Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Book Review- Crochet Garden by Suzann Thompson

by

Do you like to crochet flowers and other small things?  Suzann Thompson clearly does!  In this lovely follow-up to her charming book, Crochet Bouquet, Thompson provides many more motifs.  I especially like the leaves she has created for this book.  There are flowers and leaves based on ‘real’ plants and some that are more imaginative than real.  Every design is worked in widely available yarns and run from truly simple to only slightly more complex, both flat and 3D.  You’ll want to add these little lovelies to all kinds of projects as appliques on garments, hand towels, and placemat and as brooches just as they are.

Thompson will show you how to turn a cascade of flowers into a pretty scarf, how to use up small amounts of your novelty or exotic yarns, and how to layer designs to add texture and interest – taking simple elements to create a lavish piece.  You’ll especially enjoy her Byzantine Beauty, her 3D Iris and Orchid, and sweet dogwood petals, her multi-sized mums, and the wide variety of leaves of all shapes.

Book Specs:

Crochet Garden

Lark Books, May, 2012

132 pages, Soft Cover

$16.95 USD

Comments

  2. I love crochet flowers! Oh if this new book has dogwood petals… I love dogwood! 🙂

  6. Wow, these would look awesome around the neckline of a plain tank top, or linked together and sewn onto the tiny straps of a camisole, the bottom of a top that could be “just a little longer”, on the legs of jeans or a few added to a pair of shorts. How about a pillow with some of them in your favorite colors? They don’t have to be the same colors as real flowers if you want to match them up to your own decor. Why not form them into a rectangle, free-form and make yourself a table scarf? A nice “doily” for your nightstand? A larger one for the dining room or kitchen table? I can think of so many uses. Decorate that plain picture frame or white dry erase board with a few that you’ve hot glued onto it? Velcro them onto a lampshade, a window blind? There’s no end to what you can do with these gorgeous flowers.

  7. I use your flowers on the hats and booties I donate for preemies in Florida. Thanks for the great designs in your first book.

  8. Where’s the link? How do I buy the book and how about the one titled Crochet Bouquet?

  12. I love crocheting flowers. I crochet scarves with left-over yarn and instead of sewing in all the loose ends, I pull and knot the ends through a crocheted flower so that they look like pistils in the center of the flower. The results are lovely and I avoid the tedium of sewing in yarn ends.

  13. I knit & crochet and these flowers would be great for embellishing hats
    and other clothing and gift items.
    Handmade flowers on baby hats…too cute!

  14. I would embellish tote bags with the flowers! And belts and shoes and greeting cards and shirts and pillows and headbands and picture frames and ……….

  15. Wow, some good ideas here. I love making flower motifs and using them in unexpected ways in embellishment. Would love this book.

  16. I could see these flowers as earrings and bracelets too. Love crocheted flowers.

  17. The flowers on the cover are so pretty! I would love to crochet all of them and stitch them together for a garland, maybe put it on a Christmas tree?

  19. Living in Washington State I know flowers are the sign the rain will be stopping. With this book I could make the flowers all winter long!

  20. I could you these on pillows, scarfs, placemats, really there are so many uses for them. Great giveaway!

  21. I like real flowers, fake flowers and crochet flowers. I have made headbands and currently working on a pillow top of loom and crochet flowers.

  22. I would love to win this book or see it in my local library.
    If I win, I will donate my copy to library after committing contents to memory.

  24. I love to crochet baby hats and this book would be perfect for adding flowers to!!

  25. I am a flower fanatic real and otherwise, and these are beautiful. I would love to make them and add them as elements in some of my fiber art/mixed media art work!

  26. I can see some of these flowers made from a cotton yarn decorating the bottom of my little grandaughter’s t-shirt with grand leaves and grass.

  27. Fantastic! Looks like a new twist on crochet flowers … just what I’m looking for!Always love a touch of crochet to cardmaking and scrapbooking projects … well a lot of other projects too!

  28. I’ve been thinking and thinking about this book – there are so many ways to use the flowers – I have some t-shiatrts that need to be perked up so that would be a start!
    A

  29. I am loving this book and want to be able to add it to my library soon (its been on my wish list for a while now). My first project would be to crochet some flowers and leaves and maybe a little vine to attach to a lampshade. My beautiful lamp fell over off the table one day, and fortunately the lamp is fine and still works, but the shade cracked underneath the fabric and you can see it when the light is on. I think the flowers would conceal this and look beautiful at the same time!

