Make a festive set of holiday projects including a tall looped Christmas tree, cozy stockings, and a charming gift bag. These designs use mostly simple stitches and stash-busting yarn so you can create beautiful seasonal decor with minimal fuss. Clear photo tutorials and step-by-step notes guide you through each stage, from base construction to finishing touches. Perfect for gifting or decorating your home with handmade charm.
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— Materials :
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Assorted. I have written most of these patterns with 'stash busting' in mind. I have a huge assortment of old yarn and odds and ends yarns from a vast collection of mostly thrifted bags of yarn. Most all of what I am using is 4-ply worsted weight yarns like Red Heart Super Saver. I will note any changes and give you the best idea I can on what to use to make each pattern. Gauge isn't important for most of these patterns.
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I will have a full list of all products used for each pattern at the start of that pattern. Hooks: Hook sizes will vary greatly for all of these patterns. I will note at the start of each pattern the hook/hooks that I have used.
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Stitch Glossary: Chain: Ch. Single Crochet: SC. Inc Sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated. Invisible Decrease: inv. dec. - this is an invisible single crochet decrease. Hdc: Half double crochet. Dc: double crochet. Tr: treble crochet. Slip Stitch: sl st. FO: finish off.
— Tree #1 :
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'Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree': Tree #1. Tree 1: Beginner Crochet. Only chain stitches and slip stitches used.
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For this first tree you will need 2 strands of green yarn. I have held two strands together for this example and used my K/6.5mm hook.
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One of the skeins of yarn was Red Heart Classic 3.5 oz/100g. I paired another strand of green that had no wrapper and used the full skein of the 3/5oz RH yarn. Do not be afraid on this pattern of running out of yarn because the last step with the loops is easily adjusted.
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I've used a 23" cardboard tree cone form from Hobby Lobby. These are typically expensive at about $9.99 each. I bought mine after the holidays and got them 50% off.
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You will also need your hot glue gun and maybe some liquid glue. You can use only your hot glue gun, but I found it went a bit quicker if I did one row in hot glue and let it dry and then squirted on a bunch of liquid glue for several rows and wound them on and then set those rows in place by securing my work with more hot glue.
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An embroidery needle might be helpful as well.
Step 1 :
With your two strands of yarn and K hook, chain, chain, chain and keep on chaining....chain, chain, chain. I did not start attaching my chain to the tree form until I was sure it would reach at least half way - YOU WILL NOT CUT YOUR YARN AT ALL so, when you get to the place where you want to start adhering the chain to your form just pull up your loop so you have plenty of spare and go back to chaining when you get ready.
Step 2 :
Attach the beginning of your starting chain to the very bottom of the form. I used my two starting tails to tie the bottom row together after I made sure it was snug.
Step 3 :
After this first row was secure, I streamed a bit of liquid glue above that starting line and ran some more rows around. Work slow enough to keep the chain positioned right side up and pull nice and firm, but not over tight as you go around.
Step 4 :
If you are using liquid glue with hot glue as I have, put your finger over the work after a few rows and hold tight while you run a stream of hot glue and secure the next bit of green chain to hold it all tight. If you don't do this your chain may 'bounce back' as it dries and be loose.
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So, do a few rows in liquid glue, hold firm with finger, do a row in hot glue to set and secure and repeat. Alternatively, you can just hot glue all the way around. Work in small sections and hold your chain so that the right-side stays facing out and doesn't twist. Pull firm, but not over tight.
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WooHOO! Now, you have the base of your first Christmas tree. Now, you may decide to stop here. You might like how this looks just fine and honestly if you use two very different colors of green or a green and metallic yarn or even add a strand of fun fur this might be decorative enough for you and you can stop here.
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You can even stop here and wind a strand of small led/battery operated lights on this. You can even stop here and add some beaded garland, ornaments, words, 'snow' etc. The possibilities from this 'base' tree are endless!! So, now. Stay here or move on to the loops. If you choose to stop here just cut your yarn and hide those tails.
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But, if you are moving on to the loops DO NOT CUT. After you have done all the way up around the top start with a chain 10. Slip stitch at the base of your chain 10 and repeat. Chain 10. Slip stitch at the base of the chain 10 and repeat - repeat - repeat - it will seem like you will repeat forever!
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I kept on going until I ran out of yarn. You can choose to end early and have wide spaces between the loops. This is all up to you. You may even decide that you want bigger or smaller chains than a chain 10. Play with it and see what you like.
Step :
After you get done with all your loops start winding. I wound at first a bit loose so I could space out and then tighten my loops evenly. After getting them all on my tree I started at the top and pulled them snug all the way around and repositioned them evenly. I didn't need to secure this loop chain with any sort of adhesive - the loop chain was pulled tight enough that it stuck just fine to the other yarn underneath.
Final Step :
The last step for me was to give the whole tree a good steam bath. Steaming my work is a personal preference, but what it does for 4-ply yarn - especially old 4-ply yarn is freshen it up and soften it a bit. It helps relax the fibers a little and it just looks so much nicer.
— Stocking :
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'...and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care': Christmas Stocking. Stocking: Beginner Friendly Crochet with full photo tutorial and easy stitches used. You will use single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc) and at the end you will be doing some front post and back post double crochet.
Round 1 :
Chain 2. In your 1st chain (the second from your hook) make 8 hdc.
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Count back 8 if you need and find your first stitch to start the next round. You will work over the tails from the beginning to tighten the middle of your work. Crochet over the tails all the way around this round and then pull them tight. In this first stitch only make 1 sc and then 1 hdc (this first sc is just to keep there from being such a big 'jog' up in height). Working in the spiral it won't matter in the end and is the method used. Now, make 2 hdc in all the rest of the stitches around for a total of 16 stitches.
