This little tree is built from rows of soft, overlapping crocodile scales, so it looks like it’s covered in shingled leaves. Each tier fans out over the gaps in the tier below. The result is a plump, textured ornament that still hangs flat against a wall, a door, or a branch.
The palette is warm and modern. Coral-peach and cream tiers alternate up the tree, a cream scalloped rim finishes the bottom edge, and a taupe trunk anchors it. The colors suit Scandinavian-style, boho, or pastel holiday decor.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures 6 in (15.2 cm) wide and 7 in (17.8 cm) tall, including the trunk and hanging loop.
You work the tree bottom-up in tiers. Each tier is a V-stitch base row plus a scale row in the same color. Each new base row drops one V-stitch at each edge, which builds the triangle shape automatically. After that, you add a trunk to the foundation chain, a cream edging on the bottom scales, and a chain loop at the tip.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide × 7 in (17.8 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate (crocodile stitch, working around posts)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 (single piece, no seaming)
- Layout: 7 scale tiers stacked as a triangle (7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scales)
- Tree body before border: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm), on the bottom tier only
- Trunk: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide × 2.25 in (5.7 cm) long, about 1 in (2.5 cm) visible
- Hanging loop: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, firm cotton or cotton blend in worsted weight. Cotton gives crisp scale edges and keeps the shingles from drooping. Avoid fuzzy or very soft acrylics, because they blur the leaf shapes.
- Color A, Coral-peach: 15 g / 30 m (tiers 1, 3, 5, 7 and hanging loop)
- Color B, Cream: 13 g / 26 m (tiers 2, 4, 6 and bottom border)
- Color C, Taupe: 4 g / 8 m (trunk)
These quantities include about a 15% margin for gauge swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers (2–3)
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat or folded towel
– Spray bottle with water
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitches:
- V-stitch (V): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space. Each V has 2 dc posts and 1 ch-1 sp.
- Scale: This is worked on the 2 dc posts of a single V.
- Rotate the work so the first post lies horizontally.
- Work 5 dc around the first post, from the top of the post down to its base.
- Ch 1. This is the scale’s point.
- Rotate the work again and work 5 dc around the second post of the same V, from the base up to the top.
One scale = 10 dc + 1 ch-1 point.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge matters here because the triangle’s width comes straight from the foundation row. Work Tier 1 first and measure it before you go any further.
Gauge: The 13 Vs of Row 1 measure 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across, and 7 base rows stack to 4 in (10.2 cm) tall. For the trunk, 4 sc and 4.5 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Checkpoints:
– After Tier 1 (7 scales): 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide; about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall including the hanging scales
– After Tier 4 (4 scales): base row about 3 in (7.6 cm) wide; total height about 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
– After Tier 7 (1 scale): body 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) tall
If your tree is too big, go down to a 4 mm (US G-6) hook. If it’s too small or the scales feel stiff, go up to a 5 mm (US H-8) hook. Scales worked too tightly curl forward. Scales worked too loosely gape apart.
Pattern: The Tree Body
Every tier is two rows: a base row worked on the WS, then a scale row worked on the RS. You fasten off at the end of each tier and join the next color with the WS facing. Each scale hangs down over the tier below it.
Tier 1 (Color A, Coral)
Foundation: With A, ch 39.
Row 1 (base row, WS):
1. V in 3rd ch from hook. The 2 skipped ch do not count as a stitch.
2. [Sk 2 ch, V in next ch] 12 times, so the last V lands in the first ch made.
3. Turn.
13 Vs (26 dc, 13 ch-1 sps).
Place a marker in the ch-1 sp of the 7th (center) V. You’ll use it later for the trunk.
Row 2 (scale row, RS):
1. Ch 1 (does not count). Work a Scale on V1.
2. Sl st in ch-1 sp of next V, then work a Scale on the next V. Repeat from * 6 times.
3. Fasten off.
7 scales (70 dc, 7 ch-1 points), with 6 sl sts between them.
Scales sit on the odd Vs (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13). The even Vs hold the sl sts.
Tier 2 (Color B, Cream)
Row 3 (base row, WS):
1. With the WS facing, join B with a sl st in the ch-1 sp of V2 of Row 1. This is the sp holding the first sl st.
2. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the same sp. This makes the first V.
3. V in the ch-1 sp of each of the next 10 Vs (V3 through V12). Leave V13 unworked.
4. Turn.
11 Vs (22 dc, 11 ch-1 sps).
The new Vs go into the ch-1 sps of the previous base row. That means you work into the centers of the scales and into the sl-st spaces between them, so the new tier sits offset over the gaps.
Row 4 (scale row, RS):
1. Ch 1. Scale on V1.
2. Sl st in ch-1 sp of next V, Scale on next V. Repeat from * 5 times.
3. Fasten off.
6 scales (60 dc, 6 ch-1 points), 5 sl sts.
Tiers 3–7
Repeat the Tier 2 method for each tier. Alternate colors, and skip the first and last V of the previous base row every time.
| Tier | Color | Base row Vs | Base row dc | Scales | Scale row dc | Sl sts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 13 | 26 | 7 | 70 | 6 |
| 2 | B | 11 | 22 | 6 | 60 | 5 |
| 3 | A | 9 | 18 | 5 | 50 | 4 |
| 4 | B | 7 | 14 | 4 | 40 | 3 |
| 5 | A | 5 | 10 | 3 | 30 | 2 |
| 6 | B | 3 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 1 |
| 7 | A | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
Each base row has 2 fewer Vs than the one before, and each scale row has 1 fewer scale. For any tier, the number of scales = (Vs + 1) ÷ 2.