  34. Wow, these would look awesome around the neckline of a plain tank top, or linked together and sewn onto the tiny straps of a camisole, the bottom of a top that could be “just a little longer”, on the legs of jeans or a few added to a pair of shorts. How about a pillow with some of them in your favorite colors? They don’t have to be the same colors as real flowers if you want to match them up to your own decor. Why not form them into a rectangle, free-form and make yourself a table scarf? A nice “doily” for your nightstand? A larger one for the dining room or kitchen table? I can think of so many uses. Decorate that plain picture frame or white dry erase board with a few that you’ve hot glued onto it? Velcro them onto a lampshade, a window blind? There’s no end to what you can do with these gorgeous flowers.

  35. I would embellish anything I think would use flowers, placemats (one int he corner), hats, headbands, even t-shirts.

  36. There is nothing I like to crochet more than flowers! And it’s always nice to look at someone else’s designs for a change! Count me in!! Thanks for such a nice giveaway!

  37. Oh this looks wonderful! Im always looking for patterns for flowers to embellish things for my grandchildren. This looks like the thing to have!

Have you read?

14 Free Crochet Christmas Ornament Patterns for Yarn Scraps and Handmade Gifts

There is something lovely about unpacking a Christmas ornament and remembering who made it. A slightly wonky bow, a tiny crocheted hat, a little snowman with more personality than his size should allow. Those are the decorations that earn their place on the tree year after year.

These free crochet Christmas ornament patterns include miniature trees, wreaths, baubles, woodland decorations, candy cane holders and nostalgic little keepsakes. Some are easy projects for crocheters who know the basics, while others offer a little more detail for anyone who enjoys thread crochet or miniature amigurumi.

They are also a very good excuse to investigate the leftover yarn basket. You know, the one containing several almost-finished balls you have been saving for “something small”. This is something small.

Each link below takes you to the designer’s pattern page. Many offer free instructions online alongside an optional paid printable PDF, so check the page before heading straight to the shop button.

Which Crochet Christmas Ornament Should You Make First?

Here are a few starting points to help narrow down the festive temptation.

What you want to makeStart with
An easy ornament using very little yarnWhitefield Wreath
A small project without stuffingMini Santa Hat
A tiny stuffed Christmas decorationTiny Christmas Tree
An ornament that holds a treatGingerbread or Reindeer Candy Cane Holder
A textured cover for a plain baubleHopscotch Bauble
A detailed thread crochet keepsakePoinsettia Flower
A project for using odd buttonsCrochet Button Angel

Small does not always mean beginner friendly. Fine thread, tiny stitches and fiddly finishing can take more concentration than a larger project, so choose by construction as well as appearance.

Easy Crochet Ornaments and Small Yarn Projects

1. Whitefield Wreath Ornament

A little green wreath with a red bow is hard to beat for traditional Christmas charm. Banana Moon Studio’s design uses bobble stitches to create texture, giving the wreath a lovely rounded appearance.

The designer rates it easy and lists approximately 12 yards of worsted weight yarn, plus yarn or ribbon for the finishing details. The finished wreath measures about 3½ inches across.

This is a particularly useful choice when you have a small amount of green yarn left over. Make a matching group, or try cream wreaths with burgundy bows for a softer colour scheme.

Find the free crochet wreath ornament pattern at Banana Moon Studio.

2. Mini Santa Hat Ornament

GoldenLucyCrafts’ little Santa hat delivers plenty of Christmas cheer without needing a stuffed body or lots of separate pieces.

The pattern is rated easy and uses medium weight yarn with a 3.5 mm hook. The finished hat is approximately 2 inches tall after folding.

Classic red and white is an obvious choice, but a collection in pink, sage and cream would be lovely too. Keep any added decorations small so they do not overwhelm the hat.

Follow the free mini Santa hat crochet pattern at GoldenLucyCrafts.

3. Flat Crochet Christmas Bell

Hookfully’s cheerful bell has a face, rosy cheeks and a little bow. It is a good option if you like character ornaments but would rather make a flat decoration than a stuffed figure.

The designer rates the pattern easy. It uses DK weight yarn, with approximately 27 yards listed, and measures around 9.5 cm square.

For beginners, a smooth yarn will generally make the stitches easier to see than a fluffy or velvet yarn. Choose the texture you will enjoy working with, rather than struggling through something simply because it looks lovely in the photograph.

