These little trees are made of stacked tiers of sage green, and each tier ends in a crisp cream shell edge. A small cream star sits at the top point. A bronze jingle bell hangs underneath, and a green yarn loop lets each tree hang from a branch. The pattern makes a set of three matching ornaments.
The style is soft and Scandinavian: muted sage, warm cream, and lots of texture from the layered tiers. Each tree is fully three-dimensional, so it looks good from every angle on the branch.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each tree body measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and about 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at the bottom tier. With the star, the total height is about 4 in (10.2 cm), not counting the hanger or bell.
Construction is simple and seamless. You crochet a slim green cone core in a continuous spiral. On five planned rounds, you work into back loops only, which leaves rings of free front loops on the outside. You then work flared green tiers into those free loops and finish each tier with a cream shell round. Last, you add a small star, a chain hanger, and the bell.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (tree body): 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall × 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at the bottom
- Total height with star: about 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate (spiral rounds, front/back loop work, shells)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light (#3) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
- Number of pieces per ornament: 3 crocheted pieces (tree body with tiers, star, hanger) plus 1 bell
- Set: 3 identical ornaments
- Layout: 5 tiers per tree, spaced 4 core rounds (0.7 in / 1.8 cm) apart
- Piece size: tree body 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, star 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Size before cream edge: bottom tier 2.8 in (7.1 cm) wide
- Cream shell edge depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm). It adds about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) to the bottom width because the shells flare partly downward.
Materials
Choose a smooth DK cotton or cotton blend so the shells stay crisp and the tiers hold their flare. Avoid fuzzy yarns, which hide the free front loops and blur the shell edges.
Yarn for 3 ornaments:
– Sage green (Color A): 35 g, about 70 m. This covers the core, the green tier rounds, the hangers, and the bell ties.
– Cream (Color B): 20 g, about 40 m. This covers the shell edges and the stars.
These quantities include a margin of roughly 15–20% for swatching and tails. One ornament uses about 10 g (20 m) of green and 5 g (10 m) of cream.
Tools:
– 3.25 mm (US D/3) crochet hook
– Stitch marker
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Small amount of polyester fiberfill
– 3 bronze jingle bells, 15 mm (0.6 in / 1.5 cm)
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec – invisible decrease (insert hook in the front loops of the next 2 sts, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through 2)
- BLO – back loop only
- FL – front loop
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Shell: 3 dc in the same stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 6 sc and 6 rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm) in firm amigurumi-style sc.
Test this with a flat swatch first. Ch 13 and work 12 sc across for 12 rows. The swatch should measure 2 in (5.1 cm) square.
Then make one full tree before starting the set, and check it at each stage:
- After Round 8: core height 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
- After Round 16: core height 2.7 in (6.9 cm)
- After Round 21: core height 3.5 in (8.9 cm), bottom diameter 1.4 in (3.6 cm)
- After the green tiers: bottom tier 2.8 in (7.1 cm) wide
- After the cream edges: bottom tier 3 in (7.6 cm) wide
If your piece is too big, go down to a 3.0 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 3.5 mm hook. Keep the core tension firm in both cases so the stuffing does not show through.
Tree Core (Color A, make 3)
Work in a continuous spiral without joining. Mark the first stitch of each round. Keep the right side facing out.
- R1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- R2: (2 sc, inc) × 2. (8)
- R3: sc in each st around. (8)
- R4: (3 sc, inc) × 2. (10) This is the Tier 1 base round.
- R5: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. (10) This leaves 10 free FLs of R4.
- R6: (4 sc, inc) × 2. (12)
- R7: sc around. (12)
- R8: (5 sc, inc) × 2. (14) This is the Tier 2 base round. Check: height 1.3 in (3.3 cm).
- R9: BLO sc around. (14) This leaves 14 free FLs.
- R10: (6 sc, inc) × 2. (16)
- R11: sc around. (16)
- R12: (7 sc, inc) × 2. (18) This is the Tier 3 base round.
- R13: BLO sc around. (18) This leaves 18 free FLs.
- R14: (8 sc, inc) × 2. (20)
- R15: sc around. (20)
- R16: (9 sc, inc) × 2. (22) This is the Tier 4 base round. Check: height 2.7 in (6.9 cm).
- R17: BLO sc around. (22) This leaves 22 free FLs.
- R18: (10 sc, inc) × 2. (24)
- R19: sc around. (24)
- R20: (11 sc, inc) × 2. (26) This is the Tier 5 base round.
- R21: BLO sc around. (26) This leaves 26 free FLs. Check: height 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Flat base:
– R22: Working in BLO, (11 sc, dec) × 2. (24) The BLO creates a crisp bottom fold.
– R23: (2 sc, dec) × 6. (18)
– R24: (sc, dec) × 6. (12) Stuff lightly and push the filling up into the tip with the back of your hook.
– R25: dec × 6. (6)
Fasten off. Weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts, pull it closed, and hide the end inside.
Green Tier Rounds (Color A)
Each tier is worked in joined rounds into the free FL ring. Hold the tree tip-up and start each tier at the back. The doubling round makes the tier flare outward. The straight round lets it drop down over the core.
For each tier:
– TR1: Join A with a sl st in any free FL. Ch 1, then work 2 sc in each free FL around. Sl st to the first sc.
