Free star and Christmas tree knitting patterns

These charming decorations are quick to make and will add a cheerful touch to your Christmas tree – why not give a few away to friends and family, too?

Rosee has made her set using small amounts of Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight wool for a vintage feel, but any 4ply yarn should be fine, so it’s a good way to use up odds and ends in your stash basket.

The star is worked in the round, while the tree is knitted flat.

Find more of Rosee's tree decorations here, and complete the set with all these plus a heart and present in the full pattern, available on Ravelry or in The Knitter issue 50.

You will need:

Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight (4ply weight, 100% wool, 25g/115m), one ball of Pale Yellow (66) for the Star, one ball each of Dark Brown (5), Dark Green (34), Moss (FC12), Pale Green (29) for the Tree
A set of 2¾mm double-pointed knitting needles (or two short circulars/one long circular needle)
A 3mm crochet hook
A tapestry needle
Toy stuffing
20cm length of 1cm wide ribbon
Sewing needle and thread to match ribbon

Size

Star 11cm across
Tree 14cm tall

Tension

28 sts and 36 rows to 10cm, measured
over stocking stitch on 2.75mm needles.
Exact tension is not crucial.

Tree (make 2)

Using dark brown yarn, cast on 7 sts. Starting with a purl row, work in st st for 7 rows.

Change to dark green yarn. Using the backward loop method, cast on 12 sts, knit across 7 sts, cast on 12 sts. 31 sts. Next row (WS): Knit (to form ridge). Cont in st st and work 2 decs at beg and end of RS rows to 19 sts, and then 1 dec at beg and end of RS rows to 11 sts.

Change to moss yarn. Using the backward loop method, cast on 8 sts, knit across 11 sts, cast on 8 sts. 27 sts. Next row (WS): Knit (to form ridge). Cont in st st and work 2 decs at beg and end of RS rows to 15 sts, and then 1 dec at beg and end of RS rows to 9 sts.

Change to light green yarn. Using the backward loop method, cast on 6 sts, knit across 9 sts, cast on 6 sts. 21 sts. Next row (WS): Knit (to form ridge). Cont in st st and work 2 decs at beg and end of RS rows to 9 sts, and then 1 dec at beg and end of RS rows to 3 sts. Next row (WS): Sl2tog, K1, p2sso. Fasten off final st.

Working from the top down, with WS facing and changing yarn colours to match the tree as you go, oversew the outer edge of the two tree pieces together. When you have sewn the first two tiers of the tree together, make a crochet chain about 10cm long, fold it in two and knot. Using your crochet hook, pull the looped end of the chain through the top of the tree to make a hanger.

Stuff carefully, working the stuffing into the correct shape. Oversew the third tier, continuing to stuff the tree as you go. Oversew the trunk, and add more stuffing. Each decoration has a crochet chain for hanging.

For a better shape, leave the bottom of the trunk unsewn. If you have small children or pets, though, we advise sewing it shut to prevent stuffing being removed by curious hands/paws!

Star

Cast on 125 sts and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist, and place a marker.

Rnd 1: K11, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K22; rep from to last 14 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K11. 115 sts.

Rnd 2: K10, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K20; rep from to the last 13 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K10. 105 sts.

Rnd 3: K9, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K18; rep from * to last 12 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K9. 95 sts.

Rnd 4: K8, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K16; rep from * to last 11 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K8. 85 sts.

Rnd 5: K7, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K14; rep from * to last 10 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K7. 75 sts.

Rnd 6: K6, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K12; rep from * to last 9 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K6. 65 sts.

Rnd 7: K5, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K10; rep from * to last 8 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K5. 55 sts.

Rnd 8: K4, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K8; rep from * to last 7 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K4. 45 sts.

Rnd 9: K3, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K6; rep from * to last 6 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K3. 35 sts.

Rnd 10: K2, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K4; rep fro to last 5 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K2. 25 sts.

Rnd 11: K1, *Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K2; rep from * to last 4 sts, Sl2tog, K1, p2sso, K1. 15 sts.

Rnd 12: (Sl2tog, K1, p2sso) 5 times. 5 sts.

Break yarn and thread through rem sts.

With RS of star facing you, pick up and knit 125 sts around edge of first star. Rep from *** to end of Rnd 8.

Make a crochet chain about 10cm long, fold it in two and knot. Using your crochet hook, pull the looped end of the chain through a top corner of the star to make a hanger.

Stuff partially, and continue to the end of Rnd 10. Add more stuffing and work Rnds 11 and 12 as before.

Break yarn and thread through rem sts twice (for extra strength).

Weave in ends and hide the tail by pulling through the star and snipping close to the surface.

Christmas Star and Tree Knitting Patterns

Download your free pattern:

To download your free knitting pattern, click on the link below, and it will open in a new window. You can then save the pattern.

Star and tree Christmas decorations PDF

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