This spiral crochet christmas tree is made from one long foundation chain. You work several stitches into every chain, starting with short double crochet at the tip and finishing with tall double trebles at the base, and the strip twists into a cone all by itself. Hang it from a loop, add a little star on top, and you have a lightweight ornament in well under an hour.
Quick answer: To crochet a spiral Christmas tree, make one long foundation chain and work several stitches into every chain, going from short double crochet at the tip to tall double trebles at the base (UK terms) so the strip twists into a cone. With DK yarn and a 4mm hook the small tree is about 8 to 10cm tall, uses 15 to 20m of green yarn and takes 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
We have written this crochet spiral christmas tree pattern in UK terms, with exact chain counts for two sizes, a stitch-by-stitch plan for each section, and tips on shaping the twist so it hangs neatly. You will also find colour and bead ideas, a quick star topper, and how to join several trees into a garland.
If you would rather make a solid standing tree, see our crochet Christmas tree pattern, which is stuffed and sits on a shelf. For flat hanging decorations, our crochet Christmas tree ornaments post has a Nordic star, a mini tree and a peppermint ring. The spiral crochet christmas tree below is different from both: it is never stuffed, it is worked in a single row, and the shape comes entirely from stitch height.
What makes a spiral crochet christmas tree different?
Most crochet trees are worked in rounds, either flat or as a cone. A spiral crochet christmas tree is worked in one row along a chain. Because you put three stitches into every chain, the top edge of the strip ends up much longer than the chain it sits on. That extra length has nowhere to go, so it ruffles and coils into a corkscrew.
The tree shape comes from changing stitch height as you go. Short stitches make tight, narrow coils at the tip. Taller stitches make wider coils lower down. When you hold the finished strip up by its tip, the coils stack into a cone.
- One row only. No rounds to count and no seams to sew.
- No stuffing. It is light enough to hang from a thin branch.
- Four basic stitches. Double crochet, half treble, treble and double treble.
- Quick to make. The small size takes around 30 to 45 minutes once you know the stitches.
- Thrifty. The small tree needs only 15 to 20 metres of DK yarn, so it is a great way to use up oddments.
Skills you need
You need to be able to make a foundation chain and work these four stitches. If any of them are new to you, our step-by-step guides will help:
- Double crochet (dc), which is a US single crochet.
- Half treble crochet (htr), which is a US half double crochet.
- Treble crochet (tr), which is a US double crochet.
- Double treble crochet (dtr), which is a US treble crochet.
The star uses a magic ring, though a ring of 4 chains joined with a slip stitch works too. If you usually follow American patterns, keep our UK vs US crochet terms chart beside you while you work.
Materials for a spiral crochet christmas tree
| Item | Small tree | Large tree |
|---|---|---|
| Yarn | DK, about 15 to 20m of green | Aran, about 30 to 35m of green |
| Hook | 4mm (UK 8 / US G-6) | 5mm (UK 6 / US H-8) |
| Foundation chain | 61 chains | 101 chains |
| Stitches in the row | 180 | 300 |
| Approximate height | 8 to 10cm | 14 to 18cm |
| Time | 30 to 45 minutes | 1 to 1.5 hours |
You will also need a scrap of yellow or gold yarn for the star, a tapestry needle, scissors, a few stitch markers and about 20cm of yarn, ribbon or thin cord for the hanging loop.
Heights depend on your tension and on how tightly the strip coils, so treat them as a guide. The Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system explains how DK and Aran compare if you are swapping one yarn for another.
Choosing yarn for your spiral crochet christmas tree
A smooth yarn with a bit of body works best. Acrylic and cotton blends hold the twist well. Pure cotton gives crisp, defined coils but feels a little stiffer. Very soft or fluffy yarns tend to droop, and the stitch heights blur together, so the cone shape is less clear.
Dark green looks traditional, but a mid green shows the stitches better on the tree. Bright white makes a snowy tree, and a variegated yarn will stripe naturally along the coils.
Spiral crochet christmas tree stitch plan
The row is split into four equal sections. You start at the hook end of the chain, which becomes the tip of the tree, and work towards the slip knot, which becomes the base. Each section uses a taller stitch than the one before.
| Section | Stitch | Small: chains | Small: stitches | Large: chains | Large: stitches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (tip) | dc | 15 | 45 | 25 | 75 |
| 2 | htr | 15 | 45 | 25 | 75 |
| 3 | tr | 15 | 45 | 25 | 75 |
| 4 (base) | dtr | 15 | 45 | 25 | 75 |
| Total | 60 | 180 | 100 | 300 |
In both sizes you skip the first chain from the hook, so 61 chains gives you 60 to work into, and 101 chains gives you 100. Every chain gets exactly 3 stitches.
