Free Pattern | Stitchmas Tree

Stitchmas Tree

Happy holidays! The crochet Stitchmas Tree ornament is designed to decorate your home and add a touch of woolly cheer for Christmas. As an added bonus, it can hold your collection of stitch markers like tiny baubles! It’s hard to stop at just 1, so have fun crocheting a collection of trees from this easy DIY pattern in different sizes and with all sorts of yarn from your stash.

Watch the video tutorial for a walk-through of how to make your own Stitchmas Tree!

Finished Dimensions

Small tree: Approximately 5.5” / 14cm tall when stuffed, excluding pom pom.

Large tree: Approximately 8” / 20.25cm tall when stuffed, excluding pom pom.

Yarn

DK weight / 8ply yarn.

Approximate yardages

Small tree

Tree body: 66yds / 60m

Foliage (wound into a separate ball): 38yds / 35m

1.5” / 35mm diameter pom pom: 9yds / 8m

Large tree

Tree body: 60yds / 110m

Foliage (wound into a separate ball): 77yds / 70m

1.75” / 45mm diameter pom pom: 17yds / 16m

You can use a wide range of yarns for this project, and can even experiment with different weights of yarn if you adjust your hook size and yardages. I played around with the following DK weight / 8ply yarns for my samples:

Small green tree (one colour)

Tree body and foliage: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Bendigo Tweed 8ply (75% wool, 15% viscose, 10% bamboo; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 592 Forest Wood (green)

Pom pom: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury 8ply (100% wool; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 308 Curry

Small green and pink tree (used for video demonstration)

Tree body: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury 8ply (100% wool; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 319 Clover

Foliage: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury 8ply (100% wool; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 356 Bubblegum

Pom pom: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury 8ply (100% wool; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 308 Curry

Large grey and cream tree

Tree body: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Imperial 8ply (75% wool, 20% alpaca, 5% silk; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 582 Snow Moon (grey).

Foliage and pom pom: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury 8ply (100% wool; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 302 Cream

Large multicoloured tree

Tree body: Assorted vintage tapestry wool scraps and superwash wool scraps from previous projects, joined together with magic knots.

Foliage and pom pom: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Imperial 8ply (75% wool, 20% alpaca, 5% silk; 437yds / 400m per 200g) in colourway 582 Snow Moon (grey).

Hooks

– For tree body: US size F / 5 / 3.75mm crochet hook, OR size to obtain gauge.

– For foliage: US size E / 4 / 3.5mm crochet hook, OR size smaller than hook to obtain gauge.

Notions

– At least 2 removable stitch markers or progress keepers (see 4^th note below)

– Optional: Lots of extra stitch markers! These are to adorn your tree once it’s complete. For the size of the sample trees, markers that are approximately 1” / 24mm long fit well between the spacing of the foliage. But you can play around with your own collection of stitch markers and decide which ones you want to display on the tree. Removable markers can be clipped to the tree fabric, and fixed markers can be tied on with yarn or string.

– Optional: Small completed pom pom to sew to the top of the tree. I used a 1.5” / 35mm diameter pom pom maker to make pom poms for the smaller trees, and a 1.75” / 45mm diameter pom pom maker to make them for the large trees.

– Stuffing. Samples used polyfill. Please note that how much stuffing you need will depend on which size of tree you’re making, any differences in gauge, what type of stuffing you’re using, and how lightly or densely you wish to stuff the tree.

– Optional: Small piece of felt (approximately 2.5” / 6.5cm in diameter) to hold stuffing in place as you close the bottom of the tree

– Scissors

– Tapestry needle

Gauge

24.75 stitches x 22.75 rounds = 4″ / 10cm square in back leg-only single crochet fabric with larger hook size, worked in the round and relaxed after blocking.

While an exact gauge isn’t necessary for this project, any variations may affect the size of your tree and yardage requirements. You need to make sure that the fabric you produce for the tree body has a firm enough tension that the stuffing doesn’t poke or show through.

Notes

1) Please note that this tree is designed to be used as a decoration and not as a toy. Removable attachments like stitch markers and trim additions such as pom poms (as well as stuffing) can pose a choking hazard for young children and pets. Only use the tree as an ornament out of reach of young children and pets.

Keep away from fire and direct heat sources.

2) This pattern uses US crochet terminology.

3) The tree body and base are worked from the top down in a spiral, therefore you do not need to join your rounds. The foliage is crocheted onto the tree body as as seamlessly applied ruffle.

4) Use removable stitch markers to mark your beginning of round point and count the number of rounds you’ve worked wherever they’ll help throughout the pattern. 1 marker is needed for specific use in Round 8 of the pattern, and 1 marker is needed to keep your tree body fabric on hold as you work the foliage and stuffing instructions.

