then sl st in the corner sp. Fasten off and weave in the ends. The loop rises about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) above the tip.
Final Blocking
- Weave in every end along the back of solid stitches, not through the lace.
- Lay the ornament face down on a foam mat.
- Mist it until damp but not soaking.
- Pin the three corners first so each side measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm).
- Pin the middle of each side to keep the edges straight.
- Gently open each flower and the mesh holes with a fingertip.
- Pin the trunk square at 1 x 1 in (2.5 x 2.5 cm).
- Let it dry completely, at least 8 hours, before unpinning.
For a firmer ornament, mist lightly with spray starch before drying.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each motif has 12 petals, 36 sc, and 12 loops.
- Each motif has 9 free outer loops and 1 free inner loop.
- Round 1 of the border has 29 sts per side.
- Round 2 has 31 sts per side, with a dc on each seam dtr.
- Round 3 has 33 sc per side.
- All three sides measure 5.5 in (14.0 cm).
- The trunk is centered on stitches 14 to 20.
- The hanging loop sits exactly at the top corner.
- No ends show on the front.
Troubleshooting
Motifs pucker at the joins: the joining sl sts are too tight. Redo them more loosely.
Sides curve inward: the Round 1 stitches over the seam are too short. Check that you worked a dtr at each join and dc in the loops beside it.
Sides bulge outward: you may have used taller stitches in the sc loops. Recheck the hdc, sc, hdc order.
One side is longer than the others: recount Round 1. A missing or extra stitch carries through every later round.
Edges ruffle on Round 3: you added extra sc. Each side should have exactly 33.
Trunk sits off-center: count again from the bottom corners. Stitch 17 is the middle stitch.
Ornament will not lie flat: block it again with more pins, and use starch if needed.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and lay flat to dry. Re-block if the corners soften in storage.
Final Notes
The whole tree depends on one chain of measurements. Each motif is 1.5 in (3.8 cm). The joined trio is 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. Round 1 squares it into a triangle of about 4.1 in (10.4 cm) per side. Round 2 brings it to about 5 in (12.7 cm). Round 3 finishes at 33 sc and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) per side. Add the 1 in (2.5 cm) trunk for a total height of 5.75 in (14.6 cm). Check your first motif, keep your joins relaxed, and every side will match.
Make one for your own tree, or a few to tie onto gifts.
Happy crocheting!