The Jingle Puff Star is a small six-pointed Christmas ornament. Plump cream puff stitches and crisp burgundy outlines make it look like a classic peppermint-and-cream holiday decoration. Red jingle bells at the center and at the points add shine and a soft little sound every time the tree moves.
The star uses two colors. Burgundy forms the center ring, a thin outline round and the outer border. Cream carries the two rings of puff stitches and the double crochet points. The result looks raised and textured on the front and stays flat enough to hang neatly.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures 4.25 in (10.8 cm) from point to point, not counting the hanging loop or the bottom bell.
You will work it in the round as one piece: a burgundy center, a cream puff ring, a burgundy outline, a second cream puff ring that grows into six points, and a two-round burgundy border. There is no joining and no seaming. Bells and a hanging loop are added at the end.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) point to point
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate (puff stitches and color changes)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3)
- Hook: 4 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 single star
- Layout: One six-pointed star, worked in rounds
- Piece size before border: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) point to point
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each edge, 2 rounds of burgundy sc
- Hanging loop: about 2 in (5.1 cm) tall
Materials
Pick a smooth cotton or cotton-acrylic DK yarn. Cotton gives the clearest stitch definition and keeps the points crisp. Fuzzy yarn hides the puff shapes, so avoid it. Lengths below assume roughly 225 m per 100 g.
Yarn
– Cream: 7 g (16 m)
– Burgundy: 6 g (14 m), including the hanging loop
These amounts include a margin of about 25% for gauge swatching and weaving in ends.
Tools and notions
– 4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch marker
– 1 red jingle bell, 12 mm, for the center
– 5 red jingle bells, 10 mm, for the top and four side points
– 1 red jingle bell, 18 mm, for the bottom point
– 6 small gold jump rings (6 mm) and 2 pairs of flat-nose pliers
– Rustproof pins, a foam blocking mat and a spray bottle
– Optional: fabric stiffener
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc3tog – single crochet 3 together: (insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop) 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 loops on the hook
- MR – magic ring
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Puff: (Yo, insert hook in the stitch, yo, pull up a loop to about 0.5 in / 1.3 cm tall) 4 times. You now have 9 loops on the hook. Yo, pull through all 9 loops, then ch 1 to close. The closing ch 1 is the top of the puff and does not count as a separate stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
The whole ornament depends on round sizes, so work Rounds 1–2 first as a test and measure them.
Checkpoints (measured flat, before blocking):
– After Round 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across
– After Round 2: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
– After Round 3: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
– After Round 4: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across
– After Round 5: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) point to point
– After Round 6: 4 in (10.2 cm) point to point
– After Round 7: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) point to point
A difference of up to 0.125 in (0.3 cm) is fine.
If your test is too big: change to a 3.5 mm hook and pull your puff loops up a little shorter.
If your test is too small: change to a 4.5 mm hook and make your puff loops a little taller.
If the center cups upward: your puffs are too tight. Pull each loop up to the full 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Star Pattern
Round 1 – Burgundy Center
With burgundy, make a MR. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 12 sc into the ring. Pull the ring tight and sl st to the first sc. Cut the yarn and fasten off.
Stitch count: 12 sc. Center size: 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
Round 2 – Inner Cream Puffs
Join cream in any sc. Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), Puff in the same st, ch 2, skip next sc. *Puff in next sc, ch 2, skip next sc; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the first Puff and fasten off.
Count: 6 Puffs and 6 ch-2 sps. Each repeat uses 2 sts from Round 1, and 6 repeats use all 12. Size: 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Round 3 – Burgundy Outline
Join burgundy in the closing ch of any Puff. Ch 1, sc in the same st, 3 sc in next ch-2 sp. *Sc in closing ch of next Puff, 3 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off.
Stitch count: 24 sc. This is a conversion round: (6 sc worked one per Puff) + (18 sc worked into the six ch-2 spaces) = 24. This round makes the thin burgundy line that frames each inner puff. Size: 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Round 4 – Outer Cream Puffs
Join cream in the center sc of any 3-sc group, which is a sc that sits between two inner Puffs. Ch 2 (does not count), Puff in the same st, ch 3, skip next 3 sc. *Puff in next sc, which is the center of the next 3-sc group, ch 3, skip next 3 sc; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the first Puff. Do not fasten off.
Count: 6 Puffs and 6 ch-3 sps. Each repeat uses 4 sc from Round 3 (1 under the Puff and 3 skipped), and 6 × 4 = 24. The outer Puffs sit between the inner Puffs, which gives the layered petal look. Size: 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Round 5 – Cream Points
Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in the same closing ch, ch 3, 2 dc in the same closing ch, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp. *(2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in closing ch of next Puff, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 and fasten off.
Count: 42 sts (24 dc + 18 sc) plus 6 ch-3 tips. Per point: 4 dc + 3 sc = 7 sts. Then 7 × 6 = 42.
The dc groups rise from each outer Puff to form the six points, and the 3 sc make the shallow valleys between them. Checkpoint: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) point to point.