Visit Hookfully for the free flat crochet Christmas bell pattern.

4. Crochet Button Angel

Our CraftBits button angel combines crocheted pieces with ribbon, buttons and a sparkling halo. It has that lovely craft-box Christmas feeling, especially if you use a button with a little family history.

The wings begin as a small crocheted rectangle that is gathered in the middle. A separate crocheted body and the decorative pieces complete the angel.

This is a mixed craft project, so allow time for assembly as well as crochet. It is a lovely way to turn an odd button and a few yarn scraps into a keepsake.

Make your own with our crochet button angel ornament tutorial.

Tiny Amigurumi Christmas Tree Decorations

5. Tiny Crochet Christmas Tree

The Nicole Chase’s miniature tree is approximately 2 inches tall using the suggested worsted weight yarn and 4 mm hook.

This is a stuffed, three-dimensional tree worked in the round. The materials list calls for small amounts of green, brown and red yarn, making it a useful project for coordinated leftovers.

I would make a small collection in different greens, then keep the hanging loops the same colour to bring the group together. These would also look sweet tied onto wrapped gifts.

Get the free Tiny Christmas Tree crochet pattern from The Nicole Chase.

6. Tiny Snowman Ornament

A miniature snowman wearing a little hat is exactly the sort of decoration that makes people lean closer to the tree.

This design from The Nicole Chase measures approximately 2 inches and uses worsted weight yarn with a 4 mm hook. Small amounts of contrasting yarn provide the colourful details.

Choose this one if you enjoy working in the round, shaping a stuffed piece and adding finishing touches. Making several with different hat colours would give you a coordinated set without every ornament looking identical.

Find the free Tiny Snowman ornament crochet pattern.

7. Crochet Mouse Ornament

Stitch by Fay’s little mouse makes a charming addition to a woodland Christmas tree.

The pattern uses DK cotton yarn with a 2.5 mm hook, and the finished ornament measures approximately 2½ inches square, including the ears. The rounded body is worked in continuous rounds, with separate ears and decorative details.

This is a good choice for someone comfortable with small amigurumi stitches. Keep the fabric firm enough to contain the stuffing without pulling every stitch so tightly that your hands complain.

Visit Stitch by Fay for the free crochet mouse ornament pattern.

8. Crochet Mushroom Ornament

A little mushroom is a lovely alternative to the usual Santa-and-snowman selection, especially if you enjoy woodland Christmas decorations.

Yarnspirations offers this Bernat design as a free downloadable pattern, with an easy skill rating. The finished mushroom measures approximately 4 inches high and 3 inches across.

It uses Bernat Super Value yarn and stuffing. Check those measurements before planning a miniature tree, as this ornament is larger than some of the tiny projects in this collection.

Download the free Bernat crochet mushroom ornament pattern at Yarnspirations.

Crochet Candy Cane Holder Ornaments

9. Gingerbread Man Candy Cane Holder

This gingerbread decoration from A Crocheted Simplicity doubles as a candy cane holder, making it a lovely little gift with a treat attached.

The designer provides single-layer and double-layer options, so you can choose the construction that suits your project. The pattern is rated easy and uses worsted weight yarn with a 4 mm hook.

At approximately 5½ inches high, excluding the hanging loop, it is a substantial ornament rather than a tiny motif. Allow time for the face and icing details, because those are what give the gingerbread its character.

Find the free gingerbread man candy cane holder crochet pattern.

10. Reindeer Candy Cane Holder

The reindeer version from A Crocheted Simplicity is another useful option for combining a handmade ornament with a small Christmas treat.

The pattern is rated easy and uses worsted weight yarn and a 4 mm hook. The finished decoration measures approximately 4½ inches high and 2½ inches wide, excluding the hanging loop.

Instructions include an embroidered-eye option. Brown, cream and a small amount of red create the familiar festive look without requiring a large yarn purchase.

Make the free crochet reindeer candy cane holder ornament.

Detailed Crochet Christmas Ornaments and Keepsakes

11. Hopscotch Christmas Bauble

If you want to give plain baubles a handmade finish, the Hopscotch ornament from Green Fox Farms Designs adds an interesting textured cover.

The designer specifies worsted weight yarn, a 5 mm hook and a 67–70 mm plastic ornament. Allow approximately 40–50 yards of yarn.

