This little tree is both a gift card holder and an ornament. It is a three-tier dusty-blue tree with a shaped pocket across the bottom tier. The card drops in behind the pocket and shows above it. A golden-yellow star sits at the tip, a short brown trunk sits below, and a sturdy blue loop lets you hang it on a branch or a gift bag.
The style is simple and cozy. Tight single crochet makes a firm fabric, and one outline round keeps every tier step crisp. It uses three colors: dusty blue for the tree, pocket and loop, golden yellow for the star, and chocolate brown for the trunk.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The tree body measures 6.4 in (16.3 cm) wide by 7.0 in (17.8 cm) tall. With the trunk it is 7.8 in (19.8 cm) tall, and with the loop it is about 9.3 in (23.6 cm) overall.
Here is how it is built. You work the back panel flat from the tip down, with a short slip-stitch step between tiers, and finish it with one edging round. You work the pocket flat from the bottom up to match the bottom tier, edge it, and whipstitch it on. Last, you sew on the trunk, star and loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6.4 in (16.3 cm) x 7.0 in (17.8 cm) tree body; 9.3 in (23.6 cm) tall with trunk and loop
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 ornament made from 5 parts (back, pocket, trunk, star, loop)
- Layout: pocket over the bottom tier, star at the tip, trunk centered below
- Back panel before border: 6.0 in (15.2 cm) x 6.6 in (16.8 cm)
- Border depth: 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on every edge
- Pocket after edging: 6.4 in (16.3 cm) wide x 2.0 in (5.1 cm) tall
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton stitches are firm and crisp. They hold the tier shapes and keep the card from stretching the pocket. Acrylic also works, but go down a hook size if the fabric feels loose.
- Dusty blue: 25 g (about 45 m)
- Golden yellow: 3 g (about 5 m)
- Chocolate brown: 4 g (about 7 m)
These amounts include extra for a gauge swatch and sewing tails.
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4–6 clips or locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
- Blocking mat and pins
- One standard gift card for testing, 3.4 in (8.6 cm) x 2.1 in (5.3 cm)
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- inc – 2 sc in the same st
- sc2tog – (insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull up a loop) twice, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops
- MR – magic ring
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- FO – fasten off
Special technique – step row: Ch 1, turn. Sl st in the first 2 sts, sc in the stated number of sts, and leave the last 2 sts unworked. Don’t count the sl sts. This row moves each edge in by 2 sts and creates the notch between tiers.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc rows. That is 4.5 sts and 5 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make a test piece first. Ch 19, work 20 rows of 18 sc, and measure in the middle. Gauge matters here because the pocket opening has to fit a card.
Back panel checkpoints:
- After Row 11: 15 sts, 3.3 in (8.4 cm) wide, 2.2 in (5.6 cm) tall
- After Row 22: 21 sts, 4.7 in (11.9 cm) wide, 4.4 in (11.2 cm) tall
- After Row 33: 27 sts, 6.0 in (15.2 cm) wide, 6.6 in (16.8 cm) tall
If your piece is too big, go down half a hook size. If it is too small, go up half a size. Measure again at Row 11 before you continue. Never change the stitch counts, because the pocket and border counts depend on them.
Back Panel
Use dusty blue. The ch 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch. At the end of every row, ch 1 and turn.
