One of my favorite types of projects for crochet is seasonal decorations. Every fall I make more pumpkins than I really need and for Easter I like to make amigurumi eggs. This past Christmas I found a great pattern for a Christmas tree in the Simply Crochet magazine. The magazine is published in the United Kingdom but I was able to access it through my local public library in the United States. I finished my first tree while visiting my family so of course I ended up giving it to my mom! The second tree was finished just in time for me to put it in storage in the attic with the rest of my Christmas decorations.
How I prepared
The pattern used an aran weight yarn called DROPS Air, which is made of alpaca, nylon, and wool. I use natural fibers whenever I can but since this project would be a seasonal decoration I decided to look for an acrylic since it is cheaper. After a visit to a local craft store (a big chain) I found Big Twist Living in Pine Green. While I was at the store I was also able to find some floral cones. The cones available at the store were not the exact size as in the pattern but they were pretty close so I grabbed several sizes in green.
Making the tree
I was able to follow the pattern pretty closely, deviating only because I wasn’t sure that the foam cone I purchased was the same size. After finishing the first five rows I put the tree on the cone to check the size and found that my tree stretched quite a bit due to the acrylic. I decided to not increase the number of stitches every other row; instead I only did increases every fourth row, testing the size of the tree against the foam periodically.
Pattern
- Nordic Noël, Large Tree by Simply Crochet, Issue 142
Materials
- Big Twist Living in Pine Green, 100% acrylic
- Green foam cone, 15” x 4.75”
- 5mm crochet hook with rubber grip
Tips
- Use a foam cone that is closest in color to your yarn to avoid seeing the foam show in between the stitches. You could even paint the foam to make the foam even harder to see.
- Test out the size of your tree periodically by putting it on the foam. Keep the plastic wrap on the cone until you are finished to keep the foam from chipping off.