This ornament is a pair of feathered angel wings around a slim beaded-look spine. The wings shade from deep navy lace at the shoulders, through royal blue, to pale periwinkle feather tips, and silver metallic edging catches the light on every feather.
The style is fine and lacy, like a thread ornament, but you work it in fingering-weight cotton so it stays quick and holds its shape after starching. All instructions use US crochet terms.
The finished ornament measures 9.5 in (24.1 cm) across the wings. It is 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall from the top of the head ring to the spine tip, or 7 in (17.8 cm) with the hanging loop.
You make three pieces: one body (head ring, hanging loop and teardrop spine) and two mirrored wings. Each wing is a quarter-circle fan in rows, with long feathers worked off its last row and short feathers worked into saved front loops so they sit on top. Then you join the wings to the ring and add the silver edging.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 9.5 in (24.1 cm) wide × 7 in (17.8 cm) tall, including the hanging loop
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: #1 super fine (fingering) mercerized cotton, plus fingering-weight metallic thread
- Hook: 2.5 mm
- Number of pieces: 3 (1 body, 2 wings)
- Layout: right wing – body – left wing, in one horizontal line
- Piece size: each wing 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) tall; the body is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide at the ring and 5.75 in (14.6 cm) long without the hanging loop
- Wing size before border: 4 in (10.2 cm) × 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
- Border depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm), one silver sc row
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized cotton. It gives crisp feather points and takes starch well. For the silver, pick a soft metallic thread of similar thickness. Stiff tinsel-type threads split and don’t sit cleanly along row-ends.
- Navy: 12 g / 50 m
- Royal blue: 6 g / 25 m
- Light periwinkle blue: 5 g / 21 m
- Silver metallic: 5 g / 25 m
Tools:
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Spray starch or fabric stiffener
These quantities include a margin of about 20% for gauge swatches and weaving in.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- FLO / BLO – front loop only / back loop only
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- tch – turning chain
Special stitches
- dc2tog: [yarn over, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops] twice, then yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
- dc3tog: the same as dc2tog, worked over 3 sts, finishing with yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.
- Row-end: the side edge of a row. Edging puts 2 sc in each dc row-end and 1 sc in each sc row-end.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 24 dc and 12 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). That works out to 6 dc and 3 dc rows per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one wing fan (Rows 1–8) before anything else. It doubles as your gauge test. Lay it flat and measure from the corner straight out to the curved edge:
- After Row 4: 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
- After Row 6: 2 in (5.1 cm)
- After Row 8: 2.4 in (6.1 cm)
- Each long feather: 2.3 in (5.8 cm) long and 1.2 in (3.0 cm) at its widest
- Each short feather: 1.7 in (4.3 cm) long
- Head ring: 1 in (2.5 cm) across the outside
Too big? Go down to a 2.25 mm hook. Too small? Go up to a 2.75 mm hook. A fan that cups or ripples usually means a tension problem rather than a counting error. Check your counts first, then change the hook.
Body
Head Ring
Rnd 1 (navy): Ch 16, sl st in first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, work 24 sc into the ring, sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (24 sc)
Rnd 2 (silver): Join silver in any st. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (24 sc)
Mark one st as st 1 (the top). Count clockwise as you look at the front: st 7 is at the right middle, st 13 is the bottom and st 19 is the left middle.
Hanging Loop
Join navy in st 1. Ch 20, sl st in the same st. Ch 1, work 28 sc over the chain loop, sl st in st 1. Fasten off. The loop stands 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall.
Teardrop Spine
Each drop has a rounded top and a pointed tip.
Drop A (15 sts plus a ch-2 tip): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch, hdc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working along the opposite side of the chain: hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in the next ch (the same ch as the first sc). Ch 2, sl st in first sc.
Drop B (13 sts plus a ch-2 tip): Work as Drop A, but with dc in 2 ch on each side instead of 3.
Drop C (11 sts plus a ch-2 tip): Work as Drop A, but with dc in 1 ch on each side.
Join navy in st 13 of the ring.
- Ch 11 (3 ch for the stem, 8 ch for the drop) and work Drop A.
- Ch 11, work Drop A.
