A small angel ornament built almost entirely from roll stitches, which is what gives it the soft, feathery look that sets it apart from a flat crocheted shape. Two different sizes of roll stitch are used together, so the texture varies across the piece rather than reading as one uniform surface.
Skill level: easy. Designed by Bonnie Pierce.
About roll stitches
A roll stitch is made by wrapping the yarn around the hook many times – often ten or more – and then drawing the hook through all those wraps at once. The result is a fat, coiled bar that sits proud of the fabric.
They have a reputation for being fiddly, and it is deserved on the first few attempts. Two things make them much easier. Keep the wraps loose and evenly spaced along the hook rather than bunched tight; a tight wrap will not let the hook through. And use a hook with a shallow throat, since a deeply grooved hook catches on the wraps as you pull it.
Work half a dozen practice roll stitches on a scrap before starting the angel. Once the motion clicks it is quick, and the whole ornament works up in an evening.
Yarn
A smooth yarn in white or cream shows the stitch texture best. Anything fuzzy will hide the roll stitches, which are the entire point of the design. A thread or fine cotton makes a more delicate ornament; a light worsted makes a chunkier one that reads clearly from across a room.
A strand of metallic thread held alongside the main yarn catches the tree lights nicely without overwhelming the texture.
Finishing
Stiffen the finished angel if you want it to hold its shape on the tree year after year. A light spray starch is enough for most ornaments, and unlike a full stiffening solution it can be redone easily when the ornament comes out of storage looking flat.
