This little tree is a single flat Christmas tree motif in soft sage green. It has a classic stepped silhouette: a small pointed treetop, four stacked trapezoid tiers that widen toward the base, and a short rectangular trunk.
Each tier is packed with popcorn stitches. The puffy bumps give it a dimensional, branch-like texture. A smooth single crochet edge outlines the whole tree and runs along the bottom edge of every tier, so the tiers read as clean, separate layers.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tree measures about 5.4 in (13.7 cm) tall and 5.4 in (13.7 cm) wide at the widest tier, including the border.
The tree is worked in one piece, top-down in rows. You start at the tip, increase to shape the treetop and each tier, and step in at the start of every new tier to form the ledges. The trunk is worked from the center of the last tier, and one round of single crochet finishes the edge.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.4 in (13.7 cm) tall x 5.4 in (13.7 cm) wide
- Skill level: Easy/Intermediate (popcorns plus simple shaping)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light, 3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (US E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single flat motif, worked top-down in rows
- Piece size before border: 5 in (12.7 cm) tall x 5 in (12.7 cm) wide
- Border depth: 1 round of sc, about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on every edge
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth DK cotton or cotton blend. Cotton gives crisp popcorns and holds the tier points well. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns, because they blur the texture.
- Sage green: about 20 g / 45 m (49 yd)
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (US E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers (2–3)
– Ruler or tape measure
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Spray bottle or steam iron
The yarn quantity includes a margin. The tree itself uses about 13 g.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- pc – popcorn
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Popcorn (pc): Work 4 dc in the same st. Remove the hook from the loop. Insert the hook from front to back into the top of the first dc of the group. Pick up the dropped loop and pull it through. Ch 1 to close. The closing ch 1 does not count as a separate stitch, and each pc counts as 1 st.
Popcorns are always worked on RS rows. This makes them pop toward the front.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc and 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc. The popcorn rows keep the same row height, because each popcorn folds outward instead of adding height.
Test first: Work Rows 1–8 (treetop plus Tier 1) and measure before you continue. This acts as your test piece.
Checkpoints (before border):
| After | Stitches | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 4 (treetop) | 9 | 1.8 in (4.6 cm) | 0.8 in (2.0 cm) |
| Row 8 (Tier 1) | 13 | 2.6 in (6.6 cm) | 1.6 in (4.1 cm) |
| Row 12 (Tier 2) | 17 | 3.4 in (8.6 cm) | 2.4 in (6.1 cm) |
| Row 16 (Tier 3) | 21 | 4.2 in (10.7 cm) | 3.2 in (8.1 cm) |
| Row 20 (Tier 4) | 25 | 5 in (12.7 cm) | 4 in (10.2 cm) |
| Row 25 (trunk) | 7 | 1.4 in (3.6 cm) | 5 in (12.7 cm) total |
If your tree is too big: Go down 0.25–0.5 mm in hook size.
If your tree is too small: Go up 0.25–0.5 mm in hook size.
Measure widths across the last sc row of each tier, not across a popcorn row.
Pattern
General notes:
– Ch 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.
– On WS rows, work 1 sc into the top of each pc (the closing ch 1). Do not work into the space beside it.
– Every tier has 4 rows. Row 1 steps in and has popcorns, Row 2 is sc, Row 3 has popcorns, and Row 4 is the sc bottom edge.
Treetop
Row 1 (RS): Ch 2, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (3 sts)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (5 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. (7 sts)
Row 4: Repeat Row 3. (9 sts)
Tier 1
Row 5 (RS, step-in): Turn. Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, pc in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Leave last 2 sts unworked. (5 sts: 4 sc, 1 pc)
This row is worked into the center 5 of the 9 treetop sts. That leaves a 2-st ledge on each side.
Row 6 (WS): Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. (7 sts)
Row 7 (RS): Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, [pc in next st, sc in next st] 2 times, pc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (9 sts: 6 sc, 3 pc)
Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, turn, 3 sc in first st, sc in each st to last st, 3 sc in last st. (13 sts)
Row 8 is the smooth bottom edge of Tier 1. The 3-sc increases flare its corners outward.
Tier 2
Row 9 (step-in): Turn. Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, [pc in next st, sc in next st] 2 times, pc in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Leave last 2 sts unworked. (9 sts, 3 pc)
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. (11 sts)
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, [pc, sc] 4 times, pc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (13 sts, 5 pc)
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, 3 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 3 sc in last st. (17 sts)
Tier 3
Row 13 (step-in): Turn. Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, [pc, sc] 4 times, pc in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Leave last 2 sts unworked. (13 sts, 5 pc)
Row 14: As Row 10. (15 sts)
Row 15: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, [pc, sc] 6 times, pc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (17 sts, 7 pc)
Row 16: As Row 12. (21 sts)
Tier 4
Row 17 (step-in): Turn. Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, [pc, sc] 6 times, pc in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Leave last 2 sts unworked. (17 sts, 7 pc)
Row 18: As Row 10. (19 sts)
Row 19: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, [pc, sc] 8 times, pc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (21 sts, 9 pc)
Row 20: As Row 12. (25 sts)
Fasten off.
Popcorn total: 1 + 3 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 7 + 7 + 9 = 40 pc.
