The Winter Daisy Star is a small, layered Christmas ornament. A moss-green star with six open leaf frames sits behind a soft cream daisy with a domed golden center. Light from the tree shows through the teardrop eyelets in each leaf, and the fat cream petals sit up off the base.
The colors are moss green, cream, and golden mustard. Together they look calm and a little rustic, and they suit natural, farmhouse, or Scandinavian tree themes. The ornament also works well as a gift-wrap topper.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) from tip to tip, plus a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) hanging loop. The daisy measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across.
You make two parts. The green star base is worked in the round, in four rounds: a center ring, chain loops for the leaves, shaped leaf stitches, and a final outline round. The daisy is worked separately, with the yellow center first and the cream petals last. Then you sew the daisy onto the star.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tip to tip, without the hanging loop
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 ornament, made from 2 layered parts (star base + daisy)
- Layout: Single star with the daisy centered on top; petals lined up over the leaves
- Piece size: Star base 4.5 in (11.4 cm); daisy 2.75 in (7.0 cm); yellow center 1 in (2.5 cm)
- Size before border: 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip after Round 3
- Border depth: About 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each leaf edge (Round 4 outline)
Materials
Pick a smooth worsted yarn with good stitch definition. Wool, wool blends, and acrylic all work. A slightly fluffy cream yarn makes nicer puffy petals. Very fuzzy yarns hide the eyelets, so avoid them for the green.
- Moss green: 10 g / 20 m (about 22 yd)
- Cream: 6 g / 12 m (about 13 yd)
- Golden mustard yellow: 3 g / 6 m (about 7 yd)
Quantities are for one ornament and include about a 20% margin. For a set of six, multiply each color by six.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch marker
– Rust-proof pins and a foam blocking mat
– Spray bottle with water
– Optional: a small pinch of fiberfill or yarn scraps for the center dome
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
- sk – skip
- MR – magic ring
- yo – yarn over
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Elongated Puff (EP): (Yo, insert hook in the stitch named, yo and pull up a loop to 0.875 in / 2.2 cm long) 5 times in the same stitch (11 loops on hook). Yo and draw through all 11 loops, then ch 1 firmly to lock the puff. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) with a 4.0 mm hook. That is 4.5 sc per inch (2.5 cm). Gauge is not critical for an ornament, but it controls whether the daisy fits the star.
Make one complete star base and one daisy before you make a set. Check these measurements as you go:
- After Round 1 (green): ring outer diameter 1.25 in (3.2 cm), center hole about 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
- After Round 3 (green): 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip; each leaf about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) long
- After Round 4 (green): 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tip to tip
- Daisy center after Round 3: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Finished daisy: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) petal tip to petal tip
If too big: go down to a 3.75 mm hook, or keep the leaf chains tighter. For the daisy, pull the puff loops up to 0.75 in (1.9 cm) instead.
If too small: go up to a 4.5 mm hook. For the daisy, pull the puff loops up to 1 in (2.5 cm).
The daisy should cover the center ring and reach about halfway up each leaf. That leaves the outer eyelets visible.
Star Base (Green)
Round 1: With green, ch 10 and join with a sl st to form a ring. Ch 1, work 24 sc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (24 sc)
Check: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across with an open center.
Round 2 (leaf loops): Ch 1. Sc in the next st, ch 15, sc in the same st, sc in each of the next 3 sts. Rep from * 5 more times. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (30 sc: 6 pairs of anchor sc + 18 sc between; 6 ch-15 loops)
Each repeat uses 4 sts of Round 1 (1 anchor st + 3 sts), and 6 × 4 = 24. Both ends of each ch-15 loop share one stitch, which pinches the base of the loop into a teardrop. That teardrop becomes the eyelet.
Lay the loops flat so they don’t twist before you start Round 3.
Round 3 (leaf shaping): In this round you work into each chain of the loops, not around them. Work into the back bump or top loop of each chain, whichever you prefer, and use the same one throughout.
*Sl st in the first anchor sc. Working into the 15 chains of the loop:
– sc in ch 1 and ch 2 (2 sc)
– hdc in ch 3 and ch 4 (2 hdc)
– dc in ch 5, ch 6, and ch 7 (3 dc)
– (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch 8 (tip)
– dc in ch 9, ch 10, and ch 11 (3 dc)
– hdc in ch 12 and ch 13 (2 hdc)
– sc in ch 14 and ch 15 (2 sc)
Sl st in the second anchor sc, then sl st in each of the next 3 sc.* Rep from * 5 more times. Join with a sl st to the first sl st.
Per leaf: 16 sts + 1 ch-2 tip (8 sts on each side). Between leaves: 5 sl sts (2 anchors + 3).
Round total: 96 leaf sts + 6 ch-2 tips + 30 sl sts.
The stitches grow from sc to dc and back. That gives each leaf its almond shape, and the ch-2 makes the point. Check: 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip.
