The Evergreen Fan Drop is a slim hanging ornament made of four fan motifs stacked one above the other. Each fan opens into a soft semicircle of radiating stitches and finishes with a scalloped shell edge. Narrow single crochet stems link the fans into one vertical pendant.
The colors shift gently from bottom to top. The lowest fan is sage green, the two middle fans are pale yellow-green, and the top fan is cream/ivory. A twisted crochet loop at the top hangs the ornament, and a small chain loop finishes the bottom tip.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long from the bottom loop to the base of the hanging loop. The hanging loop adds 1 in (2.5 cm), for a total of 5.5 in (14.0 cm). The widest point of each fan is 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
The ornament is worked as one continuous piece from the bottom up. You make the bottom loop and the first stem, work a fan in rows from the top of that stem, then join the next stem at the exact center of the fan’s scalloped edge. You repeat this for all four fans and finish with the top stem and hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) body length, plus a 1 in (2.5 cm) hanging loop; 5.5 in (14.0 cm) total
- Skill level: Easy / advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Fingering (super fine, #1) cotton
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1 (worked continuously, with yarn rejoined at each fan for color changes)
- Layout: 4 fans stacked vertically, linked by 5 short stems (bottom, three between fans, top)
- Piece size (each fan): 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide x 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall
- Fan size before scallop edge: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall
- Scallop edge depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized cotton in fingering weight, about 170 m per 50 g. Cotton holds the fan shape crisply after blocking and shows the stitch definition clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, which blur the open spaces.
Yarn:
– Color A, Cream/Ivory (Fan 4, top stem, hanging loop): 3 g / 10 m
– Color B, Pale Yellow-Green (Fans 2 and 3, their stems): 4 g / 14 m
– Color C, Sage Green (bottom loop, bottom stem, Fan 1): 3 g / 10 m
All quantities include a margin of roughly 25% for swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools:
– 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Ruler or tape measure
– Blocking mat or folded towel
– Rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle with water
– Optional: spray starch
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- V-st – V-stitch: (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch
- shell – 5 dc in the same space
- [ ] – repeat the instructions inside the brackets as directed
Special note: The ch-3 at the start of Fan Row 1 counts as a dc. The ch-4 at the start of Fan Row 2 counts as a dc plus ch 1.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 8 sc and 8 sc rows = 1 in (2.5 cm). Each dc row is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) tall.
Gauge matters more than usual here, because four fans and five stems add up in one line. Small errors multiply.
Test one fan first. Work the bottom loop, bottom stem, and Fan 1, then measure:
- Bottom loop: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) long when laid flat.
- Each stem (2 sc rows): 0.25 in (0.6 cm) long.
- Fan after Row 2: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
- Fan after Row 3 (scallop edge): 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide x 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
- Bottom loop + stem + Fan 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
If your fan is too big: go down to a 2.0 mm hook and remeasure.
If your fan is too small: go up to a 2.5 mm hook and remeasure.
Change hook size rather than tightening or loosening your hands. Consistent tension keeps all four fans the same size.
Pattern
Bottom Loop and Bottom Stem (Color C)
Bottom loop: With Color C, ch 7, sl st in the first ch to form a small loop. (7 ch in the loop)
Stem Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the same ch as the sl st. (1 sc)
Stem Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in the sc. (1 sc)
Checkpoint: loop and stem together measure 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Fan Template (Rows 1–3)
Use these three rows for every fan. Each fan begins in the last sc of the stem below it.
Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in the same sc. Turn. (5 dc)
The five dc radiate out from a single point, forming the base of the fan.
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the first st (this makes the first V-st). [Ch 1, V-st in the next dc] 4 times, working the last V-st into the top of the beginning ch-3. Turn.
Row 2 count: 5 V-sts = 10 dc and 9 ch-1 sps (5 inside the V-sts, 4 between them).
Checkpoint: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Row 3 (Scallop Edge): Ch 1, sc in the first dc. [Shell in the next ch-1 sp (center of a V-st), sc in the next ch-1 sp (between V-sts)] 4 times. Shell in the center of the last V-st, sc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch-4.
Row 3 count: 5 shells (25 dc) + 6 sc = 31 sts.
Row 3 is the scalloped edge. Its full side-by-side breakdown is in the Border section below.
Fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
Checkpoint: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide x 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Fan 1 (Color C)
Work Fan Rows 1–3 in Color C, beginning in the last sc of the bottom stem. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: from the bottom loop to the top of Fan 1 = 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Stem 2 and Fan 2 (Color B)
Locate the middle shell (the 3rd of 5 shells) on Fan 1. Its center dc (the 3rd of 5 dc) is the top-center point of the fan.
