Christmas Pick 'n' Mix Garland (Pt 1) - Free Pattern

One of my favourite ways to add a bit of crochet to my seasonal home decor is with a garland. I have patterns for Spring and Autum/Halloween garlands but have yet to create one for Christmas. That is until now!

When I sat down to start designing my perfect Christmas garland I had so many ideas for motifs that I could include. Initially, I tried to narrow it down to just two or three different ones but at Christmas we're allowed to indulge and be a bit excessive and over the top aren't we? It's Christmas!

As I have quite a few. motifs to include in the pattern and wanted to be able to provide some photo support for each motif, I have split this pattern into two parts.

In Part 1 (this blog post) you can find the instructions for the following motifs:

• Mini Xmas Wreath

• Holly

• Stars (small and large)

• Santa Hat

In Part 2 (available here) you will find the instructions for these motifs:

• Snowflake

• Candy Cane

• Christmas Tree

• Xmas bauble

If you would like to have the full instructions for all 8 motifs (plus an exclusive 9th motif - gingerbread man!) and instructions for turning them into a garland, all in one place then you can purchase the inexpensive PDF pattern on my website or Etsy. Use code XMASBLOG to receive 20% off !

Whether you want to have one or two of each motif on your garland or Pick 'n' Mix your favourite ones that is completely up to you! I have stuck with traditional Christmas colours of reds and greens as I do love a classic Christmas colourway but you can express your own festive style with whatever colours you choose!

The pattern below will show you how to make each of the motifs (Mini Xmas Wreath, Holly, Stars and Santa Hat) individually.

Let's get to the pattern!

Before you begin:

You will need:

• Aran/worsted/4 weight cotton yarn or yarn of your choosing

• 4mm hook or hook 1mm smaller than that suggested for the yarn

• Scissors

• Tapestry needle

Notes on yarn choice:

Here I am using Yarnsmiths Cotton Aran in colours Clover, Christmas Green (darker). Crimson, Claret Red (darker), Mustard Yellow and Cream.

Whilst I have used cotton yarn for my motifs you do not have to however, acrylic yarn may not be as sturdy. If you find that your motifs are a little floppy I would suggest sizing down your hook.

Using different weight yarns such as DK/light worsted or Super chunky yarn and their corresponding hooks would allow you to alter the size of the motifs to be larger or smaller.

Stitch Abbreviations

(US Terms)

Ch - chain

MR - magic ring/magic circle

SC - single crochet

HDC - half double crochet

DC - double crochet

2TOG - two stitches worked together to decrease

Sl st - slip stitch

St/s - stitch/es

RS - right side

WS - wrong side

Pattern Notes:

• Any special stitches required will be listed at the start of the pattern for the motif on which they are used.

• Starting chains do not count as a stitch unless specified.

• The patterns below are written with directions for the colours I have used, you can of course substitue the colours for whatever you would like to use.

The Patterns:

Mini Xmas Wreath

Using Christmas Green and a 4mm hook, ch15 and sl st to the first chain to create a circle. Be careful not to twist the chain.

Round 1 (RS):

Work 20 HDC over the chain. Sl st to the first HDC to join. Do not chain, instead pull your loop up to the height of a HDC. (20 sts)

Round 2 (WS):

*HDC into the first st, 2HDC into the next stitch* Repeat this around, sl st to first HDC to join. (30 sts)

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Adding the bow:

Take a long piece of yarn in Crimson (red) and thread it onto a tapestry needle.

Insert the needle through the space between the stitches (see photo) from the front leaving a long tail.

Weave your needle in and out of the stitches all the way around until you meet the beginning again. Ensure that you pull your yarn back through to the front.

Tie a little bow, turning your wreath around if you would like the bow at the bottom like I have, otherwise you can keep it at the top. Trim off the ends.

Note: this is the fiddliest part of the pattern! Tie a large bow and then pull the two tails to decrease the size of the loops, you can then trim off the excess tails.

Holly Leaves & Berries

Special stitches:

Picot - ch3, sl st into the 3rd ch from the hook.

