It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

I don't celebrate Christmas, but I enjoy the holiday season, and I like to have things to give to my friends who do celebrate. It's not possible to buy gifts for everyone, but a small token of friendship is always appropriate, so this weekend I played around and came up with a Christmas Tree Bookmark/Ornament/Package Decoration pattern.

Writing it up was a bit complicated, but it is really an extremely simple pattern using only DC, SC, Slip Stitch and chains. You can make it plain, or with beads for ornaments.

With a tail and a "jingle bell" this works as a bookmark. Without the tail it can be used as an ornament or gift decoration.

Feel free to use this pattern for personal use and gifts. Please do not post this pattern elsewhere, but you may link to it here.

Hope you like it. :)




Christmas Tree Bookmark / Ornament

You will need:
Crochet Thread and appropriate size hook
(I used Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Thread Sz 5 and a 3.5mm hook)
Small Jingle bell

You can make a plain tree with plain or iridescent thread, or a decorated tree using small beads of your choice (make sure that the hole is large enough to easily string on your thread. (I used 3.5mm round beads and small star beads for the top) IF you choose to use beads, you can add them at random on the BACK FACING ROWS.

(Hint: My thread has an iridescent strand running through it. To ensure that this strand didn't get stripped, I wrapped a small piece of scotch tape around the end of my thread while putting on the beads.)

IF using beads, start by threading your round beads on the thread. You can use as many or few beads as you like, but string more than you think you will need. (I suggest that you will want a minimum of 12 and perhaps as many as 25.)

Pattern:
To create the star at the top of the tree, using a needle run the thread through the charm twice to form a loop
Put your hook through the loop, yarn over and pull up a loop
(this is like a magic loop start with the bead at the top)

Row 1: Chain 3, 2 DC in starting loop (3 DC)
Now pull the loose end tight to close the starting loop and pull the bead down on top of t3 doubleble crochets. Chain 1, turn

Row 2: (front side facing) sc in each stitch across (3 sc) ch 1 turn

Row 3) (back side facing) 2sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next, 2 sc in last stitch (5sc) ch 1, turn

Row 4) (front side facing) 1 sc in each stitch across (5 sc) ch 1 turn

Row 5) (back side facing) 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next 3, 2 sc in last stitch (7 sc) ch 1 turn

Row 6) (front side facing) 1 sc in each stitch across (7sc) Turn

Row 7) (back side facing) slip stitch in first stitch, sc in next 5, leave last stitch unworked (5sc) ch 1, turn

Row 8) (front side facing) sc across (5 sc)

Row 9) (back side facing) 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 3, 2 sc in last (7 sc) ch 1 turn

Row 10) (front side facing) 1 sc across (7 sc)

Row 11) (back side facing) 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 5, 2 sc in last (9 sc) ch 1 turn

Row 12) (front side facing) 1 sc across (9 sc)

Row 13) (back side facing) slip stitch in first stitch, sc in next 7, leave last stitch unworked (7sc) ch 1, turn

Row 14) (front side facing) 1 sc across (7 sc)

Row 15) (back side facing) 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 5, 2 sc in last (9 sc) ch 1 turn

Row 16) (front side facing) 1 sc across (9 sc)


Row 17) (back side facing) 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 7, 2 sc in last (11sc)


For Bookmark
Row 18) turn to front side and slip stitch through first 5 stitches, sc in 6th stitch. Chain 38 and end off leaving a 5 inch tail.

For Tassel, wrap thread around 3 fingers 8 times and cut. Pass the tail of the chain through the loop and tie off. Cut the other end of the loop for the tassel and trip edges.

Tie a mini bell in the middle of a piece of thread, wrap around the top of the tassel and tie off.

Using a thread, weave the loose end above the star through the first row of the tree.
For an ornament or package decoration:
End off after row 11 and weave in loose end.

Using the thread or a piece of ribbon, create a loop at the top of the tree behind the star and tie off.

Stiffen the tree with spray starch and you're all finished.

This pattern has only been tested by me, so please let me know if you find any errors or have any questions.


Note: Directions for a worsted weight ornament version of this tree can be found here.