Handmade decorations make a home feel ready for Christmas, and crochet ones last for years. These three quick patterns, a snowflake, a mini wreath and a string of bunting, use small amounts of DK yarn and are written in UK crochet terms. Each one takes less than an evening, so you can make a set for your own tree or as gifts for friends.
Looking for tree ornaments too? See our crochet Christmas tree ornaments for a five-point star, mini tree and peppermint ring.
Materials for all three patterns
- Yarn: DK yarn in white, red and green. Cotton gives crisp snowflakes; acrylic is soft and cheap for bunting. Scraps are fine.
- Hook: 3.5mm (UK 9 / US E-4) for the snowflake, 4mm (UK 8 / US G-6) for the wreath and bunting.
- Tapestry needle, scissors and ribbon or twine for hanging.
- For the snowflake: fabric stiffener, or a homemade mix of 1 tablespoon cornflour to 100ml water, cooked until clear and cooled.
Abbreviations (UK terms)
- ch: chain
- ss: slip stitch
- dc: double crochet (US single crochet)
- tr: treble crochet (US double crochet)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- picot: 3 ch, ss into the 1st of those 3 ch
1. Simple snowflake
A quick six-point snowflake about 6cm across. Make several in white cotton and hang them in a window.
With white and a 3.5mm hook, make a magic ring (see our magic ring tutorial).
Round 1: 3 ch (counts as 1 tr), 11 tr into the ring. Pull the ring closed and join with a ss to the top of the 3 ch. (12 sts)
Round 2: 1 ch, *1 dc in next st, 5 ch, ss into 3rd ch from hook (a picot), 2 ch, skip next st*. Repeat from * to * five more times. Join with a ss to the first dc. (6 points) Fasten off.
To stiffen: dip the snowflake in stiffener, squeeze out the excess in a tea towel, pin it flat on a foam board or folded towel and pull each point into shape. Leave to dry for 24 hours, then add a loop of thread for hanging.
2. Mini door wreath
A loopy, textured wreath about 9cm across. It looks lovely on a door handle, a cupboard knob or the tree.
With green and a 4mm hook, make 30 ch and join with a ss to the first ch to make a ring, taking care not to twist the chain.
Round 1: 1 ch, 2 dc in each ch around. Join with a ss to the first dc. (60 sts)
Round 2: *3 ch, ss in next st*. Repeat around, ending with a ss in the base of the first 3 ch. (60 loops) Fasten off.
The loops twist and ruffle as you go, giving a full, leafy look. Tie a small red bow at the top with ribbon or a 20cm length of red yarn, and sew on a few red beads or tiny pompoms as berries. Add a 15cm loop of ribbon for hanging. Keep beads and pompoms off decorations that small children can reach.
3. Mini Christmas bunting
Small triangle flags joined on a chain. Make 8 flags for a string about 1m long, alternating red, white and green.
Flags (make 8)
With a 4mm hook, make 2 ch.
Row 1: 3 dc in 2nd ch from hook. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: 1 ch, 2 dc in first st, 1 dc in each st to the last st, 2 dc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 3: 1 ch, 1 dc in each st across. Turn. (5 sts)
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until you have 15 sts, ending with a Row 2. (12 rows in total) Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Joining the bunting
With red, make 20 ch for the first tie. *Working along the top (widest) edge of a flag, 1 dc in each st across, 5 ch*. Repeat from * for every flag. After the last flag, make 20 more ch for the second tie. Fasten off.
Lay the bunting flat and steam it lightly so the flags hang straight.
Tips for neat decorations
- Weave in ends well. Decorations get handled every year, so weave each tail in three directions.
- Use a smaller hook than usual for anything that should hold its shape, like snowflakes and stars.
- Keep scraps sorted by colour. A small bag of red, white and green leftovers is enough for all three patterns.
- Store flat. Pack finished decorations between sheets of tissue in a shoebox.
Gift ideas
A set of three snowflakes tied with ribbon, a mini wreath on a gift tag, or a length of bunting rolled into a jar all make thoughtful handmade presents. Add a little card with the yarn used and washing instructions.
