This ornament is a small Christmas tree made from three lacy cones stacked on a cream chain cord. Each tier is worked in sage green openwork, so the lattice of V-stitches catches the tree lights behind it. Each one is finished with a crisp cream scalloped hem.
The look is soft and vintage: muted green, warm cream, and a clean outline that gets wider from top to bottom. It hangs straight from its own loop and needs no stiffener if you use cotton yarn and block lightly.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures about 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide at the bottom tier and 5.25 in (13.3 cm) tall from the top of the small tier to the bottom of the large tier. With the 1.5 in (3.8 cm) hanging loop, the total height is 6.75 in (17.1 cm).
Construction is simple. You work three green tier bodies in joined rounds from a center ring, add a two-round cream edging to each, make one chain cord with a loop, then thread the tiers onto the cord and hold them in place with knots.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide x 5.25 in (13.3 cm) tall, plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (weight 3) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
- Number of pieces: 4 (3 tiers + 1 cord)
- Layout: 3 tiers stacked vertically on one cord, smallest at the top
- Tier sizes (finished, flattened width x height): small 2.75 x 1.75 in (7.0 x 4.4 cm); medium 3.5 x 2.25 in (8.9 x 5.7 cm); large 4.25 x 2.75 in (10.8 x 7.0 cm)
- Tier sizes before edging: small 1.75 x 1.25 in (4.4 x 3.2 cm); medium 2.5 x 1.75 in (6.4 x 4.4 cm); large 3.25 x 2.25 in (8.3 x 5.7 cm)
- Edging depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on every side
Materials
Choose a smooth cotton in DK weight, either mercerized or matte. Cotton holds the cone shape and shows stitch definition much better than acrylic. A yarn of about 120 m per 50 g (roughly 2.4 m per gram) matches the amounts below.
- Sage green: 20 g, about 48 m (small tier 3 g, medium 5 g, large 7 g)
- Cream: 15 g, about 36 m (edgings 2 g, 3 g, and 4 g; cord 1 g)
- 3.25 mm (US D/3) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
- Rust-proof pins and a foam blocking mat
- Spray bottle with water
- Optional: a small cone form (rolled cardstock or a paper cup) for shaping
All quantities include a margin of about 25 percent for your test piece and for weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sk: skip
- sp(s): space(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rep: repeat
- V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space
- V2-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same stitch or space
- Scallop: 5 dc in the same stitch
Beginning chains: ch 3 counts as a dc. Ch 4 counts as dc + ch 1. Ch 5 counts as dc + ch 2.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 dc and 10 dc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in a flat swatch. In the tier pattern, each openwork round adds about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of height.
Make the small tier first as your test piece. Lay each cone flat with the ring at the top and check these measurements:
- After Rnd 1: the dc disc measures 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
- After Rnd 3 (small tier body): 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 4 (medium body): 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 5 (large body): 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall.
- After edging: each tier gains 1 in (2.5 cm) in width and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in height.
If your small tier is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too wide, go down to a 3.0 mm hook. If it is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too narrow, go up to a 3.5 mm hook. If the tier lies completely flat instead of forming a cone, your chains are too loose. Tighten your chain stitches before you change hooks.
Tier Bodies (Sage Green)
All three tiers start with the same Rounds 1–3. The small tier stops after Round 3, the medium after Round 4, and the large after Round 5. Do not turn at the end of rounds; the right side faces you throughout.
Center Ring
With sage green, ch 5, then sl st in the first ch to form a ring. The ring stays open so the cord can pass through it later.
Round 1
Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc in the ring, then sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3 to join. (12 dc)
Round 2
Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the same st as the join (first V-st made), ch 1, sk next dc, V-st in next dc, ch 1, sk next dc; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4 to join.
(6 V-sts: 12 dc and 12 ch-1 sps, with 6 sps inside the V-sts and 6 between them)
Round 3
Sl st into the first ch-1 sp (center of the first V-st). Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in the same sp, ch 2, sk the next ch-1 sp, V2-st in the next V-st sp, ch 2, sk the next ch-1 sp; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5 to join.
(6 V2-sts: 12 dc and 12 ch-2 sps)
Small tier: fasten off here. The body measures 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall.
Round 4 (medium and large tiers only)
Sl st into the first ch-2 sp (center of the first V2-st). Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in the same sp, ch 2, dc in the next ch-2 sp (between V2-sts), ch 2, V2-st in the next V2-st sp, ch 2, dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 2; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5 to join.
(6 V2-sts + 6 single dc: 18 dc and 18 ch-2 sps)
The single dc between each pair of V2-sts forms the crossing point of the diamond lattice.
Medium tier: fasten off here. The body measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall.
Round 5 (large tier only)
Sl st into the first ch-2 sp (center of the first V2-st). Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in the same sp, ch 2, sk the next ch-2 sp, V2-st in the next single dc, ch 2, sk the next ch-2 sp, V2-st in the next V2-st sp, ch 2, sk the next ch-2 sp, V2-st in the next single dc, ch 2, sk the next ch-2 sp; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5 to join.
(12 V2-sts: 24 dc and 24 ch-2 sps)
Large tier: fasten off. The body measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall.
