crochet a granny christmas tree - free pattern and video tutorial

I designed these little cuties for my next crochet class which is a Christmas Crochet Workshop on Saturday 5th December at Artesano in Reading. Yahoosers!! There better be some mince pies on offer, I'll need to be fuelled up and ready for intensely Christmassing all day because there's something about the festive season that sucks all your energy out super fast. Perhaps the elves siphon it off, sneaky bleeders.

It meant I got to do cool Christmas stuff, so much cool Christmas stuff,  in November which means I'm already in the festive spirit, have been for ages, and presently in a right good mood about it too. This also means that I will crash and burn and be sick of the sight of baubles, mince pies and fat men in red outfits by Boxing Day.

I have also outdone (and overworn) myself by doing a video tutorial for this pattern. I wish I could say it was a pleasing experience but GAH!

Thing is, it looks easy, you feel it should be relatively straightforward but blimey I have had days of intense brain pain trying to figure it all out. The best way to do this, the best way to do that, where to put my hands, how to not sound so wooden, how not to sound so bossy, wishing my nail varnish hadn't chipped, wondering why my cuticles look like a tiny rodent gnaws on them at night. Pressure. And then I finally got a good take (ha! like so pro, I know all the lingo and everything), and my bloody stomach rumbles all the way through, really loudly and really farty - so embarrassing, here it is for all your viewing pleasure (and my squirming, hide behind a pillow, never-ending shame!), make sure you click to view the HD version otherwise it looks a bit squiffy.

If you don't want to listen to me wittering on for ages, making gross noises with my intestines and crocheting like a weirdo then the pattern is written out for you below.

Granny Christmas Tree Pattern

Using any, fairly stiff, yarn, because soft, floaty yarn will not make the grade on this one kids, and a corresponding hook, ch4 and join with a ss to form a loop.

Round. 1. ch2, 2tr, ch2, 3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch2 and join with a ss to top of beg. ch2. (3 groups of 3tr).

Round 2. ss across 2 sts and into next ch2 space (to get yourself in the right position), (ch2, 2tr, ch2, 3tr) in that first space, ch2, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in the next ch2 space, ch2, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in the final ch2 space, ch2 and join with a ss to top of beg. ch2.

Round 3. ss across 2sts and into next ch2 space. ch2, 2tr, ch2, 3tr into that space, ch2, 3tr into middle space, ch2, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) into next corner space, ch2, 3tr into middle space, ch2, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) into final corner space, ch2, 3tr into middle space, ch2 and join with a ss to top of beg. ch2. Break off yarn.

Round 4. Rejoin the same yarn into the space you finished on (the one you just broke the yarn off from, I know it doesn't make sense but just humour me), ch2, 2tr, ch2, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) into the top corner which is now the top of your Christmas Tree, ch2, 3tr into next side space, break off yarn. Your tree is done.

Tree Bottom. To create a cute little tree bucket (or whatever), choose a contrasting yarn and join it into the space right up close to the central bottom group of 3trs and ch2. 1tr into each of the 3trs and 1tr into the next space, ch1, turn.

Work 1dc into each of the 5trs across, break off yarn.

And you are done.

Hurrah.

Now you just need to sew in your ends and block the tree, it does need some blocking to pull it into shape and sharpen up those corners?! triangular points?! Whatever.

If you want to make your tree a bit special then add some beads, it looks fancy.

The video should be finished and embedded (after the stress of recording, I'm now stressing over the editing) soon so watch this space.

If you live near Reading and want to join us on Saturday 5th December then Artesano is currently offering a 20% discount so book now to avoid disappointment. See you there.