Are you tired of the same old Christmas decorations? Looking to add a touch of handmade charm to your tree this year? Well, look no further! In this post, I'll show you how to crochet a delightful Christmas tree bauble using 4 ply sock yarn. Get ready to unleash your inner crochet wizard and create a festive masterpiece that will have everyone oohing and aahing!
What You'll Need:
Before we dive into the magical world of crocheting baubles, let's gather our supplies.
Here's what you'll need:
- 4 ply sock yarn in festive colours (because who says Christmas can't be stylish?) add some sparkly yarn for a touch of holiday glamour.
- A crochet hook (size will depend on your yarn, so check the label for guidance) but I used a 3mm Tulip Etimo Red
- A yarn needle (to weave in those pesky loose ends)
- A stitch marker (it helps to remember where you are up to when the eggnog kicks in)
- A pair of cute little scissors (the cuteness is not mandatory!)
- A small amount of stuffing (to give your bauble that plump, squishable look)
- A sprinkle of holiday cheer (optional, but highly recommended)
Why sock yarn you ask (or am I hearing things again)? Well because sock yarn comes in the most delectable colour ranges with variegation, splashes of pizazz and lots of fun. And let’s be honest I have a whole of yummy yarn available with some scrumptious Garnmanufaktur Creativo sock yarn left over from another project and I was itching for an excuse to make something with it!
Step 1: Start with a Magic Ring
Now that you have your supplies ready, it's time to work some crochet magic! To begin, create a magic ring by making an adjustable loop with your yarn. If you're not familiar with this technique, don't worry! There are plenty of tutorials online that can guide you through the process. Once you have your magic ring, you're ready to move on to the next step.
If you are still struggling with your magic ring don’t worry! You can always chain 3 and join with a slip stitch! This will act in a similar way to your magic ring although you won’t be able to close it as tightly!
Step 2: Crochet Your Way to the Top
With your magic ring in place, it's time to start crocheting!
I have a little tip here for creating a nice tight stitch that won’t be too ‘gappy’ when you fill it. Instead of ‘yarning over’ each time you insert the hook to start your single (or double crochet in UK terms) crochet stitch, ‘yarn under’ (see pic below). It really helps with these type of projects where you need to stuff them and you don’t want to see the filling!
Begin by working 6 single (double crochet in UK terms) crochet stitches into the ring. Pop a stitch marker into your first stitch.
Don’t join with a slip stitch, we will be working in the round so you will just keep going but the stitch marker helps you keep track of where you started.
You will be increasing on each round until your bauble reaches the width that you are happy with. Once you get to that point we will do a few rounds to give us the round centre of our bauble, then start our decreases.
Round 1: two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in each stitch (12)
Round 2: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the first stitch, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round (18)
Round 3: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next two stitches, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round (24)
Round 4: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next three stitches, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round (30)
Round 5: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next four stitches, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round (36)
Round 6: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next five stitches, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round (42)
Round 7: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next six stitches, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round (48)
I stopped at this point, my bauble was about 5cm across. If you would like yours to be larger all you need to do is keep increasing. That means the next round would be one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next seven stitches, two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch and repeat until the end of the round, giving you a round of 54. Each round increases by six stitches in total so you can continue increasing until you are happy with the size! Just remember that you will need to factor this in when you are doing your decreases but I will explain when we get there!
Rounds 8 - 13: Once you have finished increasing do six rounds of one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in each stitch. This will create the centre section of your bauble, now on to our decreasing!
If you increased more than I did this is where you factor it in for your decreases. You will need to decrease the same amount that you increased. For example, in my last increase round I completed six single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) then two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch, for my first decrease round I do six single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) then single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) two stitches together. If you did seven stitches then increased you will do seven stitches then two together and so on!
Round 14: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next six stitches, crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (42)
Round 15: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next five stitches, crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (36)
Round 16: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next four stitches, crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (30)
Round 17: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next three stitches, crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (24)
Round 18: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next two stitches, crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (18)
Step 3: Stuff it Up!
Now that you have almost reached the top of your bauble, it's time to give it some shape. Take a small amount of stuffing and gently stuff it into the centre of your bauble. Be careful not to overstuff, as you want your bauble to maintain its round shape. Once you're happy with the amount of stuffing, continue crocheting around the circle, enclosing the stuffing as you go.
Round 19: one single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) in the next stitch, crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (12)
Round 20: crochet two single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) together and repeat until the end of the round (6)
Step 4: Finishing Touches
Once you have finished crocheting and stuffing your bauble, it's time to put the finishing touches. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and thread it through your yarn needle. Sew a stitch under the top of each of your six single crochet stitch (double crochet in UK terms) (see pic below) and pull tightly on the tail. This will close up the top of your bauble.
To make the loop to hang your bauble chain 50. Tie the two tails together closely at the base of your chain. Using your needle sew both tails to the top of your bauble and weave in any loose ends, making sure that everything is secure.
And just like that, you've crocheted your very own Christmas tree bauble!
Step 5: Add Some Festive Flair
Now comes the fun part – adding some festive flair to your bauble! Get creative and experiment with different colors, stitch patterns, or even some sparkly embellishments. You can crochet stripes, add a cute little bow, or even create a miniature snowflake. The possibilities are endless, so let your imagination run wild!
Now that you know the secrets of crocheting a festive bauble, it's time to get started! Grab your yarn, hook, and a cup of hot cocoa (or a Gin - I’m not judging), and let the crochet magic begin. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process. Happy crocheting, and may your Silly Season be filled with warmth, joy, and lots of handmade goodness!
You are welcome to share the pattern, however please acknowledge that the design belongs to Yarn Me Calm respecting my rights as a designer, thank you! I would also love it if you tag me if you make any of my designs!
I do my best to make sure that there aren't any errors but hey, I'm human! If you do find any bugs in the pattern please don't hesitate to contact me via email so I can iron them out!
I am not perfect so I definitely make mistakes!
If you have questions about this pattern, please contact me at andrea@yarnmecalm.com.au
I hope you enjoy it!
Andrea x