- Ch 10, work Drop B.
- Ch 9, work Drop C.
Fasten off. Checkpoint: the spine measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) from the bottom of the ring to the tip.
Wings
Wing Fan (both wings)
Row 1 (RS, navy): Ch 4, 3 dc in 4th ch from hook. The skipped chains count as the first dc. Turn. (4 dc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in each of the next 3 sts. Turn. (7 dc)
Row 3 (RS, mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next dc] 5 times. Turn. (7 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)
Row 4 (WS): Ch 3, dc in each ch-1 sp and each dc across, ending in the 3rd ch of the tch. Turn. (13 dc: 6 worked into dc + 6 worked into sps + 1 tch)
Row 5 (RS): Ch 3, [2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts] 4 times. Change to silver. Turn. (17 dc)
Row 6 (WS, silver mesh): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), skip next st, dc in next st, [ch 2, skip next st, dc in next st] 7 times. Change to navy. Turn. (9 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
These spaces become the silver arches in the lace.
Row 7 (RS, navy): Ch 1, sc in first dc, [2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next dc] 8 times. Turn. (25 sc: 9 worked into dc + 16 worked into sps)
Row 8 (WS):
- Right wing: Ch 1, sc in the FLO of each st.
- Left wing: Ch 1, sc in the BLO of each st.
Do not fasten off. Turn. (25 sc)
Row 8 leaves one free loop on each Row 7 st. On the right wing those loops are on the RS. On the left wing they are on the WS, and the WS becomes the display side of the left wing. This is what makes the two wings mirror images.
Checkpoint: the fan measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) from corner to edge.
Long Feathers (5 per wing)
Each feather is worked over 5 sts of Row 8.
Row 1 (royal): Join in the first st of the group. Ch 3, dc in next 4 sts. Turn. (5 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in first st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (7 dc)
Row 3: Ch 3, dc in each st across. Change to light blue. Turn. (7 dc)
Row 4 (light blue): Ch 3, dc in each st across. Turn. (7 dc)
Row 5: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 6: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next st, dc2tog. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 7: Ch 2, dc3tog. Fasten off. (1 st)
Repeat in the next 4 groups. Check: 5 feathers × 5 sts = 25 sts, which uses every st of Row 8.
Short Feathers (5 per wing)
Hold the display side facing you. Work each feather over 5 free loops of Row 7.
Row 1 (navy): Ch 3, dc in next 4 loops. Turn. (5 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in first st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in last st. Change to royal. Turn. (7 dc)
Row 3 (royal): Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next st, dc2tog. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 5: Ch 2, dc3tog. Fasten off. (1 st)
Repeat 4 more times (5 × 5 = 25 loops). The long feathers’ light tips show 0.9 in (2.3 cm) below the short feathers.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Navy | Royal | Light | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body (1) | Ring Rnd 1, hanging loop, spine | – | – | Ring Rnd 2 |
| Wing (×2) | Rows 1–5 and 7–8, short-feather Rows 1–2 | Long-feather Rows 1–3, short-feather Rows 3–5 | Long-feather Rows 4–7 | Row 6 |
Text layout (front view):
ROW 1: ---------- HANGING LOOP ----------
ROW 2: RIGHT WING – HEAD RING – LEFT WING
ROW 3: 5 FEATHERS – DROP A – 5 FEATHERS
ROW 4: ---------- DROP A ----------
ROW 5: ---------- DROP B ----------
ROW 6: ---------- DROP C (TIP) ----------
Joining
Use whipstitch with a 12 in (30.5 cm) navy tail. Join each wing to the ring at 3 points, each matched to one ring stitch:
- Right wing:
- Row 1 row-end on the top edge → ring st 6
- Fan corner (the base ch of Row 1) → ring st 7
- Row 1 row-end on the inner edge → ring st 8
- Left wing:
- Row 1 row-end on the top edge → ring st 20
- Fan corner → ring st 19
- Row 1 row-end on the inner edge → ring st 18
Go through each pair twice, tucking the wing corner just behind the silver round.
Tension: pull each pass snug but not tight. If the ring turns oval, the join is too tight.