Crochet spiral christmas tree pattern: small size
Use DK yarn and a 4mm hook. Work into the back bump or the top loop of each chain, whichever you prefer, but use the same loop all the way along so the edge looks even.
Foundation: Ch 61.
Section 1 (tip, dc): 3 dc in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc in each of next 14 ch. (45 dc, 15 ch used)
Section 2 (htr): 3 htr in each of next 15 ch. (45 htr, 30 ch used in total)
Section 3 (tr): 3 tr in each of next 15 ch. (45 tr, 45 ch used in total)
Section 4 (base, dtr): 3 dtr in each of next 15 ch. (45 dtr, 60 ch used in total, 180 stitches in the row)
Fasten off and weave in both ends at the base. The last 3 dtr go into the chain next to the slip knot, so check you have not missed it.
You do not need a turning chain when you change from one stitch to the next. Simply start working the taller stitch in the next chain. The small step in height disappears into the coil.
Crochet spiral christmas tree pattern: large size
Use Aran yarn and a 5mm hook. The method is exactly the same, with 25 chains in each section instead of 15.
Foundation: Ch 101.
Section 1 (tip, dc): 3 dc in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc in each of next 24 ch. (75 dc, 25 ch used)
Section 2 (htr): 3 htr in each of next 25 ch. (75 htr, 50 ch used in total)
Section 3 (tr): 3 tr in each of next 25 ch. (75 tr, 75 ch used in total)
Section 4 (base, dtr): 3 dtr in each of next 25 ch. (75 dtr, 100 ch used in total, 300 stitches in the row)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Tip: place a stitch marker in the last chain of each section before you begin. If your count is out, you only have to check one section rather than the whole row.
How to shape the twist on a spiral crochet christmas tree
As you work, the strip will start to curl on its own. Do not fight it. Every few chains, push the stitches back along the chain so they bunch up. This helps the coils form evenly.
- Find the natural direction. Hold the tip of your spiral crochet christmas tree (the dc end) and let the strip hang. It will already be turning one way. Twist it gently in the same direction until the coils sit close together.
- Arrange the coils. Starting at the tip, nudge each coil so it sits just outside the one above. The dc coils should be the tightest and the dtr coils the widest.
- Set the shape (optional). Roll a piece of card into a cone about the size of your tree and tape it. Wind the strip around the cone from the tip down, mist it lightly with water or spray starch, and leave it to dry completely before sliding it off.
- Secure the centre (optional). For a tree that never unwinds, thread a length of matching yarn through the inner edge of each coil from tip to base and pull it just enough to hold the shape. Knot it at both ends and hide the tails.
If your strip lies flat or only waves instead of twisting, your tension may be on the loose side. Try again with a hook 0.5mm smaller, or work 4 stitches in each chain instead of 3. With 4 stitches per chain, the small size has 60 stitches in each section and 240 in total, and the large size has 100 in each section and 400 in total.
Hanging loop and star
Hanging loop
Cut about 20cm of yarn, ribbon or cord. Using a tapestry needle, thread it through the very first dc at the tip of the tree, bring the two ends together and tie a firm knot about 6 to 8cm above the tip. Trim the ends. A loop made this way is easy to replace if it gets tangled in storage.
Little star topper
Use yellow or gold DK and a 3.5mm hook for the small tree, or Aran and a 4.5mm hook for the large one.
Round 1: Make a magic ring, ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), 5 dc into the ring, pull the ring closed and ss into the first dc. (5 dc)
Points: *Ch 3, ss in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch, ss in next dc of Round 1; repeat from * 4 more times, working the final ss into the same dc as the joining ss. (5 points)
Fasten off, leaving a 15cm tail. Sew the star to the tip of the spiral crochet christmas tree so it sits just in front of the hanging loop, then weave in the tail.
Colour ideas for a spiral crochet christmas tree
- Classic green. One shade throughout lets the twist do all the work.
- Ombre tree. Change colour at the start of each section, from light green at the tip to dark green at the base. To change colour, work the last yarn over of the final stitch in the old section with the new colour.
- Snowy tree. White or cream with a silver star looks lovely against dark branches.
- Sparkle. Hold a fine metallic thread together with your yarn for the whole row. You may need to go up 0.5mm in hook size.
- Candy stripe. Red for the dc and tr sections and white for the htr and dtr sections gives a peppermint look.
- Scandi set. Make three trees in sage, cream and soft grey and hang them together.
Adding beads to a spiral crochet christmas tree
Beads catch the light on the outer edge of a spiral crochet christmas tree. Thread them onto the yarn before you make the foundation chain. Choose beads with a hole large enough for your yarn to slide through easily.
