This little tree ornament is covered in rounded, overlapping scales that look like layers of fir branches. Each row of scales sits slightly over the row below it, so the tree has real depth and catches the light from every angle.
The palette is simple: a deep forest green for the tree and a soft cream for the small trunk. It has a cozy, Scandinavian-cabin feel, and a group of them looks lovely on the tree, tied to gifts, or hung in a window.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide at the widest scales and about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall from the trunk to the tip. The hanging loop adds about 2 in (5.1 cm).
You work the tree body flat from the bottom up. A foundation row comes first. After that, V-stitch rows alternate with crocodile scale rows. Every scale row has one fewer scale than the row before, so the triangle shape forms by itself with no shaping math. A small cream trunk is worked in the round and sewn behind the bottom scales.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, plus a 2 in (5.1 cm) loop
- Skill level: Intermediate (crocodile stitch)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (#3, light)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 tree body + 1 trunk, assembled into 1 ornament
- Layout: Single ornament with 6 tiers of scales (6-5-4-3-2-1 = 21 scales)
- Tree body size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Size before border: Same as the tree body, 4.5 in x 4 in (11.4 cm x 10.2 cm)
- Border depth: 0 in (0 cm). The finishing edge is a slip-stitch row that only neatens the foundation.
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied DK yarn in cotton, a cotton blend, or acrylic. Crocodile scales look best in yarn with clear stitch definition. Fuzzy or brushed yarns blur the scale edges.
- Forest green (tree body and loop): 25 g, about 60 m
- Cream (trunk): 5 g, about 12 m
These amounts include a safety margin of about 20 percent. Crocodile stitch uses more yarn than its size suggests because each scale wraps around its posts.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers (2)
– A small pinch of fiberfill for the trunk
– Ruler or tape measure
– Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle with water
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- BLO – back loop only
- MR – magic ring
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitches:
V-st (V-stitch): (Dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch. The two dc are the “posts” that a scale is later worked around.
Scale (crocodile scale): Rotate the work slightly so the V-st’s posts lie sideways. Work 4 dc around the post of the first dc you reach, going from the top of the post down to the bottom. Ch 1. Work 4 dc around the post of the second dc of the same V-st, going from the bottom up to the top. Each scale is 8 dc and 1 ch. Push the dc close together so the scale curves into a rounded petal.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 24 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) with a 3.5 mm hook.
Make one full ornament as your test piece before you make a batch. Measure at each checkpoint below:
- After Row 0: The 25-sc foundation row measures 4.2 in (10.7 cm) across.
- After Row 2: The bottom row of 6 scales spans about 4.5 in (11.4 cm). Each scale is about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide and hangs about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below Row 0.
- After Row 8 (4 tiers): The body is about 2.65 in (6.7 cm) tall from the bottom scale tips to the top of Row 7.
- After Row 12 (6 tiers): The body is about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
- After Row 13: The body is 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
Each new tier adds about 0.55 in (1.4 cm) of height.
Too big? If Row 0 is more than 4.4 in (11.2 cm), go down 0.25 mm or 0.5 mm in hook size.
Too small? If Row 0 is under 4 in (10.2 cm), go up 0.25 mm or 0.5 mm.
Also check the scales. If they ruffle or overlap their neighbors heavily, tighten your dc. If gaps show between scales, loosen slightly or go up a hook size.
Tree Body
Use forest green.
Row 0 (foundation): Ch 26. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (25 sc)
Row 1 (V row, WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc, sk 1 sc, V-st in next sc, sk 1 sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * 5 more times. (6 V-sts, 7 sc)*
Each repeat uses 4 stitches. 1 + (6 x 4) = 25, so the row ends exactly in the last sc.
Row 2 (scale row, RS): Ch 1, turn. Sl st in first sc, Scale over next V-st, sl st in next sc; repeat from * 5 more times. (6 scales, 7 sl sts)*
The scales hang down over Row 0 on the side facing you. This is now the RS.
Row 3 (V row): Turn. Sl st in the ch-1 sp at the top of the first V-st from Row 1, behind the first scale. Ch 1, sc in the same sp. Then ch 1, V-st in next sl st (between scales), ch 1, sc in the ch-1 sp of the next Row 1 V-st; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 V-sts, 6 sc)*
The new V-sts sit in the gaps between the scales below. This staggers the next tier and moves each edge in by half a scale.
Row 4 (scale row): Ch 1, turn. Sl st in first sc, Scale over next V-st, sl st in next sc; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 scales, 6 sl sts)*
These scales overlap the tops of the Row 2 scales.
Row 5: Turn. Sl st in ch-1 sp of first V-st, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 1, V-st in next sl st, ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * 3 more times. (4 V-sts, 5 sc)*
Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sl st in first sc, Scale over next V-st, sl st in next sc; repeat from * 3 more times. (4 scales, 5 sl sts)*
Row 7: Work as Row 5, repeating from * 2 more times. (3 V-sts, 4 sc)
Row 8: Work as Row 6, repeating from * 2 more times. (3 scales, 4 sl sts)
Checkpoint: 2.65 in (6.7 cm) tall.
