SaveAn ornament that hangs crooked ruins a tree faster than one that is slightly wonky. Weight distribution is the whole problem: hang a flat shape from one point and it will rotate to whatever position is heaviest, which is rarely the one you intended.
Part of our seasonal library.
The fix is to attach the loop at the balance point rather than the top. Hold the finished piece by a thread and move the thread until it hangs level, then sew the loop there. It takes thirty seconds and it is the difference between a tree that looks made and one that looks fussed over.
Six-point snowflake
Beginner30 min
The standard. Cotton thread, stiffened flat, hangs from any point because it is symmetrical.
Eight-point snowflake
Easy40 min
Denser and heavier than the six-point, and it holds its shape better without stiffener.
Star, five point
Beginner25 min
Hang from a point rather than an inner angle or it sits at a tilt.
Star, flat with a border
Easy35 min
A contrast round worked around the edge stops the points curling, which plain stars always do.
Christmas tree, flat
Beginner30 min
A triangle worked in rows with a stem at the base. Green with gold beads sewn on as lights.
Christmas tree, cone
Easy45 min
Worked in the round and stuffed so it stands on a shelf as well as hangs.
Heart
Beginner20 min
Two rounded lobes and a point. The most forgiving shape here and the fastest.
Bell
Easy35 min
A flared cone with a bead inside. Stiffen the rim or it collapses inward.
Candy cane
Beginner25 min
Striped tube over a pipe cleaner. The pipe cleaner holds the curve permanently.
Wreath
Beginner30 min
Worked around a curtain ring so it stays circular under its own weight.
Angel
Intermediate1 hour
Cone body, flat wings, ball head. Stiffen the wings only.
Reindeer
Intermediate1 hour
Amigurumi head with separate antlers. The antlers need wire inside to stay up.
Snowman
Easy50 min
Two stacked balls. Weight the lower one with a few beads so it hangs upright.
Mitten
Beginner25 min
A flat mitten shape. Make two and join them with a chain.
Stocking
Easy40 min
Worked in the round from the cuff down, small enough for a chocolate coin.
Gift box
Beginner30 min
A stuffed cube with a surface slip stitch ribbon across two faces.
Holly sprig
Beginner20 min
Two leaves and three bobbles, pinned at an angle rather than flat.
Gingerbread man
Easy50 min
Two flat pieces lightly stuffed, with white chain stitch piped on as icing.
Hanging them so they sit straight
| Shape | Attach loop at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Snowflake | Any point | Symmetrical, so any point balances |
| Star | A point, never an inner angle | An inner angle tilts it about 20 degrees |
| Tree | The very top centre | Off centre by 2 mm and it leans visibly |
| Stocking | The back of the cuff | The toe is heavy and pulls it forward otherwise |
| Snowman | Through the top ball only | A loop through both makes it fold |
Use thin ribbon rather than yarn for anything flat and stiffened. Yarn twists as it hangs and a stiffened snowflake spends half the season edge-on to the room.
Questions
What is the easiest Christmas ornament to crochet?
A flat heart or a five-point star. Both are worked in rows or one round, and neither needs stuffing or seaming.
Do crochet ornaments need to be stiffened?
Flat ones do or they curl within a week. Stuffed ones do not.
What weight yarn for tree ornaments?
Cotton thread for snowflakes and lace, DK cotton for everything else. Worsted works but the detail gets lost.
How do I stop an ornament spinning on the tree?
Attach the loop at the balance point rather than the top. Hold it by a thread first and move the thread until it hangs level.
Can I store them in the loft?
Cotton yes, in a sealed box with the flat ones laid between sheets of tissue. Wool needs a moth deterrent or it will not survive the year.
How many ornaments does a tree need?
About 20 for a six foot tree if they are the only decoration, or 10 mixed with bought ones.