Learning how to make a Ruffle Crochet Christmas Tree is simple with the free pattern and video tutorial below. The pattern includes three sizes, so you can make a coordinating set for mantels, shelves, tables, Christmas villages, and other holiday displays.
The trees are worked in continuous rounds using simple crochet stitches, with textured ruffle rounds added throughout to create the layered tree shape. I used two strands of Lion Brand Rewind Tape Yarn held together, which gives the trees a structured, slightly woven look while still keeping the ruffles soft and full.
The finished trees can stand on their own, but I recommend adding a foam cone or rolled cardstock insert for extra stability, especially for the Large size.
They look beautiful left simple, which really lets the texture of the ruffles and yarn stand out.
If you like this style, you may also enjoy my Crochet Christmas Bell Ornament, another simple holiday project made with Lion Brand Rewind Tape Yarn.
Let’s get started!
📌 Love this Christmas Tree pattern? Save this image to your favorite Christmas crochet board on Pinterest so you can easily find it later!
Ways to Style Your Ruffle Christmas Trees
Display the trees together on a mantel, shelf, tray, or sideboard, or separate them throughout your home for simple Christmas and winter decor.
I especially like them grouped in sets of three so you can see the different heights and ruffle layers together.
Optional Finishing Touches
Battery-operated fairy lights work really well with these trees. I wrapped mine around the paper cone inside the tree, which keeps the wire hidden while still letting the lights shine through.
You can also wrap the lights around the outside if the wire blends in with your yarn.
Optional Support
The trees can stand on their own, but a foam cone or rolled cardstock insert will give them extra stability and help them hold their shape—especially the Large size.
If you’re using foam cone forms, I used #6 (2.75″ x 6″), #9 (3.7″ x 8.9″), and #12 (3.8″ x 11.9″) cones. The #12 cone is slightly narrower than the base of the Large tree, but it still works well for added support.
Paper Cone Insert
For a less expensive alternative to a foam cone, roll a piece of thick cardstock or poster board into a cone and adjust it to fit inside the finished tree.
Make the paper cone slightly smaller than the inside of the tree so it slides in easily without stretching the crochet. Secure the overlap with tape, trim the bottom so it sits flat, then slide the insert inside.
Large Tree Example
For the Large tree shown below, I used two sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ 90 lb kraft cardstock taped together. It provided plenty of support and cost much less than a foam cone.
Choosing Your Tree Yarn
The pattern is written using two strands of Lion Brand Rewind Tape Yarn held together. Rewind is a size 5 bulky polyester tape yarn with a lightweight, slightly textured finish. The colors shown are Olive You and Willow.
You can grab the exact yarn I used here:
Lion Brand Yarn
Amazon
Yarn Alternatives
You can substitute another size 5 yarn held double or a comparable size 6 yarn. Results may vary depending on the yarn used, so for best results, choose a yarn that creates a firm, tight stitch and has enough structure to help the trees hold their shape.
Sizing
The pattern includes three sizes:
Small – Approximately 7.5″ tall x 5.5″ wide
Medium – Approximately 11″ tall x 6.5″ wide
Large – Approximately 13″ tall x 7.5″ wide
Pattern Gauge — Working in the Round
First 3 rounds in pattern = 2″ across using an L/11 (8mm) hook.
The first 3 rounds will begin to curl as the top of the tree takes shape. Gently flatten them as much as possible when checking gauge.
Please be sure to check your gauge before starting, as tension can vary from person to person and depending on the yarn used.
Pattern Details
- Skill Level: Easy
US Stitch Key Terms
- beg – beginning
- BLO – back loop only
- ch(s) – chain/chains
- ch2p – chain two picot
- FLO – front loop only
- hdc – half double crochet
- rnd(s) – round/rounds
- slst – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- st(s) – stitch/stitches
- tr – treble crochet
✂️ Materials & Supplies Needed
Grab everything you need to make your Ruffle Crochet Christmas Trees:
- Yarn: Size 5 Bulky Yarn — 2 strands held together; I used Lion Brand Rewind Tape Yarn
- Small Tree Yardage: Approximately 122 yards
- Medium Tree Yardage: Approximately 218 yards
- Large Tree Yardage: Approximately 336 yards
- Crochet Hook: Size L/11 (8mm) Crochet Hook, or size needed to meet gauge
- Notions: Tapestry Needle, Flexible Measuring Tape, Scissors, and Stitch Marker
- Optional Support: Foam Cone Forms — #6 (2.75″ x 6″), #9 (3.7″ x 8.9″), and #12 (3.8″ x 11.9″), or cardstock/poster board for making a lightweight cone insert
- Optional Finishing Touch: Battery-operated fairy lights
Special Stitches
Invisible join
After completion of the last stitch of the round, fasten off. With a tapestry needle, weave tail under both loops of the 1st stitch of the round, to create a false stitch, then weave through the back loop of the last stitch of the round. Weave in ends.
