This little lace fir tree is a flat, single-piece Christmas ornament with four stacked tiers. Each tier ends in a row of open fans that falls over the top of the tier below. That makes the tree look layered, even though you crochet it all in one go.
The tree is worked in one warm terracotta (rust-orange) cotton. A cream trunk and a cream hanging loop finish it off. The style is soft, rustic, and a little Scandinavian, and it looks great on a branch, a garland, or a gift tag.
All instructions use US crochet terms. The finished ornament is about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide across the bottom scallops. It is 5.6 in (14.2 cm) tall from the tip to the bottom of the trunk, or about 7.0 in (17.8 cm) with the hanging loop.
How it’s made: You work the tree in rows from the tip down. Each tier has four rows:
- a single crochet ridge row
- an open mesh row
- a solid double crochet row
- a fan row worked into the front loops only
The next tier hangs from the unused back loops of that same solid row. That’s what puts each fan edge on top of the next tier. Last, you add the trunk and the hanging loop in cream.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 5.6 in (14.2 cm) tall, not counting the loop
- Height with loop: about 7.0 in (17.8 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light, #3) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 (the tree, trunk, and loop are all worked onto the same piece)
- Layout: 4 tiers stacked top to bottom, with 1, 2, 3, and 3 fans
- Size before the bottom scallops: 5.0 in (12.7 cm) wide x 4.0 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Depth of the bottom scallops (the “border”): about 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth DK cotton, either mercerized or combed. Cotton holds the fan shapes well and blocks crisply. Avoid fuzzy yarn, because it fills in the lace holes.
- Terracotta (main color): 12 g, about 28 m (31 yd)
- Cream (trunk and loop): 3 g, about 7 m (8 yd)
These amounts assume a typical DK cotton of about 115 m per 50 g, and they include a small margin.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 2 stitch markers
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle or steamer
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sp: space
- sk: skip
- FLO: front loop only
- rep: repeat
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
Special stitches:
- Fan: (dc, ch 1) 4 times, then dc, all in the same st. That makes 5 dc and 4 ch-1 sps.
- Large fan: (tr, ch 1) 6 times, then tr, all in the same st. That makes 7 tr and 6 ch-1 sps.
- Unused loops: the back loops of a Row C that are left over after you work its fan row into the front loops. With the WS facing you, they show as a clear line of strands along the top edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
- 20 sc x 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- 20 dc x 10 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
That works out to 5 sts per 1 in (2.5 cm). One sc row is 0.2 in (0.5 cm) tall, and one dc row is 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
On a small ornament, the ornament itself is the easiest gauge swatch. Work Tiers 1 and 2, then measure. Check again after each later tier:
| After | Row C stitches | Width | Height from tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 7 | 1.4 in (3.6 cm) | 1.0 in (2.5 cm) |
| Tier 2 | 13 | 2.6 in (6.6 cm) | 2.0 in (5.1 cm) |
| Tier 3 | 19 | 3.8 in (9.7 cm) | 3.0 in (7.6 cm) |
| Tier 4 | 25 | 5.0 in (12.7 cm) | 4.0 in (10.2 cm) |
If Tier 2 is wider than 2.8 in (7.1 cm), switch to a 3.25 mm hook. If it’s narrower than 2.4 in (6.1 cm), switch to a 3.75 mm hook. Small differences are fine for an ornament, but tight tension makes the fans cup instead of lying flat.
Pattern
Every tier uses the same four rows:
- Row A (WS): sc ridge, adds 2 sts
- Row B (RS): open mesh, adds 2 sts
- Row C (WS): solid dc, adds 2 sts
- Row D (RS): fans, worked in the FLO of Row C
Every row adds exactly 1 st at each end. That gives the tree a steady triangular slope: each row is 0.4 in (1.0 cm) wider than the one before.
The turning ch-3 always counts as a dc. On Row D, when you reach the top of the turning ch at the end of the row, work under its outer strand.
Tier 1 (Tip)
With terracotta:
Row A (WS): Ch 2, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (3 sts) Place a marker in the ch at the very tip. You’ll attach the hanging loop here later.
Row B (RS): Ch 3, turn. Dc in first st, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in last st. (5 sts: 4 dc + 1 ch-1 sp)
Row C (WS): Ch 3, turn. Dc in first st, dc in each dc and ch-1 sp across to last st, 2 dc in top of turning ch. (7 sts)
Row D (RS): Ch 1, turn. Working in FLO only: sc in first st, sk 2 sts, fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in last st. (1 fan, 2 sc)
Don’t fasten off.
Tier 2
Row A (WS): Ch 1, turn. Working in the unused loops of Tier 1 Row C: 2 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. (9 sts)
Row B (RS): Ch 3, turn. Dc in first st, ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; rep from * to last 2 sts, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in last st. (11 sts: 7 dc + 4 ch-1 sps)*
Row C (WS): Ch 3, turn. Dc in first st, dc in each dc and ch-1 sp across to last st, 2 dc in top of turning ch. (13 sts)
Row D (RS): Ch 1, turn. Working in FLO only: sc in first st, sk 2 sts, fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * once more. (2 fans, 3 sc)*
Don’t fasten off.
