There is something deeply comforting about unboxing a tin of handmade ornaments each December, knowing that every stitch was crafted during quiet evenings with a hot mug of spiced tea. If you have a basket brimming with leftover oddments of Double Knitting (DK) yarn, these easy festive ornaments will turn those scraps into nostalgic holiday keepsakes.
Every pattern below is written in standard UK crochet terms. If you are accustomed to American terminology, remember that a UK double crochet (dc) is equivalent to a US single crochet, and a UK treble (tr) is a US double crochet.
Materials & Notions Checklist
Before picking up your hook, gather the following supplies:
- Yarn: Approx. 15g to 25g DK yarn per ornament in festive shades (e.g. Clotted Cream, Sage Green, Cranberry Red, and Antique Mustard).
- Crochet Hook: 3.50mm (UK 9 / US E-4). Using a hook slightly smaller than the yarn ball-band recommendation ensures firm, structured stitches that will not sag under their own weight.
- Tapestry Needle: Blunt-ended, for weaving in yarn ends.
- Hanging Cord: 20cm lengths of natural jute twine, velvet ribbon, or metallic gold embroidery thread.
- Optional Embellishments: 10mm wooden beads, small cinnamon sticks, and mini brass jingle bells.
Pattern 1: The Nordic Five-Point Star
This Scandinavian-inspired star is worked in just two quick rounds from a magic ring and makes a gorgeous tree topper or gift tag accent.
Stitches Used (UK Terms)
- ch: chain
- ss: slip stitch
- dc: double crochet
- htr: half treble crochet
- tr: treble crochet
Round-by-Round Instructions
Round 1: Make a magic ring (or ch 4 and join with ss to form ring). Ch 2 (counts as 1 htr), work 9 htr into the ring. Pull tail firmly to close hole. Join with ss to top of beginning ch-2. (10 stitches)
Round 2 (Star Points):
- [Ch 5, ss into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into next ch, 1 htr into next ch, 1 tr into last ch. Skip 1 st on Round 1, ss into the next st].
- Repeat from * to * four more times around.
Fasten off and weave in ends neatly on the reverse side. Attach a 15cm loop of jute twine to the tip of any point for hanging.
Pattern 2: The Rustic Cinnamon Stick Tree
A warm, fragrant decoration that combines simple crochet rows with real cinnamon bark.
- Ch 15 in forest green DK yarn.
- Row 1: 1 dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (14 dc)
- Row 2: Ch 1, dc2tog (decrease), dc across until last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. (12 dc)
- Repeat Row 2 until only 2 stitches remain, then dc2tog and fasten off.
- Using hot craft glue or a tapestry needle with matching yarn, affix the triangular tree motif to a 7cm whole cinnamon stick trunk.
Pattern 3: The Peppermint Swirl Ring
This ornament uses a clever two-colour spiral technique around a standard 40mm wooden curtain ring:
- Work 36 UK double crochet stitches over the wooden ring, alternating 2 stitches in Bright White and 2 stitches in Festive Cranberry without cutting the yarn.
- Carry the unworked yarn colour neatly inside the stitches (tapestry crochet technique).
- Finish with a delicate picot edge: (1 dc, ch 3, ss into first ch, 1 dc) repeated every 4 stitches.
7 More Quick Ornament Ideas
- 4. Victorian Bell: Worked in spiral rounds of UK dc with a tiny brass jingle bell suspended inside on a silver thread clapper.
- 5. Granny Square Wreath: Fold a miniature 3-round classic granny square in half diagonally around a circular florist wire loop, adorned with a tiny red ribbon bow.
- 6. Frosty Snowflake Medallion: Six delicate lacy picot points worked around a hexagonal core, blocked with fabric starch.
- 7. Mini Nordic Mitten: 12-round miniature mitten with a turn-back ribbed cuff worked in clotted cream yarn.
- 8. Cozy Bobble Bauble: A flat circular medallion featuring textured popcorn/puff stitches that catch tree fairy lights beautifully.
- 9. Little Stocking: A 30-minute mini Christmas stocking ideal for tucking a chocolate coin or rolled voucher inside.
- 10. Woolly Hat Topper: Miniature ribbed beanie topped with a fluffy 2cm handmade yarn pom-pom.
Finishing Tip: Stiffening & Blocking
To give your ornaments a crisp finish that holds its shape:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of cornflour with 100ml of cold water in a small saucepan.
- Heat gently on your hob until it thickens into a translucent gloss, then let cool to lukewarm.
- Dip your stars and snowflakes into the mixture, squeeze out the excess gently between clean tea towels, and pin out symmetrically onto a blocking foam board using rust-proof T-pins.
- Allow to dry thoroughly near a warm radiator for 24 hours. Store them flat in tissue between seasons to keep them crisp.