5) If you find you’re losing count during the tree body increases, note that the increases in your current round always stack above the first st of the increase from 2 rounds prior.

Abbreviations

ch: chain

dc: double crochet (yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, draw hook to front of work, yarn over, draw this yarn over through closest 2 loops on the hook, yarn over, draw this yarn over through furthest 2 loops on the hook)

rnd / rnds: round / rounds

RS: right side

sc: single crochet (insert hook in stitch, yarn over, draw hook to front of work, yarn over, draw this yarn over through furthest 2 loops on the hook)

sc2tog: single crochet 2 together (insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, draw hook to front of work, insert hook in stitch after next, yarn over, draw hook to front of work, yarn over, draw this yarn over through furthest 3 loops on the hook)

st / sts: stitch / stitches

yo: yarn over (wrap working yarn once around head of crochet hook)

( ): repeat instructions within brackets the specified number of times

Stitchmas Tree

Directions

BODY

Use chosen colour for tree body.

With larger hook, make a magic ring. Ch 1.

Rnd 1: 6 sc into magic ring, then pull tail of yarn tight to close the center hole. Do not count first ch as a st.

Note: Throughout the body and base of the tree, crochet only into the back leg of each st!

Rnd 2: Skip first ch, (sc in next st, sc twice in next st, sc in next st) twice. 8 sts

Rnd 3: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 3 sts) twice. 10 sts

Rnd 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 2 sts) twice. 12 sts

Rnd 5: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 5 sts) twice. 14 sts

Rnd 6: (Sc in next 3 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 3 sts) twice. 16 sts

Rnd 7: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 7 sts) twice. 18 sts

Rnd 8: Sc in next st, place a removable marker in the top front leg of this completed st and leave marker there until instructed otherwise (this marker is placed in addition to any other markers that you may be using, such as a beginning of round marker), sc in next 3 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 8 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 4 sts. 20 sts

Remember to leave your additional marker in place as you work through the following rnds!

Rnd 9: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 9 sts) twice. 22 sts

Rnd 10: (Sc in next 5 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 5 sts) twice. 24 sts

Rnd 11: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 11 sts) twice. 26 sts

Rnd 12: (Sc in next 6 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 6 sts) twice. 28 sts

Rnd 13: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 13 sts) twice. 30 sts

Rnd 14: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 7 sts) twice. 32 sts

Rnd 15: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 15 sts) twice. 34 sts

Rnd 16: (Sc in next 8 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 8 sts) twice. 36 sts

Rnd 17: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 17 sts) twice. 38 sts

Rnd 18: (Sc in next 9 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 9 sts) twice. 40 sts

Rnd 19: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 19 sts) twice. 42 sts

Rnd 20: (Sc in next 10 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 10 sts) twice. 44 sts

Rnd 21: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 21 sts) twice. 46 sts

Rnd 22: (Sc in next 11 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 11 sts) twice. 48 sts

Rnd 23: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 23 sts) twice. 50 sts

Rnd 24: (Sc in next 12 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 12 sts) twice. 52 sts

Rnd 25: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 25 sts) twice. 54 sts

Rnd 26: (Sc in next 13 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 13 sts) twice. 56 sts

Rnd 27: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 27 sts) twice. 58 sts

Rnd 28: (Sc in next 14 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 14 sts) twice. 60 sts

Rnd 29: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 29 sts) twice. 62 sts

Rnd 30: (Sc in next 15 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 15 sts) twice. 64 sts

Rnd 31: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 31 sts) twice. 66 sts

Rnd 32: (Sc in next 16 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 16 sts) twice. 68 sts

Rnd 33: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 33 sts) twice. 70 sts

Rnd 34: (Sc in next 17 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 17 sts) twice. 72 sts

SMALL VERSION ONLY

Weave in remaining tail from magic ring. Leave tree body fabric on hold for now, placing a marker on final loop before removing your hook to ensure your work doesn’t unravel. PROCEED TO FOLIAGE INSTRUCTIONS

LARGE VERSION ONLY

Rnd 35: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 35 sts) twice. 74 sts

Rnd 36: (Sc in next 18 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 18 sts) twice. 76 sts

Rnd 37: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 37 sts) twice. 78 sts

Rnd 38: (Sc in next 19 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 19 sts) twice. 80 sts

Rnd 39: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 39 sts) twice. 82 sts

Rnd 40: (Sc in next 20 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 20 sts) twice. 84 sts

Rnd 41: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 41 sts) twice. 86 sts

Rnd 42: (Sc in next 21 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 21 sts) twice. 88 sts

Rnd 43: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 43 sts) twice. 90 sts

Rnd 44: (Sc in next 22 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 22 sts) twice. 92 sts

Rnd 45: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 45 sts) twice. 94 sts

Rnd 46: (Sc in next 23 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 23 sts) twice. 96 sts

