This little flat tree ornament has cream bobble “snowballs” stacked in stripes on a deep cranberry background. The bobbles step down from four at the base to one near the tip, and they nestle between each other like ornaments on real branches. A short trunk and a soft cream hanging loop finish the shape.
The palette is two colors only: burgundy for the stripes, outline, tip and trunk, and cream for the bobbles and loop. Make one for a gift tag, or make a whole set for your tree. Every ornament is the same single piece.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide and 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall, not counting the loop. The loop adds about 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
You work the tree flat in rows from the base up, decreasing at both edges. The trunk is worked straight into the foundation chain. One round of burgundy single crochet outlines the whole shape, and the cream loop is added at the tip.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide × 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall, plus a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loop
- Skill level: Easy (advanced beginner)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 3.75 mm (US F-5)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single flat triangle with a centered trunk
- Body size (rows 1–16): 3.4 in (8.6 cm) wide × 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Size before edging (body + trunk): 3.4 in (8.6 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- Edging depth: 1 round of sc, about 0.2 in (0.5 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted weight yarn with good stitch definition, such as acrylic, a wool blend or cotton blend. Fuzzy yarn hides the bobbles, so avoid it.
- Burgundy: 10 g (about 20 m)
- Cream: 5 g (about 10 m)
These amounts cover one ornament and include a safety margin of about 30%. For a set of six, multiply by six.
Tools:
– 3.75 mm (US F-5) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– 2 stitch markers
– Rustproof pins, a blocking mat and a spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together (1 stitch decreased)
- sc3tog: single crochet 3 together (2 stitches decreased)
- dc: double crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- yo: yarn over
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
- bob: bobble (see below)
Bobble (bob): [Yo, insert hook in the indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 5 times (6 loops on hook). Yo and draw through all 6 loops. The bobble uses 1 stitch.
You always work bobbles on WS rows, so they pop out toward the RS. Push each one to the front with your finger as you go.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in burgundy. One bobble row is about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) tall.
Make one complete ornament before you start a set. Since it is small, it works as your gauge swatch. Measure at these points:
- After Row 1: 17 sc = 3.4 in (8.6 cm) wide
- After Row 5: about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall
- After Row 16: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, and the side edges look straight
- After the trunk: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide × 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall
- After the edging: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) × 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
If your piece is too big, go down to a 3.5 mm (US E-4) hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 4.0 mm (US G-6) hook. A firm fabric looks best here. If you can see gaps between the stitches, size down even if your width is correct.
Tree Body
Begin with burgundy. Turn at the end of every row. The ch 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.
Color changes: To switch colors, work the last stitch of the row up to its final yo. Then finish it with the new color.
Foundation: With burgundy, ch 18.
Row 1 (RS, burgundy): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Change to cream in the last st. (17 sc)
Row 2 (WS, cream): Ch 1, turn. Lay the burgundy strand along the top of Row 1 and work over it for the whole row. Sc 2, bob, [sc 3, bob] 3 times, sc 2. Change to burgundy in the last st. Cut cream, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail. (17 sts: 13 sc + 4 bobbles)
Carrying burgundy through this row brings it to the right edge, ready for Row 3, so you never cut the main color.
Row 3 (RS, burgundy): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 13, sc2tog. (15 sc)
Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 11, sc2tog. (13 sc)
Row 5 (RS): Ch 1, turn. Sc 13. In the last st, change to a new strand of cream. (13 sc)
Row 6 (WS, cream): Ch 1, turn. Carry burgundy as before. Sc 2, bob, [sc 3, bob] 2 times, sc 2. Change to burgundy and cut cream. (13 sts: 10 sc + 3 bobbles)
Row 7 (RS, burgundy): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 7, sc2tog. (9 sc)
Wait, check this against the 13 stitches you have: work Row 7 as sc2tog, sc 9, sc2tog for 11 sc.
Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 7, sc2tog. (9 sc)
Row 9 (RS): Ch 1, turn. Sc 9. Change to cream in the last st. (9 sc)
Row 10 (WS, cream): Ch 1, turn. Carry burgundy. Sc 2, bob, sc 3, bob, sc 2. Change to burgundy and cut cream. (9 sts: 7 sc + 2 bobbles)
Row 11 (RS, burgundy): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 5, sc2tog. (7 sc)
Row 12 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 3, sc2tog. (5 sc)
Row 13 (RS): Ch 1, turn. Sc 5. Change to cream in the last st. (5 sc)
Row 14 (WS, cream): Ch 1, turn. Carry burgundy. Sc 2, bob, sc 2. Change to burgundy and cut cream. (5 sts: 4 sc + 1 bobble)
Row 15 (RS, burgundy): Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc 1, sc2tog. (3 sc)
Row 16 (WS): Ch 1, turn. Sc3tog. (1 st) Fasten off and leave a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
Why the bobbles stagger: Every bobble row puts 3 sc between bobbles and 2 sc at each edge. Between bobble rows, each edge loses 2 stitches. That shift places each new bobble directly over the center sc of a 3-stitch gap below it. The bobble-row counts follow 2 + (bobbles) + 3 × (bobbles − 1) + 2: 4 bobbles = 17, 3 = 13, 2 = 9, 1 = 5.
Checkpoint: The body is 3.4 in (8.6 cm) wide at the base and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall. Bobble stripes: 4, 3, 2, 1.
