Deep burgundy crocheted Christmas tree ornament with bobbled details, gold band, and tassels on marble.

Burgundy Scale Tree Ornament Crochet Pattern

by

This little tree ornament is covered in rounded, overlapping crocodile-stitch scales. The tiers step in like the branches of a fir tree. A solid single-crochet tip and a chained loop finish the top. Four small tassels and one long gold-wrapped “trunk” tassel make a soft fringe along the bottom.

The whole ornament uses one rich burgundy sport-weight cotton, with a little gold metallic thread for the trunk band. The style is classic and elegant. It looks best in a matte or mercerized cotton that shows the stitch definition.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tree body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide and 4.1 in (10.4 cm) tall. With the center tassel, the ornament is 6.6 in (16.8 cm) long, not counting the hanging loop.

You work the tree flat from the bottom up as one piece. Each tier takes two rows: a post row (worked on the WS) and a scale row (worked on the RS). Each new tier has one fewer scale and is shifted half a scale inward, which shapes the triangle. A short solid cone, the hanging loop and five tassels complete it.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size (tree body): 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 4.1 in (10.4 cm) tall
  • Overall length with center tassel: 6.6 in (16.8 cm), plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Sport (CYC 2), cotton
  • Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
  • Number of pieces: 1 crocheted body + 5 tassels, attached
  • Layout: Single tree, 5 scale tiers (6-5-4-3-2) + solid tip
  • Piece size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 4.1 in (10.4 cm)
  • Size before border (tassel fringe): 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 4.1 in (10.4 cm)
  • Border depth: small tassels 1.25 in (3.2 cm); center tassel hangs 2.5 in (6.4 cm) below the scales

Materials

Pick a smooth, firmly plied sport-weight cotton or cotton blend. Mercerized cotton gives the crisp, slightly shiny scales seen here. Fuzzy yarns hide the scale edges.

  • Burgundy sport cotton: 25 g / 78 m (85 yd). About 18 g goes into the body and about 4 g into the tassels.
  • Gold metallic thread or embroidery floss: 2 m (2.2 yd) for the trunk band

Tools:
– 3.25 mm (US D/3) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Sharp scissors
– Stiff cardboard: one 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tassel card and one 3 in (7.6 cm) tassel card
– Stitch markers (2)
– Pins and a blocking mat

All quantities include a margin of about 15% for gauge swatching and tassel trimming.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • sp: space
  • RS / WS: right side / wrong side
  • rep: repeat

Special stitch – Scale (worked over a pair of dc posts): With the RS facing, rotate the work so the first dc post of the pair lies horizontally. Work 4 dc around that post, starting at the top and moving toward the base. Ch 1. Then work 4 dc around the second post, starting at the base and moving toward the top. One Scale = 8 dc + 1 ch-1 sp. The finished Scale hangs downward and covers the row below it.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 24 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 7 sc rows = 1 in (2.5 cm), on a 3.25 mm hook.

Your foundation row is your gauge swatch. Work Row 1 and measure it before you go on. It should measure 4 in (10.2 cm).

Checkpoints (height measured from the bottom scale edge, width across the scales):
– After Row 1: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide
– After Row 3 (tier 1): 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, 0.9 in (2.3 cm) tall
– After Row 5 (tier 2): top tier 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide, 1.45 in (3.7 cm) tall
– After Row 7 (tier 3): top tier 3 in (7.6 cm) wide, 2 in (5.1 cm) tall
– After Row 9 (tier 4): top tier 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide, 2.55 in (6.5 cm) tall
– After Row 11 (tier 5): top tier 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide, 3.1 in (7.9 cm) tall
– After Row 18 (tip): 4.1 in (10.4 cm) tall

Each tier adds about 0.55 in (1.4 cm) of height and holds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of width per scale.

If too big: go down to a 3.0 mm hook, or check that you are not pulling up tall loops on the dc posts.
If too small: go up to a 3.5 mm (US E/4) hook. Tight posts also make the Scales cup and crowd each other.

Deep burgundy crochet ornament with scalloped layers, gold metallic band, and yarn tassel accents against a blurred holiday bokeh background.

