The Evergreen Fan Leaf Ornament is a small lace leaf in deep teal and cream. A cream spine runs down the center with three cream fans stacked along it. Each fan has a solid teal arch on both sides, and a cream picot edge finishes the outline. It looks delicate on a tree but is quick to make.
The two colors give it a winter feel. The cream reads as frost or candlelight, and the teal reads as pine. Make one in an evening and hang it on a branch or a gift bag, or add it to a holiday card.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide by 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, plus a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) hanging loop. Total hanging length is 5.75 in (14.6 cm).
The construction is simple. You work cream fans on both sides of one foundation chain, so each fan forms around the spine. Two teal rounds add the arches and smooth the outline. A final cream round adds the picots and the hanging loop. The ornament is one piece and there is no sewing.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, plus a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loop
- Skill level: Intermediate (thread work, working both sides of a chain)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single leaf motif, worked in rounds around a foundation chain
- Piece size: 2.25 in x 4.5 in (5.7 cm x 11.4 cm)
- Size before border: 2 in x 4.25 in (5.1 cm x 10.8 cm)
- Border depth: About 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per edge, measured to the picot tips
Materials
Use mercerized cotton crochet thread in size 3, about 260 m per 100 g (284 yd per 3.5 oz). Mercerized cotton holds a crisp shape after starching and keeps the fan spokes clear. Don’t use soft acrylic, because the lace will droop.
- Cream: 5 g, about 13 m (14 yd)
- Deep teal: 4 g, about 10 m (11 yd)
Both amounts include a margin for a test swatch and for weaving in ends.
Tools:
– 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
– Fine tapestry needle or small-eye darning needle
– Scissors
– Rust-proof pins
– Foam blocking board or folded towel
– Spray starch or fabric stiffener
– 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 (yarn over twice)
- dtr – double treble crochet (yarn over 3 times, then work off 2 loops at a time 4 times)
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
- Picot (p): Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
- Trefoil picot (tp): Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook; ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook; ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook; sl st in top of last sc made. This makes three small loops in a cluster.
- Point trio: 3 sc worked in one stitch at the tip or top point.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge isn’t critical for an ornament, but it controls the final size. Make one test ornament before you make a set.
Base gauge: 10 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) in size 3 thread with a 2.25 mm hook.
Checkpoints (measure flat, unstretched):
– After Round 1: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from tip to top. One full fan is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
– After Round 2: 4 in (10.2 cm) long x 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide.
– After Round 3: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) long x 2 in (5.1 cm) wide.
– After Round 4: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide, before blocking eases it fully open.
If your piece is too big: go down to a 2 mm hook or crochet more tightly.
If it’s too small: go up to a 2.5 mm hook.
Don’t add or remove chains. The foundation chain sets where the fans sit, and every later round counts on that spacing.
Round 1: Spine and Cream Fans (Cream)
Work the first side (Side A) into the back bump of each chain. Work the second side (Side B) into the two loops left on the same chains. On Side A you work upward from the tip. On Side B you work downward from the top.
The fans are graded, with short stitches at the bottom and tall stitches at the top. This makes each fan lean upward from its base.
Foundation: With cream, ch 25. The ch closest to the hook is the bottom tip. The first ch you made (the slip knot end) is the top.
Number the chains from the hook: ch 1 is next to the hook and ch 25 is the slip knot end.
Side A (working up):
1. 3 sc in ch 2 (tip trio).
2. Sc in ch 3 and ch 4.
3. Skip ch 5. In ch 6 work (hdc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr). Skip ch 7. This is half-fan 1.
4. Sc in ch 8 through ch 11 (4 sc).
5. Skip ch 12. In ch 13 work (hdc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr). Skip ch 14. This is half-fan 2.
6. Sc in ch 15 through ch 18 (4 sc).
7. Skip ch 19. In ch 20 work (hdc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr). Skip ch 21. This is half-fan 3.
