The Rosewood Twist is a hanging spiral ornament made from six slim lace strips that curve around a central cord. Three dusty rose strips alternate with three cream strips. A half twist turns them into a soft, swirling teardrop that catches the light from every side.
Every strip is a simple ladder mesh with one open hole per row. Each strip is finished with a single crochet edging and a back-loop slip stitch ridge. That ridge gives each strip a crisp, braided-looking outline, so the spiral reads clearly from across the room. Natural wooden beads and a small beaded bell finish the top and bottom.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The spiral body measures about 9 in (22.9 cm) tall and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide. The full ornament hangs about 15.5 in (39.4 cm) from the top of the loop to the tip of the bell.
Construction is straightforward. You crochet six flat strips, edge and block them, then make a cord and a small bell. Last, you gather the strip ends around the cord with a half twist between the top and bottom.
Finished Size and Construction
- Spiral body: 9 in (22.9 cm) tall x 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide
- Total hanging length: about 15.5 in (39.4 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 6 strips, 1 center cord, 1 bell
- Layout: strips arranged in a ring, alternating rose and cream
- Strip size (finished): 1.7 in (4.3 cm) x 14.5 in (36.8 cm)
- Strip size before border: 1.2 in (3.0 cm) x 14 in (35.6 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or combed DK cotton. Cotton holds the spiral shape well and shows the slip stitch ridge clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, which blur the holes and let the strips sag.
- Color A, dusty rose: 40 g, about 92 m (100 yd), for 3 strips, the cord and the bell
- Color B, cream: 30 g, about 69 m (75 yd), for 3 strips
These quantities include a margin of roughly 20 percent for gauge swatching and tails.
Tools and notions:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Yarn needle with a large eye
- 4 natural wooden beads, 16 mm, with holes at least 5 mm wide
- 8 cream beads, 6 mm, for the bell edge
- 1 wooden or cream bead, 8 mm, for the bell tip
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking board
- Spray bottle or steamer
- Stitch markers
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- BLO – back loop only
- rnd – round
Special stitch: BLO slip stitch ridge. Insert the hook under the back loop only of the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through the stitch and the loop on the hook. When you work this around an edge, the front loops stay on the right side as a raised chain line.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 dc and 10 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in plain dc. That is 5 dc per inch and 2.5 rows per inch, so each dc row is 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
Make one complete strip, including its border, before you start the others. It is your real gauge test.
Checkpoints for one strip:
- After Row 1: 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide
- After Row 10: 4 in (10.2 cm) long
- After Row 20: 8 in (20.3 cm) long
- After Row 35: 14 in (35.6 cm) long, 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide
- After the border: 1.7 in (4.3 cm) x 14.5 in (36.8 cm)
If the strip is too long or wide, go down one hook size. If it is too short or narrow, go up one hook size. A strip that is up to 0.5 in (1.3 cm) off in length still works, as long as all six strips match each other. Matching lengths matter more than exact lengths.
Strip (make 6)
Work flat in rows. The ch 3 at the start of each row counts as 1 dc.
Foundation: Ch 8.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (the skipped 3 ch count as the first dc), ch 2, sk next 2 ch, dc in each of last 2 ch. Turn. (4 dc + 1 ch-2 sp = 6 sts)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next dc, ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, dc in top of turning ch. Turn. (4 dc + 1 ch-2 sp = 6 sts)
Rows 3–35: Repeat Row 2. (6 sts per row; 35 rows total)
Do not fasten off. Go straight into the border (see the Border section) so the edging starts from the working loop.
Each row adds one rectangular hole, with two dc on each side. The 2-dc columns become the solid edges of the strip, and the stacked ch-2 bars form the rungs of the ladder.
Center Cord
With Color A, ch 100. Sl st in the back bump of 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (99 sl sts) Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
The cord should measure about 20 in (50.8 cm). You will trim the extra length during assembly.
Bell
With Color A, work in continuous rounds. Mark the first st of each rnd.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
Rnd 2: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (9)
Rnd 3: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (12)
Rnd 4: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (18)
Rnd 5: Sc in each st around. (18)
Rnd 6: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (24)
Rnds 7–8: Sc in each st around. (24)
Sl st in next st and fasten off. Leave the magic ring slightly open, about 0.2 in (0.5 cm), so the cord can pass through.
Bell edge beads: Sew the eight 6 mm cream beads to Rnd 8, one bead every 3 sts. That is 24 sts divided by 8 beads, so the spacing is even all the way around.
The bell measures about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across the rim. The rim circumference is 4.8 in (12.2 cm).
Make All Pieces
- Color A, rose: 3 strips, 1 center cord, 1 bell
- Color B, cream: 3 strips
Before joining, every strip gets its border and is blocked flat.
Layout (viewed from above, strips in a ring):
A1
B3 B1
A3 A2
B2
Going clockwise: A1, B1, A2, B2, A3, B3. Each rose strip sits between two cream strips.
Joining
Method: Gather the strips onto the cord with a yarn needle. Do the top end first, then the bottom end with a half twist.
Step 1: Top beads and loop. Fold the first 4 in (10.2 cm) of the cord in half and tie an overhand knot at the base. This makes a 2 in (5.1 cm) hanging loop. Thread both 16 mm wooden beads onto the cord below the knot.