Pattern: Tree Body

Each post row is worked into the tops of the previous post row. Because the Scales wrap only around the posts, the dc tops stay free. On sc columns, work into the sl st that sits on top of each sc, treating the two as one stitch.

Foundation: Ch 25.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (24 sc)

Tier 1 – 6 Scales

Row 2 (post row, WS): Ch 1. Sc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 5 more times. Turn. (24 sts: 12 sc + 12 dc = 6 dc pairs)*

Row 3 (scale row, RS): Sl st in next sc, work Scale over next 2 dc, sl st in next sc; rep from * 5 more times. Turn. (6 Scales, 12 sl sts)*

The Scales hang down over Row 1, and their rounded tips form the scalloped bottom edge.

Tier 2 – 5 Scales

Row 4 (post row, WS): Sl st in first 2 sts. Sc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 4 more times. Leave the last 2 sts unworked. Turn. (20 sts: 10 sc + 10 dc = 5 dc pairs)*

The new dc pairs sit directly above the valleys between the Tier 1 Scales. This gives the half-scale offset.

Row 5 (scale row, RS): Sl st in next sc, work Scale over next 2 dc, sl st in next sc; rep from * 4 more times. Turn. (5 Scales, 10 sl sts)*

Tier 3 – 4 Scales

Row 6 (WS): Sl st in first 2 sts. Sc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 3 more times. Leave the last 2 sts unworked. Turn. (16 sts: 8 sc + 8 dc)*

Row 7 (RS): Sl st in next sc, Scale over next 2 dc, sl st in next sc; rep from * 3 more times. Turn. (4 Scales)*

Tier 4 – 3 Scales

Row 8 (WS): Sl st in first 2 sts. Sc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 2 more times. Leave the last 2 sts unworked. Turn. (12 sts: 6 sc + 6 dc)*

Row 9 (RS): Sl st in next sc, Scale over next 2 dc, sl st in next sc; rep from * 2 more times. Turn. (3 Scales)*

Tier 5 – 2 Scales

Row 10 (WS): Sl st in first 2 sts. Sc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * once more. Leave the last 2 sts unworked. Turn. (8 sts: 4 sc + 4 dc)*

Row 11 (RS): Sl st in next sc, Scale over next 2 dc, sl st in next sc; rep from * once more. Turn. (2 Scales)*

Width check: each post row is 4 sts narrower than the one before (24, 20, 16, 12, 8), because you skip 2 sts at each end. That keeps every tier centered.

Solid Tip

Row 12 (WS): Sl st in first st, sc in next 6 sts, leave the last st unworked. Turn. (6 sc)

Rows 13–14: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sc)

Row 15: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (4 sc)

Row 16: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (4 sc)

Row 17: Ch 1, sc2tog twice. Turn. (2 sc)

Row 18: Ch 1, sc2tog. (1 sc)

The tip is 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) wide at its base and 7 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) tall. Together with the tiers, that gives 3.1 + 1.0 = 4.1 in (10.4 cm) of body height.

Hanging loop: Ch 20, sl st into the same st as the last sc2tog. This makes a loop about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall. Fasten off and weave the tail back through the loop chain to strengthen it.

Weave in the foundation tail along the WS of Row 1.

Border: Tassel Fringe

This ornament has no stitched edging. The stepped scallops of the Scales are the finished side edges. The “border” is the tassel fringe along the bottom.

Border gauge:
– Small tassel: 15 wraps on a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) card, trimmed to 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
– Large tassel: 30 wraps on a 3 in (7.6 cm) card, trimmed to 2.75 in (7.0 cm)

Counts per edge:
– Bottom edge: 6 Scale tips (Tier 1) and 5 tassels
– Each side edge: 5 stepped scallops (one per tier), no tassels
– Tip: 1 hanging loop

Small Tassels (make 4)

  1. Wrap yarn 15 times around the 1.5 in (3.8 cm) card.
  2. Slide a 6 in (15.2 cm) tie strand under the wraps at the top and knot it tightly. Leave both tie ends long.
  3. Cut the wraps at the bottom edge of the card.
  4. Wrap a separate strand 4 times around the bundle, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) below the top, and knot it. Bury the ends inside the tassel.
  5. Trim to 1.25 in (3.2 cm).

