Crochet Spiral Christmas Tree Ornament Pattern (Easy, 1-Hour Make)
Crochet Pattern · Christmas Ornaments · Holiday Décor · Beginner-Friendly
📖 B. Introduction
This crochet spiral Christmas tree ornament is a slim, twirling evergreen worked from one tapered strip of sparkly forest-green yarn. The strip coils into a cone, with a silver star on top and a gold jingle bell swinging underneath. It stands on a shelf, or hangs from a branch on a loop tucked under the star. The whole thing is only 336 single crochet stitches.
The appeal is the silhouette. Most crochet trees are stuffed cones. This one is open and airy, so candlelight and fairy lights glint through the gaps between the coils. It also uses very little yarn, so one skein of sparkle yarn makes a whole batch. That suits gift toppers, place-setting favors, mantel garlands, advent decorations, and craft-fair stock.
Its most recognizable details are the deep green sparkle yarn, the coils that narrow toward the top, the tiny silver star, and the jingle bell below. Each of these can be swapped. Use cream and gold for a snowy tree, burgundy or navy for a modern palette, or a white ombré for a frosted look. A crocheted star, a wooden bead, or a mini pom-pom can replace the silver charm.
The pattern is flat, worked in rows of single crochet. The only techniques are a foundation chain, slip stitch steps for shaping, and a stiffening step that turns the strip into a freestanding spiral. Read the stiffening notes in Section J before you start.
🔍 C. Main Pattern Overview
- What you’re making: a tapered flat strip, coiled and stiffened into a spiral tree, topped with a star and finished with a jingle bell.
- Pieces: 1 spiral strip, 1 star (charm or crochet), 1 bell, 1 hanging loop.
- Construction: rows worked in single crochet. The strip narrows in steps from 6 rows wide at one end to 1 row wide at the other.
- Total stitches in the strip: 336 sc across 6 rows.
- Time: about 45–60 minutes of crocheting, plus 12–24 hours of drying.
📌 Design note: The video shows a chunky, ribbon-like spiral. I can’t verify how it was built, so the flat tapered strip is my own design choice.
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🎯 D. Skill Level
Beginner-friendly (easy). If you can chain and single crochet in rows, you can make this. The only slightly new skills are stepped shaping with slip stitches and stiffening a crocheted piece.
Techniques used:
- Foundation chain (97 ch)
- Single crochet in flat rows
- Slip stitch steps for shaping
- Optional: magic ring (crochet star only)
- Fabric stiffening and coil-forming
📏 E. Finished Size
- Tree body: about 6 in (15 cm) tall
- Base diameter: about 3 in (7.5 cm)
- Total hanging length with star, bell, and loop: about 8 in (20 cm)
- Strip before coiling: about 21 in (53 cm) long and 1¼ in (3 cm) wide at the wide end
These are design estimates, not tested measurements. Size changes with yarn weight, hook size, tension, and the size of your cone form. Thicker yarn makes a wider, shorter tree, and looser tension makes a longer strip with more coils. The spacing between coils is up to you when you pin it.
🧮 F. Gauge
Gauge is not critical. What matters is that the fabric is firm and the strip is long enough for about 3 turns. My approximate gauge is 18 sc × 20 rows = 4 in (10 cm) with a 3.5 mm hook and worsted-weight yarn. Crochet tightly, since loose stitches sag when the piece is stiffened. If your strip comes out much shorter than 20 in, go up a hook size or add 8 chains to the foundation, keeping the row lengths in step.
🧶 G. Required Yarn Amounts
| Item | Approximate amount |
|---|---|
| 🧵 Forest green sparkle yarn (worsted weight) | 20 yd (18 m) for the strip, loop, and tails |
| 🧵 Optional silver metallic thread (crochet star only) | about 3 yd (3 m) |
| Total | about 20–25 yd (18–23 m) |
One skein of worsted yarn will make many trees. Buy a bit extra if you want to make a set.