Stem Row 1: Join Color B with sc in that center dc. (1 sc)
Stem Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in the sc. (1 sc)
Work Fan Rows 1–3 in Color B. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: total length 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
Stem 3 and Fan 3 (Color B)
Join Color B with sc in the center dc of Fan 2’s middle shell. Work Stem Row 2. Work Fan Rows 1–3. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: total length 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
Stem 4 and Fan 4 (Color A)
Join Color A with sc in the center dc of Fan 3’s middle shell. Work Stem Row 2. Work Fan Rows 1–3. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: total length 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
Top Stem and Twisted Hanging Loop (Color A)
Top Stem Row 1: Join Color A with sc in the center dc of Fan 4’s middle shell. (1 sc)
Top Stem Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in the sc. (1 sc)
Checkpoint: ornament body = 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Hanging loop: Ch 20. Rotate the chain two full turns, keeping it untangled, then sl st in the top of the last stem sc to close the loop. Work 24 sl sts around the chain loop (inserting the hook into the center of the loop each time), then sl st in the stem sc. Fasten off.
Working the sl sts around the twisted chain wraps it into a firm rope. This locks the twist in place and keeps it from relaxing.
Checkpoint: the loop hangs 1 in (2.5 cm) above the stem. Total length is 5.5 in (14.0 cm).
Border: The Scalloped Fan Edge
The ornament has no separate outer border. Each fan’s border is its own Row 3 scallop edge, worked once per fan as you go. This section explains how that edge is built and why it sits evenly.
Border gauge: Each shell is one dc tall, 0.25 in (0.6 cm). This adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of depth all around the fan. A 0.5 in (1.3 cm) fan radius becomes 0.75 in (1.9 cm), and the width grows from 1 in (2.5 cm) to 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Count per side. Treat the fan as a left half, a center shell, and a right half:
- Left half: sc, shell, sc, shell, sc = 10 dc + 3 sc = 13 sts
- Center shell: 5 dc (its 3rd dc is the top-center point)
- Right half: sc, shell, sc, shell, sc = 10 dc + 3 sc = 13 sts
- Total: 13 + 5 + 13 = 31 sts
Why the math works:
- Row 1 has 5 dc.
- Row 2 turns each of those dc into one V-st. That gives 5 V-st centers plus 4 between-spaces, for 9 ch-1 sps.
- Row 3 places a shell in each of the 5 V-st centers. The sc anchors go into the 4 between-spaces plus the 2 outer edge stitches, for 6 sc.
Because 5 is an odd number, there is always one true center shell. With 5 dc in that shell, there is one true center dc. Every stem joins at that exact stitch, so each fan sits directly above the one below and the ornament hangs straight.
The sc anchors pull the edge in between the shells. This is what creates the scallops. If you used sc all the way around instead, the edge would be smooth, not scalloped.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the stems and the base of the fans. Do not weave them through the open V-sts.
- Spray the ornament until it is evenly damp, but not dripping.
- Lay it flat and straight on a blocking mat, with the stems aligned in one vertical line.
- Pin the top-center dc of each fan directly above the stem below it.
- Shape each fan into a semicircle 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
- Pin the tip of each of the 5 shells to open the scallops evenly.
- Check that the body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) without stretching the stems.
- Optional: mist the ornament lightly with spray starch for a crisp finish.
- Let it dry completely before unpinning, about 4–6 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Four fans, colored from bottom to top: sage, pale yellow-green, pale yellow-green, cream
- [ ] Each fan has 5 shells and 31 sts in Row 3
- [ ] Each fan measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) x 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- [ ] Every stem is 2 sc rows and 0.25 in (0.6 cm) long
- [ ] Every stem is joined at the center dc of the middle shell
- [ ] Body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and the total with the loop is 5.5 in (14.0 cm)
- [ ] The hanging loop is twisted and firm, 1 in (2.5 cm) tall
- [ ] The bottom loop is closed and neat
- [ ] All ends are woven in securely and hidden
Troubleshooting
Fan cups or curls forward: Your Row 2 chains are too tight. Loosen the ch-1s slightly, or go up 0.25 mm in hook size.
Fan ruffles: Your shells are too loose, or you added an extra dc. Recount to 5 dc per shell.
Ornament hangs crooked: A stem was joined off-center. Rejoin it at the 3rd dc of the 3rd shell.
Stems stretch and sag: Your sc is too loose. Work the stems firmly; they carry the weight of every fan below.
Hanging loop untwists: Make sure you work all 24 sl sts snugly around the twisted chain.
Visible gaps at the color joins: Weave each color’s tail back through the join sc to close the gap.
Fans are different sizes: Your tension drifted between fans. Remeasure each fan after Row 2 before working Row 3.
Care
Hand wash the ornament in cool water, press it gently in a towel, and lay it flat to dry. Re-pin the fans if they need reshaping.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. Each fan grows from a single stem stitch: 5 dc, then 5 V-sts, then 31 sts with the scalloped edge. That gives a fan 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
The full length adds up like this:
– Four fans at 0.75 in (1.9 cm) each = 3 in (7.6 cm)
– Five stems at 0.25 in (0.6 cm) each = 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
– Bottom loop = 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
– Ornament body total = 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
– Twisted hanging loop = 1 in (2.5 cm)
– Overall total = 5.5 in (14.0 cm)
Check your size at every stage, keep each stem centered, and your fan drop will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!