Large Center Tassel (make 1)

  1. Wrap yarn 30 times around the 3 in (7.6 cm) card.
  2. Tie the top with an 8 in (20.3 cm) strand and cut the bottom.
  3. With gold metallic thread, wrap a tight, neat band 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep starting just below the top tie. Lay each wrap beside the last, not on top of it.
  4. Thread the gold tail onto the needle, pass it up under the band and trim.
  5. Trim the tassel to 2.75 in (7.0 cm).

Attaching

Number the Tier 1 Scales 1–6 from left to right.

  • Using the tie ends, sew one small tassel to the ch-1 sp at the tip of Scales 1, 2, 5 and 6.
  • Sew the large tassel to the WS of Row 1, between the 12th and 13th sc. That is the exact center, behind the valley between Scales 3 and 4. Leave the gold band and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) of tassel hanging below the scale edge.

Why the math works: The 24-sc foundation has a center between sts 12 and 13. Scales 1–6 each span 4 sts, so Scales 3 and 4 meet exactly at that center. The trunk tassel sits on the tree’s center line, and Scales 1, 2, 5 and 6 are mirror pairs around it, so the fringe is symmetrical. The two inner small tassels, at Scales 2 and 5, sit 1.5 in (3.8 cm) apart, which leaves room for the trunk. Scales 3 and 4 have no tassels, so the trunk stands out clearly.

Final Blocking

  1. Lightly mist the tree body with water. Do not wet the tassels.
  2. Lay it RS up on a blocking mat.
  3. Pin the bottom Scale tips in a straight line 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide.
  4. Pin the tip straight above the center, 4.1 in (10.4 cm) from the bottom edge.
  5. Use your fingertips to smooth each Scale so it lies flat and overlaps the tier below evenly.
  6. Let it dry completely.
  7. Steam the tassels lightly from above without touching them, then comb the strands straight with your fingers and re-trim if needed.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • [ ] Tier counts read 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 from the bottom up
  • [ ] Each Scale has 4 dc on each side and a ch-1 tip
  • [ ] Each tier is centered over the valleys of the tier below
  • [ ] Body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 4.1 in (10.4 cm)
  • [ ] Tip is centered and the loop is secure
  • [ ] Small tassels are 1.25 in (3.2 cm) and all the same length
  • [ ] Gold band is 0.5 in (1.3 cm), neat and tight
  • [ ] Center tassel hangs 2.5 in (6.4 cm) below the scale edge
  • [ ] All ends are woven in on the WS

Troubleshooting

Scales cup or ruffle: The posts are too short for 4 dc. Work the post-row dc a little looser, or go up half a hook size.

Scales look skinny with gaps between them: The dc around the posts are too tight. Relax your tension and push each dc snugly along the post.

Tree leans to one side: You may have skipped 1 or 3 sts at the start of a post row instead of 2. Count each post row: 24, 20, 16, 12, 8.

Scales lie on the wrong side: Post rows must be WS rows and scale rows RS rows. Check that Row 1 is marked RS.

Tip off-center: Row 12 must start with exactly 1 sl st and leave exactly 1 st unworked.

Tassels look thin: Add 3 more wraps for small tassels, or 5 more for the large one.

Gold band slips: Wrap it more tightly over the yarn tie, and add a drop of fabric glue under the last wrap.

Care

Spot-clean only with a damp cloth and lay flat to dry. Store flat or hanging so the Scales and tassels keep their shape.

Deep burgundy crocheted Christmas tree ornament with gold accents and tassel displayed on a decorated holiday tree.

Final Notes

The measurement chain is simple. 24 foundation sc measure 4 in (10.2 cm). Six Scales spread that to 4.5 in (11.4 cm). Each tier loses one Scale and adds about 0.55 in (1.4 cm) of height, reaching 3.1 in (7.9 cm) after Tier 5. The 7-row tip brings the body to 4.1 in (10.4 cm). The trunk tassel then extends the ornament to 6.6 in (16.8 cm). If your foundation row measures correctly and your stitch counts match at every post row, the rest will follow.

Happy crocheting!

Leave a Comment