🧰 H. Materials
- 3.5 mm (E/4) crochet hook
- Worsted-weight (#4) forest green sparkle or metallic-blend yarn
- One 20–25 mm gold jingle bell
- One silver star charm (about 1 in / 2.5 cm), or silver metallic thread for the crochet star
- Fabric stiffener, or white PVA craft glue mixed 1:1 with water
- A cone form about 6 in (15 cm) tall and 3 in (7.5 cm) wide at the base (paper cone or foam cone)
- Cling film or wax paper to cover the cone
- Small paintbrush and shallow dish
- Straight pins or T-pins
- Yarn needle and scissors
- Stitch marker (optional)
⚠️ Safety: The bell and star charm are small parts and choking hazards. This is a decoration, not a toy, so keep it away from young children and pets.
🛍️ Supplies We Recommend: a 3.5 mm (E/4) hook, worsted-weight sparkle yarn in forest green, a bag of 20–25 mm gold jingle bells, a silver star charm, and a small bottle of fabric stiffener. [Insert affiliate links here.]
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🔤 I. Abbreviations — US Terms
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| MR | magic ring |
📝 J. Notes Before You Begin
- Turning chains: the ch 1 at the start of each row does not count as a stitch.
- Stiffening is the point. Unstiffened, the strip is limp and won’t hold a spiral. Plan for at least 12–24 hours of drying time.
- Slip stitch steps: sl sts in the even rows only move you along the previous row to create the taper. Count them as steps, not stitches.
- Tension: crochet a little tighter than usual for a firm strip.
- Ends: leave a 6 in (15 cm) tail at the start and end. They help with pinning and attaching the bell and loop.
- Practice first: if you’re unsure about the sl st steps, make a shorter test strip, starting with ch 49 and using steps of 8.
🪡 K. Complete Pattern
🌲 Spiral Strip (make 1)
Yarn: forest green sparkle yarn.
Foundation: ch 97.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (96)
Row 2: ch 1, turn. Sl st in next 16 sts, sc in remaining 80 sts. (80)
Row 3: ch 1, turn. Sc in next 64 sts. Leave last 16 sts unworked. (64)
Row 4: ch 1, turn. Sl st in next 16 sts, sc in remaining 48 sts. (48)
Row 5: ch 1, turn. Sc in next 32 sts. Leave last 16 sts unworked. (32)
Row 6: ch 1, turn. Sl st in next 16 sts, sc in remaining 16 sts. (16)
Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail.
Stitch check: 96 + 80 + 64 + 48 + 32 + 16 = 336 sc.
💡 The wide end (Row 1, 96 sts) becomes the bottom of the tree. The narrow end (Row 6, 16 sts) becomes the top. The foundation-chain edge faces down and the stepped edge faces up.
⭐ Star (make 1)
Skip this if you’re using a metal star charm.
Yarn: silver metallic thread.
MR.
Ch 4. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: sl st, sc, hdc. Sl st in the ring. Repeat from * to * 4 more times (5 points total).
Pull the MR tight and fasten off, leaving a tail for attaching.
Stitch check: 3 sts × 5 points = 15 sts.
🔔 Bell and Hanging Loop
Bell: cut a 6 in (15 cm) strand of green yarn. Thread it through the bell’s loop and then through the first sc on the bottom edge of the strip (Row 1, 1st st). Knot securely and trim.
Loop: cut a 10 in (25 cm) strand of green yarn. Fold it in half, thread the ends through the star’s hole (or sew through the crochet star’s center), and knot to make a loop about 3 in (7.5 cm) long.
🎨 L. Styling / Assembly / Stability / Final Shaping
Recommended Assembly Order
- Prepare the cone. Wrap it in cling film or wax paper so the stiffened strip can release. Secure the wrap with tape at the base.
- Coat the strip. Lay the strip on a protected surface. Brush a thin, even coat of stiffener on both sides. Don’t soak it. The strip should feel damp but not dripping.
- Coil. Starting at the bottom of the cone, pin the wide end with the foundation-chain edge facing down. Wrap the strip around the cone in a spiral, with the stepped edge facing up. Leave a gap between coils of roughly half the strip’s width at that point. Pin as you go.
