The Lavender Dream Moon is a small hanging ornament: a soft lavender crescent moon with a slim loop at the top tip and three cream stars dangling from chain strands along its lower curve. It looks sweet on a Christmas tree and works just as well over a crib, on a nursery wall hook, or as a gift tag.
The palette is just two colors. Lavender makes the moon, and creamy off-white makes the stars and their strands. The moon has a smooth double crochet body framed by a tidy single crochet outline. Each star has five chunky points around a small open center.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished moon measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from tip to tip and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across. From the top of the loop to the bottom of the center star, the ornament hangs about 7 in (17.8 cm) long.
Construction is simple. You work the crescent in two rows into a foundation chain, using graded stitch heights to shape the pointed tips and increases to curve it. Next you make three small stars in the round, each finished with a chain strand. Finally you work one round of single crochet around the moon, catching the end of each strand as you go, and add the hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished moon size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tip to tip × 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide
- Total hanging length: about 7 in (17.8 cm), loop included
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light #3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 4 (1 moon, 3 stars), joined into one ornament
- Layout: moon on top, three stars in a row underneath, center star hanging lowest
- Star size: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point
- Moon size before border: 3.1 in (7.9 cm) tip to tip × 2.1 in (5.3 cm) wide
- Border depth: 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on every edge, one round of sc
Materials
Choose a smooth, soft cotton in DK weight. Cotton keeps the crescent tips and star points crisp. Acrylic also works, but it will look softer and may need firmer blocking.
- Color A, lavender: 6 g, about 14 m (moon, border, and hanging loop)
- Color B, cream: 3 g, about 7 m (three stars and their strands)
These quantities include a margin of about 20% for your gauge check and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 2 stitch markers
- Scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
- Blocking mat or folded towel, and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle with water
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
- sc2tog (into foundation chain): Insert hook in next ch loop, yarn over, pull up a loop. Insert hook in following ch loop, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops. You’ve worked 2 ch loops into 1 st.
- Star point: (hdc, dc, ch 1, dc, hdc) all in the same st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge isn’t critical for an ornament, but it controls how the moon curves and how evenly the stars hang. Make one moon (Rows 1–2) first and check it against these numbers before you start the stars.
Base gauge: 20 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). One row of dc stands about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
Checkpoints:
- Foundation chain (26 ch): about 5 in (12.7 cm) long, lying relaxed.
- After Row 1: a gently curved strip about 5 in (12.7 cm) along the chain edge and 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall at the center.
- After Row 2: a crescent measuring 3.1 in (7.9 cm) tip to tip and 2.1 in (5.3 cm) wide, with a band 0.8 in (2.0 cm) wide at its center.
- After the border: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tip to tip, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide, and a band about 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide at its center.
- Each star: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point.
If your moon is too big, go down to a 3.25 mm (D-3) hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 3.75 mm (F-5) hook. Don’t change stitch counts, because the curve comes from the ratio between Row 1 and Row 2. If the moon is the right size but too flat, your Row 2 increases are too loose. Work them a little tighter, or block the curve deeper.
Moon
Use Color A, lavender.
Foundation: Ch 26.
Row 1 (inner arc): Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 17 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in next ch, sl st in last ch. Turn. (25 sts: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 4 hdc, 17 dc)
The short stitches at each end make the narrow tips. The 17 dc in the middle form the widest part of the moon.
Row 2 (outer arc, shaping row): Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Skip the sl st. Sc in next sc, hdc in next 2 hdc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 8 times total, dc in next dc, hdc in next 2 hdc, sc in next sc. Leave the final sl st unworked. Do not fasten off. (31 sts: 2 sc, 4 hdc, 25 dc)*
Row 2 works into 23 of Row 1’s 25 sts (both sl sts are skipped). The 17 dc of Row 1 become 25 dc: 8 increase pairs (16 sts become 24 sts) plus 1 single dc. The 8 extra dc lengthen the outer edge, and that pulls the strip into a crescent.
Lay the piece flat and check Checkpoint 3. Put the live loop on a stitch marker while you make the stars.
Stars (Make 3)
Use Color B, cream.
Ring: Ch 5, sl st in first ch to form a ring. Leaving the ring open gives each star its small center hole.
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count), 10 sc in ring, join with sl st to first sc. (10 sc)
The circle should measure about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across, with an open center of about 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Round 2 (points): Sl st in next sc, star point (hdc, dc, ch 1, dc, hdc) in next sc; rep from * 5 times total. Put the final star point into the first sc of Round 1, then join with sl st to the first sl st. (5 star points: 20 sts and 5 ch-1 sps, plus 5 sl sts)*
Every repeat uses 2 sc, and 5 repeats × 2 sc = 10 sc, so the round closes exactly.
Strand: Sl st in the next hdc, the next dc, and the next ch-1 sp (the tip of one point). Ch 6 for the two side stars, or ch 9 for the center star. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail, and pull it through the last ch. Don’t weave this tail in yet. The last ch stays open so you can catch it in the border.
Checkpoint: Each star measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point. A 6-ch strand is about 1 in (2.5 cm) long, and a 9-ch strand is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Make All Pieces
For one ornament you need:
- Color A (lavender): 1 moon (Rows 1–2, border, loop)
- Color B (cream): 2 side stars with 6-ch strands, 1 center star with a 9-ch strand
Layout, seen from the front with the moon’s opening facing right:
[ loop ]
( upper tip )
( moon outer curve )
( lower tip )
[left] [center] [right]
ch 6 ch 9 ch 6
* | *
*
The center star hangs about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) lower than the two side stars.