– TR2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
TR2 is a straight round, so its count is the same as TR1.
| Tier | Free FLs | TR1 (2 sc in each) | TR2 (sc around) | Width before edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (top) | 10 | 20 | 20 | 1.1 in (2.8 cm) |
| 2 | 14 | 28 | 28 | 1.5 in (3.8 cm) |
| 3 | 18 | 36 | 36 | 1.9 in (4.8 cm) |
| 4 | 22 | 44 | 44 | 2.3 in (5.8 cm) |
| 5 (bottom) | 26 | 52 | 52 | 2.8 in (7.1 cm) |
Each tier drops about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) of green. That leaves a narrow band of core between tiers for the cream edge to rest against.
Star (Color B, make 3)
- R1: 5 sc in MR. Sl st to the first sc. (5)
- R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st. Sl st to the first sc. (10)
- R3 (points): Ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sk 1 st of R2, sl st in next st. Rep from * 4 more times. (5 points)
Each point uses 2 sts of R2, and 5 points × 2 = 10, so the star closes evenly. It measures 1 in (2.5 cm) across. Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.
Hanger (Color A, make 3)
Ch 40, which is about 6 in (15.2 cm). Fasten off and leave both tails.
Make All Three Ornaments
Quantities per color for the full set:
– Color A: 3 cores, 15 tiers (TR1–TR2), 3 hangers, 3 bell ties
– Color B: 15 shell edges, 3 stars
Hanging layout:
BRANCH: TREE 1 — TREE 2 — TREE 3
Hang the middle tree slightly lower than the other two for a staggered look.
The ornaments are finished separately and hang individually. There is no joining step.
Border: Cream Shell Edges (Color B)
Border gauge: one shell repeat (4 sts) spans about 0.7 in (1.8 cm), which matches the 6 sc/in gauge of the tiers. The edge is worked into the TR2 stitches of every tier.
Shell round (all tiers): Join B with a sl st in any TR2 st. Ch 1, then work sc in next st, sk 1, Shell in next st, sk 1. Rep from * around. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off.
Each repeat uses 4 TR2 sts and also makes 4 new sts (1 sc + 3 dc). The stitch count stays the same, so the edge lies smooth instead of cupping or rippling.
| Tier | TR2 sts | Repeats (TR2 ÷ 4) | Sts made |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 5 shells | 20 |
| 2 | 28 | 7 shells | 28 |
| 3 | 36 | 9 shells | 36 |
| 4 | 44 | 11 shells | 44 |
| 5 | 52 | 13 shells | 52 |
Why the math works: each tier’s free FL ring grows by 4 sts (10, 14, 18, 22, 26). TR1 doubles that ring, so every TR2 count is 4 × an odd number. That means every tier divides evenly into 4-st shell repeats with no leftover stitches.
Assembly:
1. Thread the hanger’s two tails through the core tip from opposite sides to form a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop. Knot the tails inside the core.
2. Center the star over the tip in front of the hanger base and whipstitch around its center.
3. Cut a 10 in (25.4 cm) strand of A. Thread it through the bell loop and sew both ends through the center of the base. Knot inside so the bell hangs 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the base.
Final Blocking
- Hang the tree by its loop.
- Hold a steamer or steam iron about 1 in (2.5 cm) away and steam each tier lightly. Do not press.
- While the yarn is warm, shape each tier downward and outward with your fingers.
- Pinch each shell into a rounded scallop.
- Flatten the star gently between two fingers.
- Let the tree cool and dry fully while hanging.
- Measure again: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at the bottom.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Core height is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) and the bottom tier is 3 in (7.6 cm) wide.
- All 5 tiers flare evenly, and none flips upward.
- Shell counts are 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, from top to bottom.
- No stuffing shows through the core.
- The star is centered and secure at the tip.
- The hanger loop is 3 in (7.6 cm) and firmly knotted.
- The bell hangs freely and centered.
- All tails are hidden.
- All three trees match in size.
Troubleshooting
- Hard to find the free loops: Use a contrasting marker thread in the BLO rounds, or tilt the tree toward a light.
- A tier flips up: Steam it downward. If it still flips, your TR2 is too tight, so redo it with a looser tension.
- A tier ruffles too much: Your TR1 tension is loose. Rework it more firmly.
- Shell count is off: Recount TR2. It must match the table exactly.
- The tree leans: The stuffing is uneven. Open the base and redistribute it.
- There are gaps between tiers: Your gauge is loose. Go down one hook size.
- The star curls: Steam it flat and add a few tacking stitches at the points.
Care
Spot clean with cool water and mild soap, then reshape and air dry while hanging. Store the ornaments in a box with tissue so the tiers keep their flare.
Final Notes
The measurement chain runs like this. A gauge of 6 sc and 6 rounds per inch gives a 21-round core of 3.5 in (8.9 cm). The bottom tier’s 52 stitches give 2.8 in (7.1 cm) before the cream edge and 3 in (7.6 cm) after it. The star adds about 0.5 in (1.3 cm), for a total height of about 4 in (10.2 cm).
If you check your gauge at each checkpoint, all three trees will match.
Optional: For a fuller tree, add a sixth tier by repeating the core pattern for 4 more rounds. Its free ring will be 30 sts, and TR1 will be 60 sts for 15 shells.
Happy crocheting!