This little angel is a classic tree ornament with an airy, open look. She has a small stuffed round head and a solid single crochet bodice. Her two teardrop wings are padded bands of half double crochet. Her skirt is six twisted cords that fan out and meet in a scalloped hem.
The whole ornament uses one color, a soft ivory cotton. One color keeps the style simple and old-fashioned, and it lets the stitches show: tight single crochet on the head and bodice, smooth rounded posts on the wings, and crisp slip-stitch cords in the skirt.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished angel is about 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall. The hanging loop adds about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) more.
You make the angel as one single piece. Work the head from the top down in the round, close it into a neck, flatten the shoulders, and work the bodice in rows. The skirt cords hang from the waist and the wings go on the sides of the bodice. A two-row scalloped hem joins the cords at the bottom, and a hanging loop goes on top of the head.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide x 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall, plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) hanging loop
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport (#2), mercerized cotton
- Hook: 2.75 mm (US C-2)
- Number of pieces: 1 (worked as one piece, no sewing)
- Layout: One standalone ornament
- Piece size: Head 1 in (2.5 cm) across; bodice 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide at the waist
- Size before border: About 3.6 in (9.1 cm) wide at the cord tips x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall
- Border depth: Scalloped hem about 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized sport-weight cotton. Cotton holds its shape, shows each stitch clearly, and takes light starch well, which keeps the wings and skirt cords open. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because the open cords will droop.
- Ivory (main and only color): 10 g, about 30 m (33 yd)
- A small pinch of polyester fiberfill for the head
These amounts include about 25 percent extra for checking gauge and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 2.75 mm (US C-2) crochet hook
- 1 locking stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Optional: fabric stiffener or spray starch
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec – sc2tog (invisible decrease recommended)
- MR – magic ring
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- RS – right side
Special stitch – slip-stitch cord: Chain the number given. Then sl st into the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook, and into the back bump of each ch back to the start. This makes a firm, slightly twisted cord that curls less than a plain chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 12 sc and 14 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm) in sc. Chains: 7 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Here gauge matters for proportion, not fit. Make the head and bodice first, and measure them before you add the cords and wings. Treat your first angel as your test piece.
Checkpoints:
- After head Round 6, the head tube is about 3 in (7.6 cm) around.
- The finished, stuffed head is about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
- Row A (shoulders) is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
- Row 3 (waist) is about 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide.
- Each skirt cord is about 3 in (7.6 cm) long.
- Each wing sticks out about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) from the bodice and is about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
If your pieces are too big, go down to a 2.5 mm hook. If they are too small, go up to a 3 mm hook. If only the chains are off (cords much longer or shorter than 3 in / 7.6 cm), change your chain tension instead of the hook. That keeps the head and skirt in proportion.
Head and Neck
Work in continuous spiral rounds. Place a marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go.
Round 1: Make a MR, 6 sc in ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc in next st, inc) 6 times. (18 sts)
Rounds 4–6: Sc in each st around. (18 sts per round)
Checkpoint: the tube is about 3 in (7.6 cm) around.
Round 7: (Sc in next st, dec) 6 times. (12 sts)
Stuff the head firmly and shape it into a ball.
Round 8: Dec 6 times. (6 sts)
Round 9 (neck): Sc in each st around. (6 sts)
If the head feels soft at the base, push a little more stuffing in through the neck.
Round 10 (shoulders): Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Sl st in the next st to end the spiral.
Bodice
Flatten Round 10 so the 12 sts lie in two layers of 6, with the end of the round at one side. The front of the head should face you.
Row A: Ch 1. Working through both layers at once, sc 6 across. (6 sts) This closes the bottom of the neck and forms the shoulders.
Row 1: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in last st. (8 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (8 sts)
Row 3 (waist): Ch 1, turn. 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in last st. (11 sts)
Check the math: Row 3 uses 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 8 sts of Row 2 and makes 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 11 sts.
Checkpoint: the waist is about 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide, and the bodice is about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) tall below the neck. Do not fasten off.
Skirt Cords
Next you make six slip-stitch cords from the top of Row 3, in sts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. This puts the two outer cords at the edges of the waist and spaces the four inner cords evenly between them.
Cord row: Ch 1, turn. Sl st in first st.
Cord: Ch 22. Sl st in back bump of 2nd ch from hook and of each remaining ch (21 sl sts). Sl st in the same waist st where the cord began.
Move: Sl st in next 2 sts.
Repeat Cord and Move until you have made a cord in st 11. You now have 6 cords. Fasten off and weave in the end.
Checkpoint: each cord is about 3 in (7.6 cm) long. Lay the angel flat and fan the cords out, with the outer two angled outward and the inner four spread evenly. The fan should be about 3.6 in (9.1 cm) wide at the tips.
Wings
Each wing is a chain loop fixed at two points on the side of the bodice, then covered with a padded band of hdc.
Right wing: With RS facing, join yarn with a sl st in the side of Row A at the right edge.