8. Sc in ch 22 through ch 24 (3 sc).
9. 3 sc in ch 25 (top trio).
Side B (rotate the work and go down the other side of the chain):
1. Sc in ch 24 through ch 22 (3 sc).
2. Skip ch 21. In ch 20 work (tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, dc, ch 1, hdc). Skip ch 19.
3. Sc in ch 18 through ch 15 (4 sc).
4. Skip ch 14. In ch 13 work (tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, dc, ch 1, hdc). Skip ch 12.
5. Sc in ch 11 through ch 8 (4 sc).
6. Skip ch 7. In ch 6 work (tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, dc, ch 1, hdc). Skip ch 5.
7. Sc in ch 4 and ch 3.
8. Join with sl st to first sc.
Each fan is two half-fans worked into the same chain from opposite sides. The skipped chains on either side open into the small eyelet at the fan’s base.
Stitch count: 32 sc, 6 hdc, 6 dc, 12 tr = 56 sts, plus 18 ch-1 sps.
Each full fan has 8 spokes and 6 ch-1 sps.
Fasten off cream.
Round 2: Solid Teal Arches (Teal)
This round caps each half-fan with a 9-dc arch.
Tip: Join teal with sc in the center sc of the tip trio, then work 2 more sc in the same st (point trio).
Side A:
1. Sc in next 3 sc.
2. Skip hdc. Work 3 dc in each of next 3 ch-1 sps (9 dc). Skip tr. Sc in next 4 sc. Rep from * 2 more times. The last “sc in next 4 sc” covers the 3 spine sc plus the first sc of the top trio.
Top: 3 sc in center sc of top trio.
Side B:
1. Sc in next 4 sc.
2. Skip tr. Work 3 dc in each of next 3 ch-1 sps (9 dc). Skip hdc. Sc in next 4 sc. Rep from * once more.
3. Skip tr, work 3 dc in each of next 3 ch-1 sps, skip hdc. Sc in next 3 sc.
4. Join with sl st to first sc.
Stitch count: 90 sts. That is 42 sts on each side (3 arches of 9 dc, plus 15 sc) and a 3-sc point trio at each end. 42 + 42 + 3 + 3 = 90.
This is a growth round. The 90 is this round’s complete total.
Don’t fasten off.
Round 3: Teal Outline and Open Fill (Teal)
The dips between arches sit lower than the arch crowns. Tall stitches in the dips and short stitches on the crowns bring the edge level and smooth it into an oval.
Segment (worked over 4 sc): Tr in next sc, ch 1, dtr in next sc, ch 1, dtr in next sc, ch 1, tr in next sc.
Tip: Sl st in next sc (center of point trio). Ch 1, 3 sc in same st.
Side A:
1. Sc in next 4 sts.
2. Sc in each of next 9 dc, work Segment. Rep from * once more.
3. Sc in each of next 9 dc. Sc in next 5 sts.
Top: 3 sc in center sc of top trio.
Side B:
1. Sc in next 5 sts.
2. Sc in each of next 9 dc, work Segment. Rep from * once more.
3. Sc in each of next 9 dc. Sc in next 4 sts.
4. Join with sl st to first sc.
Stitch count: This is a conversion round, so the count is (sts worked one-per-existing-st) + (extra sts added). The 90 sts from Round 2 each get one stitch, and the 2 center point sts each get 2 extra sc: 90 + 4 = 94 sts, plus 12 ch-1 sps (6 per side).
Each side now has 46 sts and 6 ch-1 sps, counting the outer sc of each point trio. The center sc of each trio is the point stitch.
Fasten off teal.
Checkpoint: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) x 2 in (5.1 cm).
Border: Round 4 (Cream Picot Edge)
Border gauge: 10 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the curved edge. Each side of the oval is about 5 in (12.7 cm) long, so it needs about 50 sc. This round puts 52 sc on each side, which keeps the edge flat without ruffling.