Row 9: Work as Row 5, repeating from * 1 more time. (2 V-sts, 3 sc)
Row 10: Work as Row 6, repeating from * 1 more time. (2 scales, 3 sl sts)
Row 11: Turn. Sl st in ch-1 sp of first V-st, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 1, V-st in next sl st, ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp of next V-st. (1 V-st, 2 sc)
Row 12: Ch 1, turn. Sl st in first sc, Scale over the V-st, sl st in last sc. (1 scale, 2 sl sts)
Checkpoint: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
Row 13 (tip and loop): Turn. Sl st in the ch-1 sp of the Row 11 V-st, ch 1, 2 sc in same sp. Ch 22, then sl st in the same sp to close the loop. (2 sc + 22-ch loop)
Fasten off and weave in the ends along the WS of the V rows.
Stitch count check: The scale rows hold 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 21 scales. In every V row, the number of sc equals the number of scales in the row below, and the number of V-sts is one less.
Trunk
Use cream. Work in continuous rounds and mark the first stitch of each round.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * 5 more times. (18 sc)*
Rnd 4: Sc in BLO of each st around. (18 sc) This makes the crisp bottom edge of the trunk.
Rnds 5–8: Sc in each st around. (18 sc)
The trunk is about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall and 1 in (2.5 cm) across. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Add a small pinch of fiberfill, just enough to keep the trunk round.
Attach the trunk after you work the foundation edge in the Border section below. Flatten the opening so 9 stitches lie on each side. Center it on the WS of Row 0, against sts 9–17 of the 25 foundation stitches. Let the trunk hang downward. Whipstitch both layers of the opening to Row 0.
The bottom scales hide the seam. About 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of trunk shows below the scale tips, bringing the total height to 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Border (Foundation Edge Finish)
This ornament has no added border. The scale tips form the finished edge on the bottom and both sides. The only edge to neaten is the foundation chain behind the bottom scales.
Border gauge: 1 sl st per foundation loop, matching the 24 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm) gauge.
Edge row: With RS facing, join forest green in the first free loop of the foundation chain. Sl st loosely in each free loop across. (25 sl sts: 25 worked 1-per-existing-stitch + 0 added)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: Row 0 has 25 sc, so the foundation chain has 25 free loops underneath. One sl st per loop keeps the edge exactly 4.2 in (10.7 cm) long. It won’t flare or cup behind the scales, and it gives the trunk a firm base. The slanted sides need no edging because the end of every V row is covered by the outermost scale of the scale row above it.
Final Blocking
- Lightly spray the whole ornament with water until it is damp but not soaked.
- Lay it RS up on a blocking mat.
- Pin Row 0 straight at 4.2 in (10.7 cm), placing pins behind the bottom scales.
- Smooth each scale with your fingertip so it curves outward and lies over the tier below.
- Check that the bottom tier spans 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and the body is 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
- Shape the trunk into a neat cylinder and straighten the hanging loop.
- Let it dry completely, usually 4–6 hours. Remove the pins.
Don’t press the scales flat. You want to keep their curve.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 6 tiers with 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 scales (21 in total)
- Every scale has 4 dc per side and a ch-1 at the tip
- Scales in each tier sit centered between the scales below
- Foundation row measures 4.2 in (10.7 cm)
- Body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Trunk is centered and shows about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the scales
- Hanging loop is about 2 in (5.1 cm) and firmly anchored
- All ends are woven in on the WS
Troubleshooting
Scales flip backward: You worked the scale row from the wrong side. Scale rows (even rows) must face the RS, the same side as Row 2.
Scales ruffle or crowd: Your dc are too loose, or you worked 5 dc per post. Recount to 4 dc per side, or drop a hook size.
Tree leans to one side: Check that every V row starts in the ch-1 sp of the first V-st. Starting in a sl st shifts the whole tier sideways.
Gaps between tiers: Make sure you work the ch 1 on each side of the V-sts in the V rows. Without them, the rows pull in.
Loop twists: Before you join the loop, let the yarn hang for a moment so it can untwist.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, gently squeeze out the water, and dry flat, reshaping the scales while damp. Store flat or hanging so the scales aren’t crushed.
Final Notes
The sizes all build from one measurement. Gauge of 24 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 25-sc foundation of 4.2 in (10.7 cm). That foundation holds 6 scales spanning 4.5 in (11.4 cm). Six tiers of about 0.55 in (1.4 cm) each, plus the tip, give a 4 in (10.2 cm) body. The trunk adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) for a 4.5 in (11.4 cm) ornament.
Check your gauge first and every later measurement will follow. Make one, then make a whole forest.
Happy crocheting!