The popcorns stack in vertical columns. Each step-in row places its pc directly above the pc columns of the row below.
Trunk
Row 21 (RS): With RS facing, skip the first 9 sts of Row 20. Join with a standing sc in the 10th st, then sc in next 6 sts. Leave the remaining 9 sts unworked. (7 sts)
This gives 9 + 7 + 9 = 25, so the trunk is centered.
Rows 22–25: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (7 sts)
Fasten off.
Checkpoint: The trunk measures 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide x 1 in (2.5 cm) tall. The total height is 5 in (12.7 cm).
Border
Border gauge: 5 sc per inch, the same as the body. Each tier’s outer corner is called the “outer st of Row 4.” The 2 sts left unworked by the next step-in row are the “ledge sts.” On the side where you slip stitched, work through the sl sts.
Round 1 (RS): With RS facing, join yarn at the treetop point.
Tip:
– 3 sc in the foundation ch at the point. (3 sts)
Side A, worked downward:
– Treetop: 1 sc in end of Row 1, 1 sc in end of Row 2, 2 sc in end of Row 3, 3 sc in outer st of Row 4, 1 sc in next ledge st. (8 sts)
– Tier 1: 1 sc in end of Row 5, 1 sc in end of Row 6, 2 sc in end of Row 7, 3 sc in outer st of Row 8, 1 sc in next ledge st. (8 sts)
– Tier 2 (Rows 9–12): Work as Tier 1. (8 sts)
– Tier 3 (Rows 13–16): Work as Tier 1. (8 sts)
– Tier 4: 1 sc in end of Row 17, 1 sc in end of Row 18, 2 sc in end of Row 19, 3 sc in outer st of Row 20, 1 sc in each of next 8 unworked sts. (15 sts)
– Trunk side: 1 sc in end of each of Rows 21–24. (4 sts)
– Side A total: 8 x 4 + 15 + 4 = 51 sts
Trunk bottom:
– 3 sc in first st of Row 25, sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in last st. (11 sts)
Side B, worked upward:
– Mirror Side A in reverse order. (51 sts)
– Sl st to first sc to join.
Round total: 3 + 51 + 11 + 51 = 116 sts. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Why the math works:
– Straight edges get 1 sc per stitch or row, which matches the 5 sc/in body gauge. This applies to the ledges, the trunk sides, and the trunk bottom. The 8 ledge sts on Tier 4 plus its corner st equal the 9 skipped sts.
– On each slanted tier side, Rows 1–3 cover about 0.8 in (2.0 cm) of diagonal length. The 1 + 1 + 2 = 4 sc fill that length at border gauge.
– The flared Row 4 is absorbed by the 3-sc corner, which also keeps each tier point sharp.
Checkpoint: The tree measures 5.4 in (13.7 cm) tall x 5.4 in (13.7 cm) wide.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the tree until it is damp, or hover steam over it. Do not press the iron down.
- Lay the tree RS up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the treetop point and the bottom corners of the trunk first. Check for a 5.4 in (13.7 cm) height.
- Pin the outer corner of each tier symmetrically. The widest tier should measure 5.4 in (13.7 cm).
- Straighten each tier’s bottom edge so the ledges sit level.
- Use your fingertips to nudge every popcorn forward. Never flatten them.
- Let the tree dry completely before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Stitch counts at Rows 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20: 9, 13, 17, 21, 25
- [ ] All 40 popcorns face the RS
- [ ] Popcorns stack in neat vertical columns
- [ ] Each step-in leaves a visible 2-st ledge on both sides
- [ ] The trunk is centered, with 9 sts on each side
- [ ] The border round totals 116 sts
- [ ] The tier corners are sharp and symmetrical
- [ ] The tree measures 5.4 in (13.7 cm) tall x 5.4 in (13.7 cm) wide
- [ ] All ends are woven in invisibly
Troubleshooting
Popcorns bulge on the back:
– They were worked on a WS row, or the hook entered back to front when closing.
– Work popcorns only on odd-numbered RS rows, and insert the hook front to back.
Tiers blend together with no step:
– The sl st step-in was skipped.
– Each Row 1 of a tier must start in the 3rd st and leave 2 sts unworked.
Count is off by 2:
– Check that Row 4 of each tier uses 3 sc in each end st, not 2.
Tree leans to one side:
– The increases are uneven.
– Count the sts on either side of the center pc.
Border ruffles:
– Too many sc went into the row ends.
– Use exactly 1, 1, 2 per tier side.
Border pulls or cups:
– The border tension is too tight.
– Work the border round loosely, or use a 0.25 mm larger hook for that round only.
Popcorns look flat:
– Close each pc snugly, and do not press the tree while blocking.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press out excess water in a towel and dry flat, reshaping the popcorns while the tree is damp.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple:
– Gauge: 20 sc x 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Treetop: 9 sts, 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide
– Tier bottoms: 13, 17, 21, and 25 sts
– Widest tier: 5 in (12.7 cm), at Row 20
– Trunk: 7 sts, bringing the height to 5 in (12.7 cm)
– Border: 116 sc, bringing the tree to 5.4 in (13.7 cm) square
If every checkpoint matches, your popcorn pine will come out crisp, symmetrical, and full of texture.
Optional: For more trees, simply repeat the same single motif.
Happy crocheting!