The Frosted Spruce is a small, flat Christmas tree ornament with three stacked tiers, blue lace fans and cream puff buds. It looks delicate on the tree, but you can make one in an evening.
The palette is simple. A soft denim blue makes the tree. A warm cream makes the buds, the tier lines, the trunk and the hanging loop. The cream line at the bottom of each tier sits just above a tiny blue scalloped frill, so each tier seems to overlap the one below.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures about 4.35 in (11.0 cm) wide and 5.14 in (13.1 cm) tall, not counting the hanging loop. The loop adds about 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
You work the tree in one piece in turned rows, starting at the tip. Each new tier is worked into the back loops of the cream line above it. The trunk hangs from the bottom tier. The cream buds are worked onto the surface, and a blue outline and three frills finish the edges.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.35 in (11.0 cm) wide x 5.14 in (13.1 cm) tall, plus a 2.25 in (5.7 cm) loop
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: #1 super fine (fingering) mercerized cotton or size 3 crochet thread
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single ornament, three tiers plus trunk
- Size before border: 4.13 in (10.5 cm) wide x 4.92 in (12.5 cm) tall
- Border depth: 1 round of sc, about 0.11 in (0.3 cm) on each edge
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized cotton. It shows the fans and puffs clearly and holds its shape after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarn.
- Color A, denim blue: 8 g, about 27 m
- Color B, cream: 4 g, about 14 m
These amounts include a margin of about 25 percent for swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Locking stitch markers
- Blocking mat and rustproof pins
- Spray bottle with water
- Optional: light spray starch
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sp: space
- sk: skip
- yo: yarn over
- tch: turning chain
- BLO / FLO: back loop only / front loop only. With the RS facing you, the back loop is the one farther from you.
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
Counting rule: A ch-3 at the start of a row counts as 1 dc. A ch-1 at the start of an sc row does not count. In mesh rows, each ch-1 sp counts as 1 st.
Puff st: (Yo, insert hook in st or sp, yo, pull up a loop to 1/4 in, or 0.6 cm) 3 times, yo, pull through all 7 loops on hook.
Bud: In the same st or sp: puff st, ch 2, puff st, ch 2, puff st. The three puffs spread out from one base point like petals.
Center fan: 9 tr in the same st or sp.
Side fan: 5 tr in the same st or sp.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 32 sc and 36 sc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). In dc, 14 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
For planning, use these sizes:
- One sc row is about 0.11 in (0.3 cm) tall.
- One dc row is about 0.29 in (0.7 cm) tall.
- One tr row is about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
- Eight sts make 1 in (2.5 cm).
Test piece: Tier 1 is your gauge swatch. Make it first and measure it before you go on.
Checkpoints (measured flat, with the fans eased into place):
- Tier 1, Row 4 (9 dc): 1.13 in (2.9 cm) wide
- Tier 1 cream row (17 sts): 2.13 in (5.4 cm) wide, 1.42 in (3.6 cm) tall
- Tier 2 cream row (27 sts): 3.38 in (8.6 cm) wide; the tier is 1.31 in (3.3 cm) tall
- Tier 3 cream row (33 sts): 4.13 in (10.5 cm) wide; the tier is 1.31 in (3.3 cm) tall
- Trunk (9 sts x 8 rows): 1.13 in (2.9 cm) wide x 0.88 in (2.2 cm) tall
If your tier is too big, go down to a 2.0 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 2.5 mm hook. Do not change the stitch counts, because the tiers only stack correctly if every count matches.
Tier 1 (Top)
Work with Color A unless stated.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 2, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st, turn. (5 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in last st, turn. (7 sts)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (9 sts)
Row 5 (fan row): Ch 3, dc in same st, sk next 3 sts, center fan in next st (the 5th st), sk next 3 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (13 sts: 2 dc, 9 tr, 2 dc)
Row 6: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 11 sts, 2 dc in top of tch, turn. Change to Color B in the last yo and cut Color A. (15 sts)
Row 7 (cream line, Color B): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in last st. Fasten off. (17 sts)
Check: 2.13 in (5.4 cm) wide, 1.42 in (3.6 cm) tall.