Make All Pieces
Work in this order: make the three green bodies, add the cream edging from the Border section to each, then make the cord and assemble.
| Piece | Qty | Green rounds | Cream edging | Green | Cream |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small tier | 1 | Rnds 1–3 | Rnds A–B | 3 g / 7 m | 2 g / 5 m |
| Medium tier | 1 | Rnds 1–4 | Rnds A–B | 5 g / 12 m | 3 g / 7 m |
| Large tier | 1 | Rnds 1–5 | Rnds A–B | 7 g / 17 m | 4 g / 10 m |
| Cord with loop | 1 | none | chain | none | 1 g / 2 m |
Hanging Cord
With cream, ch 18, then sl st in the first ch to form the loop. The loop is about 3 in (7.6 cm) around and hangs 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall. Continue with ch 42 for the stem, about 7 in (17.8 cm) long. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Layout Grid
( loop ) 1.5 in / 3.8 cm
|
/ S \ small tier, 2.75 in / 7.0 cm wide
/ M \ medium tier, 3.5 in / 8.9 cm wide
/ L \ large tier, 4.25 in / 10.8 cm wide
Joining (Assembly on the Cord)
The tiers are joined by threading, not sewing. Each tier hangs from a knot tied in the cord directly under its center ring.
- Thread the stem tail onto a tapestry needle. Pass it down through the ring of the small tier from the right side, so the loop sits above the tier.
- Slide the small tier up to the base of the loop. Tie an overhand knot in the stem directly under the ring. The 5-chain ring is too small to slip over a knot in the chain cord.
- Measure 1 in (2.5 cm) down the stem from the first knot. Thread the medium tier, slide it up, and tie the second knot under its ring at that point.
- Measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) down from the second knot. Thread the large tier and tie the third knot under its ring.
- Trim the cord 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the last knot and sew the end inside the large cone.
How the threading works: the cord always enters a ring from the outside of the cone, so all three knots stay hidden inside the cones.
Tension advice: pull each knot snug, but don’t pull the chain hard enough to stretch it. A stretched chain makes the tiers sit too far apart.
Size checkpoint: the top of each tier should hide 0.75 in (1.9 cm) under the hem above it. The total height from the top of the small tier to the bottom of the large tier is 5.25 in (13.3 cm): 1 in + 1.5 in + 2.75 in.
Border (Cream Scalloped Edging)
Work this two-round edging on each tier body before assembly. Border gauge: the two cream rounds together measure 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep. Round A is packed densely on purpose so the hem flares outward.
Round A
With the right side facing, join cream with a sl st in any dc of the last green round. Ch 1, sc in the same dc. Work 3 sc in each ch-2 sp and 1 sc in each dc around. Sl st to the first sc to join.
- Small tier: 12 dc worked 1 sc per stitch (12 sc) + 12 ch-2 sps x 3 sc (36 sc) = 48 sc
- Medium tier: 18 dc (18 sc) + 18 ch-2 sps x 3 sc (54 sc) = 72 sc
- Large tier: 24 dc (24 sc) + 24 ch-2 sps x 3 sc (72 sc) = 96 sc
Round B
Ch 1, sc in the same sc as the join, sk next sc, scallop in next sc, sk next sc, sc in next sc, sk next sc, scallop in next sc, sk next sc; rep from * around. Sl st to the first sc to join. Fasten off.
- Small tier: 48 / 4 = 12 scallops (12 sc + 60 dc = 72 sts)
- Medium tier: 72 / 4 = 18 scallops (18 sc + 90 dc = 108 sts)
- Large tier: 96 / 4 = 24 scallops (24 sc + 120 dc = 144 sts)
Why the Math Works
Each scallop repeat uses exactly 4 sc from Round A. Every green repeat gives a multiple of 4 sc in Round A: 8 per repeat on the small tier, 12 on the medium, and 16 on the large. With 6 repeats each, the totals are 48, 72, and 96, which are all divisible by 4. That gives 2, 3, and 4 scallops per lattice repeat. The scallops line up evenly with the diamonds, and no tier ends with a half scallop.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends inside the cones before blocking.
- Mist each tier lightly with water until it is damp but not soaked.
- Slip each tier over a cone form, or stuff it gently with a rolled paper cone.
- Pull each scallop down and outward so the hem flares evenly. Pin the tips if they curl.
- Check the widths: 2.75 in (7.0 cm), 3.5 in (8.9 cm), and 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
- Let the tiers dry completely, about 6 to 8 hours.
- Remove the forms and assemble the tiers on the cord if you haven’t already.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Last green round: small 12 dc, medium 18 dc, large 24 dc.
- Round A counts: 48, 72, and 96 sc.
- Scallop counts: 12, 18, and 24.
- All joins sit at the back of the ornament.
- Every ring is open enough for the cord to pass through.
- Knots are hidden inside the cones.
- Each tier overlaps the next by 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
- Total height is 5.25 in (13.3 cm), plus a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
- The ornament hangs straight with no tilt.
Troubleshooting
The tier is flat, not cone-shaped: your chains are too loose. Tighten your chains or drop to a 3.0 mm hook.
The tier is too pointy and narrow: your chains are too tight. Loosen them slightly or use a 3.5 mm hook.
The scallops ruffle or wave: your Round A count is too high. Recount; it must be exactly 48, 72, or 96.
The scallops pull the hem inward: work the 5 dc more loosely, or pin the hem out during blocking.
A tier slips down the cord: the knot is too small. Tie a double overhand knot instead.
The ornament tilts: the cord is threaded off-center. Re-thread it through the exact center of the ring.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and reshape over a cone form to dry. Store flat or hanging, with nothing heavy on top.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check. A 1 in (2.5 cm) Round 1 disc leads to bodies 1.75 in (4.4 cm), 2.5 in (6.4 cm), and 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide. The edging adds 1 in (2.5 cm) of width, giving tiers of 2.75 in (7.0 cm), 3.5 in (8.9 cm), and 4.25 in (10.8 cm). Stacked with 0.75 in (1.9 cm) overlaps, they make a 5.25 in (13.3 cm) tree that hangs from a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
Make one ornament and check it against these numbers. If it matches, the rest of your tree collection will match too.
Happy crocheting!