The Holly Lace Wreath Ornament is a small, lacy Christmas wreath that hangs from a sage green loop with a pearl and gold bead at the top. The center is a soft cream ring filled with two staggered rounds of little cluster flowers. The outer edge is a sage green band finished with 12 pointed scallops, and a burgundy cord bow sits at the bottom.
The colors are classic but quiet: cream, sage green, and deep burgundy, with a touch of pearl and gold. It looks vintage and handmade, a bit like a tiny doily. It works well on a tree, a gift package, or a window hook.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished wreath measures 4 in (10.2 cm) across. With the loop, the whole ornament hangs about 6 in (15.2 cm) long.
Construction is simple. You crochet one wreath in joined rounds, working outward from a chain ring. The cream rounds come first, then a sage green border. The bow and the hanging loop are slip-stitch cords made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4 in (10.2 cm) diameter wreath; about 6 in (15.2 cm) hanging length
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread (Super Fine #1 category)
- Hook: 2.25 mm (B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1 wreath, plus 1 bow and 1 hanging cord sewn on
- Layout: Single round motif; no joining
- Piece size: 4 in (10.2 cm) across
- Size before border: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across, after Round 5
- Border depth: 0.375 in (1.0 cm) per side, Rounds 6 to 8
- Center opening: about 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized cotton thread. It shows the cluster flowers clearly and holds the scallop points after blocking. Fuzzy or very soft cotton blurs the lace, so avoid it. The amounts below assume a thread of about 140 m per 50 g.
- Cream (Color A): 5 g, about 14 m
- Sage green (Color B): 4 g, about 11 m
- Burgundy (Color C): 2 g, about 6 m
All quantities include a margin for tails, a gauge test, and small mistakes.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle with an eye small enough for size 3 thread
- 1 round 6 mm pearl bead
- 1 round 4 mm gold bead
- Scissors
- Blocking mat, rustproof pins, and a spray bottle
- Optional: fabric stiffener or spray starch
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
Special stitches:
- 3-dc cluster (cl): *Yo, insert hook in the stitch or space, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops; repeat from * 2 more times in the same place, yo and pull through all 4 loops on hook.
- Flower: (cl, ch 1, cl, ch 1, cl) all in the same stitch or space. Each flower has 3 clusters and 2 ch-1 spaces. The middle cluster is the “center cl.”
- Picot: Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 8 sc and 9 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) in size 3 thread with a 2.25 mm hook.
The best gauge test is the wreath itself. Work Rounds 1 to 3, then measure across the widest point. If it matches the Round 3 checkpoint, keep going. If not, change hook size and start again.
Measurement checkpoints (diameter, lightly flattened):
- After Round 1: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) outside; opening about 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
- After Round 2: 1.8 in (4.6 cm)
- After Round 3: 2.4 in (6.1 cm)
- After Round 4: 2.6 in (6.6 cm)
- After Round 5: 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
- After Round 6: 3.4 in (8.6 cm)
- After Round 7: 3.6 in (9.1 cm)
- After Round 8: 4 in (10.2 cm)
Too big? Go down to a 2 mm hook, or tighten your chains. Too small? Go up to a 2.5 mm hook. If only the chain-space rounds pull in and the wreath cups, loosen your chains on Rounds 4 and 6 only.
Wreath Center (Color A, Cream)
Work in joined rounds with the right side facing. Do not turn.
Round 1: With A, ch 36. Sl st in first ch to form a ring, making sure the chain is not twisted. Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st in first sc to join. (36 sc)
Round 2 (growth): Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * 11 more times, sl st in first sc to join. (48 sc)*
The ring may wave slightly at this point. Round 3 draws it back in.
Round 3 (inner flowers): Ch 1, sc in first st, skip 1 st, flower in next st, skip 1 st, sc in next st, skip 1 st, flower in next st, skip 1 st; repeat from * 10 more times, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc and 12 flowers)*
Each repeat uses 4 stitches of Round 2, so 12 repeats use all 48 stitches.
Round 4 (chain round): Sl st in top of next cl, sl st in next ch-1 sp, sl st in top of center cl of the same flower. Ch 1, sc in same center cl, ch 5, sc in center cl of next flower; repeat from * 10 more times, ch 5, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc and 12 ch-5 sps; 72 sts total)*
Round 5 (outer flowers): Ch 1, sc in first sc, flower in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc, flower in next ch-5 sp; repeat from * 10 more times, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc and 12 flowers)*
The outer flowers sit in the gaps between the inner flowers, so the two flower rings are staggered. That gives the cream center its packed, floral look.
Fasten off A and weave in the tail. Checkpoint: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across.
Border (Color B, Sage Green)
The border is a 3-round band. It frames the outer flowers in green and ends in 12 pointed scallops. Because the wreath is round, counts are given per sector instead of per side. There are 12 sectors, one for each outer flower.
Border gauge: Together, Rounds 6 to 8 add 0.375 in (1.0 cm) on each side. That takes the wreath from 3.25 in (8.3 cm) to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Round 6 (anchor round): Join B with a sl st in the center cl of any Round 5 flower. Ch 1, sc in same center cl, ch 7, sc in center cl of next flower; repeat from * 10 more times, ch 7, sl st in first sc to join. (12 sc and 12 ch-7 sps; 96 sts total)*
- Per sector: 1 sc + 7 ch = 8 sts
Round 7 (conversion round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, 7 sc in next ch-7 sp, *sc in next sc, 7 sc in next ch-7 sp; repeat from * 10 more times, sl st in first sc to join.
