This crescent moon ornament is a small, lacy keepsake with a lot of detail. Its curved band is filled with radiating fans and edged with tiny picots. Two five-petal flowers sit on the outer curve, and three small stars hang from it on slip-stitch cords.
The sample uses only cream thread, which looks soft and vintage against green branches and warm tree lights. White, ecru, or pale gold would also work well.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished crescent is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide. From the top of the hanging loop to the tip of the bottom star, the ornament hangs 7.25 in (18.4 cm) long.
Construction is simple. You crochet the crescent as one flat strip in four rows. The curve comes from the stitch heights and where the fans sit. One border round then goes all the way around. Last, you make the flowers and stars, block the crescent, and attach everything.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished crescent: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide
- Total hanging length: 7.25 in (18.4 cm), from the top of the loop to the tip of the bottom star
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 cotton crochet thread (fingering-weight category)
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1 finished ornament: one crescent base with 2 flower appliqués and 3 star charms attached
- Layout: Crescent opens to the right. The hanging loop is at the top, two stars hang inside the curve from the upper horn, and one star hangs below the lowest point.
- Crescent size before border: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide
- Border depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on every edge
- Flower size: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Star size: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point
Materials
Yarn: Use a mercerized size 3 cotton crochet thread. Its firm, smooth finish shows off the fans and picots and holds its shape after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or stretchy thread.
- Cream: 15 g, about 65 m in total. That breaks down as about 7 g / 30 m for the crescent, about 2 g / 9 m for the two flowers, and about 3 g / 13 m for the three stars. The rest covers the cords and the hanging loop.
These quantities include a margin of about 20% for swatching, sewing tails, and frogging.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle with a small eye
- 2 locking stitch markers
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking board or foam mat
- Spray bottle with water
- Optional: fabric stiffener or starch spray
- Small sharp scissors
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sk – skip
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
Special stitches:
- Picot: ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
- Fan: (tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr, all in the same space. That gives 7 tr and 6 ch-1 spaces.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge matters less for an ornament than for a garment, but it does control how well the curve lies. Work Row 1 first and treat it as your test piece.
- Base gauge: 9 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
- After Row 1: the 59 sc measure about 6.5 in (16.5 cm) unstretched.
- After Row 2: the dc mesh band is about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) tall.
- After Row 3: each fan stands about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall above Row 2.
- After Row 4: the band is about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide at the center fans. Eased into shape, the crescent measures 4.25 in (10.8 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
- After the border: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
If Row 1 is longer than 6.75 in (17.1 cm), start again with a 2.0 mm hook. If it is shorter than 6.25 in (15.9 cm), start again with a 2.5 mm hook.
Part 1: Crescent Body
You work the crescent in rows on one strip. Row 1 becomes the inner curve, and Row 4 becomes the outer curve.
Foundation: Ch 60.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (59 sc)
Row 2 (mesh): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sk next sc, dc in next sc, ch 2, sk next sc, dc in next sc; rep from * across. Turn. (30 dc, 29 ch-2 sps)*
Number the ch-2 spaces 1 to 29 in the direction you’re about to work. It helps to mark spaces 6, 12, 18, and 24.
Row 3 (fan row): Ch 1, 2 sc in sp 1, 2 hdc in sp 2, sc in sp 3, sk 2 sps, Fan in sp 6, sk 2 sps, sc in sp 9, sk 2 sps, Fan in sp 12, sk 2 sps, sc in sp 15, sk 2 sps, Fan in sp 18, sk 2 sps, sc in sp 21, sk 2 sps, Fan in sp 24, sk 2 sps, sc in sp 27, 2 hdc in sp 28, 2 sc in sp 29. Turn.
(4 Fans; 9 sc, 4 hdc, 28 tr, 24 ch-1 sps)
Put a locking marker in the first Fan you made (Fan 1). The horn at that end will be the upper horn, and Fan 4 sits near the lower horn.
The short sc and hdc stitches at each end keep the horns thin, while the tall tr fans make the middle of the band wide. That difference in height is what creates the crescent shape.
Row 4 (outer arches): Ch 1, sc in each of first 5 sts (2 sc, 2 hdc, sc).
- *Ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp of the Fan; rep from * 5 more times.
- Ch 3, sc in next single sc between Fans.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 over all 4 Fans. The last repeat ends in the sc in sp 3.
Sc in each of last 4 sts. Turn. (37 sc, 28 ch-3 loops)
Count check: 5 end sc + 4 Fans x (7 loops and 7 sc) + 4 end sc = 37 sc and 28 loops.
Don’t fasten off. The border continues from here.
Part 2: Flowers (Make 2)
Rnd 1: MR, ch 1, 10 sc in ring, sl st in first sc. (10 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, sk next st, sc in next st, ch 3, sk next st; rep from * 3 more times, sl st in first sc. (5 sc, 5 ch-3 sps)*
Rnd 3: In each ch-3 sp work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st in first sc. (5 petals, 35 sts)
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail for sewing. Pull the ring snug, but leave a small open center. Each flower should measure 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Part 3: Stars (Make 3)
Rnd 1: MR, ch 1, 10 sc in ring, sl st in first sc. (10 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st in first sc. (20 sc)
Rnd 3 (points): Ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, sk 3 sc, sl st in next sc; rep from * 4 more times. The last sl st lands in the joining st. (5 points, each spanning 4 sts of Rnd 2)*
Fasten off and weave in the ends. Each star should measure 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point.