Tier 3 (top)
Row 1: Ch 2, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (3 sc)
Row 2: Inc, sc in next st, inc. (5 sc)
Row 3: Inc, sc in next 3 sts, inc. (7 sc)
Row 4: Sc across. (7 sc)
Row 5: Inc, sc in next 5 sts, inc. (9 sc)
Row 6: Sc across. (9 sc)
Row 7: Inc, sc in next 7 sts, inc. (11 sc)
Row 8: Sc across. (11 sc)
Row 9: Inc, sc in next 9 sts, inc. (13 sc)
Row 10: Sc across. (13 sc)
Row 11: Inc, sc in next 11 sts, inc. (15 sc)
Tier 2 (middle)
Row 12 (step row): Sl st in first 2 sts, sc in next 11 sts, leave last 2 sts unworked. (11 sc)
Row 13: Inc, sc in next 9 sts, inc. (13 sc)
Row 14: Sc across. (13 sc)
Row 15: Inc, sc in next 11 sts, inc. (15 sc)
Row 16: Sc across. (15 sc)
Row 17: Inc, sc in next 13 sts, inc. (17 sc)
Row 18: Sc across. (17 sc)
Row 19: Inc, sc in next 15 sts, inc. (19 sc)
Row 20: Sc across. (19 sc)
Row 21: Inc, sc in next 17 sts, inc. (21 sc)
Row 22: Sc across. (21 sc)
Tier 1 (bottom)
Row 23 (step row): Sl st in first 2 sts, sc in next 17 sts, leave last 2 sts unworked. (17 sc)
Row 24: Inc, sc in next 15 sts, inc. (19 sc)
Row 25: Sc across. (19 sc)
Row 26: Inc, sc in next 17 sts, inc. (21 sc)
Row 27: Sc across. (21 sc)
Row 28: Inc, sc in next 19 sts, inc. (23 sc)
Row 29: Sc across. (23 sc)
Row 30: Inc, sc in next 21 sts, inc. (25 sc)
Row 31: Sc across. (25 sc)
Row 32: Inc, sc in next 23 sts, inc. (27 sc)
Row 33: Sc across. (27 sc)
Don’t fasten off, because the border starts from here. Each tier is 11 rows, so the panel is 33 rows: 6.6 in (16.8 cm) tall and 6.0 in (15.2 cm) wide at the base.
Use dusty blue and work from the bottom edge up. The pocket’s rows match back panel Rows 33 to 26 in reverse order.
Row 1: Ch 28, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (27 sc)
Row 2: Sc across. (27 sc)
Row 3: Sc2tog, sc in next 23 sts, sc2tog. (25 sc)
Row 4: Sc across. (25 sc)
Row 5: Sc2tog, sc in next 21 sts, sc2tog. (23 sc)
Row 6: Sc across. (23 sc)
Row 7: Sc2tog, sc in next 19 sts, sc2tog. (21 sc)
Row 8: Sc across. (21 sc)
Checkpoint: 6.0 in (15.2 cm) wide at the bottom, 4.7 in (11.9 cm) at the top, and 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall.
Pocket edging round: Ch 1, turn.
- Top (opening), across Row 8: 3 sc in first st, sc in next 19 sts, 3 sc in last st. (21 + 4 extra = 25 sc)
- Side: 1 sc in each row-end. (8 sc)
- Bottom, along the foundation: 3 sc in first ch, sc in next 25 ch, 3 sc in last ch. (27 + 4 extra = 31 sc)
- Side: 1 sc in each row-end. (8 sc)
Sl st to first sc. (72 sc) FO and leave a 30 in (76.2 cm) tail for sewing.
Trunk
Use chocolate brown.
Row 1: Ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (7 sc)
Rows 2–6: Sc across. (7 sc)
FO and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The trunk measures 1.6 in (4.1 cm) x 1.2 in (3.0 cm).
Star
Use golden yellow.
Round 1: 10 sc in MR. Sl st to first sc. Pull the ring snug, but leave a small center hole. (10 sc)
Round 2: *Ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, skip next sc, sl st in next sc. Repeat from * 4 more times. (5 points)
FO and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The star is about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) across.
Hanging Loop
Use dusty blue.
Row 1: Ch 17, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. (16 sc)
FO and leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. The strip is 3.6 in (9.1 cm) long. When you fold it in half and overlap the ends, the loop stands about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
Border
The border is one round of sc around the back panel at body gauge, 4.5 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm). It adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) to each edge. The side counts below run between corners. The top and bottom counts already include their corner stitches.
Border round: With the Row 33 loop still on your hook, ch 1 and turn. The side now facing you is the RS.