Border
The border is two rounds of burgundy sc. It sharpens the tips, deepens the valleys and outlines the whole star.
Border gauge: each sc round adds about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) at every point. Two rounds add 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per side, or 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across the star.
Round 6 – Burgundy Outline
Join burgundy in any ch-3 tip. Ch 1, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the same tip. Then sc in next 2 dc, sc in next 3 sc and sc in next 2 dc. *(2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in next ch-3 tip, sc in next 2 dc, sc in next 3 sc, sc in next 2 dc; rep from * 4 more times. Sl st to the first sc. Do not fasten off.
Stitch count: 66 sc plus 6 ch-2 tips. This is a conversion round: (42 sc worked one per existing stitch) + (24 sc added into the six tips, 4 per tip) = 66. Per point: 7 + 4 = 11 sc.
Checkpoint: 4 in (10.2 cm) point to point.
Round 7 – Sharpened Edge
Sl st in next sc and into the ch-2 tip. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the same tip.
Each point section now has 11 sts in this order:
– 2 sc from the tip group
– 2 sc over the dc
– 3 sc over the valley
– 2 sc over the dc
– 2 sc from the next tip group
Work: *Sc in next 4 sts, sc3tog over the 3 valley sts, sc in next 4 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch-2 tip; rep from * around, ending with sc in the last 4 sts and leaving out the final tip. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off. Leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Stitch count: 66 sts plus 6 ch-2 tips. Per point: (8 sc worked one per stitch) + (1 sc3tog over 3 sts) + (2 sc added at the tip) = 11. Then 11 × 6 = 66.
Why the math works: the 2 sc added at each tip cancel out the 2 sts removed by each sc3tog. The count stays at 66, the valleys pull in and the tips push out. That is what makes the star look sharp instead of round. Checkpoint: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) point to point.
Hanging Loop
Choose a tip for the top. Join burgundy in that ch-2 tip and ch 18. Sl st back into the same tip and fasten off. The loop stands about 2 in (5.1 cm) tall. Weave all ends into same-color stitches on the back.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the star with water until it is damp but not dripping.
- Lay it face up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the top and bottom tips 4.25 in (10.8 cm) apart.
- Pin the other four tips evenly, each 4.25 in (10.8 cm) from its opposite tip.
- Push a pin into the center of each valley so it curves in evenly.
- Gently round each Puff with your fingertips. Do not flatten them.
- Optional: brush on a thin coat of fabric stiffener for firmer points.
- Let it dry completely, at least 6 hours.
- Add the bells after unpinning. Open a jump ring with two pliers, hook it through the ch-2 tip and a 10 mm bell, then close it. Do this on the top tip at the base of the loop and on the four side tips.
- Attach the 18 mm bell to the bottom tip with a jump ring.
- Sew the 12 mm bell through the Round 1 center with burgundy yarn and knot it on the back.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Round 1 has 12 sc and the magic ring is fully closed.
- There are 6 inner Puffs and 6 outer Puffs, and they alternate evenly.
- Round 3 has 24 sc, and burgundy shows between all inner Puffs.
- Round 5 has six points, each with 4 dc and a ch-3 tip.
- Rounds 6 and 7 each have 66 sts plus 6 tips.
- All valleys are pulled in by sc3tog.
- Point-to-point size is 4.25 in (10.8 cm) on all three axes.
- The hanging loop is at a tip, not in a valley.
- All seven bells are firmly attached and the jump rings are closed with no gaps.
- No ends show on the front.
Troubleshooting
Puffs lean or twist: pull each loop up to the same height and keep the closing ch 1 snug.
Center pokes up into a cone: Round 2 is too tight. Redo it with taller puff loops or a larger hook.
Points look rounded: make sure the tip in Round 5 is ch 3, and that you work sc3tog in every valley in Round 7.
Star ruffles at the edge: you probably worked extra sc in Round 6. Count to 11 per point.
Star cups at the edge: your border tension is tight. Work Rounds 6–7 more loosely or go up 0.5 mm for the border only.
Uneven point lengths: check that each Round 4 Puff sits in a center sc and that you skipped exactly 3 sc every time.
Bell spins away from the tip: use a smaller jump ring, or stitch the ring to the back with matching yarn.
Care
Spot clean only with a damp cloth and mild soap, then reshape and dry flat. Remove the bells before any deeper washing and store the star flat in tissue paper.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple: 12 sc center at 0.75 in (1.9 cm), 6 inner Puffs at 1.5 in (3.8 cm), 24 sc outline at 1.75 in (4.4 cm), 6 outer Puffs at 2.5 in (6.4 cm), and 42-stitch points at 3.75 in (9.5 cm). Then come two 66-stitch border rounds that bring the star to 4.25 in (10.8 cm). If you hit each checkpoint, every point comes out even and every bell hangs straight. Make one for the top branch, then a few more in reversed colors for a full set of matching ornaments.
Happy crocheting!