Rnd 47: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 47 sts) twice. 98 sts

Rnd 48: (Sc in next 24 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 24 sts) twice. 100 sts

Rnd 49: (Sc twice in next st, sc in next 49 sts) twice. 102 sts

Rnd 50: (Sc in next 25 sts, sc twice in next st, sc in next 25 sts) twice. 104 sts

Weave in remaining tail from magic ring. Leave tree body fabric on hold for now, placing a marker on final loop before removing your hook to ensure your work doesn’t unravel. PROCEED TO FOLIAGE INSTRUCTIONS

FOLIAGE

See video tutorial for a demonstration of how to work through the following instructions (~10 min 45 sec mark of video). Try to crochet loosely so your sts will ruffle beautifully! Using a smaller hook makes it slightly easier to work into the existing tree fabric.

ALL VERSIONS

Ensure that the tip of the tree body is pointing downwards, with the RS of the fabric facing outwards. Locate marked st in the 8^th rnd of the tree body. Insert smaller hook into marked and exposed top front leg of this st to keep your place (ensuring the hook stays on the right side of your fabric and isn’t inserted through to the wrong side), then remove marker.

Use chosen colour for foliage.

Rnd 1: Yo and draw through a loop, yo and draw through furthest loop on the hook to attach yarn and have made a ch 1. Sc in front leg of same tree body st, then (sc twice in front leg of next tree body st) 19 times.

Working away from the tip of the tree body that’s still pointing downwards, (find the tree body st to the left of where you just increased, then skip up to the st directly above it in the next tree body rnd, sc twice in front leg of this st) 3 times. Place removable marker in front leg of tree body st directly above where the latest increase was just worked. Stay in the rnd of the tree body where you made the latest increase to work the following instructions (this should be the 4th tree body rnd above your previous tier of foliage).

Rnd 2: (Dc twice in front leg of next tree body st) to 3 sts before marker. (Find the tree body st to the left of where you just increased, then skip up to the st directly above it in the next tree body rnd, dc twice in front leg of this st) 3 times. Place removable marker in front leg of tree body st directly above where the latest increase was just worked. Stay in the rnd of the tree body where you made the latest increase to work the following instructions (this should be the 4th tree body rnd above your previous tier of foliage).

Rnd 3: (Sc twice in front leg of next tree body st) to 3 sts before marker.* (Find the tree body st to the left of where you just increased, then skip up to the st directly above it in the next tree body rnd, sc twice in front leg of this st) 3 times. Place removable marker in front leg of tree body st directly above where the latest increase was just worked. Stay in the rnd of the tree body where you made the latest increase to work the following instructions (this should be the 4th tree body rnd above your previous tier of foliage).

Repeat Rnds 2–3 another 2 times more (for small tree) / 4 times more (for large tree), ending your final repeat at the *. Sc twice in front leg of each of the next 3 tree body sts (your final increase should be in the st before the marker). Remove marker.

Break foliage yarn and draw through final loop on hook to secure. Weave in ends from foliage.

BASE

Return loop on hold from tree body back to your larger hook.

LARGE VERSION ONLY

Rnd 1: (Sc in next 11 sts, sc2tog) 8 times. 96 sts

Rnd 2: Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, (sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog) 7 times, sc in next 5 sts. 88 sts

Rnd 3: (Sc in next 9 sts, sc2tog) 8 times. 80 sts

Rnd 4: Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, (sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog) 7 times, sc in next 4 sts. 72 sts

ALL VERSIONS

Rnd 5: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) 8 times. 64 sts

Rnd 6: Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, (sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog) 7 times, sc in next 3 sts. 56 sts

Rnd 7: (Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog) 8 times. 48 sts

Rnd 8: Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, (sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog) 7 times, sc in next 2 sts. 40 sts

Rnd 9: (Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog) 8 times. 32 sts

Rnd 10: Sc in next st, sc2tog, (sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog) 7 times, sc in next st. 24 sts

Leave tree base fabric on hold for now, placing a marker on final loop before removing your hook to ensure your work doesn’t unravel. Stuff tree. You will need to tuck the filling down and keep it away from the working edge of your crochet as you finish the remaining rnds of the tree base. Or optionally, cut a circle of felt slightly bigger than the opening in the tree base, and place it over the stuffing to keep it from snagging around your hook.

Return loop on hold from tree base back to your larger hook.

Rnd 11: (Sc in next st, sc2tog) 8 times. 16 sts

Rnd 12: (Sc2tog) 8 times. 8 sts

Break yarn and draw through final loop on hook to secure. Use remaining tail to sew closed any remaining hole at the tree base. Weave in remaining ends.

Optional: Sew a small pom pom to the top of the tree, and attach your collection of stitch markers for adornment.

Share your projects with us on social media using #TheSweaterCollective, and enjoy your completed Stitchmas Tree!