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Continue to work in the spiral. If you fear losing count, move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.
Round 3 :
Make 1 hdc in next stitch, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 4 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 2 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (32)
Round 5 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 3 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (40)
Round 6 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 4 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (48) - after doing the last hdc make about 3-4 sc for the same reason we did at the beginning. It helps eliminate your 'jog' down and then join your main color on this last stitch. Make the first part of the stitch in the toe color and then pull through the last part of the stitch with your new color. Tie ends in back of work to secure and then continue to crochet over the tails.
Round 7 :
Single crochet in Back Loop Only (see photo above) (48)
Rounds 8-~20 :
Hdc around. (That is about 13 rows or 624 stitches if you are working in the spiral.) TIP: open the calculator on your phone and enter 624 and then start subtracting as you go. I usually count up about 40-70 stitches and then subtract from my total. That keeps me on track without worrying about moving stitch counters.
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After all of those stitches are finished make 3-4 single crochet in the next 3-4 hdc stitches and DROP but DO NOT CUT your main color. You will come back and pick it up after you do the heel.
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You are now going to work in rows for a bit for the heel section.
Heel Row :
Chain 1 and turn. Do not chain, but turn your work and skip the slip stitch and single crochet together (sctog) over the next two stitches and then work all the way across (17) until you get to the last two sc and then sctog those two last stitches. (19 sc)
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If you are unsure how to single crochet 2 stitches together, insert hook into the space, pull up a loop, insert hook into the next space, pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook) and pull through all 3 loops.
Heel Increase Row 1 :
Chain 1 and turn. Make 2 sc in the first stitch, sc in the next 6 stitches and then make 2 sc in the last stitch (10)
Heel Increase Row 2 :
Chain 1 and turn. Make 2 sc in the first stitch, sc in the next 8 stitches and then make 2 sc in the last stitch (12)
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Cut your tails and move over to the other side of the heel. Now, this is what your work should resemble.
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Attach your heel color/colors to the bottom of the heel right next to where you dropped your main color yarn from earlier. You are going to sc evenly around the entire heel piece. After I was finished I had made 32 sc around the heel section. If you don't have these exact numbers it is fine - you can adjust them later. Finish off that yarn. I crochet over all my tails so there is no need to weave them in on this piece.
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Go back and pick up the MAIN color yarn that you dropped from earlier.
Next Round :
Crochet around the entire piece in your main color. You can choose either sc or hdc - this is largely up to you. I think I did sc one round on my blue stocking and then hdc for the rest and 2 rounds of sc then hdc on my pink stocking.
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When you get to the upper corner on the HEEL piece the next 3 stitches after my hook you will be either sc3tog (single crochet 3 together) or hdc3tog (half double crochet 3 together) on the upper 3 stitches on BOTH sides of the heel. This will 'gather' them in a little for shaping. You will single crochet around the entire piece with a 3 sc tog on both sides of the heel. (I had 53 stitches after this.)
Adjustment Round :
After this round you want to have 48 stitches around when you finish this round. If you are not at 49 stitches now, adjust with decreases evenly around so you have 48 stitches. For my example I did one decrease on the back of the heel.
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After you have adjusted to the 48 stitches, continue to crochet around for the leg section until you reach the length you want. The length of the example from the heel section was about 12 inches for the leg. If you will add a top color remember to allow extra length.
Top Border :
For the top section chain up 2 (not a stitch) and then do one double crochet border around. Join and chain up 2 (not a stitch) and in the next round alternate 4 front post double crochet and then 4 back post double crochet around. Repeat this round for as many rounds as you want. If you find this difficult, do a few rows of double crochet instead.
Final :
Don't forget to chain a length of chain at the back to hang if you are doing that. My hanger chain was about 15.
— Gift Bag #1 :
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'Every wish, one and all, waiting under the tree': Gift Bag #1. Gift Sack/Bag 1: Beginner Crochet. I have used only half double crochet (hdc) and double crochet (dc) and some chain stitches for this bag. For the tie I have used chains and my pompom maker.
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For this first gift bag, you will need 3 strands of yarn. I have held three strands together for this example and used my N/10mm hook. You can use this same pattern and single or double strand with a small hook to make a smaller bag. My gift sack ended up about 16" x 16".
Round 1 :
Chain 2. In your 1st chain (the second from your hook) make 8 hdc. Count back 8 if you need and find your first stitch to start the next round. Crochet over the tails from the beginning to tighten the middle of your work. Pull them tight.
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In this first stitch only make 1 sc and then 1 hdc (this first sc is just to keep there from being such a big 'jog' up in height). Working in the spiral it won't matter in the end. Now, make 2 hdc in all the rest of the stitches around for a total of 16 stitches.
Round 3 :
(Make 1 hdc in next stitch, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 4 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 2 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (32)
Round 5 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 3 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (40)
Round 6 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 4 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (48)
Round 7 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 5 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (56)
Round 8 :
(Make 1 hdc in next 6 stitches, make 2 hdc in the next stitch) repeat around (64)
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Continue in rounds to create base and then work up the sides to desired height. Finish top edge and create tie by making chains and adding pompoms if desired. Adjust yarn strands and hook size to change final bag size.
These holiday crochet projects are all about using what you have and making something special for the season. Whether you choose the lofty looped tree, the wearable stocking, or the festive gift bag, each piece adds handmade warmth to your home. Enjoy the process, experiment with colors, and treasure your finished creations. 🎁🎄🧶
