The Ivory Lace Angel is a small, flat ornament with a soft vintage look. It has a round head, two fan-shaped lacy wings, and a flared skirt in solid and open bands. Worked in one ivory cotton, it looks like old lace doilies and fits any neutral or white-and-gold Christmas decor.
This pattern uses US crochet terms throughout. The finished angel is about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across the wings and 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall, not counting the optional hanging loop.
The angel is made in one piece, so there is nothing to sew. You crochet the head in the round, then work the skirt in rows down from the bottom of the head. Next you add each wing as a small fan worked into the side of the head. A single crochet border around the skirt and a light blocking finish it off.
One angel takes about an hour once you have the rhythm. It works well as a tree ornament, a gift tag, or a repeating motif for hanging decor.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide × 3.7 in (9.4 cm) tall
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted cotton (weight 3)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 (wings worked directly onto the head)
- Layout: Head on top, one wing on each side, skirt below
- Head size: 1.3 in (3.3 cm) across
- Skirt size before border: 3.3 in (8.4 cm) wide at hem × 2.2 in (5.6 cm) deep
- Border depth: 0.2 in (0.5 cm), one row of sc
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight. Cotton gives crisp stitches and sharp wing spokes, and it blocks flat. Avoid fuzzy or very splitty yarns because they blur the open bands.
- Ivory / cream: 10 g, about 21 m (23 yd) per angel
This amount includes a margin of about 25% for your gauge swatch, tails, and the optional hanging loop. One angel actually uses about 8 g.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 2 locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Rustproof pins and a foam blocking mat
- Spray bottle with water
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet (yo twice)
- dtr – double treble crochet (yo 3 times)
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special technique: open row. An open row alternates dc and ch-1 spaces. Each ch-1 space replaces one skipped stitch, so an open row has the same total count as the row below it. Count every ch-1 space as one stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 dc and 9 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in dc worked in rows.
At this gauge, 1 dc row is about 0.44 in tall and 2 sc are about the same width as 1 dc row is tall. The border math depends on that.
Test one piece first. Make one full angel before you plan several. It works as a swatch and shows any gauge problems right away.
Checkpoints:
- Head Rnd 1: 0.9 in (2.3 cm) across
- Head Rnd 2: 1.3 in (3.3 cm) across
- Skirt Row 1: 1.6 in (4.1 cm) wide
- Skirt Row 3: 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide, skirt 1.3 in (3.3 cm) deep
- Skirt Row 5: 3.3 in (8.4 cm) wide, skirt 2.2 in (5.6 cm) deep
- Each wing: about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) from its anchor stitch to its outer edge
- After border and blocking: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) × 3.7 in (9.4 cm)
A difference of up to 0.1 in (0.3 cm) at any checkpoint is fine.
Too big? Go down to a 3.25 mm hook, or tighten the loops on your dc. Too small? Go up to a 3.75 mm hook. If only the skirt is off, check that you work into the top of the turning chains. Skipping them loses stitches.
Pattern
Head
Work in the round with the RS facing. Do not turn.
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc into the ring. Pull the ring closed. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (12 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join, 2 sc in the next st. (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 5 times. Sl st to the first sc. (18 sc)
Fasten off and weave in the ring tail.
Number the head stitches. The first sc of Rnd 2 is sc 1 and marks top-center. Count the rest clockwise with the RS facing:
- sc 10 is bottom-center
- sc 9, 10, 11 hold the skirt
- sc 7 and sc 13 hold the wings
- sc 8 and sc 12 stay free
Put markers in sc 7 and sc 13 now.
Skirt
Work in rows down from the bottom of the head, turning at the end of each row.
Row 1 (RS, solid): Join the yarn with a sl st in sc 9. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st. Work 3 dc in sc 10, then 2 dc in sc 11. Turn. (7 dc)
Row 2 (WS, open): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk the next st, dc in the next st. (Ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) 2 times, placing the last dc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (4 dc + 3 ch-1 sps = 7 sts)
Row 3 (RS, solid): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same st, for 3 dc in the first st. Dc in each of the next 5 sts (every ch-1 sp and every dc). Work 3 dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch-4. Turn. (7 sts worked 1 per st + 4 extra dc = 11 dc)
Row 4 (WS, open): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk the next st, dc in the next st. (Ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) 4 times, placing the last dc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (6 dc + 5 ch-1 sps = 11 sts)
Row 5 (RS, solid): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same st. Dc in each of the next 9 sts. Work 3 dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch-4. (11 sts worked 1 per st + 4 extra dc = 15 dc)
Do not fasten off. Keep the loop on a marker for the border.
The skirt now has five bands: solid, open, solid, open, solid. It should measure 3.3 in (8.4 cm) at the hem and 2.2 in (5.6 cm) deep.
Wings (make 2)
Both wings are worked the same way into the marked head stitches, first one, then the other.
Row 1 (RS): Join the yarn with a sl st in the marked sc 7. Ch 4 (counts as tr), work 6 tr in the same sc. Turn. (7 tr, fanned out)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 7 (counts as dtr + ch 2), dtr in the next tr. (Ch 2, dtr in next tr) 5 times, placing the last dtr in the top of the turning ch-4. Turn. (7 dtr + 6 ch-2 sps)
Row 3 (RS, wing edge): Ch 1, sc in the first dtr. (2 sc in the next ch-2 sp, sc in the next dtr) 6 times, placing the last sc in the 5th ch of the turning ch-7. (7 sc in dtr + 12 sc in sps = 19 sc)
Fasten off.