Size checkpoint: the wingspan should measure 9.5 in (24.1 cm), and the ring should still be 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Border (Silver Edging)
Border gauge: 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm). Because 1 dc row equals 2 sc and 1 sc row equals 1 sc, the edging lies flat along the row-ends.
Wing fan edges (worked as 2 strips):
- Top edge: Join silver at the Row 8 end. Work 1 sc in each of the 2 sc row-ends and 2 sc in each of the 6 dc row-ends, then fasten off at the joined corner. (14 sc)
- Inner edge: Repeat the top-edge count, starting at the corner. (14 sc)
Check: 14 sc × 1/6 in = 2.3 in, which matches the 2.4 in (6.1 cm) radius once the edging relaxes.
Long feathers (one continuous strip):
- Join silver at the base of feather 1.
- Work 2 sc in each of the 7 row-ends down one side (14 sc).
- Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the dc3tog at the tip.
- Work 2 sc in each row-end up the other side (14 sc).
- Sl st at the junction with the next feather and repeat.
Each feather gets 30 sc plus 1 ch-2 sp. Strip total: 5 × 30 = 150 sc, plus 5 ch-2 sps and 4 junction sl sts.
Short feathers: Work the same way: 10 sc per side, (sc, ch 2, sc) at the tip, 22 sc per feather. Strip total: 5 × 22 = 110 sc, plus 5 ch-2 sps and 4 sl sts.
Why the math works: a feather side of 7 dc rows is 2.3 in (5.8 cm) long, and 14 sc at 6 per inch covers 2.3 in. Likewise, 5 rows (1.7 in) take 10 sc.
Teardrops: Join silver in the center sc of the 3-sc top group. Sc in each st around, working (sc, ch 2, sc) in the ch-2 tip, then sl st in the first sc.
- Drop A: 17 sc plus a ch-2 sp
- Drop B: 15 sc plus a ch-2 sp
- Drop C: 13 sc plus a ch-2 sp
That is each drop’s st count plus the 2 sc at the tip.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the matching color, away from the feather points.
- Wet the ornament, roll it in a towel and press out the water.
- Pin the ring round and the spine straight down the center line.
- Pin each wing’s top edge rising slightly toward its outer tip.
- Fan the long feathers evenly and pin each tip to a point through its ch-2 sp.
- Lay the short feathers over the long ones so the light tips show 0.9 in (2.3 cm) below them.
- Spray with starch, let it dry fully, then repeat for a stiffer finish.
- Unpin and check the 9.5 in (24.1 cm) wingspan.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each wing fan has 25 sc in Rows 7 and 8.
- There are 5 long and 5 short feathers per wing, and every feather ends in a single point.
- The short feathers sit on the front of both wings.
- The silver Row 6 arches show 8 open spaces on each wing.
- The wings are joined at ring sts 6–8 and 18–20, mirrored across the center.
- The spine drops get smaller in order: A, A, B, C.
- The silver edging lies flat with no ruffling.
Troubleshooting
- The fan ripples: You may have extra sts in Row 7. Recount: 9 + 16 = 25.
- A feather leans to one side: You probably skipped an increase in Row 2. Each feather should reach 7 dc.
- The short feathers sit behind the wing: On the left wing, Row 8 must be worked in the BLO.
- The silver edging cups: Use 2 sc per dc row-end, not 3, and keep the metallic thread loose.
- The drops curl: Block them flat and starch them twice.
Care
Dust the ornament gently, or hand wash it in cool water and re-block with starch. Store it flat in tissue so the feathers keep their points.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other:
- Gauge: 24 dc × 12 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Wing fan: 2.4 in (6.1 cm) from corner to edge.
- Feathers: long 2.3 in (5.8 cm), short 1.7 in (4.3 cm).
- Each wing: 4 in × 4.75 in (10.2 × 12.1 cm) before the border and 4.25 in × 5 in (10.8 × 12.7 cm) after it.
- Body: a 1 in (2.5 cm) ring and a 4.75 in (12.1 cm) spine.
- Finished ornament: 9.5 in (24.1 cm) wide and 7 in (17.8 cm) tall with the hanging loop.
Check each stage before moving on, and the wings will match.
Happy crocheting!