To place a bead, slide it up close to the hook just before the final yarn over of a stitch, then complete the stitch as normal. The bead will sit on the side of the work facing away from you, so check which side you want facing out. A bead on every fifth or sixth stitch in the tr and dtr sections is plenty.
Beads, sequins and small bells are choking hazards. Leave them off any decoration that small children or pets could reach, and use embroidered French knots or a few stitches in contrast yarn for baubles instead.
Making your own size of spiral crochet christmas tree
Once you understand the stitch plan, you can make a spiral crochet christmas tree of any height. The rule is simple: choose a number of chains to work that divides by 4, add 1 for the skipped chain, and split the row into four equal sections.
| Chains worked | Foundation chain | Chains per section | Stitches (3 per chain) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 41 | 10 | 120 |
| 60 | 61 | 15 | 180 |
| 80 | 81 | 20 | 240 |
| 100 | 101 | 25 | 300 |
A thicker yarn and bigger hook make a chunkier tree from the same count. A 4-ply yarn with a 3mm hook gives a dainty tree that suits a table-top tree or the front of a handmade card.
The 40-chain version is a good choice when you want a whole family of trees in graded sizes. Make one of each size in the table and hang them in a row from smallest to largest.
How to make a spiral crochet christmas tree garland
A row of little spiral crochet christmas trees strung along a mantelpiece or across a window makes a cheerful garland, and it uses up leftover green yarn. The small size works best because it is light and the coils keep their shape.
- Make 5 to 9 small trees without separate hanging loops, and sew a star to each.
- With a contrast yarn such as red or gold DK and a 4mm hook, ch 30 for the first tie.
- *Work 1 dc through the first dc at the tip of a tree to attach it, ch 15; repeat from * for each tree, leaving out the final ch 15 after the last tree.
- Ch 30 for the second tie and fasten off. Weave in the ends.
Make the gaps longer or shorter by changing the number of chains between trees. For a wider window, add more trees and lengthen the ties. If you prefer, thread the trees onto a length of jute twine or ribbon instead, tying a small knot either side of each tree so they stay evenly spaced.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Strip lies flat | Loose tension | Use a smaller hook, or work 4 stitches in each chain |
| Coils are uneven | Stitches not bunched evenly along the chain | Push stitches together as you go and reshape over a card cone |
| Tree looks like a column, not a cone | Same stitch used all the way along | Move up one stitch height at the start of each section |
| Ran out of chains early | Miscounted foundation chain | Count the chain twice and mark every 10th chain |
| Base end looks loose | End not secured well | Weave the tail back through several dtr in different directions |
A spiral crochet christmas tree is forgiving. If one coil sits a little high or low, a gentle tweak with your fingers usually fixes it.
Ways to use your spiral crochet christmas trees
- Tree ornaments. Hang them on branches next to glass baubles for a mix of textures.
- Gift toppers. Tie one onto a present instead of a bow.
- Advent extras. Pop a small tree into a pocket of a crochet advent calendar.
- Craft fair batches. They are quick to make in batches and need very little yarn.
- Window decorations. Hang a few at different heights from a curtain pole.
For more quick makes to pair with your trees, browse our easy crochet Christmas decorations.
Storing and caring for your trees
Store each finished spiral crochet christmas tree flat in a box with a little tissue paper between them so the coils are not squashed. If one loses its shape after a year in the loft, mist it lightly with water, twist it back into shape and let it dry hanging up.
Hand wash a spiral crochet christmas tree in cool water if it needs cleaning. Squeeze out the water gently without wringing, then reshape while damp. Keep beaded trees away from radiators if you used plastic beads.
Frequently asked questions about the spiral crochet christmas tree
How many chains do I need for a spiral crochet christmas tree?
For the small DK tree, ch 61, which gives 60 chains to work into after skipping the first. For the large Aran tree, ch 101. Each size is split into four equal sections of dc, htr, tr and dtr, with 3 stitches in every chain.
Why is my spiral not twisting?
The twist comes from putting several stitches into each chain. If your strip is flat, work more tightly, try a smaller hook, or work 4 stitches in each chain instead of 3. Pushing the stitches together along the chain as you go also helps.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
Yes, if you can make a chain and work dc, htr, tr and dtr. There are no rounds, increases or decreases. The only counting is the foundation chain and the number of chains in each section.
Can I make a spiral crochet christmas tree without a star?
Yes. You can leave it plain, add a small pompom, or sew a bead or button to the tip, as long as it will not be within reach of small children or pets.
How do I turn the trees into a garland?
Make several small trees, then ch 30, attach each tree by working a dc through its tip with 15 chains between trees, and finish with another 30 chains as a tie.
Once you have made your first spiral crochet christmas tree, you will find it hard to stop at one. Make a few in different greens, add a sprinkle of stars, and your tree will have a handmade touch that comes out year after year.
