Knit up a festive Christmas tree to decorate for the holidays! This works well as decorative pillows, decor and gifts!
Find the ad-free PDF in my shop here!
Design Story and Inspiration for This Knit Christmas Tree
Every year since 2019 I’ve run a Holiday Maker’s Challenge, where we all work together to finish our handmade Christmas gifts and there are 8 FREE downloadable pattern PDF’s that make great gifts!
This year I knew I wanted to knit a Christmas tree so I set out to design one that had texture both in the trunk and in the tree itself. The trunk is an easy slip stitch pattern and the tree is the bubble stitch.
The knit 4 below may look intimidating, but it’s really not! Once you get the hang of it you will be surprised how easy it is to get this texture. (I’ve included a helpful video for this stitch below).
Yarn Options for Your Christmas Tree
This tree pattern is written for worsted weight yarn to use up your stash. I used two different worsted yarns for this pattern – Premier Just Yarn Tweed for the trunk (this yarn is from the Dollar Tree!) and Knit Picks Heatherly for the tree because the green was just perfect for this.
Use any worsted weight yarn you wish, or if you want a larger or smaller tree feel free to use any weight yarn you want. Look for the recommended needle size and go down one or two for tighter stitches so that the bit of fiberfill in the middle doesn’t show through.
Before we begin… Let’s get Social!
I would love for you to come follow me on
Instagram (get sneak peeks of what’s coming up!)
My Facebook Page (come join the fun!)
Follow me on Pinterest (I pin tons of free patterns to my boards!)
Join my Facebook group (lots of awesome crochet talk there)
Also, you can find me on Ravelry or join my subscribers on YouTube.
Want to Download This Pattern FREE? Join the Challenge!
Get this and seven other giftable patterns absolutely free to download when you join our Holiday Maker’s Challenge! Just sign up using the box below.
Knit Christmas Tree
What You’ll Need
Yarn: 2 colors worsted weight yarn (category #4), yarn used in sample is Premier Just Yarn Tweed for trunk (CC) and Knit Picks Heatherly for tree (MC)
Needles: US Size 7 (4.50mm)
Notions: Polyester fiberfill, yarn needle, scissors, 4.50mm crochet hook if attaching with single crochet
Finished Size: Approximately 12” tall by 10.5” wide
Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
Knit Stitch (k)
Purl Stitch (p)
Slip slip knit (ssk) – slip first stitch knitwise, slip second stitch purlwise, insert left hand needle into sts and knit together as one (1 st decreased).
Knit 2 Together (k2tog) – insert needle into next 2 sts and knit as one.
Knit 4 Below (k4b) – take stitch off left hand needle, unravel 4 stitches (you will have 4 yarn “ladders”), insert right hand needle into the next st under the ladders, then insert the needle under all of the ladders. Wrap yarn around like a regular knit stitch and pull under the 4 ladders and under the st on needle. (Please see this video tutorial if you need help with this stitch)
3 Stitch Decrease (3stdec) – Insert yarn into first 2 sts as if to k2tog, slip to right hand needle, knit next st, pass 2 slipped sts over knit st (2 sts decreased).
Find the ad-free PDF in my shop here!
PATTERN (Make 2)
With CC for trunk, cast on 15 sts.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2: K1, *sl 1 wyib, k1; repeat from * to end.
Row 3: P1, *sl 1 wyif, p1; repeat from * to end.
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: K2, *sl 1 wyib, k1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 7: P2, *sl 1 wyif, p1; repeat from * to last st, p1.
Row 8: Repeat row 6.
Rows 9-16: Repeat rows 1-8.
Place stitches on holder.
TREE
Row 1 (WS): Using the cable cast on, cast on 16 sts, purl across the WS of 15 sts of trunk, cast on 16 sts – 47 sts.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3 and all odd rows: Purl
Row 4: Knit
If you need help with the bubble stitch, please see this video tutorial (especially for the knit 4 below).
Row 6: K3, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to end.
Row 8: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 45 sts.
Row 10: Knit
Row 12: K1, ssk, k1, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 5 sts, k4b, k1, k2tog, k1 – 43 sts.
Row 14: Knit
Row 16: Repeat row 8 – 41 sts.
Row 18: K4, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 20: Repeat row 8 – 39 sts.
Row 22: Knit
Row 24: K1, ssk, k2, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 6 sts, k4b, k2, k2tog, k1 – 37 sts.
Row 26: Knit
Row 28: Repeat row 8 – 35 sts.
Row 30: K5, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 32: Repeat row 8 – 33 sts.
Row 34: Knit
Row 36: K1, ssk, k3, *k4b, k3, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 31 sts.
Row 38: Knit
Row 40: Repeat row 8 – 29 sts
Row 42: K2, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k4b, k2.
Row 44: Repeat row 8 – 27 sts.
Row 46: Knit
Row 48: K1, ssk, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k4b, k2tog, k1 – 25 sts.
Row 50: Knit
Row 52: Repeat row 8 – 23 sts.
Row 54: K3, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to end.
Row 56: Repeat row 8 – 21 sts.
Row 58: Knit
Row 60: K1, ssk, k1, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 5 sts, k4b, k1, k2tog, k1 – 19 sts.
Row 62: Knit
Row 64: Repeat row 8 – 17 sts.
Row 66: K4, *k4b, k3; repeat from * to last 5 sts, k4b, k4.
Row 68: Repeat row 8 – 15 sts.
Row 70: Knit
Row 72: K1, ssk, k2, k4b, k3, k4b, k2, k2tog, k1 – 13 sts.
Row 74: Knit
Row 76: Repeat row 8 – 11 sts.
Row 78: K5, k4b, k5.
Row 80: Repeat row 8 – 9 sts.
Row 82: Knit.
Row 84: Repeat row 8 – 7 sts.
Row 86: Repeat row 8 – 5 sts.
Row 88: K1, 3stdec, k1 – 3 sts.
Bind of purlwise.
Finishing
Block pieces to same size.
Join with a round of single crochet (as seen in photos) or using a whip stitch or the mattress stitch with wrong sides together. Stuff lightly while joining.
If using single crochet to join, work a sc stitch into every other row to keep from getting bumpy edges.
Weave in ends.
More Giftable Free Patterns You’ll Love
Final Thoughts on the Knit Christmas Tree Pattern
I hope you’ve enjoyed this free knitting pattern! I had a blast creating this one and did most of the knitting on a road trip to the Smoky Mountains. It was a great pattern for a road trip, not too easy, but not so difficult it was hard to keep up with.
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