Foundation: Ch 24, then sl st in the side of Row 2 on the same edge. This makes a teardrop-shaped loop.
Band (conversion round): Working back along the chain toward Row A: hdc in each of the first 10 ch, 2 hdc in each of the next 4 ch, hdc in each of the last 10 ch. Count: 24 hdc worked one per chain + 4 extra hdc at the tip = 28 hdc.
Sl st in the side of Row A to anchor the wing. Fasten off.
The 4 extra hdc sit at the outer curve of the wing. They let the tip round out smoothly without cupping.
Left wing: Repeat on the left edge. Join at the side of Row A and anchor the chain in the side of Row 2. (28 hdc)
Checkpoint: each wing sticks out about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) from the bodice and is about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide at its widest point. The wingspan is about 4 in (10.2 cm).
Hanging Loop
Join yarn with a sl st in the center top of the head (Round 1). Ch 20, then sl st in the same st. Sl st in each ch around the loop (20 sl sts) to make it firmer. Fasten off and weave the end into the head.
The loop stands about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall when the angel hangs.
Border: Scalloped Hem
The hem has two rows. Row 1 makes a chain frame between the cord tips. Row 2 fills each space in the frame with a scallop.
Border gauge: One scallop (9 sts in a ch-5 sp) is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep.
Hem Row 1 (frame): Join yarn with a sl st in the tip of the leftmost cord (the skipped chain at the end of the cord). Ch 5, sl st in the tip of the next cord. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (5 ch-5 sps, 25 ch total)
Each of the 5 spaces sits between two neighboring cords, so each opening in the skirt gets exactly one space.
Hem Row 2 (scallops): Ch 1, turn. In each ch-5 sp, work (hdc, 7 dc, hdc). Between spaces, sl st in the tip of the cord. Finish with a sl st in the tip of the leftmost cord. Count: 5 scallops x 9 sts = 45 sts, plus 4 sl sts between scallops and 1 final sl st.
Fasten off and weave in the end.
Why the math works: At 7 ch per inch, 25 chains make a frame about 3.6 in (9.1 cm) wide. That matches the fanned cord tips, so the frame lies flat without pulling the cords together. Working 9 sts into 5 chains gives 4 extra sts per space, and that extra length lifts each space into a round scallop instead of a ruffle. Five scallops at 0.75 in (1.9 cm) each measure 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across. Adding the outer cord edges, the hem reaches about 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the wingspan. The 0.5 in (1.3 cm) scallop depth brings the total height from 4.25 in (10.8 cm) to 4.75 in (12.1 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in every remaining end through stitches of the same kind so the ends stay hidden.
- Soak the angel in cool water for 10 minutes, then press the water out in a towel. Do not wring.
- Lay it flat on the blocking mat, face up.
- Pin the head and bodice in the center. Then pin each wing tip out so the wings measure 4 in (10.2 cm) from tip to tip.
- Fan the cords and pin each cord tip so the hem is 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and the angel is 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall.
- Pin the top of each scallop so it rounds evenly.
- Optional: mist with spray starch, or brush on diluted fabric stiffener, for a firm ornament.
- Leave it pinned until it is completely dry, usually 12 to 24 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Head is round, firmly stuffed, and about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
- Row A closes the neck neatly with no stuffing showing.
- Waist has 11 sts and measures about 1.8 in (4.6 cm).
- Six cords, each with 21 sl sts, sit on sts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
- Both wings have 28 hdc and are the same size.
- Five scallops, each with 9 sts, lie flat.
- Overall size is 4 in (10.2 cm) x 4.75 in (12.1 cm), plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
- All ends are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
The head is lumpy. Use the invisible decrease, and add stuffing in small pieces, shaping as you go.
Stuffing shows through the head. Your stitches are too loose. Go down a hook size for the head only.
The wings cup or twist. Check that the 4 extra hdc are at the tip, not near the bodice. Block firmly with starch.
The wings are different sizes. Count the foundation chain on each wing. It must be 24.
The cords curl. Make sure you work into the back bumps, and block with starch.
The hem pulls the cords inward. Your ch-5 frame is too tight. Loosen your chains, or use ch 6 and work (hdc, 8 dc, hdc).
The scallops ruffle. Your dc are too loose for the space. Work (hdc, 6 dc, hdc) instead.
The angel leans to one side. Block it again, pinning the center line of the head and bodice straight first.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press dry in a towel, and reshape flat. Starch it again after washing if you want the crisp shape back.
Final Notes
Here is how the measurements build on each other. An 18-st head round about 3 in (7.6 cm) around gives a 1 in (2.5 cm) head. The bodice grows from 6 to 11 sts and ends at a 1.8 in (4.6 cm) waist. Six 3 in (7.6 cm) cords fan out to 3.6 in (9.1 cm), and two 28-hdc wings span 4 in (10.2 cm). Five 9-st scallops finish the hem at 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and the angel at 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall.
Make one, check it against these numbers, and then make a whole flight of angels for the tree.
Happy crocheting!