Tier 2 (Middle)
Row 1 (RS): With RS facing, sk first 2 sts of Tier 1 Row 7. Join Color A in the BLO of the next st. Ch 1, sc in BLO of same st and next 12 sts, turn. (13 sts; 2 sts stay unworked at each end)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in last st, turn. (15 sts)
Row 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 13 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (17 sts)
Row 4 (mesh): Ch 3, dc in next st, (ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) 7 times, dc in top of tch, turn. (17 sts: 10 dc and 7 ch-1 sps)
Row 5 (fan row):
- Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next dc.
- Sk next ch-1 sp and next dc, side fan in next ch-1 sp, sk next dc and next ch-1 sp.
- Sk next dc, center fan in next ch-1 sp (the center sp), sk next dc.
- Sk next ch-1 sp and next dc, side fan in next ch-1 sp, sk next dc and next ch-1 sp.
- Dc in next dc, 2 dc in top of tch, turn. Change to Color B in the last yo and cut Color A.
(25 sts: 2 + 1 + 5 + 9 + 5 + 1 + 2)
Row 6 (cream line, Color B): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 23 sts, 2 sc in last st. Fasten off. (27 sts)
Check: 3.38 in (8.6 cm) wide.
Tier 3 (Bottom)
Row 1 (RS): With RS facing, sk first 2 sts of Tier 2 Row 6. Join Color A in the BLO of the next st. Ch 1, sc in BLO of same st and next 22 sts, turn. (23 sts; 2 sts stay unworked at each end)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 21 sts, 2 sc in last st, turn. (25 sts)
Row 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 23 sts, 2 dc in last st, turn. (27 sts)
Row 4 (mesh): Ch 3, dc in next st, (ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) 12 times, dc in top of tch, turn. (27 sts: 15 dc and 12 ch-1 sps)
Row 5 (fan row):
- Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp.
- Sk next dc and ch-1 sp, side fan in next dc, sk next ch-1 sp and dc.
- Ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc.
- Sk next ch-1 sp, dc and ch-1 sp, center fan in next dc (the center st), sk next ch-1 sp, dc and ch-1 sp.
- Dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp.
- Sk next dc and ch-1 sp, side fan in next dc, sk next ch-1 sp and dc.
- Ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, 2 dc in top of tch, turn. Change to Color B in the last yo and cut Color A.
(31 sts: 2 + 1 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 9 + 1 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2)
Row 6 (cream line, Color B): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 29 sts, 2 sc in last st. Fasten off. (33 sts)
Check: 4.13 in (10.5 cm) wide.
Trunk
Row 1 (RS): With RS facing, sk first 12 sts of Tier 3 Row 6. Join Color B in the BLO of the next st. Ch 1, sc in BLO of same st and next 8 sts, turn. (9 sts; 12 sts stay unworked at each end)
Rows 2–8: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (9 sts)
Fasten off. Check: the trunk is 1.13 in (2.9 cm) wide x 0.88 in (2.2 cm) tall. The whole tree should now measure 4.13 in (10.5 cm) wide x 4.92 in (12.5 cm) tall.
Cream Buds
Work the buds onto the surface with Color B. Each bud goes into the stitch or space that holds a fan.
For each bud, leave a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail. Insert the hook from the RS and work a bud into the fan’s base st or sp. Fasten off and pull both tails to the WS. Lay the petals so they point up toward the tip.
- Tier 1: 1 bud in the 5th st of Row 4, above the center fan
- Tier 2: 3 buds, one in each of the 3 ch-1 sps of Row 4 that hold the fans
- Tier 3: 3 buds, one in each of the 3 dc of Row 4 that hold the fans
Total: 7 buds.
Border
Border gauge: Along row-ends, work 1 sc per sc row, 2 sc per dc row and 3 sc per tr row. Along stitch edges, work 1 sc per st.