Step 2: Top gather. Lay the six strips right side up in the clockwise order above. Thread a yarn needle with 18 in (45.7 cm) of Color A. Pass it through the 6 sc of the top short edge of strip A1, then through the 6 sc of B1, and so on through B3. That puts 6 strips x 6 sts = 36 sts on the gathering strand, with no extra sts between strips. Pull the strand tight around the cord just below the beads. Wrap it around the gather 6 times and knot securely.
Step 3: Bottom gather with a twist. Measure 9 in (22.9 cm) down the cord from the top gather and mark the spot. Hold the top still and rotate the bottom ends of all six strips a half turn (180 degrees) clockwise, keeping the same order. Gather the bottom short edges exactly as in Step 2 (36 sts), at the marked point on the cord.
Step 4: Bottom finish. Thread the remaining two 16 mm wooden beads onto the cord. Then pass the cord into the bell through the magic ring. Thread the 8 mm bead onto the cord just below the bell rim, knot, and trim the excess.
Tension advice: Pull each gather firmly so no gaps show between strip ends. Don’t cinch so hard that the cord kinks. All six strips should bow outward evenly. If one strip pulls flatter than the others, its end is gathered too tightly, so loosen it and gather again.
Size checkpoint: The body should measure 9 in (22.9 cm) from gather to gather and about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across at the widest point.
Border
Work this edging on each strip right after Row 35, before blocking and joining.
Border gauge: 5 sc per inch along every edge. On the long sides, that means 2 sc per dc row-end, because each row is 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
Rnd 1 (sc edging): Ch 1, do not turn.
- Top short edge: Sc in each of first 2 dc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in each of last 2 sts. (6 sc) Ch 1 for corner.
- First long side: Work 2 sc in each row-end down the side. (35 rows x 2 = 70 sc) Ch 1 for corner.
- Foundation edge: Sc in each of the 6 foundation ch loops. (6 sc) Ch 1 for corner.
- Second long side: Work 2 sc in each row-end up the side. (70 sc) Ch 1 for corner.
- Join with sl st to first sc. (152 sc + 4 corner ch-1 sps)
Rnd 2 (BLO slip stitch ridge): Working in BLO, sl st in each sc around, and sl st into each corner ch-1 sp. (6 + 1 + 70 + 1 + 6 + 1 + 70 + 1 = 156 sl sts) Fasten off and weave in ends.
Why the math works: The strip is 6 sts wide, so each short edge takes 6 sc, matching its 1.2 in (3.0 cm) width. Each long side has 35 rows at 0.4 in (1.0 cm), or 14 in (35.6 cm). At 5 sc per inch, 14 in needs 70 sc, which is exactly 2 sc per row-end. The corner ch-1 spaces sit outside the side counts, so no corner is counted twice. Because the stitch count matches the edge length, the strip lies flat with no ruffling or cupping.
Final Blocking
- Block the strips before joining. Pin each strip right side up to 1.7 in (4.3 cm) x 14.5 in (36.8 cm).
- Pin both long edges straight, with a pin every 1 in (2.5 cm).
- Mist with water, or hold steam above the strip without touching it.
- Open each hole gently with a fingertip so the ladder looks even.
- Let the strips dry completely before removing the pins.
- After joining, hang the ornament and lightly steam the body from 2 in (5.1 cm) away.
- While it is damp, nudge the strips into an even spiral with your fingers and let it dry hanging.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All six strips measure 14.5 in (36.8 cm) long, within 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of each other
- Each strip has 35 rows and 35 open holes
- Border Rnd 1 has 152 sc; Rnd 2 has 156 sl sts
- The slip stitch ridge faces outward on every strip
- Colors alternate rose and cream all the way around
- The body is 9 in (22.9 cm) tall and about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide
- All six strips twist in the same direction
- The bell has 8 beads spaced every 3 sts
- All knots are secure and all ends are hidden
Troubleshooting
Strip edges ruffle: There are too many border stitches. Check for 70 sc per long side, or use a smaller hook for the border only.
Strip edges curl inward: The border is too tight. Work Rnd 2 more loosely or go up half a hook size.
Holes look uneven: Check that every ch-2 sits directly over the previous ch-2 sp and that every row starts with ch 3.
Spiral looks lopsided: One strip is longer than the others or gathered off-center. Measure it again and redo its gather.
Body is too tall and narrow: The gathers are too far apart. Move the bottom gather up 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Beads won’t fit on the cord: Thread a loop of sewing thread through the bead and use it to pull the cord through.
Care
Dust gently, or hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Reshape and dry it hanging, out of direct sun to protect the colors.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A gauge of 5 dc per inch and 2.5 rows per inch gives a 6-st, 35-row strip of 1.2 in (3.0 cm) x 14 in (35.6 cm). The 0.25 in (0.6 cm) border brings each strip to 1.7 in (4.3 cm) x 14.5 in (36.8 cm). Six matching strips, gathered 9 in (22.9 cm) apart with a half twist, bow out to a 5.5 in (14.0 cm) spiral. The beads and bell bring the full ornament to about 15.5 in (39.4 cm).
Check each stage and keep the strips identical, and the twist will take care of itself.
Happy crocheting!