- Check the taper. The coils should get narrower and closer together as you go up. Adjust before it dries.
- Dry. Let the strip dry completely for 12–24 hours. Slide it off the cone once it feels rigid.
- Attach the bell to the bottom edge as described in Section K.
- Attach the star. Sew or glue the star to the top of the spiral, and thread the hanging loop through it.
Stability
The tree stands on its wide bottom coil. If it leans, add a second thin coat of stiffener to the base and re-dry it, flat side down.
Final Shaping Checklist
- ✅ Coils evenly spaced
- ✅ Wide end sits flat on the table
- ✅ Bell attached securely and hangs freely
- ✅ Star centered at the top
- ✅ Hanging loop knotted and secure
- ✅ All loose ends woven in or trimmed
- ✅ Strip completely dry and rigid
💡 M. Helpful Crochet Tips
- 💡 Count the sl st steps. In Rows 2, 4, and 6, it’s easy to lose count. Mark the 16th st with a stitch marker.
- 💡 Match the cone to your strip. If your strip is longer or shorter than 21 in, use a taller or shorter cone.
- 💡 Don’t over-stiffen. Too much stiffener makes the strip brittle and glossy. Thin coats work best.
- 💡 Sparkle yarn snags. Use a smooth hook and take care not to split the plies.
- 💡 Change the look with yarn. A single strand of sparkle yarn held with plain green makes a subtler shimmer.
- 💡 Pin at the ends. Pin the bottom edge first, then work upward.
- 💡 Make a set. Crochet several strips at once, coat them together, and coil them on cones of different heights for a tree forest.
- 💡 Dry near warmth, not heat. A warm room is fine, but a heater can warp the coils.
🧼 N. Care Instructions
Do not wash this ornament. Dust it gently with a soft brush or blow it off with cool air. Store it in a small box with tissue, away from damp and direct sunlight. ⚠️ Fabric stiffener and glue can be flammable, so keep it away from candles and open flame.
Closing Section
You now have a shimmering little tree that can hang from a branch, stand on a shelf, or top a wrapped gift. Try a set of three in different heights, or switch to cream or burgundy for a different palette. Give one to a friend with a handwritten tag. When you make yours, share a photo and tell us which yarn and colors you chose.
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Suggested categories: Crochet Patterns · Christmas Crochet · Holiday Décor · Free Patterns
Suggested tags: crochet Christmas tree, spiral tree ornament, crochet ornament, free crochet pattern, Christmas crochet, beginner crochet, crochet holiday decor, sparkle yarn, jingle bell ornament, handmade Christmas gift, easy crochet ornament, mini crochet tree
Comment invitation: What yarn color are you using for your tree, and where will it go in your home?
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❓ R. FAQ
How do you make a crochet spiral Christmas tree?
Crochet a tapered strip in single crochet rows, coat it with fabric stiffener, and coil it around a cone form. Let it dry, then add a star and bell.
What yarn is best for a spiral crochet tree?
Worsted-weight sparkle or metallic-blend yarn in a dark green looks closest to the design. Cotton also works and holds stiffener well.
What hook size should I use?
A 3.5 mm (E/4) hook is a good starting point. Go up if your strip is short, and down for a firmer fabric.
Can I make it without stiffener?
No. Without stiffening, the strip will not hold its spiral shape. White glue mixed 1:1 with water is a good substitute for commercial stiffener.
How long does it take to make?
About 45–60 minutes to crochet, plus 12–24 hours of drying time.
Is it safe for kids?
It is a decoration, not a toy. The bell and star charm are small parts, so keep it away from young children and pets.
How can I make it bigger or smaller?
For a larger tree, add 16 chains to the foundation and one more row, and use a bigger cone. For a smaller tree, reduce the steps to 8 and start with ch 49.
Can I use a different star or topper?
Yes. A wooden bead, a mini pom-pom, a crochet star, or a small bow all work.