Repeat Rows 1–3 in the marked sc 13 for the second wing. The tr and dtr line up to form 7 long spokes that fan out from the head, matching the open spoke look of the wings.
Optional Hanging Loop
Join the yarn with a sl st in sc 1 at top-center. Ch 15, sl st in the same sc. Fasten off. The loop is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long.
Border
The border is one row of sc around the two sides and the hem of the skirt. The wings already have their edge from Row 3.
Border gauge: 2 sc per dc row-end, and 1 sc per stitch along the hem. At 18 sts and 9 rows per 4 in (10.2 cm), one dc row is about 0.44 in tall. Two sc span the same 0.44 in, so the sides lie flat with no ruffling or pulling.
Border Row (RS): Pick up the loop left at the end of Skirt Row 5. Ch 1 and turn the work so you can go up the side edge first.
- First side: Work 2 sc in each row-end from Row 5 up to Row 1. (5 rows × 2 = 10 sc)
- Sl st into head sc 8 to secure the neck, then sl st back into the side of Row 1. These slip stitches are not counted.
Since that path is awkward, most crocheters prefer this cleaner order:
Recommended order: Fasten off after Row 5. Join the yarn with a sl st in head sc 8, beside the top of Row 1.
- First side: Work 2 sc in each row-end down to Row 5. (10 sc)
- Hem: Work 3 sc in the first st of Row 5 (corner), sc in each of the next 13 sts, then 3 sc in the last st (corner). (15 sts worked 1 per st + 4 extra corner sc = 19 sc)
- Second side: Work 2 sc in each row-end up to Row 1. (10 sc)
Sl st in head sc 12 and fasten off. Border total: 10 + 19 + 10 = 39 sc.
Why the math works: The hem keeps its 15 stitches one-for-one, so the width does not change. The 4 extra sc only turn the two corners. The 19 hem stitches already include both corner groups, so nothing is counted twice. Each side has 2 sc per row-end, and that matches the height of the dc rows.
The border adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on each side and at the bottom:
- Hem width: 3.3 + 0.2 + 0.2 = 3.7 in (9.4 cm)
- Height: 1.3 in head + 2.2 in skirt + 0.2 in border = 3.7 in (9.4 cm)
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends before you block. Weave along the stitches of the same color band so the ends stay hidden.
- Lay the angel RS up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the head into a circle 1.3 in (3.3 cm) across.
- Pin the two hem corners so the hem measures 3.7 in (9.4 cm) and the total height is 3.7 in (9.4 cm).
- Fan out each wing. Put one pin at the tip of each of the 7 spokes so the gaps are even. Measure 4.5 in (11.4 cm) from wing tip to wing tip.
- Mist the angel until it is evenly damp, not soaked.
- Let it dry completely, at least 4 hours, before you remove the pins.
- For a stiffer ornament, brush on a light fabric stiffener while it is pinned, then let it dry overnight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Head is round, flat, and 1.3 in (3.3 cm) across
- Skirt has 5 clear bands: solid, open, solid, open, solid
- Open rows show 3 and 5 even ch-1 gaps
- Hem has 15 dc before the border and 19 sc in the border
- Each side border has exactly 10 sc
- Each wing has 7 spokes and 19 edge sc
- Both wings are the same size and sit at the same height
- Finished size is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) × 3.7 in (9.4 cm)
- All tails are woven in and trimmed close
- Hanging loop, if added, is centered at sc 1
Troubleshooting
Head cups or ruffles. Cupping means Rnd 2 is too tight; go up half a hook size for that round only. Ruffling means you added extra increases; recount to 18 sc.
Skirt edges lean or stair-step. You probably skipped the top of a turning chain. Recount each row: 7, 7, 11, 11, 15.
Open bands look closed. Make the ch-1 a bit looser. Also check that you skip a stitch before each dc.
Wings point up or down unevenly. Count the head stitches again. Each wing must be exactly 3 stitches from bottom-center: sc 7 and sc 13.
Wing edge ruffles. Work 2 sc per ch-2 space, not 3. Recount to 19 sc.
Side border puckers. Use 2 sc per dc row-end, no more and no fewer.
Angel curls after drying. Block it again with more pins at the wing tips and hem corners.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap, press the water out in a towel, and dry flat, pinned to shape. If you used stiffener, refresh it after washing.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check:
- Head: 0.9 in (2.3 cm) after Rnd 1, then 1.3 in (3.3 cm) after Rnd 2
- Skirt: 1.6 in (4.1 cm) at Row 1, 2.4 in (6.1 cm) at Row 3, and 3.3 in (8.4 cm) at Row 5, at 2.2 in (5.6 cm) deep
- Border: adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) per edge, for a 3.7 in (9.4 cm) hem and 3.7 in (9.4 cm) total height
- Wings: each reaches about 1.6 in (4.1 cm), for a 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wingspan after blocking
If every checkpoint matches, your angel will match the finished size. Make one, check it against the list, then make as many as you like. They look lovely on a tree, on a gift, or strung one under another on a simple chain cord.
Happy crocheting!