This pattern is rated intermediate. It is a better choice for someone ready to explore the stitch pattern than for a complete beginner. Check the size of your bauble before starting, as the cover needs to fit its supporting form.

Follow the free Hopscotch bauble crochet pattern.

12. Mini Crochet Sweater Ornament

A tiny Christmas sweater is wonderfully cheerful, whether you decorate it tastefully or embrace the full ugly-sweater spirit.

Zamiguz’s design begins at the ribbed turtleneck, with the sleeves worked afterwards. The designer rates it intermediate and recommends fine or DK yarn.

The DK sample uses approximately 50 yards and measures around 3½ inches high. Embroidery offers plenty of room for personalisation, but plain stripes can be just as effective when working at this scale.

Get the free mini crochet sweater ornament pattern at Zamiguz.

13. Poinsettia Flower Ornament

Kirsten Holloway Designs’ poinsettia is a beautiful choice if you enjoy delicate thread crochet and traditional Christmas flowers.

This intermediate pattern uses size 10 crochet thread and a 1.4 mm steel hook. The finished flower measures approximately 4¼ inches across.

The materials include a blocking board and starching spray, so plan for finishing time as well as crochet. A poinsettia like this would make a lovely reusable gift topper before earning its place on the tree.

Find the free poinsettia flower ornament crochet pattern.

14. Vintage Puffy Crochet Christmas Tree

Our CraftBits puffy Christmas tree is another option for crocheters who enjoy working with thread.

The pattern lists size 10 crochet cotton and a finished height of approximately 3¼ inches. Its tiered construction creates a different look from a simple flat triangle.

Read the instructions through before starting, particularly the sections worked into the remaining loops of earlier rounds. This is one to choose when you fancy a little detail rather than a quick first crochet project.

Find the free vintage puffy crochet Christmas tree pattern on CraftBits.

Choosing Yarn for Crochet Christmas Ornaments

Start with the yarn weight specified in your chosen pattern. A small substitution can change the finished size, and that matters when a cover must fit a particular bauble.

For projects made from leftovers, sort your yarn by thickness before sorting it by colour. Two yarns that look perfect together in the basket may behave quite differently once crocheted.

If you need a few colours to pull a collection together, browse the yarn selection at Mary Maxim and match the yarn weight to your pattern. A shared cream, red or green can help a mixture of leftover colours feel intentional.

For more ideas on combining nostalgic ornaments, woodland details and festive crochet around the home, explore our Christmas crochet trends and free patterns.

Little Finishing Details That Make a Difference

Test the hanging loop before fastening it permanently. Hold the ornament up and check that it faces forwards instead of tipping sideways.

Keep stuffed ornaments light. Add enough filling to support the shape, then check how the ornament hangs.

Finish the back as carefully as the front. Tree decorations turn, and gift toppers often get inspected from every angle.

Plan for blocking. Flat shapes and thread crochet flowers may need shaping before they look their best. Follow the designer’s finishing instructions and check that any stiffening product suits your fibre.

Choose embellishments for the recipient. For decorations likely to be handled by very young children, avoid detachable small parts and use embroidered details instead.

Questions About Free Crochet Christmas Ornament Patterns

What is a good crochet Christmas ornament for beginners?

The Whitefield Wreath and Mini Santa Hat are good patterns to consider if you already know basic crochet stitches. Read the stitch list first and choose a project whose construction feels manageable.

Can I use scrap yarn for Christmas ornaments?

Yes. Many small ornaments need only modest amounts of yarn, although some use more than their size suggests. Keep enough matching yarn for repeated pieces, such as ears, sleeves or both sides of a decoration.

Do crochet ornaments need stuffing?

Some do. The tiny tree, snowman, mouse and mushroom are stuffed designs. Other projects use flat construction, an open shape or a separate supporting ornament.

Do all crochet Christmas ornaments need stiffening?

No. A stuffed figure or bauble cover generally gets its shape from its construction. Delicate thread crochet and some flat motifs may benefit from blocking or stiffening, depending on the designer’s instructions.

Can these ornaments be used as handmade gifts?

Absolutely. Tie one onto a parcel, add it to a Christmas card or make a small coordinated set. Include a note explaining that the decoration can be untied and kept.

You do not need to crochet enough ornaments for an entire tree to make something special. Start with one little wreath, one mouse or one snowman, and see where the yarn basket takes you.

A handful of handmade decorations can become the pieces everyone looks for when the Christmas boxes come out. Slightly crooked bow and all.