Part 4: Cords
Each cord is a chain with slip stitches worked back along it. This makes a firm strand that won’t stretch.
Long cord: Leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) starting tail and ch 14. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Then sl st into the tip of one star point and fasten off. (13 sl st, about 1.5 in / 3.8 cm)
Short cord: Work as for the long cord, but start with ch 8. (7 sl st, about 0.75 in / 1.9 cm)
Bottom cord: Work as for the long cord, but start with ch 6. (5 sl st, about 0.5 in / 1.3 cm)
Set the stars aside until after blocking.
Border
The border is one joined round around the whole crescent. It covers the outer curve, the first horn tip, the inner curve, and the second horn tip.
Border gauge: On the inner edge you work 1 sc into each foundation chain, so it keeps the Row 1 gauge of 9 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm). On the outer edge you work 4 sc and 1 picot into each ch-3 loop. This fuller edge lets the outer curve spread around the wider arc without cupping.
Border Round: Ch 1, turn.
- Outer curve: Sc in each of first 5 sc, (2 sc, picot, 2 sc) in next ch-3 loop, sk next sc; rep from * 26 more times, (2 sc, picot, 2 sc) in last ch-3 loop, sc in each of last 5 sc. (122 sc, 28 picots)*
- First horn tip: Working down the row ends: sc in end of Row 4, sc in end of Row 3, (sc, picot, sc) in end of Row 2, sc in end of Row 1. (5 sc, 1 picot)
- Inner curve: Sc in the free loop of each foundation ch. (59 sc)
- Second horn tip: Working up the row ends: sc in end of Row 1, (sc, picot, sc) in end of Row 2, sc in end of Row 3, sc in end of Row 4. (5 sc, 1 picot)
Sl st in first sc to join. Round total: 191 sc and 30 picots.
Why the math works:
- Outer curve: You work into 10 of the 37 Row 4 sc (5 at each end) and skip the other 27, so every Row 4 stitch is accounted for. The 28 loops x 4 sc = 112 sc, and 112 + 10 = 122.
- Inner curve: The 59 sc match the 59 foundation chains one to one, so the inner edge stays the length you measured after Row 1.
- Horn tips: Each tip has 5 sc plus one picot to sharpen the point.
- Total: 122 + 5 + 59 + 5 = 191 sc.
Fasten off and weave in the ends. Checkpoint: shaped, the crescent now measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
Final Blocking
- Spray the crescent lightly until it is damp, not soaking.
- Lay it on the board with the opening facing right. Ease it into a smooth crescent 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide.
- Pin both horn tip picots first. Then pin the outer curve at each Fan’s center picot.
- Open each Fan into an even half-circle so all 6 ch-1 spaces show. Pin the inner curve into a smooth arc.
- If you like, mist with stiffener or starch. Let it dry completely.
- Block the flowers flat with the petals opened evenly. Block the stars with all 5 points pinned out.
- Flowers: Place Flower 1 over the sc between Fan 1 and Fan 2, and Flower 2 over the sc between Fan 2 and Fan 3. Keep both on the outer half of the band. Use the tail to sew around each center and petal base with small hidden stitches.
- Inner stars: Count the inner-curve sc starting from the upper horn tip. Sew the short cord to the 4th sc and the long cord to the 10th sc, using the starting tails. Secure the tails on the wrong side.
- Bottom star: Sew the bottom cord to the center picot (4th loop) of Fan 4. This is the lowest point of the outer curve.
- Hanging loop: Join the thread with a sl st to the center picot (4th loop) of Fan 1. Ch 18, sl st in the same picot, then sl st in each ch around and sl st in the picot. Fasten off. The loop stands about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
- Hang the ornament and check that it falls straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Row 1: 59 sc, about 6.5 in (16.5 cm) long.
- Row 2: 30 dc and 29 ch-2 spaces.
- Row 3: 4 Fans of 7 tr each.
- Row 4: 37 sc and 28 ch-3 loops.
- Border: 191 sc and 30 picots.
- Crescent: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
- Flowers 1 in (2.5 cm) across; stars 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point.
- Cords about 1.5 in (3.8 cm), 0.75 in (1.9 cm), and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long.
- Total hanging length: 7.25 in (18.4 cm).
- No ends showing on the right side.
Troubleshooting
- The crescent stays straight: Row 1 is too loose. Remake it with a smaller hook, or work the inner edge of the border more tightly.
- The outer edge ruffles: The ch-3 loops are too long. Keep the chains snug, or work (2 sc, picot, 1 sc) in each loop instead.
- The Fans lean: Check that you skipped exactly 2 spaces on each side of every Fan.
- The horns are blunt: Pin each tip picot firmly to a point while blocking.
- The stars curl: Block them damp with stiffener.
- The ornament tilts: Move the hanging loop one picot toward the heavier side.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and press out the water in a towel. Re-block flat to dry, and store the ornament flat so the cords don’t tangle.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check:
- Row 1 sets the inner curve: 59 sc at 6.5 in (16.5 cm).
- The four Fans widen the band to 1 in (2.5 cm), bringing the crescent to 4.25 in (10.8 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
- The 191-stitch border adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on each edge, for a finished 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
- The loop, bottom cord, and bottom star bring the full ornament to 7.25 in (18.4 cm).
If each checkpoint matches, the finished ornament will too.
Happy crocheting!