This hanging garland is made of small, dark forest green crochet wreaths, each topped with a red four-loop bow. The wreaths hang on long braided-look green cords. Several parallel strands hang side by side, and the wreaths on neighboring strands are staggered for a falling-ornament look.
The palette is two colors: deep forest green for the wreaths and cords, and a bright holiday red for the bows. The style is cozy and classic. Tight single crochet gives each wreath a slightly domed, dimensional surface that catches the light as the strands sway.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each wreath measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across with a 1 in (2.5 cm) center hole. Each strand is 40 in (101.6 cm) long plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) hanging loop. Hung 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart, five strands span about 16.75 in (42.5 cm).
Construction is simple. You work each wreath in four rounds around a chain ring, and each bow as four petals in a magic ring. You make the cords as slip-stitch chains and sew them between the wreaths. The strand ends act as the “border” and keep all strand bottoms level.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5 strands, each 40 in (101.6 cm) long plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) hanging loop; about 16.75 in (42.5 cm) wide when hung 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 95 (30 wreaths, 30 bows, 35 cord pieces)
- Layout: 5 strands of 6 wreaths each; strands alternate A, B, A, B, A, and B is offset 3 in (7.6 cm) lower than A
- Piece size: Wreath 2.75 in (7.0 cm) diameter; bow 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall
- Size before border: 32.75 in (83.2 cm) per strand, measured from the top of the first wreath to the bottom of the last wreath
- Border depth: 7.25 in (18.4 cm) of end cord per strand, split between the top lead and the bottom tail
Materials
Choose a smooth, firmly twisted worsted acrylic or acrylic blend of about 200 m per 100 g. Smooth yarn shows the single crochet texture clearly, and acrylic blocks well with steam.
- Forest green: 90 g / 180 m (wreaths and cords)
- Red: 40 g / 80 m (bows)
These quantities include roughly a 25% margin for gauge swatches and sewing tails.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers
– Ruler or tape measure
– Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
– Rod, branch, or tension rod for hanging
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
- MR – magic ring
- BB – back bump of the chain
Special stitch – Slip-Stitch Cord: Ch the stated number plus 1. Sl st into the BB of the 2nd ch from the hook and into the BB of each ch across. Each cord’s stated count is the number of sl sts. The finished cord is firm, does not stretch, and has a braided look.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Fabric gauge: 18 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), worked in tight sc with a 4.0 mm hook.
Cord gauge: 4 sl sts = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the finished cord.
Test one wreath and one 13-st cord before making everything else.
Wreath checkpoints (outer diameter, laid flat):
– After Rnd 1: 1.5 in (3.8 cm), with a 1 in (2.5 cm) hole
– After Rnd 2: 1.9 in (4.8 cm)
– After Rnd 3: 2.3 in (5.8 cm)
– After Rnd 4: 2.75 in (7.0 cm)
Cord checkpoint: A 13-st cord measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
If the wreath is too big: go down to a 3.75 mm hook. If it is too small: go up to a 4.5 mm hook. If the wreath ruffles, your sts are looser than gauge, so change hooks. If it cups strongly, your sts are tighter than gauge, so change hooks.
If the cord is off: change hooks for the cords only. All cord lengths are calculated at 4 sts per inch, so the cord gauge matters more than the fabric gauge for strand length.
Wreath (make 30)
With forest green:
Foundation: Ch 14, sl st into the first ch to form a ring. The ring should lie flat at about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Rnd 1: Ch 1. Work 18 sc into the ring, working over the chain rather than into the chain sts. Sl st to the first sc. (18 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * 6 times. Sl st to the first sc. (24 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1. Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * 6 times. Sl st to the first sc. (30 sc)
Rnd 4: Ch 1. Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from * 6 times. Sl st to the first sc. (36 sc)
The increases in Rnd 4 are shifted so the edge stays round instead of hexagonal.
Each round adds 6 sts, which matches the flat-circle growth for this gauge. The outer circumference is about 8.6 in (21.8 cm), and 36 sc at 4.5 sc per inch fill it without ruffling.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Mark the attachment points:
– St 1 is the first sc of Rnd 4. This is the top, and the round’s join sits here under the bow.
