Crochet Christmas Tree Patterns: Mini Trees and Tree Squares

A crochet Christmas tree is either a mini tree, 3 to 4.5 in (7.5 to 11.5 cm) tall, or a granny square with a tree motif that joins into a blanket. The mini trees are stuffed cones worked in rounds, flat trees worked in rows, or one of three special builds, in weight 4 (medium, worsted) yarn on a 3.5 mm (E-4) hook, and most take 40 to 55 minutes.

This guide covers twelve mini trees and one tree square. You pick a build, then a colour. Each mini tree uses 8 to 20 yd (7 to 18.5 m) of yarn, so you can make one from leftovers. All twelve together take about 165 yd (150 m). Six colours share it.

The tray at the top holds four of the cone trees: the Classic Cone, the Potted Mini Tree, the Golden Garland Tree and the Snowy Ridge Cone. Cones are the most common build in the set, five of the twelve. The first section sorts every crochet Christmas tree by how it is built, so you can see the families before you choose.

What kinds of crochet Christmas trees can you make?

Crochet Christmas trees come in four families: stuffed cones, flat trees, special builds and granny squares. The family decides how you start, because a cone grows from its tip in rounds while a flat tree shrinks from its wide bottom edge in rows.

• A cone tree is a stuffed cone you work in spiral rounds from the tip.
• A flat tree is one you work in rows from the wide bottom edge.
• A special build joins layers, stacks ovals or hangs inside a ring.
• A granny square tree is a motif inside a square that joins into a blanket.

The tabletop tree shows three families together: stuffed cones, a flat bobble tree and the potted tree. Each mini tree hangs as an ornament, and the baubles, angels and other pieces that share the branches are in Crochet Christmas Ornament Patterns: 15 Types to Make.

Do the trees stand or hang? Both, if you want them to. The stuffed cones and the potted tree stand on a tiered tray or a mantel, and every tree ends with a hanging loop, so you can choose for each one. A shelf or a branch: you decide.

Cone Christmas trees worked in rounds

A cone tree is a stuffed crochet Christmas tree worked in spiral rounds from the tip down. Each cone starts with 4 single crochet (UK double crochet) in a magic ring and grows by 3 stitches every other round. One round in back loops only makes a sharp edge for the base, so the cone sits flat. Then you decrease the base closed. Stuff before the opening gets small. Your fingers need room.

Mini Christmas Tree Ornaments holds all twelve trees in one palette of forest, sage, cream, gold, cranberry and bark, with a stitch count at the end of every row and round and the size and yarn for each tree.

Flat Christmas trees worked in rows

A flat Christmas tree is worked in rows from a foundation chain at its wide bottom edge. Each decrease row takes 1 stitch off each side with sc2tog (single crochet 2 together), so the sides stay straight and the tree stays symmetrical. You count the stitches at the end of every row. The pattern prints each count.

Flat and three tier pine trees

Yarn

4, medium (worsted)

Hook

3.5 mm (E-4)

Skill level

Easy

Best for

tree, gift toppers, tiered tray and mantel, advent calendar fillers

The Snow Edge Flat Tree is forest green with a cream snow border, a bark trunk and a gold star. It measures 4 in (10 cm) tall without the star and 3 in (7.5 cm) wide, from about 10 yd (9.5 m). The Three Tier Pine stacks three overlapping green tiers on a bark trunk, 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall with the trunk, from about 9 yd (8 m).

Both take about 40 minutes, the quickest in the set. If you want a first tree, start here. You will finish it in one sitting.

Both are in Mini Christmas Tree Ornaments.

Bobble Christmas tree

Yarn

4, medium (worsted)

Hook

3.5 mm (E-4)

Skill level

Easy

Best for

tree, gift toppers, tiered tray and mantel, advent calendar fillers

The Bobble Texture Tree is a flat sage tree covered in twenty raised bobbles, with a bark trunk and a gold star. It is 3 in (7.5 cm) tall without the star and uses about 10 yd (9.5 m).

A bobble (bo) is 4 double crochet worked together in one stitch. Bobbles are worked on wrong side rows, so they push out to the front of the tree. You see them when you turn the work.

It is in Mini Christmas Tree Ornaments.

