The Frost Twist Icicle is a single crocheted Christmas ornament worked in white yarn. Six shell-stitch fans are stacked along one central spine. Each fan curves around the axis like a twisted rope, and the shells get smaller toward a pointed tip. The finished look is light, open and frosty.
The ornament has a crocheted hanging loop at the top and a small crocheted loop at the base. The base loop finishes the tapered point. The whole piece is worked in one color, so the shells and spiral are the only design features.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) from the top of the spine to the tip of the bottom loop. The hanging loop adds about 0.8 in (2.0 cm) more, for a total hanging length of 5.3 in (13.5 cm). At its widest, near the top, the twisted ornament is about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
You start with a foundation chain, which becomes the spine. You work up one side of the chain, placing three fans. Then you make the hanging loop and work down the other side, placing the other three fans. A small loop closes the tip, and one slip-stitch border round firms the outline. Starch blocking twists the flat strip into a spiral.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) body length; 5.3 in (13.5 cm) including hanging loop
- Widest point (twisted): about 1 in (2.5 cm), tapering to about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) near the tip
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: #2 fine (sport weight) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 2.5 mm (US C/2)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Six shell motifs stacked vertically along one spine, alternating sides, then twisted into a spiral
- Piece size before border (flat): 4.1 in (10.4 cm) spine; about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide at the largest fans
- Size after border and tip loop: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) body length
- Border depth: one slip-stitch round, which adds no measurable width (under 0.1 in / 0.3 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied mercerized cotton. It holds starch well and shows the stitch definition clearly. Fuzzy or loosely spun yarn will hide the fans and won’t keep the spiral.
- White: 5 g, about 20 m (22 yd)
This amount includes a margin for a gauge swatch and weaving in ends. The ornament itself uses roughly half of it.
Tools:
– 2.5 mm (US C/2) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Fabric stiffener or starch solution
– A plastic straw or wooden skewer, about 6 in (15.2 cm) long
– A clothespin or small binder clip
– Rust-proof pins and a foam blocking surface
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- BB – back bump of the foundation chain
- P# – position number on the foundation chain, counted from the bottom (explained below)
Special stitch – Shell: Work the stated number of stitches into the same chain. Examples:
– “9-dc shell” = 9 dc in the same ch
– “5-hdc shell” = 5 hdc in the same ch
Each shell opens into a curved fan with its base point on the spine.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge matters here because the spine length sets the ornament’s length. Work a short test first.
Test swatch: Ch 16. Lightly stretch the chain and measure 15 ch, not counting the loop on the hook. It should measure 2 in (5.1 cm), which is 7.5 ch per inch. Then work a 9-dc shell into one chain. The dc should stand about 0.45 in (1.1 cm) tall.
Checkpoints:
1. Foundation chain: 32 ch. The 31 working chains measure 4.1 in (10.4 cm), lightly stretched.
2. After Side A: The strip is still 4.1 in (10.4 cm) long. Three fans sit on one side, and the largest reaches about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) from the spine’s far edge.
3. After Side B: The flat strip is about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide across the top two fans.
4. After the border and tip loop: The body is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long, with the 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tip loop included.
If your piece is too big: Go down to a 2.25 mm (US B/1) hook, or tighten your chain tension.
If your piece is too small: Go up to a 2.75 mm hook.
Always correct the foundation chain first. The fans will follow.
Pattern
How the Spine Is Numbered
Ch 32.
The 2nd ch from the hook is P1, the bottom tip. Counting toward the slip knot, the chains are P2, P3, and so on up to P31, the first chain you made, at the top. That gives 31 working positions.
Side A is worked into the back bumps of the chain, from P1 up to P31. Side B is worked into the remaining top loops (both strands of the “V”), from P31 back down to P1.
Every motif has a shell on one side of the spine and plain sc on the other side. The shells alternate sides from motif to motif.
| Motif | Shell side | Shell | Skips each side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (top) | B | 9-dc shell at P28 | 2 |
| 2 | A | 9-dc shell at P22 | 2 |
| 3 | B | 7-dc shell at P16 | 2 |
| 4 | A | 7-dc shell at P11 | 1 |
| 5 | B | 5-dc shell at P7 | 1 |
| 6 (tip) | A | 5-hdc shell at P3 | 1 |
The sc “anchors” between motifs sit at P1, P5, P9, P13, P19, P25 and P31. Both sides use these anchors.
Side A (Worked Upward in Back Bumps)
Work each stitch into the BB of the stated chain.
- Motif 6: sc in P1. Sk P2. 5-hdc shell in P3. Sk P4. Sc in P5.
- Motif 5 (spine only): sc in P6, P7 and P8. Sc in P9.
- Motif 4: sk P10. 7-dc shell in P11. Sk P12. Sc in P13.
- Motif 3 (spine only): sc in each of P14 through P18 (5 sc). Sc in P19.
- Motif 2: sk P20 and P21. 9-dc shell in P22. Sk P23 and P24. Sc in P25.
- Motif 1 (spine only): sc in each of P26 through P30 (5 sc). Sc in P31.
Side A count: 41 sts (20 sc + 21 shell sts: 5 hdc + 7 dc + 9 dc).
Check the sc: 31 positions − 8 skipped − 3 shell positions = 20 sc.
Hanging Loop
Ch 12. Sl st into the top of the sc just made at P31. This makes a closed loop of 12 ch.
Make sure the loop is not twisted.
Side B (Worked Downward in Remaining Loops)
Rotate the piece so the unworked top loops of the foundation chain face up. Work each stitch into both strands of the “V.”
