This little tree is a lace ornament built from three shell fans stacked from wide to narrow. Chain diamonds and tiny five-petal flowers fill the spaces between the fans, so the tree looks airy and light against real branches and twinkle lights.
The sample is worked in a single ivory cotton. That keeps the fan spokes, petals and outline clear and gives the ornament a vintage, snowy look. It suits a natural or Scandinavian-style tree, a gift tag, or a window hang.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures about 3 in (7.6 cm) wide and 5.25 in (13.3 cm) tall including the trunk. The hanging loop adds 1.5 in (3.8 cm), for a total hanging length of about 6.75 in (17.1 cm).
The whole ornament is one piece, worked from the bottom fan upward. You make Fan A, a flower lattice, Fan B, a second lattice, and then Fan C. One outline round ties the corners together, adds the corner flowers and builds the top flower. A trim round firms the edge. Last, you work the trunk and the hanging loop. There is no sewing and no joining of separate pieces.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3 in (7.6 cm) wide × 5.25 in (13.3 cm) tall, excluding the loop
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: #1 super fine (fingering-weight) cotton
- Hook: 2.5 mm
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: 3 fan tiers stacked vertically, with lattice rows between them
- Fan sizes: Fan A 2 in (5.1 cm) wide; Fan B 1.6 in (4.1 cm); Fan C 1.2 in (3.0 cm)
- Size before border: about 2.75 in (7.0 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm), tree body only
- Border depth: about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per edge from the trim round
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth mercerized cotton in fingering weight. Mercerized cotton gives crisp spokes and holds its shape after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or very soft yarns, because the petals and chain lattice will blur.
- Ivory/cream: 10 g (about 43 m / 47 yd)
This quantity includes a safety margin of roughly 30 percent. One ornament actually uses about 7 g.
Tools:
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and rustproof pins
- Spray bottle with water, plus optional fabric stiffener or spray starch
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
Special stitch – Flower (Fl): Work [ch 3, sl st in the same st] 5 times. This makes 5 picot petals around a single base stitch, and your hook ends at the flower center. When the pattern says “Flower in last ch made,” that chain is the base. The top petal is the 3rd petal.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 7 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm), and 7 ch ≈ 1 in (2.5 cm) when relaxed.
Lace is hard to measure as a flat swatch, so treat Fan A as your test piece. After Fan A Row 3, the fan should measure 2 in (5.1 cm) across its straight base and 1 in (2.5 cm) from base to the top of the arc.
Checkpoints:
- After Fan A: 2 in (5.1 cm) wide × 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
- After Row 6 (Lattice 1): total height 1.7 in (4.3 cm).
- After Fan B: Fan B is 1.6 in (4.1 cm) wide, and total height is 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
- After Fan C: Fan C is 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide, and total height is 3.7 in (9.4 cm).
- After the outline round: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
- After the trim round: 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.5 in (11.4 cm). The trunk adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
If Fan A is too big (over 2.25 in / 5.7 cm wide), go down to a 2.25 mm hook. If it is too small (under 1.75 in / 4.4 cm), go up to a 2.75 mm hook. Change the hook, not the stitch counts, because the outline chain lengths are matched to the fan widths.
Fan A (Bottom Tier)
Ch 5, then sl st in the first ch to form a ring.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 5 (counts as tr + ch 1). Work [tr, ch 1] 7 times in the ring, then tr in the ring. Turn. (9 tr, 8 ch-1 sps)
These are the fan spokes. Hold the ring at the bottom so the spokes open upward.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the first tr. Work [ch 2, sc in the next tr] 8 times. Turn. (9 sc, 8 ch-2 sps)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Work [2 sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in the next sc] 8 times. Turn. (25 sc: 1 + 8 × 3)
This makes the solid arc. The first sc of this row is corner A-L and the last sc is corner A-R. Mark both with scrap yarn.
Checkpoint 1: 2 in (5.1 cm) × 1 in (2.5 cm).