Bobble stitch (DC5TOG) - YO and insert your hook into the magic ring, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). YO and pull through two loops (2 loops on hook).

*YO and insert hook into magic ring, pull up a loop. YO and pull through two loops* Repeat until you have 6 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all loops.

Holly leaves:

Make 2

Using Christmas Green and a 4mm hook, ch10

Round 1:

SC into the 2nd chain from your hook. Then work the following; 2 HDC, DC, 2DC into the next st, DC, 2 HDC and 3 SC into the final st. (12 sts so far)

This will begin to turn your work slightly, let it as you will now work back along the underside of chain.

2 HDC, DC, 2DC into the next st (this will be the same st as the 2DC from the previous row), DC, 2 HDC, and SC in the last ch.

Sl st into the first SC., This brings you back around to your first side.

Round 2:

Skip the stitch into which you sl stitched and work a SC inot the next st. Picot st from that SC.

SC in the next st and sl st into the following st. (first point created).

*(SC, picot) into the next st, followed by a SC and a sl st* repeat from *to* 4 more times.

To create your final point, (SC, picot), SC and then sl st into the final st.

You will have a total of 7 picot points.

Fasten off.

Note: Before you fasten off your second leaf, place it over the top of your first one at an andle (see photo) and sl st through the first leaf to join the two together and then fasten off.

Berries:

Using Crimson and a 4mm hook, create a magic ring.

Ch1 and into the magic ring, work a *bobble st, ch1* repeat two more times, pulling the tail of the magic ring to tighten before you work your third and final bobble stitch.

Pull tail to full close magic ring and sl st to first bobble st to join.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for joining to the leaves.

Joining together:

Insert the tail of the berries through the top of the leaves where they are joined together. Move the pieces about slightly until they are how you would like them to look and then sew the berries onto the leaves.

Weave in any ends.

Stars

Using your chosen colour and a 4mm hook, make a magic ring.

Small Star

Into the MR work 10 HDC. Sl st to first st to join.

*Ch 4, SC in 2nd chain from the hook. HDC into next ch, DC into last ch. Skip one st, sl st to next HDC along.* Repeat 4 more times to complete the star.

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Large Star

Into a MR work 15 DC. Sl st to first st to join.

*Ch 5, SC in 2nd chain from the hook. HDC into next ch, DC into next ch, TR into final ch. Skip one st, sl st to next DC along.* Repeat 4 more times to complete the star.

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

{Photos below shows large star}

Santa Hat

Using Claret Red and a 4mm hook, ch3.

Hat

Row 1:

HDC into the 2nd chain from the hook and into the final chain. Ch1 and turn. (2 sts)

Row 2:

2HDC into each of the two sts. Ch1 and turn. (4 sts)

Row 3:

HDC into each st along, ch1 and turn. (4 sts)

Row 4:

2HDC into the first st, HDC in each st until one st remaining, 2HDC into the final st. (6 sts)

Row 5:

HDC into each st along, ch1 and turn. (6 sts)

Rows 6 -7:

Repeat rows 4 and 5. (8 sts)

Row 8:

Repeat row 4 (10 sts)

Fasten off Claret Red and attach Cream.

Row 9:

SC into each st along. Ch 1 and turn. (10 sts)

Row 10:

*DC into the first st, SC into the next st* repeat along. (10 sts)

Turn your work so that the textured (bumpy) side of the final row is facing you. This is the RS of your hat.

Fasten off Cream.

Pompom

Using Cream, make a magic ring.

Into the MR, *DC, SC* 5 times. Sl st to first st to join. (10 sts)

Turn your work so that the textured (bumpy) side is facing you. This is the RS of your pompom.

Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew onto hat.

Sew the pompom onto the tip of the hat (or use a hot glue gun!) ensuring that the RS of each are facing the same way. Then weave in any ends.

That's the first 4 motifs complete! be sure to check back to the blog next week for the remaining 4 motifs and how to join your motifs together!

Coming next week:

• Snowflake

• Candy Cane

• Christmas Tree

• Bauble

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Happy crocheting!

Shelley ♡