– St 19 is directly opposite. This is the bottom.
There are 17 sts on each side between them: 1 + 17 + 1 + 17 = 36.
Bow (make 30)
With red, leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) starting tail.
Make a MR, then work four petals into it in this order:
- Loop petal: Ch 3, 5 dc in ring, ch 3, sl st in ring.
- Tail petal: Ch 3, 3 dc in ring, ch 3, sl st in ring.
- Tail petal: Ch 3, 3 dc in ring, ch 3, sl st in ring.
- Loop petal: Ch 3, 5 dc in ring, ch 3, sl st in ring.
Count: 16 dc, 24 ch, and 4 sl sts.
Pull the ring fully closed. The two loop petals sit side by side at the top, and the two smaller tail petals point down.
Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail for sewing.
Make the knot: Use the 12 in (30.5 cm) tail to wrap the center vertically 4 times. Cinch it so the petals separate into four distinct loops. Secure the tail on the back.
Cords
Work all cords in forest green using the Slip-Stitch Cord. Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail at each end for sewing.
- Gap cord: 13 sl sts, 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
- Lead cord A: Ch 12, sl st into the first ch to form the hanging loop. Then ch 14 and sl st in the BB of the 2nd ch from the hook and each ch back to the loop. (13 sl sts) The cord is 3.25 in (8.3 cm) below a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
- Lead cord B: Work as Lead cord A, but ch 26 after the loop. (25 sl sts) The cord is 6.25 in (15.9 cm) below the loop.
- Tail cord A: 16 sl sts, 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Tail cord B: 4 sl sts, 1 in (2.5 cm)
Make All Pieces
Quantities:
– Forest green:
– 30 wreaths
– 25 gap cords (5 per strand)
– 3 Lead cords A
– 2 Lead cords B
– 3 Tail cords A
– 2 Tail cords B
– Red: 30 bows
Per strand:
– Strand A: 1 Lead A, 6 wreaths, 5 gap cords, 1 Tail A
– Strand B: 1 Lead B, 6 wreaths, 5 gap cords, 1 Tail B
Layout grid: Strands are listed left to right. Each grid row is a 3 in (7.6 cm) vertical step, so wreaths on the same strand are 6 in (15.2 cm) apart, center to center.
ROW 1: WREATH cord WREATH cord WREATH
ROW 2: cord WREATH cord WREATH cord
ROW 3: WREATH cord WREATH cord WREATH
ROW 4: cord WREATH cord WREATH cord
ROW 5: WREATH cord WREATH cord WREATH
ROW 6: cord WREATH cord WREATH cord
ROW 7: WREATH cord WREATH cord WREATH
ROW 8: cord WREATH cord WREATH cord
ROW 9: WREATH cord WREATH cord WREATH
ROW 10: cord WREATH cord WREATH cord
ROW 11: WREATH cord WREATH cord WREATH
ROW 12: cord WREATH cord WREATH cord
(A) (B) (A) (B) (A)
Joining
Method: Sew the gap cords to the wreaths with a tapestry needle and the cord tails.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Each gap cord connects two wreaths:
– Its upper end is sewn to st 19 (bottom) of the wreath above.
– Its lower end is sewn to st 1 (top) of the wreath below.
At each attachment, butt the last sl st of the cord against the wreath st. Pass the needle through both loops of the Rnd 4 st and the matching Rnd 3 st below it, 3 times. Then weave the tail back up inside the cord for 1 in (2.5 cm) and trim.
Sequence:
1. Lay out one strand flat in order: wreath, gap cord, wreath, and so on, ending with 6 wreaths and 5 gap cords.
2. Sew all joins, keeping every wreath right side up.
3. Center each bow over st 1, with the loops up and the tail petals resting on Rnd 4.
4. Sew the bow through its knot into sts 36, 1, and 2 of Rnd 4. This hides the cord join and the round join.
Tension advice: Pull each sewing pass snug, but not so tight that it puckers the wreath edge. The cord should hang straight down from the wreath and not tilt it. If a wreath tilts, the join has slipped off-center from st 1 or st 19. Re-sew it.