Daisy (Yellow and Cream)
Round 1: With yellow, make a MR. Work 6 sc in the ring and pull it closed tightly. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (6 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Join. (12 sc)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around. (12 sc) On the final join, drop yellow and pull cream through to complete the sl st.
Because there is no increase in this round, the edge cups upward and the center domes. Tuck the yellow tails, or a tiny pinch of fiberfill, under the dome to raise it. Check: 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Round 4 (petals): With cream, (EP, ch 2, EP) in the next st, sl st in the next st. Rep from * 5 more times. Join with a sl st to the base of the first EP. (6 petals: 12 EP + 6 ch-2 sps + 6 sl sts)
Each petal uses 2 sts of Round 3, and 6 × 2 = 12. Two puffs side by side with a ch-2 between them make a wide, rounded petal. The sl st keeps the petals separate.
Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) cream tail for sewing. Check: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across.
Border
On this ornament, the “border” is the green outline round that frames each leaf. It sharpens the points and makes the dense edge you see in the photo.
Border gauge: Same as the main gauge, 4.5 sc per inch (2.5 cm). The outline adds about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) to every leaf edge.
Round 4 (outline): Continue with green. Sk the anchor sl st. Sc in each of the next 8 sts up the first side of the leaf. Work (2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc) in the ch-2 tip sp. Sc in each of the next 8 sts down the second side. Sk the next anchor sl st, then sl st in each of the next 3 sl sts. Rep from * 5 more times. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count per leaf: 8 sc (first side) + 4 sc (tip) + 8 sc (second side) = 20 sc + 1 ch-1 tip. This is a trim round: the 16 leaf stitches are worked 1 per stitch, and 4 extra sc are added at the tip.
Between leaves: 3 sl sts.
Round total: 120 sc + 6 ch-1 tips + 18 sl sts.
Why the math works: Round 3 has exactly 8 stitches per leaf side, so Round 4 puts one sc in each and the side lies flat. The extra stitches go only at the tip: 2 sc on each side of the ch-1, which turns the corner into a crisp point without ruffling. Skipping the anchor sl sts pulls the base of each leaf in so neighboring leaves sit snugly together. At 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each side, the star grows from 4 in (10.2 cm) to 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Hanging loop: At the end of Round 4, sl st along to the ch-1 tip of any leaf; this leaf becomes the top. Ch 24, then sl st into the same ch-1 tip sp. Fasten off and weave in the ends. The loop hangs about 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Assembly
- Place the star face up with the hanging loop at the top.
- Center the daisy on top. Turn it so one petal points straight up the top leaf. Each petal should sit over one leaf.
- With the cream tail, sew through the base of every petal and the ring of the star, catching Rounds 1–2 of the green.
- Tack each petal to the middle of its leaf with one small, hidden stitch. Leave the petal tips free so they stay puffy.
- Weave the tail in on the back.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the star base, front and back, until it feels damp.
- Pin it flat on the mat at 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tip to tip. Put a pin through each leaf tip.
- Push a pin, or the end of a pencil, through each eyelet to open it into a clean teardrop.
- Don’t pin or press the daisy. Shape the petals and the yellow dome with your fingers.
- Let it dry completely, about 4–6 hours.
- Remove the pins and check the measurements again.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Star measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tip to tip
- 6 leaves, each with an open teardrop eyelet
- Each leaf has 20 sc and a sharp ch-1 point
- Center ring is fully covered by the daisy
- 6 cream petals, each lined up over a leaf
- Yellow center is domed and about 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Hanging loop is centered on the top leaf
- All ends are woven in on the back
Troubleshooting
Leaves are twisted: A chain loop got twisted in Round 2. Pull back to that loop, untwist it, and work Round 3 again.
Leaves look ruffled: You probably added stitches on a side. Count 8 sts per side in Round 3 and 8 sc per side in Round 4.
Points are round, not sharp: Pull the ch-2 and ch-1 tips firmly, and pin the tips during blocking.
Eyelets close up: Your chains are too tight. Use a hook 0.5 mm larger for the ch-15 loops only.
Puffs are uneven: Lift each loop to the full 0.875 in (2.2 cm) before the next yo. Hold the loops still with your finger as you go.
Daisy is too large or small for the star: Change the puff loop length (see Gauge).
Center hole shows: Pull the Round 1 ring tighter when you sew, or work 1 extra sc round in yellow on the daisy.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat. Store flat or loosely hung so the petals stay puffy.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. The green ring is 1.25 in (3.2 cm). The leaves bring the star to 4 in (10.2 cm), and the outline round brings it to 4.5 in (11.4 cm). The yellow center is 1 in (2.5 cm), and the petals bring the daisy to 2.75 in (7.0 cm). If each stage matches, the daisy sits neatly inside the star and the eyelets stay open. Make one, check it, then make a full set for the tree.
Happy crocheting!