- Motif 1: sc in P31. Sk P30 and P29. 9-dc shell in P28. Sk P27 and P26. Sc in P25.
- Motif 2 (spine only): sc in each of P24 through P20 (5 sc). Sc in P19.
- Motif 3: sk P18 and P17. 7-dc shell in P16. Sk P15 and P14. Sc in P13.
- Motif 4 (spine only): sc in P12, P11 and P10. Sc in P9.
- Motif 5: sk P8. 5-dc shell in P7. Sk P6. Sc in P5.
- Motif 6 (spine only): sc in P4, P3 and P2. Sc in P1.
Side B count: 39 sts (18 sc + 21 shell sts: 9 dc + 7 dc + 5 dc).
Check the sc: 31 positions − 10 skipped − 3 shell positions = 18 sc.
Each spine-only sc on Side B goes into the loops opposite a Side A shell. Each spine-only sc on Side A sits opposite a Side B shell. As a result, every motif has a fan on one side and a firm spine on the other.
Tip Loop
Ch 6. Sl st into the first sc of Side A at P1. This closes a small 6-ch loop at the point. It hangs about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) below the spine.
Do not fasten off.
Checkpoint: The flat strip measures 4.1 in (10.4 cm) along the spine, plus the tip loop. It is about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide across Motifs 1 and 2. The fans already cup and want to roll. That is normal and helps the spiral.
Border
The border is a single conversion round. It is worked one stitch into each existing stitch, plus sc packed into the two chain loops.
Border gauge: The sl sts match the existing stitches 1:1 and add no length or width. The loops get slightly more sc than chains, because sc worked around a curved loop needs about 15% extra to lie smooth without pinching.
Border Round: Continue from the tip.
– Tip loop: 7 sc into the ch-6 loop.
– Side A edge: sl st loosely in each of the 41 Side A sts, working upward over the fans and spine sc.
– Hanging loop: 14 sc into the ch-12 loop.
– Side B edge: sl st loosely in each of the 39 Side B sts, working downward.
– Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. Fasten off.
Round count: (41 + 39 = 80 sl st worked 1 per existing stitch) + (7 + 14 = 21 sc into the loops) = 101 sts.
Why the math works: The 80 sl sts sit exactly on the 80 stitches from Sides A and B, so the outline doesn’t stretch or gather. The spine stays at 4.1 in (10.4 cm), and the fans keep their shape.
The extra sc go only into the two loops. There they cover the chains and stiffen them, but they don’t add length. The total body is 4.1 in + 0.4 in = 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Keep the sl sts loose. Tight sl sts will pull the fans flat and fight the twist.
Final Blocking
- Weave in both ends along the spine sc, not through the fans. Trim close.
- Soak the ornament in fabric stiffener or starch solution for 1 minute.
- Squeeze out the excess gently. Don’t wring.
- Lay the ornament flat. Open each fan with your fingers so every shell spreads into an even half-circle.
- Slide the straw or skewer through the hanging loop and pin it so the ornament hangs straight down.
- Hold the tip loop and twist one and a half full turns (540°) in one direction. Across 6 motifs, that places each fan about 90° around the axis from the one before it, which forms the spiral.
- Clip the clothespin to the tip loop. Its weight holds the twist and keeps the body at 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
- Let it dry completely, about 6 to 12 hours.
- Remove the clip. Check that the body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and the top is about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Six fans in total, alternating sides, sizes 9 dc, 9 dc, 7 dc, 7 dc, 5 dc and 5 hdc from top to tip
- [ ] Side A has 41 sts and Side B has 39 sts
- [ ] Hanging loop has 12 ch, covered with 14 sc
- [ ] Tip loop has 6 ch, covered with 7 sc
- [ ] Border round has 101 sts
- [ ] Body is 4.5 in (11.4 cm); total with hanging loop is 5.3 in (13.5 cm)
- [ ] Spiral is even, with fans about a quarter turn apart
- [ ] Ends are woven into the spine and invisible from the front
- [ ] Ornament hangs straight without leaning to one side
Troubleshooting
The strip curls into a C-shape instead of staying straight. Your foundation chain is tighter than your shells. Remake the chain with a hook one size larger, then work the stitches with your usual hook.
The fans look flat and narrow. You may have skipped too few chains. Check the skip counts: 2 skips each side for Motifs 1–3, and 1 skip each side for Motifs 4–6.
The ornament is longer than 4.5 in (11.4 cm). Your chain gauge is loose. Aim for 7.5 ch per inch (15 ch = 2 in / 5.1 cm), or twist slightly more during blocking.
The spiral unwinds after drying. You need more stiffener. Re-soak, twist again and dry with the clip attached.
The hanging loop is twisted. You turned the chain before the sl st. Undo it back to the loop and re-chain it.
The stitch counts are off on Side B. Lay the piece beside the motif table above and recount the sc anchors (P31, P25, P19, P13, P9, P5, P1) first.
Care
Spot clean only, with a damp cloth. Store the ornament flat or hanging in a box, away from moisture. Re-starch it if the spiral relaxes.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and predictable:
– 15 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm), so the 31-ch spine measures 4.1 in (10.4 cm).
– The 6-ch tip loop adds 0.4 in (1.0 cm), for a body of 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
– The 12-ch hanging loop adds 0.8 in (2.0 cm), for 5.3 in (13.5 cm) total.
Side A (41 sts) and Side B (39 sts) give 80 edge stitches. The border adds 21 sc in the loops, for 101 border sts. A one-and-a-half-turn twist sets the six fans a quarter turn apart.
Optional: Make a few in different lengths by adding or removing a 9-dc motif at the top, and hang them together on the tree.
Happy crocheting!