Lattice 1
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Work [ch 5, skip 5 sc, sc in the next sc] 4 times. Turn. (5 sc, 4 ch-5 loops; the sc sit on arc sts 1, 7, 13, 19 and 25)
Row 5: Sl st in each of the first 3 ch of the first loop. Ch 1, sc in the same loop. Work [ch 3, Flower in last ch made, ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 loop] 3 times. Turn. (4 sc, 3 Flowers, 6 ch-3)
Row 6: Sl st in each of the first 3 ch to reach the first Flower. Ch 1, sc in the top petal of that Flower. Ch 6, sc in the top petal of the center Flower. Ch 6, sc in the top petal of the last Flower. (3 sc, 2 ch-6)
The flowers now sit in chain diamonds above Fan A.
Checkpoint 2: total height 1.7 in (4.3 cm).
Fan B (Middle Tier)
Turn. Sl st in each of the next 6 ch and in the center sc. Ch 4, then sl st in the same sc to form an anchored ring.
Row 7: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Work [dc, ch 1] 5 times in the ring, then dc in the ring. Turn. (7 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)
Row 8: Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Work [ch 2, sc in the next dc] 6 times. Turn. (7 sc, 6 ch-2 sps)
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Work [2 sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in the next sc] 6 times. Turn. (19 sc: 1 + 6 × 3)
Mark the first sc as B-L and the last sc as B-R.
Checkpoint 3: Fan B is 1.6 in (4.1 cm) wide, and total height is 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Lattice 2
Row 10: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Work [ch 4, skip 5 sc, sc in the next sc] 3 times. Turn. (4 sc, 3 ch-4 loops; the sc sit on sts 1, 7, 13 and 19)
Row 11: Sl st in each of the first 2 ch. Ch 1, sc in the same loop. Work [ch 3, Flower in last ch made, ch 3, sc in the next ch-4 loop] 2 times. Turn. (3 sc, 2 Flowers, 4 ch-3)
Row 12: Sl st in each of the first 3 ch to reach the first Flower. Ch 1, sc in its top petal. Ch 5, sc in the top petal of the second Flower. (2 sc, 1 ch-5)
Fan C (Top Tier)
Turn. Sl st in each of the first 3 ch, which brings you to the center of the ch-5. Ch 4, then sl st in the same ch to form a ring.
Row 13: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Work [dc, ch 1] 3 times in the ring, then dc in the ring. Turn. (5 dc, 4 ch-1 sps)
Row 14: Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Work [2 sc in the ch-1 sp, sc in the next dc] 4 times. (13 sc: 1 + 4 × 3)
Mark the first sc as C-L, the last sc as C-R, and the 7th sc as C-center. Fasten off and weave in the end.
Checkpoint 4: Fan C is 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide, and total height is 3.7 in (9.4 cm).
Border
The border has two rounds. The outline round builds the tree silhouette, the corner flowers, the top flower and the swag under the bottom fan. The trim round covers every outline chain with sc.
Border gauge: 7 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm) relaxed, and the trim round keeps the same rate (7 sc per inch).
Round 1 (outline): With RS facing, join with sc in A-L and work a Flower in the same st.
- Left side: Ch 12, sc in B-L, Flower. Ch 10, sc in C-L, Flower.
- Top flower and stem: Ch 9, then work a Flower in the last ch made; this is the top flower. Ch 4, sc in C-center. Ch 4, sl st in the base ch of the top Flower.
- Right side: Ch 9, sc in C-R, Flower. Ch 10, sc in B-R, Flower. Ch 12, sc in A-R, Flower.
- Bottom swag: Ch 8, sc around the Fan A ring at the base point. Ch 8, sl st in the first sc.
Round 1 totals:
- 31 ch per side (12 + 10 + 9)
- 16 ch across the bottom (8 + 8)
- 8-ch stem
- 8 sc (6 corners + 1 stem + 1 ring)
- 7 Flowers
Why these lengths work: At 7 ch per inch, the ch-12 covers the 1.7 in (4.3 cm) rise from A to B. The ch-10 covers the 1.4 in (3.6 cm) from B to C. The ch-9 covers the 1.25 in (3.2 cm) from C to the peak. The two ch-8 segments are slightly longer than the 1 in (2.5 cm) from each A corner to the ring, so they sag gently into the lens curve.