Tip: Join cream with sc in center sc of the tip trio, tp, sc in same st.
Side A:
1. Sc in next 5 sts.
2. Arch: Sc in next 3 sc, p, sc in next 3 sc, p, sc in next 3 sc.
3. Segment: Sc in tr, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in dtr, sc in ch-1 sp, tp, sc in dtr, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in tr. Rep from * once more.
4. Work one more Arch.
5. Sc in next 6 sts.
Top (hanging loop): Sc in center sc of top trio, ch 25, sl st in same sc, sc in same sc.
Side B:
1. Sc in next 6 sts.
2. Work Arch, then Segment. Rep from * once more.
3. Work one more Arch.
4. Sc in next 5 sts.
5. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Counts per side: 5 + 9 + 7 + 9 + 7 + 9 + 6 = 52 sc. Each side has 6 single picots and 2 trefoil picots.
Round total: 52 + 52 + 2 (tip) + 2 (top) = 108 sc. This is a conversion round. Side A of Round 3 has 46 sts and 6 ch-1 sps, and each gets one sc: 46 + 6 = 52. Side B works the same way. The 2 point stitches each get 2 sc instead of 1, so: (106 sts and sps worked one each) + (2 extra sc) = 108.
There are 5 trefoils in total: 2 per side plus one at the tip. There are 12 single picots.
Why the math works: Every round works one stitch into each stitch or space of the round before. Extra stitches are added only at the two center point stitches, and only on Rounds 3 and 4. That keeps both points sharp and both sides the same length. The single picots sit on the arch crowns, three stitches from each end of the 9-sc arch. The trefoils sit at the middle of each Segment, so the decoration lines up with the shape underneath.
Checkpoint: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm), plus a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loop.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along stitches of the same color: cream into cream, teal into teal. Don’t trim them yet.
- Wet the ornament in cool water and press it gently in a towel.
- Pin both points first, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) apart, keeping the spine straight.
- Pin the widest point of each side so the ornament is 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
- Ease each fan’s spokes upward and outward with a pin tip so the eyelet at the base opens.
- Pin each trefoil open, putting a pin through the middle loop.
- Spray with starch or brush on stiffener, then let it dry completely.
- Unpin and trim the thread ends close.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The spine is straight from tip to top.
- All three fans are the same size, with an open eyelet at each base.
- Each half-fan has a solid 9-dc teal arch.
- The edge is a smooth oval with no dips at the Segments.
- Each side has 52 sc, 6 picots, and 2 trefoils.
- The tip has one trefoil, and the top has the hanging loop.
- The ornament measures 2.25 in x 4.5 in (5.7 cm x 11.4 cm).
- All ends are hidden and the ornament hangs straight.
Troubleshooting
The fans point sideways instead of up. Check that you used hdc at the lower spoke and tr at the upper spokes, then pin the spokes upward when blocking.
The outline dips between the arches. Make sure you used tr and dtr in the Segments, not dc. Pull the loops up to full height.
The edge ruffles. Your border sc are too loose. Go down a hook size for Round 4.
The edge cups. Your border is too tight. Go up a hook size for Round 4.
The ornament twists. Work Side B into the two loops left on each chain, not the back bump. Block with the spine pinned straight.
The eyelets have closed. You missed a skipped chain beside a fan. Count chains 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, and 21.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press flat, and starch again if needed. Store flat between tissue paper so the picots don’t crush.
Final Notes
The measurements build round by round. A 25-chain foundation becomes 3.75 in (9.5 cm) after Round 1, then 4 in x 1.5 in (10.2 cm x 3.8 cm) after the teal arches. The outline round brings it to 4.25 in x 2 in (10.8 cm x 5.1 cm). The picot border adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per edge for a finished size of 4.5 in x 2.25 in (11.4 cm x 5.7 cm), plus a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loop. The stitch counts are 56, 90, 94, and 108. If they match at each step, the shape will come out right.
Happy crocheting!