- Count: 12 sc worked 1-per-sc + 84 sc worked into the spaces (12 × 7) = 96 sc
- Per sector: 1 + 7 = 8 sc
Number the 8 stitches in each sector 1 to 8. Stitch 1 is the sc above the Round 6 sc. Stitches 2 to 8 are the 7 sc above the ch-7 space.
Round 8 (scallop round): Ch 1, sc in first sc (stitch 1). Skip next st (stitch 2), hdc in next st (stitch 3), dc in next st (stitch 4), (tr, picot, tr) in next st (stitch 5), dc in next st (stitch 6), hdc in next st (stitch 7), skip next st (stitch 8)*, sc in next st (stitch 1 of next sector); repeat from * 10 more times, then repeat from * to ** once, sl st in first sc to join.
- Per sector: 1 sc + 1 hdc + 1 dc + 2 tr + 1 dc + 1 hdc = 7 sts, plus 1 picot
- Total: 12 sc + 72 scallop sts = 84 sts, plus 12 picots
Fasten off B and weave in the tail.
Why the math works: Every round is built on 12 anchors. Round 5 has 12 flower centers, so Round 6 has 12 ch-7 spaces. Round 7 turns those into 12 × 8 = 96 sc. Each scallop uses exactly 8 stitches: 1 sc, 6 worked stitches, and 2 skipped stitches. The skipped stitches sit on each side of every sc valley. Stitch 5 is the middle of the 7 stitches above each ch-7 space, so each picot point lands exactly between two outer flowers. No stitches are added or lost at the join.
Hanging Loop (Color B)
With B, ch 30. Sl st in back bump of 2nd ch from hook and in back bump of each ch across. (29 sl sts) Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The cord measures about 3.3 in (8.4 cm).
Fold the cord in half. Thread both ends through the 6 mm pearl bead, then the 4 mm gold bead. Slide the beads down until the loop above them is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long.
Pick any Round 8 sc valley as the top. Sew the cord ends to the back of that sc and the Round 7 stitch below it, so the gold bead sits right on the edge. Secure it firmly, because this point carries the ornament’s weight.
Bow (Color C, Burgundy)
With C, ch 60. Sl st in back bump of 2nd ch from hook and in back bump of each ch across. (59 sl sts) Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The cord measures about 6.75 in (17.1 cm).
To shape the bow:
- Lay the cord flat. Make a loop on the left about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long and a matching loop on the right, crossing them at the center.
- Let both ends hang down as tails, each about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
- Wrap the tail thread around the center 4 to 5 times to form the knot, then stitch through the center to lock it.
- Check the size: about 2 in (5.1 cm) wide and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall, tails included.
The bottom of the wreath is the sc valley directly opposite the hanging loop. Center the bow knot over that valley so it covers the outer cream flower and the green band below it. With the remaining tail, sew through the knot and the base of each bow loop. Leave the tails free.
Final Blocking
- Before you sew on the bow and loop, wet the wreath or mist it until damp.
- Lay it right side up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the center opening into a round shape about 1.3 in (3.3 cm) across.
- Pin each of the 12 picots outward to a 4 in (10.2 cm) circle. Space them evenly, like the hours on a clock.
- Use a pin or your fingertip to open each flower so its 3 clusters fan out.
- For a crisp ornament, brush on fabric stiffener or spray starch now.
- Let the wreath dry fully, at least 6 hours, before unpinning.
- Lightly steam the bow, shape its loops with your fingers, and let it cool before attaching.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Round 1 is not twisted, and the wreath lies flat.
- Rounds 3 and 5 each have 12 flowers, and the two rings are staggered.
- Round 7 has 96 sc. Round 8 has 12 scallops with 12 picots.
- The picot tips reach a 4 in (10.2 cm) circle.
- The hanging loop and the bow sit on opposite sc valleys.
- The beads sit snugly, with a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop above them.
- The bow is centered, and both tails hang evenly.
- All tails are woven in and trimmed on the back.
Troubleshooting
The wreath cups like a bowl. Your chain rounds are too tight. Redo Round 4 or Round 6 with looser chains.
The edge ruffles. Your Round 7 sc are too loose. Work them more firmly, or use a hook 0.25 mm smaller for Rounds 7 and 8 only.
The flowers look flat or squashed. Pull up every cluster loop to the same height, then open the flowers during blocking.
The scallop points are off-center. You started Round 8 in the wrong stitch. Make sure stitch 1 is the sc above the Round 6 sc.
The ornament tilts when hung. The loop and bow are not on opposite valleys. Count 6 sectors from the loop to find the true bottom.
The bow droops. Add one more wrap at the center, then tack the back of each bow loop to the wreath with one small stitch.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat in shape. If you used stiffener, block the wreath again after washing.
Final Notes
The whole ornament follows one measurement chain. A 36-chain ring gives a 1.3 in (3.3 cm) opening. The cream center grows to 2.4 in (6.1 cm) after the inner flowers and 3.25 in (8.3 cm) after the outer flowers. The sage border adds 0.375 in (1.0 cm) per side, for a finished 4 in (10.2 cm) wreath. The 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop and the beads bring the hanging length to about 6 in (15.2 cm).
If your Round 3 checkpoint matches, the rest will follow. Make one for the tree, then a few more for gifts.
Happy crocheting!