- Bottom: 3 sc in first st, sc in next 25 sts, 3 sc in last st. (27 + 4 extra = 31 sc)
- First side, going up:
- Tier 1: 11 sc across the row-ends of Rows 33–23
- 2 sc in the 2 ledge sts of Row 22
- Tier 2: 11 sc across the row-ends of Rows 22–12
- 2 sc in the 2 ledge sts of Row 11
- Tier 3: 11 sc across the row-ends of Rows 11–1
- (37 sc)
- Top: Sc in first st of Row 1, 3 sc in center st, sc in last st. (3 + 2 extra = 5 sc)
- Second side, going down: 11 sc, 2 ledge sc, 11 sc, 2 ledge sc, 11 sc. (37 sc)
Sl st to first sc. Total: 31 + 37 + 5 + 37 = 110 sc. FO and weave in the ends.
On one side, the ledge sts carry the sl sts from the step rows. Work through the ledge sts underneath them so both sides match.
Why the math works: Each tier side climbs 2.2 in (5.6 cm) on a slant, so it is about 2.4 in (6.1 cm) long. At 4.5 sc per inch, 11 sc cover 2.4 in (6.1 cm), so one sc per row-end lies flat. Three sc in each bottom corner turn the 90° angle. The 2 ledge sc match the 2 sts each step row left exposed. The back’s bottom (31 sc) and its lowest 8 side sc on each side exactly match the pocket’s bottom (31 sc) and sides (8 sc).
Checkpoint: 6.4 in (16.3 cm) wide x 7.0 in (17.8 cm) tall.
Assembly
- Trunk: Center the trunk behind the bottom edge so its top 2 rows, 0.4 in (1.0 cm), overlap the WS of the back panel. Sew through the back panel only. About 0.8 in (2.0 cm) shows below the tree.
- Pocket: Lay the pocket on the RS of the back with the bottom edges lined up. Clip the corners. The pocket’s top corners line up with the row-ends of Row 26.
- Seam: Use the pocket tail to whipstitch each pocket edging sc to the matching back border sc, working through the outer loops. Sew 8 up one side, 31 along the bottom and 8 up the other side, for 47 pairs. Leave the 25 opening sts unsewn.
- Tension: Pull each stitch just snug. Tight sewing puckers the pocket and narrows the opening.
- Loop: Fold the strip in half. Sew both ends to the WS of the tip, overlapping by 0.3 in (0.8 cm).
- Star: Center the star over the tip on the RS so it hides the base of the loop. Sew around its center and tack down each point.
Size checkpoint: The opening is about 4.7 in (11.9 cm) wide inside. A test card should slide in without stretching it and show about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) above the pocket.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the ornament, or steam it from above without touching the yarn.
- Lay it flat with the RS up.
- Pin the base to 6.4 in (16.3 cm) and the height to 7.0 in (17.8 cm).
- Pin each tier’s lower corners outward so the steps stay crisp.
- Slide a card-sized piece of cardboard into the pocket.
- Shape the star points with your fingers.
- Let it dry completely before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The back border has 110 sc and the pocket edging has 72 sc
- The base measures 6.4 in (16.3 cm) and the height 7.0 in (17.8 cm)
- The tier steps are the same on the left and right
- The pocket seam has 47 pairs and no gaps at the corners
- All 25 opening sts are free
- A card slides in and out easily
- The trunk is centered and 0.8 in (2.0 cm) of it shows
- The star hides the base of the loop and all 5 points are tacked down
- All ends are woven in on the WS
Troubleshooting
The sides ripple. The border probably has extra stitches. Recount 11 sc per tier side.
The sides cup inward. The border is too tight. Work it again with a hook one size larger.
The steps are uneven. Each step row needs exactly 2 sl sts at the start and 2 unworked sts at the end.
The card won’t fit. Your gauge is too tight. Remake the pieces with a larger hook.
The pocket gapes forward. Sew with slightly firmer tension, and block with cardboard inside.
The star curls. Pin it flat while it is damp.
Care
Take out the gift card first. Hand wash in cool water and dry flat.
Final Notes
Every measurement builds on the one before. A gauge of 18 sc x 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a back panel of 6.0 in x 6.6 in (15.2 cm x 16.8 cm). The 110-stitch border brings it to 6.4 in x 7.0 in (16.3 cm x 17.8 cm). The 72-stitch pocket matches the bottom tier stitch for stitch. The trunk and loop bring the total height to 9.3 in (23.6 cm). If you check each stage as you go, the tree will come out the right size.
Happy crocheting!