Trunk
Turn the body upside down so the foundation chain is on top, with the RS facing you. Count the free loops of the foundation chain from the right corner. Put a marker in loop 7 and another in loop 11. That leaves 6 loops outside the markers on each side.
Row 1 (RS): Join burgundy with a sl st in marked loop 7. Ch 1, sc in the same loop and in the next 4 loops, ending at marked loop 11. (5 sc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, turn. Sc 5. (5 sc)
Do not fasten off. The edging begins from here.
Checkpoint: The trunk is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall, centered under the base.
Edging
Before you start, lay all cream and burgundy tails along the edges. Crochet over them in this round so you won’t need to weave them in.
Edging gauge: About 5 sc per inch (2.5 cm). That matches the body gauge, so the outline lies flat. Corner groups are counted separately from the side counts below.
Edging round (RS, burgundy): Ch 1. Turn to work across the trunk with the RS facing.
- Trunk bottom: 3 sc in the first st, sc 3, 3 sc in the last st. (9 sc)
- Trunk side: Sc 4 up the row ends. (4 sc)
- Base: Sc in the next 5 free foundation loops. (5 sc)
- Base corner: 3 sc in the corner foundation loop. (3 sc)
- Side: Work up the row ends of Rows 1–15 with 1 sc in each sc row end and 2 sc in each bobble row end. (19 sc)
- Tip: 3 sc in the Row 16 stitch. (3 sc)
- Second side: Work down the row ends of Rows 15–1 as before. (19 sc)
- Base corner: 3 sc in the corner foundation loop. (3 sc)
- Base: Sc in the next 5 free foundation loops. (5 sc)
- Trunk side: Sc 4 down the row ends to the first sc. (4 sc)
Sl st to the first sc and fasten off. Total: 74 sc
Check: 9 + 4 + 5 + 3 + 19 + 3 + 19 + 3 + 5 + 4 = 74.
Why the math works:
- Side: It has 11 sc rows (1 sc each) and 4 bobble rows (2 sc each), so 11 + 8 = 19 sc. Each diagonal side is about 3.9 in (9.9 cm) long. That comes from a 1.7 in (4.3 cm) half-base and a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) height. At 5 sc per inch, 3.9 in calls for about 19 to 20 stitches, which matches the 19 you work.
- Base: It uses all 17 foundation loops once: 1 corner + 5 + 5 trunk + 5 + 1 corner = 17. The trunk’s own stitches cover its 5 center loops.
Hanging Loop
Join cream with a sl st in the center sc of the 3-sc tip group. Ch 14, then sl st in the same tip stitch to form the loop. Sl st in each of the 14 ch back around the loop. This makes a firm, cord-like loop. Sl st into the tip once more and fasten off. Weave the tail into the back of the tip.
Checkpoint: The loop stands about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) above the tip.
Final Blocking
- Lay the ornament RS down on a towel and press each bobble gently from behind with your fingertip so it sits fully forward.
- Turn it RS up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the base corners 3.75 in (9.5 cm) apart.
- Pin the tip so the overall height is 4.75 in (12.1 cm), measured from the tip to the bottom of the trunk.
- Pin along each diagonal side with a ruler so the edges are straight, not wavy.
- Square the trunk to 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and pin its two bottom corners.
- Mist lightly with water. Don’t press flat on top of the bobbles.
- Let it dry completely, usually 4 to 6 hours, then unpin.
- If you used acrylic and want crisper edges, hover a steam iron above the pinned piece without touching it, then let it cool.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Bobble stripes read 4, 3, 2, 1 from bottom to top.
- Every bobble sits centered between two bobbles in the stripe below.
- All bobbles point toward the RS.
- Both diagonal sides are straight and the same length.
- The trunk is centered with 5 foundation loops on each side of it.
- The edging has 74 sc and lies flat with no ruffles or cupping.
- No cream tails show through the edging.
- The loop is firmly attached at the exact center of the tip.
- Final size is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) × 4.75 in (12.1 cm).
Troubleshooting
Bobbles are on the back. You worked them on a RS row. Bobble rows must be Rows 2, 6, 10 and 14, which are all WS rows.
Bobbles don’t stagger. Recount the row before. Bobble rows must start with 17, 13, 9 and 5 stitches.
Edges look stepped. Work your sc2tog through the first two stitches tightly, and don’t skip the turning ch 1.
Burgundy shows through the cream stripe. Keep the carried strand snug against the top of the row below. Work the cream stitches with a little more yarn so they cover it.
Edging ruffles. Use 1 sc instead of 2 in the two lowest bobble row ends on each side. Then adjust your total count to match.
Edging pulls the sides inward. Add 1 sc in each of the two highest bobble row ends.
Trunk is off-center. Pull it out and count the foundation loops again. There must be 6 loops outside each marker.
Tip is blunt. Work the sc3tog firmly, and make sure all 3 tip sc go into that single stitch.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the bobbles while damp. Store flat or hang it so the loop and tip keep their shape.
Final Notes
Everything in this ornament follows one chain of measurements:
- 20 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Row 1: 17 sc = 3.4 in (8.6 cm)
- Body after Row 16: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Trunk: 5 sc × 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) × 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Edging: 74 sc, adding about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) all around
- Finished tree: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) × 4.75 in (12.1 cm), with a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loop on top
If your first ornament hits each checkpoint, every tree in your set will match.
Happy crocheting!