Round 1 (Color A, outline): With RS facing, join Color A in the foundation ch at the tip. Ch 1, 3 sc in the tip ch. Then work down the first side:
- Tier 1 row-ends: 11 sc (1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 1)
- BLO of the 2 unworked Tier 1 cream sts: 2 sc
- Tier 2 row-ends: 10 sc (1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 1)
- BLO of the 2 unworked Tier 2 cream sts: 2 sc
- Tier 3 row-ends: 10 sc (1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 1)
- BLO of the 12 unworked Tier 3 cream sts: 12 sc
- Trunk row-ends, Rows 1–7: 7 sc
Trunk bottom: 3 sc in first st of Row 8, sc in next 7 sts, 3 sc in last st. (13 sc)
Work up the second side in reverse order: 7, 12, 10, 2, 10, 2 and 11 sc. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
Count: 3 (tip) + 54 (first side) + 13 (trunk bottom) + 54 (second side) = 124 sc.
Frills (Color A, in the FLO of each cream row): With RS facing, work into the free front loops of each cream line. Tiers 2 and 3 and the trunk used only the back loops, so every front loop is still free.
- Tier 1 (17 sts): Join in FLO of first st, ch 1, sc in same st, (ch 2, sk next st, sc in next st) 8 times. Fasten off. (9 sc, 8 ch-2 sps)
- Tier 2 (27 sts): Same method, repeat 13 times. (14 sc, 13 ch-2 sps)
- Tier 3 (33 sts): Same method, repeat 16 times. (17 sc, 16 ch-2 sps)
Each frill folds down over the top of the tier below.
Why the math works:
- At 8 sts per inch, one sc is 0.125 in wide. That is close to the height of a sc row (0.11 in).
- Three sc (0.375 in) are close to the height of a tr row (0.4 in).
- Two sc (0.25 in) are a little shorter than a dc row (0.29 in). This keeps the slanted sides firm instead of wavy.
- Each ledge gets exactly 1 sc per st, so the steps stay square.
- Every cream row has an odd count, so each frill starts and ends with an sc.
Hanging Loop
With Color B, ch 40. Sl st in the back bump of each ch across. (40 sl sts) This makes a firm cord about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long.
Fold the cord in half and sew both ends to the WS of the tip. Wrap the tail 5 times around both strands just above the tip and secure it. The loop stands about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the WS, through stitches of the same color.
- Mist the ornament lightly until it is damp but not wet.
- Pin the tip. Then pin the two bottom corners of Tier 3, 4.35 in (11.0 cm) apart.
- Pin the trunk so its bottom edge sits 5.14 in (13.1 cm) below the tip.
- Ease each fan open so the tr spread evenly. Pin the tier corners so both sides match.
- Lay each frill flat over the tier below, and shape the bud petals upward.
- Use spray starch if you want a stiff ornament. Let it dry completely before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The cream rows count 17, 27 and 33 sts.
- Each new tier starts 2 sts in from both ends.
- The trunk is centered, with 12 free sts on each side.
- All 7 buds are in place, with petals pointing up.
- Border Round 1 has 124 sc, with 54 on each side.
- The frills lie flat and end with an sc at both corners.
- The final size is 4.35 in (11.0 cm) x 5.14 in (13.1 cm).
- The loop is centered and secure.
Troubleshooting
- Fans cup or ripple: Your tr are too loose. Make the loops shorter, or pin the fan flatter when blocking.
- Tier sides look jagged: Make sure you work 2 sts in the first and last st of each increase row.
- Tiers are off-center: Recount the 2 skipped sts at each end before joining.
- Frill flips upward: It was worked in the back loops. Rework it in the front loops.
- Outline ripples: Use 2 sc per dc row-end, not 3.
- Buds look flat: Pull the puff loops a little longer, to about 1/4 in (0.6 cm).
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel and dry flat, then re-block if needed. Store the ornament flat or hanging so it doesn’t get crushed.
Final Notes
The measurements build in a short chain. Tier 1 is 2.13 in (5.4 cm) wide, Tier 2 is 3.38 in (8.6 cm) and Tier 3 is 4.13 in (10.5 cm). With the trunk, the tree is 4.92 in (12.5 cm) tall. The one-round border brings it to 4.35 in (11.0 cm) x 5.14 in (13.1 cm). If each checkpoint matches, the finished ornament will match too.
Happy crocheting!