Joining
The stars join to the moon during the border round, so there’s no sewing. When you reach a strand position, insert the hook through the Row 2 st as usual, then also through the open last ch of the strand, and work the sc. The border sc locks the strand in place on the edge.
Positions: Row 2 ended at one tip; this is the lower tip. The border starts here and runs along the outer arc toward the upper tip. Count outer-edge border sc from this starting point:
- Border sc 3: right side star (ch 6)
- Border sc 8: center star (ch 9)
- Border sc 13: left side star (ch 6)
The strands are 5 sts apart, about 1 in (2.5 cm) at gauge, so the stars hang side by side without touching.
Tension: Keep the joining sc the same size as its neighbors. If you pull it tight, you’ll get a dimple in the outer curve. Before you work each joining sc, make sure the strand isn’t twisted and the star faces forward.
Checkpoint: The strands should hang straight down, the center star should be lowest, and the outer curve should stay smooth.
Border
Use Color A, picking up the live loop from Row 2.
Border gauge: 1 sc per st along the outer edge, 1 sc per ch loop along the inner edge (with decreases), and 3 sc at each tip. The border adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on every edge.
Border Round: Ch 1, turn.
- Outer edge: Sc in each of the 31 sts of Row 2. Join the stars as you go: work sc 3, sc 8, and sc 13 through the strand’s last ch, as described in Joining. (31 sc)
- Upper tip: 3 sc in the Row 1 sl st at this tip. (3 sc)
- Inner edge: Rotate the work to crochet along the opposite side of the foundation chain. Sc in next 7 ch, sc2tog twice, sc in next ch, sc2tog twice, sc in next 7 ch. (19 sc, from 23 ch loops)
- Lower tip: 3 sc in the Row 1 sl st at this tip. (3 sc)
- Join with sl st to first sc. (56 sc total)
Why the math works: The foundation chain has 25 loops. The 2 end loops sit under the tip sl sts, which already get 3 sc each, so 23 loops are left for the inner edge. Working sc2tog 4 times turns 8 loops into 4 sts: 7 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 7 = 23 loops become 7 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 7 = 19 sc. Pulling in the inner edge deepens the curve. The outer edge gets exactly one sc per Row 2 st, so it lies flat with no ruffling. The 3 sc at each tip turn the sharp point. Total: 31 + 3 + 19 + 3 = 56 sc.
Fasten off and weave in the end.
Hanging loop: Join Color A with a sl st in the center sc of the upper tip group (border st 33). Ch 10, sl st in the same st. Fasten off. The loop stands about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Checkpoint: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tip to tip, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide, and a center band about 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all lavender ends. Leave the cream strand tails in for now.
- Lay the ornament face down on a blocking mat or folded towel.
- Mist it with water until it’s damp but not soaked.
- Shape the moon to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tip to tip and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide. Pin both tips and the widest point of the outer curve.
- Gently pull each star point out and pin each star at its tip. Each star should measure 1.25 in (3.2 cm) point to point.
- Straighten the strands so the side stars hang about 1 in (2.5 cm) below the moon edge and the center star about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) below it.
- Let it dry completely, usually 4 to 6 hours.
- Unpin it, then weave each cream tail up into its own strand chain and trim.
For a stiffer ornament, mist lightly with fabric stiffener before step 7.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Moon measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- Both tips are pointed and symmetrical
- Outer curve is smooth with no ruffling at the Row 2 increases
- Inner curve is tight and even with no gaps at the sc2tog sts
- Border count: 31 + 3 + 19 + 3 = 56 sc
- Each star has 5 even points and an open center
- Stars measure 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- Strands sit at border sc 3, 8, and 13, are untwisted, and the center strand is longest
- Hanging loop is centered on the upper tip
- All ends are woven in securely
Troubleshooting
Moon is too straight: Your Row 2 is too loose, or you skipped increases. Count Row 2 again (it should be 31 sts), and block the curve deeper.
Moon curls into a ring: Your Row 2 is too tight compared with Row 1. Go up a hook size for Row 2 only.
Outer edge ruffles: You worked extra sc into the border. Make sure you have exactly 31 along the outer edge.
Tips are blunt: You may have worked into the sl sts on Row 2. Skip them as written.
Star points are uneven: Check that each point has all 5 parts: (hdc, dc, ch 1, dc, hdc). Pin the points out firmly when blocking.
Star center is closed up: Your ch-5 ring is too tight. Work Round 1 a little more loosely.
Ornament hangs crooked: The loop is off-center. Move it to the middle sc of the upper tip group.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and reshape it flat to dry. Store it flat or hang it so the strands don’t tangle.
Final Notes
Each stage of this ornament is measured against the one before it. A 26-ch foundation of about 5 in (12.7 cm) becomes a 25-st Row 1. Row 2’s 31 sts curve that strip into a 3.1 in (7.9 cm) crescent. A 56-sc border brings the moon to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 2.5 in (6.4 cm) and joins three 1.25 in (3.2 cm) stars as you go. Check each number when you reach it, and you’ll end up with a balanced moon that’s ready to hang.
Happy crocheting!