Treble or Triple Crochet (tr)
Yarn over twice, insert hook into stitch and draw up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through first two loops on hook, yarn over again and pull through next 2 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through last two loops on hook.
Chain Two Picot (ch2p)
Chain two, slip stitch in back hump of second chain from hook – one picot created. The ch2p is a decorative stitch only and does not count toward the final stitch count of the round.
Ruffle Crochet Christmas Tree Video Instructions
Prefer a video walkthrough? Grab your hook and crochet along with the step-by-step video tutorial below. I’ll show you how to work the tree in continuous rounds, create the ruffle sections, and finish the Small, Medium, and Large sizes.
Ruffle Crochet Christmas Tree Written Instructions
- Use two strands of yarn held together.
- Do not join at the end of each rnd unless otherwise noted. Use a st marker to mark the 1st st of each rnd.
- When working a FLO/Ruffle round, place a st marker in the 1st unworked back loop to mark the start of the following rnd.
- The ch2p is decorative and does not count toward the final st count of the rnds.
Sizes Small, Medium & Large
Rnd 1. Create a magic circle, ch1, work 6sc in circle. (6sc)
Rnd 2. Sc around. (6sc)
Rnd 3. *Sc in next st, 2sc in next st, repeat from * around. (9sc)
Rnd 4. Sc around. (9sc)
Weave in beg tail.
Rnd 5 (Ruffle). Working in FLO, sc in next st, *(tr, ch2p) in next st, sc in next 2sts, repeat from * until 2sts remain, (tr, ch2p) in next st, sc in last st. (9sts)
Rnd 6. Ch1 (does not count as a st), working in unworked back loops from previous rnd, sc in 1st unworked back loop and in each back loop around. (9sc)
Rnd 7. *Hdc in next 2sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (12hdc)
Rnd 8 (Ruffle). Working in FLO, *(hdc, ch2p) in next st, sc in next st, repeat from * around. (12sts)
Rnd 9. Repeat rnd 6. (12sc)
Rnd 10. *Hdc in next 3sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (15hdc)
Rnd 11 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 5. (15sts)
Rnd 12. Repeat rnd 6. (15sc)
Rnd 13. *Hdc in next 4sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (18hdc)
Rnd 14 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 8. (18sts)
Rnd 15. Repeat rnd 6. (18sc)
Rnd 16. *Hdc in next 5sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (21hdc)
Rnd 17 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 5. (21sts)
Rnd 18. Repeat rnd 6. (21sc)
Rnd 19. *Hdc in next 6sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (24hdc)
Rnd 20 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 8. (24sts)
Rnd 21. Repeat rnd 6. (24sc)
Rnd 22. *Hdc in next 7sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (27hdc)
Rnd 23 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 5. (27sts)
Size Small Continued
Rnd 24. Working in unworked back loops from previous rnd, tightly slst in each st around, join with invisible join method. (27slst)
Weave in loose ends and use your hands to shape nicely. Your size Small tree is complete, enjoy!
Sizes Medium & Large Continued
Rnd 24. Repeat rnd 6. (27sc)
Rnd 25. *Hdc in next 8sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (30hdc)
Rnd 26 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 8. (30sts)
Rnd 27. Repeat rnd 6. (30sc)
Rnd 28. *Hdc in next 9sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (33hdc)
Rnd 29 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 5. (33sts)
Rnd 30. Repeat rnd 6. (33sc)
Rnd 31. *Hdc in next 10sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (36hdc)
Rnd 32 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 8. (36sts)
Size Medium Continued
Rnd 33. Working in unworked back loops from previous rnd, tightly slst in each st around, join with invisible join method. (36slst)
Weave in loose ends and use your hands to shape nicely. Your size Medium tree is complete, enjoy!
Size Large Continued
Rnd 33. Repeat rnd 6. (36sc)
Rnd 34. *Hdc in next 11sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (39hdc)
Rnd 35 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 5. (39sts)
Rnd 36. Repeat rnd 6. (39sc)
Rnd 37. *Hdc in next 12sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (42hdc)
Rnd 38 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 8. (42sts)
Rnd 39. Repeat rnd 6. (42sc)
Rnd 40. *Hdc in next 13sts, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * around. (45hdc)
Rnd 41 (Ruffle). Repeat rnd 5. (45sts)
Rnd 42. Working in unworked back loops from previous rnd, tightly slst in each st around, join with invisible join method. (45slst)
Weave in loose ends and use your hands to shape nicely. Your size Large tree is complete, enjoy!
Your Ruffle Crochet Christmas Trees are complete! If you try the pattern, I’d love to see your finished trees. Be sure to tag me @simplymadebyerin so I can see what you make.
🎄 Explore More Free Christmas Crochet Patterns
Looking for more Christmas crochet ideas? Browse these free pattern collections for more ornaments, holiday décor, crochet trees, and quick seasonal projects:
- Free Crochet Christmas Ornament Pattern Collection
- Free Crochet Christmas Patterns: The Ultimate Holiday Collection
- Unique Crochet Christmas Gift Ideas