Puffy, stacked and hoop Christmas trees

The puffy, stacked and hoop trees are the pattern’s three special builds, each made a different way from the cones and flat trees.

Puffy pillow tree

Yarn

4, medium (worsted)

Hook

3.5 mm (E-4)

Skill level

Easy

Best for

tree, gift toppers, tiered tray and mantel, advent calendar fillers

The Puffy Pillow Tree is two sage layers joined with a cream edge and stuffed, so it looks like a small pillow, with cranberry dots and a gold star. It is 3.25 in (8 cm) tall without the star, from about 13 yd (11.5 m).

Hoop tree

Yarn

4, medium (worsted)

Hook

3.5 mm (E-4)

Skill level

Easy

Best for

tree, gift toppers, tiered tray and mantel, advent calendar fillers

The Hoop Tree is a cream-covered ring with a tiny green tree hanging in the middle from a gold chain. You work each single crochet around the ring itself, pushing the stitches together so no ring shows. It measures 4.25 in (11 cm) across, from about 8 yd (7 m), and needs one 4 in (10 cm) craft ring. The ring is the one extra you need.

Granny square Christmas trees for blankets

A granny square Christmas tree is a tree motif on a square that joins with other squares into a blanket. In the Christmas Granny Squares set, Square 5 is a green tree with a brown trunk, red and gold decorations and a gold star, sewn onto a solid cream centre. Every square then gets the same four round cream Frame. Each square ends at 29 single crochet per side, so any square joins any other. You can swap designs freely.

Christmas tree granny square

Yarn

4, medium (worsted)

Hook

5 mm (H-8)

Skill level

Easy to Intermediate

Best for

lap blanket, throw, table topper, coaster

The square measures about 7 in (18 cm). You work the centre in cream rounds of double crochet with ch-2 corners, then sew on the tree, which is a small appliqué worked on a 4 mm (G-6) hook.

The French knots on the tree are the decorations, 6 to 8 of them in red and gold. A star of four crossed stitches finishes the top.

It is Square 5 in Christmas Granny Squares.

The pattern gives three layouts with grids, and the square count decides your size. Pick the grid first.

The layout photo shows squares set out in a grid before joining, which is how each of the three sizes starts. A single square also works on its own as a coaster or a cushion front. You do not have to make a blanket.

Christmas Granny Squares holds twelve squares: a poinsettia, holly, a snowflake, a star, a tree, a bauble, a bell, a candle, a wreath, a gift box, mittens and a medallion.

How do you crochet a Christmas tree?

How to crochet a Christmas tree comes down to two choices: a build, then the shaping, increasing a cone in rounds or decreasing a flat tree in rows. The full rounds and rows are in each pattern. The steps show the principle:

1. Choose the build: a stuffed cone, a flat tree or a special build.
2. Start a cone at the tip with 4 sc in a magic ring, and increase 3 stitches every other round.
3. Work one round in back loops only (BLO) for a sharp base edge, then decrease the base closed and stuff before the opening gets small.
4. Start a flat tree at the wide bottom edge on a foundation chain, and sc2tog at each side of every decrease row.
5. Count the stitches at the end of every row and round.
6. Add the two layer star topper and the hanging loop.

The photo shows step 4: a flat tree growing narrower row by row. Each side loses one stitch per decrease row, so the edges stay straight.

Where else does a crochet Christmas tree motif go?

The tree also works as a motif on other Christmas pieces, and one piece sits under the tree itself. A tree skirt is the base the tree stands on, and Crochet Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern: Scalloped Skirt in 3 Sizes covers the scalloped skirt in 30, 40 and 48 in sizes. The other four carry a small tree as their motif.

The mug cozy tree is worked flat in rows and sewn on, so a flat mini tree is good practice for it.

Which stitches do the trees teach?

The Bobble Texture Tree teaches the bobble: 4 double crochet closed together in one stitch. The tree granny square teaches the granny cluster, 3 double crochet in one place, which the cream Frame repeats on every square, so one square prepares you for all twelve.

More Christmas crochet patterns

The trees are one part of Christmas Crochet Patterns: Ornaments, Stockings and Decor, so you can match your trees to the rest of the room. Every pattern is listed in Crochet Patterns to Make: Christmas Decor and Winter Wear.