Crocodile Stitch Christmas Tree ornament

Updated November 19th, 2021

Sue's CrochetandKnitting.com http://www.crochetandknitting.com

The smaller white tree was done in a lightweight yarn and a 3.5 hook. I also took some off the width by making half of the crocodile stitch on the outside edges in sc instead of dc. Height is 2.5 inches and width is about 3 and 1/4 inches at the bottom widest part. See instructions below pattern how I made this one.

MATERIALS You can use whatever size yarn you want, even make it in crochet thread if preferred. It all depends on what size you want it to be. Choose the appropriate hook size that works best for your type of yarn or thread. I made this one in worsted weight yarn as I wanted the stitches to show up good for the photos. I used a size 5 mm hook.

Make these without any decorations or add whatever you like to "trim" your tree. Height is 4 inches, width is 5 1/4 at the bottom widest part.

Abbreviations used: ch - chain dc - double crochet hdc -half double crochet tr -treble

MATERIALS You can use whatever size yarn you want, even make it in crochet thread if preferred. It all depends on what size you want it to be. Choose the appropriate hook size that works best for your type of yarn or thread. I made this one in worsted weight yarn as I wanted the stitches to show up good for the photos. I used a size 5 mm hook.

Make these without any decorations or add whatever you like to "trim" your tree. Height is 4 inches, width is 5 1/4 at the bottom widest part.

Abbreviations used: ch - chain dc - double crochet hdc -half double crochet tr -treble

Abbreviations used: ch - chain dc - double crochet hdc -half double crochet tr -treble

Abbreviations used:

Ch 22

Row 1 - 1 dc in 4th ch from hook. Ch 1, skip 2 chs and 1 dc in next ch. Ch 1, skip 2 chs, 2 dc in next ch. Repeat from * to * to end of row as in the photo below. Turn.

Row 2 - Ch 1, start working in the first pair of dc sts. You will be making your dc around the post of dc of previous row. 5 dc around the post of the first dc pair. Ch 1, (not everyone does the ch 1 but I think it looks better for the tree)

and make 5 dc around and up to the top of the post of the 2nd dc of the pair. Slip stitch in the top of the next single dc. You have now made one crocodile stitch scale.

Make your next scale in the next pair of dc sts. Slip stitch in the top of the next single crochet. Repeat this again for your last scale and slip stitch in the top of the last single crochet. This row has 4 scales. Turn.

Row 3 - Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) 2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of last scale. Turn.

Row 4 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Repeat as you did in Row 2 working scales in the pairs of dc and a slip stitch in the top of the single dcs. This row has 3 scales. Turn.

Row 5 - We are now going to taper in for the top.

Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) 2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of next scale. Turn

Row 6 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Repeat as you did in Row 2 working scales in the pairs of dc and a slip stitch in the top of the single dcs. This row has 2 scales. Turn.

Row 7 - Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1)
2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale.

Row 8 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Ch 1 in the top of the last single crochet. Turn. This row has 1 scale.

Row 9 - Ch 1, In the center of the last scale make 2 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Slip stitch in the top of corner dc of previous row scale. Fasten off.

Make a chain at the top for hanging. I chained 14 sts.

Add some "snow" by slip stitching around the edges or wherever you want. Be sure to have the front of the tree facing you when you do your slip stitching and make your sts loosely. If you don't want to break the yarn to get back to the left side of the work just slip stitch across the back to get to the other side so your sts will be worked facing you again from the front. Add some "ornaments" by sewing with a darning needle, in red heart or whatever colors you want. It only takes 2 or 3 sewn stitches to make each "ornament".

How to make a smaller Crocodile Stitch Tree.

For the smaller tree that is not as wide, I used a 3.5 mm hook and I made the crocodile stitches on each end like this:

On the dc pair on the right around the first dc post I made 4 sc, then 1 dc, ch 1. On the next dc post of the dc pair I made 5dc around the dc post. Then I made the next 2 crocodile stitches as normal by making 5 dc down the first post of the dc pair, ch1, then up the other dc post I made 5 dc.

On the left end of the tree I made the crocodile st by making 5 dc down the post of the first dc pair, ch 1, then 1 dc, 4 sc up the post of the second dc pair. I did that one each end of the crocodile stitch rows except the very top 1 crocodile st row. On that row I made 4sc, then 1 dc, ch 1 down the post of the first 2dc pair. Up the post of the 2nd 2dc pair I made 1 dc, then 4 sc.

For last row Ch 1, In the center of the last scale make 2 hdc, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Slip stitch in the top of corner dc of previous row scale. Fasten off.

Ch 22

Row 1 - 1 dc in 4th ch from hook. Ch 1, skip 2 chs and 1 dc in next ch. Ch 1, skip 2 chs, 2 dc in next ch. Repeat from * to * to end of row as in the photo below. Turn.

Row 2 - Ch 1, start working in the first pair of dc sts. You will be making your dc around the post of dc of previous row. 5 dc around the post of the first dc pair. Ch 1, (not everyone does the ch 1 but I think it looks better for the tree)

and make 5 dc around and up to the top of the post of the 2nd dc of the pair. Slip stitch in the top of the next single dc. You have now made one crocodile stitch scale.

Make your next scale in the next pair of dc sts. Slip stitch in the top of the next single crochet. Repeat this again for your last scale and slip stitch in the top of the last single crochet. This row has 4 scales. Turn.

Row 3 - Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) 2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of last scale. Turn.