Tier 7 note: The base row is a single V, worked in the ch-1 sp of the center V of Tier 6 (V2 of 3). The scale row is one Scale on that V. Do not fasten off.
Hanging Loop (Color A)
- After the final scale, ch 12.
- Sl st into the top of the last dc of the Tier 7 base row to form the loop.
- Sl st once more in the same st, then fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
- Weave the tail back through the loop chains to stiffen the loop.
Loop: 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
Trunk (Color C, Taupe)
The trunk hangs from the free loops of the foundation chain, behind the bottom tier, so it emerges below the scallops.
Row 1:
1. With the WS facing, find the marked center V. It sits in the 19th ch counting from the first ch made.
2. Join C in the free loop 2 ch to the right of it.
3. Ch 1, sc in the same loop and in each of the next 4 free loops.
4. Turn.
5 sc, centered under V7.
Rows 2–10: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. 5 sc per row.
Fasten off.
Trunk: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide × 2.25 in (5.7 cm) long. About 1.25 in (3.2 cm) sits behind the bottom scales and border, leaving 1 in (2.5 cm) visible.
Border: Cream Scallop Rim
This edging outlines only the 7 scales of Tier 1. It creates the cream rim and sharpens each leaf point.
Border gauge: Work 1 sc per dc along each scale edge. Each scale’s free edge is about a 1.75 in (4.4 cm) arc.
Border Round:
1. With the RS facing, join B with a sl st in the top of the first dc of Scale 1 at the right edge. Ch 1.
2. For each scale: sc in each of the 5 dc down the first side, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the ch-1 point, then sc in each of the 5 dc up the second side.
3. Between scales: sl st in the Tier 1 sl st between the scales.
4. Fasten off after Scale 7.
Counts:
– Per scale: 5 sc + (sc, ch 1, sc) + 5 sc = 12 sc and 1 ch-1 point
– Between scales: 1 sl st (6 in total)
– Total: 7 × 12 = 84 sc, 7 ch-1 points, 6 sl sts
Why the math works: Each scale edge has exactly 10 dc, so 10 sc sit flat on it at 1 sc per dc. The 2 extra sc at the point spread around the curve so the tip doesn’t pucker. The ch 1 keeps the point sharp. The sl sts between scales add no height, so the scallops stay separated.
The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at each outer edge and along the bottom. That gives a finished width of 6 in (15.2 cm) and a body height of 5.25 in (13.3 cm).
Finished height check: 0.75 in loop + 4 in base rows + 2.25 in trunk = 7 in (17.8 cm). The scallop depth overlaps the trunk, so it isn’t added again.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the WS. Run each one behind the base rows, where the scales hide it.
- Mist the WS lightly with water until it’s damp, not soaked.
- Lay the tree RS up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the bottom corners of Scale 1 and Scale 7 to 6 in (15.2 cm) apart.
- Pin the tip so the body measures 5.25 in (13.3 cm) from the tip to the lowest border point.
- Smooth each scale down with your fingertips so it overlaps the tier below. Pin the leaf points of Tier 1 if they curl.
- Pin the trunk straight, centered under the middle scale.
- Let it dry completely before you remove the pins.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Tiers count 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scales from the bottom up
- [ ] Colors alternate A, B, A, B, A, B, A, with coral at both the bottom and the tip
- [ ] Each tier sits offset over the gaps of the tier below
- [ ] Every scale has 10 dc and a ch-1 point
- [ ] Border: 84 sc, 7 points, 6 sl sts
- [ ] Trunk is 5 sts wide and centered under V7
- [ ] Finished size is 6 in (15.2 cm) × 7 in (17.8 cm)
- [ ] Hanging loop is secure and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long
- [ ] All ends are hidden on the WS
Troubleshooting
Scales curl forward: Your dc around the posts are too tight. Go up a hook size for the scale rows only.
Tree leans to one side: You skipped two Vs at one edge and none at the other. Each base row must skip exactly the first and last V.
Tier doesn’t sit offset: Make sure the new Vs go into the ch-1 sps of the previous base row, not into the scale stitches themselves.
Gaps between scales: Pull the sl st between scales snug. If the gaps persist, try a tighter tension.
Border ruffles: You added extra sc. Keep it to exactly 5 sc per scale side.
Trunk is off-center: Count the free loops again. The center of the 5 sc must be the loop under V7.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat, reshaping the scales while damp. Store flat or hanging so the scales keep their shape.
Final Notes
The whole ornament grows from one measurement: a 13-V foundation row of 5.5 in (14.0 cm). From there, every base row drops 2 Vs and every scale row drops 1 scale, until a single coral scale finishes the tip at 5 in (12.7 cm) tall. The cream border brings the tree to 6 in (15.2 cm) wide and 5.25 in (13.3 cm) tall in the body. The trunk and loop bring the total height to 7 in (17.8 cm). Check your width after Tier 1, and the rest of the tree will follow.
Happy crocheting!