Checkpoint 5: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
Round 2 (trim): Ch 1. Work sc in each ch of the outline chains and 1 sc in each corner sc and the ring sc, working under the flower petals. At the top, sl st in the base of the top Flower. Leave the stem chains bare.
Counts per side:
- Left side: 1 + 12 + 1 + 10 + 1 + 9 = 34 sc, then 1 sl st at the top flower
- Right side: 9 + 1 + 10 + 1 + 12 + 1 = 34 sc
- Bottom: 8 + 1 + 8 = 17 sc
Sl st in the first sc. Do not fasten off yet.
Round 2 total: 85 sc. That is (78 ch + 7 sc worked 1-per-existing-stitch) + (0 extra stitches). No extra stitches are added, so the edge keeps the exact length set in Round 1. A trim round with no increases cannot ruffle or cup the outline. The 7 counted sc are the 6 corner sc plus the ring sc; the stem sc stays inside the tree and is not trimmed.
Checkpoint 6: 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Trunk
On the bottom edge, the 9th of the 17 sc sits over the ring. Count back to the 7th bottom sc.
Row 1: Join in the 7th bottom sc. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then dc in each of the next 4 sc. Turn. (5 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. Turn. (5 dc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (5 sc)
Fasten off. The trunk measures about 0.7 in (1.8 cm) wide × 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Hanging Loop
Join the yarn at the top petal of the top Flower. Ch 21, then sl st in the same petal. Fasten off. The loop hangs about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the trim-round sc, not through the lattice.
- Soak the ornament in cool water for 5 minutes, then roll it in a towel to remove excess water.
- Pin the A, B and C corners first so each tier is level and centered. Then pin the top flower straight above the trunk.
- Pull each fan arc into a smooth half-circle, with one pin at each end and one at the top.
- Open every flower with a pin through the center so all 5 petals spread.
- Shape the bottom swag into a shallow lens curve and square the trunk.
- Check that the tree measures 3 in (7.6 cm) × 5.25 in (13.3 cm), and adjust the pins if needed.
- Mist with starch or stiffener if you want a crisp ornament, and let it dry completely before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Fan A has 9 spokes, Fan B has 7 and Fan C has 5, all evenly spaced.
- The arc counts are 25, 19 and 13 sc.
- There are 12 Flowers in total: 3 in Lattice 1, 2 in Lattice 2, 6 at the corners and 1 at the top.
- Both sides have 34 trim sc, and the bottom has 17.
- The stem runs straight from the top flower to Fan C.
- The trunk is centered under the ring.
- Size is 3 in (7.6 cm) × 5.25 in (13.3 cm), and the loop is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Troubleshooting
- The fan cups or ruffles: Your tension on the ch-2 arches is too loose. Tighten them, or go down half a hook size.
- The tree leans to one side: The left and right chain counts don’t match. Recount Round 1 against 12, 10 and 9 on each side.
- The sides bow outward: Your chains are too loose. Work the outline chains a little more snugly, or try a smaller hook for Round 1 only.
- The sides pull the fans out of shape: Your chains are too tight. Use a larger hook for Round 1.
- The flowers look like knots: Pull each ch-3 petal up to full height before the sl st, and pin the flowers open when blocking.
- The trunk is off-center: Recount the bottom 17 sc so Row 1 starts on the 7th.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and reshape flat to dry. Re-starch if the ornament softens after storage.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. Fan A sets the scale at 2 in (5.1 cm). The lattices bring the height to 1.7 in (4.3 cm) and then 3.7 in (9.4 cm) after Fan C. The outline round gives a 2.75 in (7.0 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm) body. The trim round brings it to 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and the trunk finishes the tree at 5.25 in (13.3 cm). If each checkpoint matches, the ornament will match too.
Happy crocheting!