Row 4 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Repeat as you did in Row 2 working scales in the pairs of dc and a slip stitch in the top of the single dcs. This row has 3 scales. Turn.

Row 5 - We are now going to taper in for the top.

Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) 2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of next scale. Turn

Row 6 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Repeat as you did in Row 2 working scales in the pairs of dc and a slip stitch in the top of the single dcs. This row has 2 scales. Turn.

Row 7 - Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1)
2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale.

Row 8 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Ch 1 in the top of the last single crochet. Turn. This row has 1 scale.

Row 9 - Ch 1, In the center of the last scale make 2 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Slip stitch in the top of corner dc of previous row scale. Fasten off.

Make a chain at the top for hanging. I chained 14 sts.

Add some "snow" by slip stitching around the edges or wherever you want. Be sure to have the front of the tree facing you when you do your slip stitching and make your sts loosely. If you don't want to break the yarn to get back to the left side of the work just slip stitch across the back to get to the other side so your sts will be worked facing you again from the front. Add some "ornaments" by sewing with a darning needle, in red heart or whatever colors you want. It only takes 2 or 3 sewn stitches to make each "ornament".

How to make a smaller Crocodile Stitch Tree.

For the smaller tree that is not as wide, I used a 3.5 mm hook and I made the crocodile stitches on each end like this:

On the dc pair on the right around the first dc post I made 4 sc, then 1 dc, ch 1. On the next dc post of the dc pair I made 5dc around the dc post. Then I made the next 2 crocodile stitches as normal by making 5 dc down the first post of the dc pair, ch1, then up the other dc post I made 5 dc.

On the left end of the tree I made the crocodile st by making 5 dc down the post of the first dc pair, ch 1, then 1 dc, 4 sc up the post of the second dc pair. I did that one each end of the crocodile stitch rows except the very top 1 crocodile st row. On that row I made 4sc, then 1 dc, ch 1 down the post of the first 2dc pair. Up the post of the 2nd 2dc pair I made 1 dc, then 4 sc.

For last row Ch 1, In the center of the last scale make 2 hdc, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Slip stitch in the top of corner dc of previous row scale. Fasten off.

Row 1 - 1 dc in 4th ch from hook. Ch 1, skip 2 chs and 1 dc in next ch. Ch 1, skip 2 chs, 2 dc in next ch. Repeat from * to * to end of row as in the photo below. Turn.

Row 2 - Ch 1, start working in the first pair of dc sts. You will be making your dc around the post of dc of previous row. 5 dc around the post of the first dc pair. Ch 1, (not everyone does the ch 1 but I think it looks better for the tree)

and make 5 dc around and up to the top of the post of the 2nd dc of the pair. Slip stitch in the top of the next single dc. You have now made one crocodile stitch scale.

Make your next scale in the next pair of dc sts. Slip stitch in the top of the next single crochet. Repeat this again for your last scale and slip stitch in the top of the last single crochet. This row has 4 scales. Turn.

Row 3 - Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) 2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of last scale. Turn.

Row 4 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Repeat as you did in Row 2 working scales in the pairs of dc and a slip stitch in the top of the single dcs. This row has 3 scales. Turn.

Row 5 - We are now going to taper in for the top.

Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1) 2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale. Ch 1, 2 dc in next slip stitch. Ch 1, 1 dc in center of next scale. Turn

Row 6 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Repeat as you did in Row 2 working scales in the pairs of dc and a slip stitch in the top of the single dcs. This row has 2 scales. Turn.

Row 7 - Ch 1, slip stitch in the center of the last scale made. Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1)
2 dc in slip stitch of previous row. Ch 1, dc in center of next scale.

Row 8 - Ch 1, skip the first dc and start working in the first pair of dc sts. Ch 1 in the top of the last single crochet. Turn. This row has 1 scale.

Row 9 - Ch 1, In the center of the last scale make 2 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Slip stitch in the top of corner dc of previous row scale. Fasten off.

Make a chain at the top for hanging. I chained 14 sts.

Add some "snow" by slip stitching around the edges or wherever you want. Be sure to have the front of the tree facing you when you do your slip stitching and make your sts loosely. If you don't want to break the yarn to get back to the left side of the work just slip stitch across the back to get to the other side so your sts will be worked facing you again from the front. Add some "ornaments" by sewing with a darning needle, in red heart or whatever colors you want. It only takes 2 or 3 sewn stitches to make each "ornament".

How to make a smaller Crocodile Stitch Tree.

For the smaller tree that is not as wide, I used a 3.5 mm hook and I made the crocodile stitches on each end like this:

On the dc pair on the right around the first dc post I made 4 sc, then 1 dc, ch 1. On the next dc post of the dc pair I made 5dc around the dc post. Then I made the next 2 crocodile stitches as normal by making 5 dc down the first post of the dc pair, ch1, then up the other dc post I made 5 dc.

On the left end of the tree I made the crocodile st by making 5 dc down the post of the first dc pair, ch 1, then 1 dc, 4 sc up the post of the second dc pair. I did that one each end of the crocodile stitch rows except the very top 1 crocodile st row. On that row I made 4sc, then 1 dc, ch 1 down the post of the first 2dc pair. Up the post of the 2nd 2dc pair I made 1 dc, then 4 sc.

For last row Ch 1, In the center of the last scale make 2 hdc, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Slip stitch in the top of corner dc of previous row scale. Fasten off.