Tier 3
Row A (WS): Ch 1, turn. Working in the unused loops of Tier 2 Row C: 2 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. (15 sts)
Row B (RS): Work as for Tier 2 Row B. (17 sts: 10 dc + 7 ch-1 sps)
Row C (WS): Work as for Tier 2 Row C. (19 sts)
Row D (RS): Ch 1, turn. Working in FLO only: sc in first st, sk 2 sts, fan in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 2 more times. (3 fans, 4 sc)*
Don’t fasten off.
Tier 4 (Bottom)
Row A (WS): Ch 1, turn. Working in the unused loops of Tier 3 Row C: 2 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. (21 sts)
Row B (RS): Work as for Tier 2 Row B. (23 sts: 13 dc + 10 ch-1 sps)
Row C (WS): Work as for Tier 2 Row C. (25 sts)
Checkpoint: the piece should now be 5.0 in (12.7 cm) wide and 4.0 in (10.2 cm) tall.
Row D (RS): Ch 1, turn. Working in FLO only: sc in first st, sk 3 sts, large fan in next st, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 2 more times. (3 large fans, 4 sc)*
Fasten off and weave in the terracotta ends.
Trunk
The trunk hangs from the middle 5 unused loops of Tier 4 Row C (sts 11 to 15 of 25). That puts it right behind the center large fan, which sits on st 13.
Row 1 (WS): With WS facing, join cream with a sl st in the unused loop of st 11. Ch 1, sc in same st and in the next 4 unused loops. (5 sc)
Rows 2–8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sc)
Fasten off. The trunk is 1.0 in (2.5 cm) wide and 1.6 in (4.1 cm) long. About 0.85 in (2.2 cm) of it shows below the scallops.
Hanging Loop
- Join cream with a sl st in the marked ch at the tip.
- Ch 15, then sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (14 sl sts)
- Fold the cord in half and sl st the free end into the tip.
- Fasten off.
The finished loop is about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall. Weave the cream ends into the trunk and into the back of the tip.
Border
There’s no separate border round. The four fan rows (Row D of each tier) are the edging. The large scallops of Tier 4 form the bottom border and add about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the 4.0 in (10.2 cm) body.
Border gauge: same as the body, 5 sts per 1 in (2.5 cm).
- One small fan uses 6 base sts: 1.2 in (3.0 cm).
- One large fan uses 8 base sts: 1.6 in (4.1 cm).
Why the math works:
- A small-fan row needs (6 x number of fans) + 1 sts.
- Tier 1: 6 + 1 = 7
- Tier 2: 12 + 1 = 13
- Tier 3: 18 + 1 = 19
Each of these matches its Row C count exactly.
– A large-fan row needs (8 x number of fans) + 1 sts. Tier 4: 24 + 1 = 25, which matches its Row C.
– Each fan row starts and ends with an sc in the end stitches. That keeps the side edges neat and spaces the fans evenly.
– Each Row C is used twice: its front loops hold the fans, and its back loops hold the next tier (or, on Tier 4, the trunk’s middle 5 sts). That keeps the tiers centered on each other.
Final Blocking
- Weave in any remaining ends.
- Mist the ornament lightly until it’s damp, not dripping.
- Lay it RS up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the tip, then pin the bottom of the trunk 5.6 in (14.2 cm) below it.
- Pin the outer edge of each large fan so the bottom measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across.
- Open each fan with your fingers so the ch-1 sps spread evenly, then pin the center stitch of each fan.
- Smooth the upper fans so they lie flat over the tier below.
- Let it dry completely, or steam it lightly from above without touching the yarn.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Row C counts are 7, 13, 19, and 25 sts.
- Fans per tier are 1, 2, 3, and 3.
- Every fan row is on the RS and covers the ridge of the next tier.
- The trunk is 5 sts wide and 8 rows long, centered under the middle large fan.
- The hanging loop is centered at the tip and isn’t twisted.
- The ornament measures about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) x 5.6 in (14.2 cm).
- All ends are woven in out of sight on the WS.
Troubleshooting
The fans are on the back of the tree. You worked Row D with the WS facing. Row C must always be a WS row so that Row D is an RS row.
The fans don’t fit the row. Recount Row C. It must have 7, 13, 19, or 25 sts. The most common mistake is missing the increase in the turning ch at the end of the row.
The tree leans to one side. You increased at one end of a row but not the other. Every row needs an increase at both ends.
The fans cup or ruffle. Your tension is too tight. Go up half a hook size, or pin the fans more firmly when you block.
The trunk is off-center. Count the unused loops from both edges. There should be exactly 10 sts on each side of the 5-st trunk.
The lace holes are filling in. The yarn is too fuzzy for this pattern, or your hook is too small for it.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll the ornament in a towel to remove water, and dry it flat. Pin it again after washing so the fans keep their shape.
Final Notes
Here’s the full measurement chain at 5 sts per inch:
- Row C grows from 7 to 13 to 19 to 25 sts, giving widths of 1.4, 2.6, 3.8, and 5.0 in (3.6, 6.6, 9.7, and 12.7 cm).
- Each tier adds 1.0 in (2.5 cm) of height, for a 4.0 in (10.2 cm) body.
- The bottom fans add 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
- The trunk brings the total height to 5.6 in (14.2 cm), or 7.0 in (17.8 cm) with the loop.
Make one in terracotta, then try cream, sage, or deep red to fill a whole branch.
Happy crocheting!