Size checkpoint: Measure from st 1 of wreath 1 to st 19 of wreath 6. This is 6 wreaths x 2.75 in plus 5 cords x 3.25 in, which equals 16.5 in + 16.25 in = 32.75 in (83.2 cm). If you are off by more than 0.5 in (1.3 cm), check the cord lengths against the cord gauge.
Border: Strand Ends
On this garland, the “border” is the top lead and bottom tail of each strand. They set the hanging height and the stagger.
Border gauge: 4 sl sts = 1 in (2.5 cm), the same as the cord gauge.
Top end:
– Strand A: Sew Lead cord A to st 1 of wreath 1. This gives 13 sl sts, or 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
– Strand B: Sew Lead cord B to st 1 of wreath 1. This gives 25 sl sts, or 6.25 in (15.9 cm).
Bottom end:
– Strand A: Sew Tail cord A to st 19 of wreath 6. This gives 16 sl sts, or 4 in (10.2 cm).
– Strand B: Sew Tail cord B to st 19 of wreath 6. This gives 4 sl sts, or 1 in (2.5 cm).
Why the math works:
– Equal border depth: Strand A has 13 + 16 = 29 sl sts, and Strand B has 25 + 4 = 29 sl sts. At 4 sts per inch, both equal 7.25 in (18.4 cm).
– Equal strand length: Each strand is 32.75 in + 7.25 in = 40 in (101.6 cm), so all bottoms hang level.
– Correct stagger: The B lead is 25 − 13 = 12 sts longer, or 3 in (7.6 cm). That is exactly half the 6 in (15.2 cm) wreath pitch, so each B wreath sits halfway between two A wreaths.
Final Blocking
- Pin each wreath flat on the mat to 2.75 in (7.0 cm), with the hole centered at 1 in (2.5 cm).
- Hold a steam iron 1 in (2.5 cm) above the wreath and steam it. Never press acrylic.
- Shape each bow while it is damp from the steam. Open the loop petals, angle the tail petals down, and pinch the knot.
- Lay each strand straight and pin the cords taut without stretching them. Steam lightly.
- Let everything dry completely, about 2 hours, before you unpin.
- Hang the strands 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart, center to center, in A, B, A, B, A order.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All 30 wreaths have 36 sts in Rnd 4 and measure 2.75 in (7.0 cm).
- Every gap cord is 13 sl sts and 3.25 in (8.3 cm) long.
- Every cord is sewn at st 1 or st 19, so the wreaths hang straight.
- Every bow covers its top join and shows four distinct loops.
- Each strand measures 40 in (101.6 cm) below the hanging loop.
- The B strands sit 3 in (7.6 cm) lower than the A strands, and all bottoms are level.
- No loose tails show on the front.
Troubleshooting
- Wreath ruffles: Your sts are too loose. Go down a hook size, or recount Rnd 4 to confirm 36 sts.
- Wreath cups like a bowl: Your sts are too tight. Go up a hook size and block firmly.
- Center hole closed up: You worked Rnd 1 into the chain sts instead of over the ring. Redo Rnd 1 working over the chain.
- Bow looks like a flower: Rewrap the center tighter and place the loop petals side by side at the top.
- Strands uneven at the bottom: One cord is off-count. Measure each cord against 4 sts per inch.
- Wreaths spin on the cord: Add one extra sewing pass through the Rnd 3 st at each join.
Care
Spot clean with mild soap and cool water, then lay flat to dry. Store the strands flat or loosely coiled so the cords don’t kink.
Final Notes
The whole garland follows one measurement chain:
- Wreath: 36 sts = 2.75 in (7.0 cm).
- Gap cord: 13 sl sts = 3.25 in (8.3 cm), giving a 6 in (15.2 cm) wreath pitch.
- Six wreaths plus five gaps: 32.75 in (83.2 cm).
- Strand ends: 29 sl sts = 7.25 in (18.4 cm), bringing every strand to 40 in (101.6 cm).
- Stagger: A 12-st difference in lead length gives the 3 in (7.6 cm) offset.
Check your gauge, count your cords, and your garland will hang straight and even.
Optionally, you can add more strands in the same A, B rhythm for a wider doorway.
Happy crocheting!