“Tree Full of Friends” is the perfect toy for busy little hands. Children will enjoy popping flower petals onto oversized buttons and tucking an amigurumi owl, bluebird and squirrel into the tree’s cozy little pockets. This colorful toy, which also doubles as a children’s room decoration, offers a great opportunity to use up stash yarn.

We’ll be making this wall hanging over the course of three issues, and in this first installment, we will cover crocheting the background, including the tree.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 20″ x 24″ including dowel-rod hanger

Gauge: 15 sts and 8 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Dc using larger hook

Materials (complete Part 1)

Yarn:

 Caron Simply Soft Solids (100% Acrylic; 315 yards [288 meters]/170 grams): Green (A), 1 skein; Cobalt Blue (B), 1 skein

 Red Heart Super Saver (100% Acrylic; 364 yards [333 meters]/198 grams): Platoon (C), 1 skein.

Hook: US size H/8 (5.00 mm); US size G/6 (4.00 mm)

Notions: Measuring tape; tapestry needle; pins

Abbreviations

blo = back loop only

dc3tog = decrease by double crocheting 3 stitches together

flo = front loop only

rep = repeat

RS = right side

Background

Materials

Yarn:

 Caron Simply Soft Solids (100% Acrylic; 315 yards [288 meters]/170 grams): Green (A), 42 yards; Cobalt Blue (B), 310 yards.

Hooks: US size H/8 (5.00 mm)

Notions: Measuring tape; tapestry needle

Special Stitches

Double crochet 3 together (dc3tog)

Work a double crochet in the specified stitch until two loops remain on the hook. Keeping these loops on hook, work another double crochet in the next stitch until three loops remain on hook. Work another double crochet in the next stitch until four loops remain on hook. Yarn over and pull through all remaining loops.

Pattern Notes

Change colors at the end of the row by working the last stitch in the original color until there are two loops left on your hook. Yarn over with the new color and pull it through the last two loops.

Ch 3 at start of each round counts as the first double crochet stitch.

Pattern

Background

With A, ch 64.

Row 1 (RS): Sk 3 ch (counts as first dc), dc in next ch, *dc in next 3 ch, dc3tog over next 3 ch, dc in next 3 ch**, 3 dc in next ch; rep from * to last ch, ending last rep at **, 2 dc in last ch, turn – 61 dc.

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same dc as beg 3-ch, *dc in next 3 dc, dc3tog over next 3 dc, dc in next 3 dc, 3 dc in next dc; rep from * to end, 2 dc in turning ch, turn.

Rows 3-6: Rep Row 2. Switch to B.

Rep Row 2 until fabric meas approx 23″, ending with a RS row.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first dc and next 2 dc, *hdc in next 2 dc, dc in next dc, hdc in next 2 dc, sc in next 5 dc; rep from * across, omitting the last 2 sc on final rep, turn – 61 sts.

Row 8: Ch 3, dc in flo of next st and each st across, turn – 61 dc.

Rows 9-11: Ch 3, dc in each dc across, turn.

Fold fabric over to the back to pair up the sts of Row 11 with the unused loops of Row 8.

Row 12 (RS): Ch 1, sc each set of paired sts and loops together to create a sleeve.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Treetop

Materials

Yarn:

 Caron Simply Soft Solids (100% Acrylic; 315 yards [288 meters]/170 grams): Green (A), 72 yards.

Hooks: US size G/6 (4.00 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle

Pattern Notes

Treetop is worked in joined rounds.

Ch 3 at start of each round does not count as a double crochet stitch.

Pattern

Ch 4, join with sl st in first ch to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 12 dc into ring, join with sl st to first dc – 12 dc.

Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each dc around, join with sl st to first dc – 24 dc.

Rnd 3: Ch 3, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc – 36 dc.

Rnd 4: Ch 3, *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc – 48 dc.

Rnd 5: Ch 3, *dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc  – 60 dc.

Rnd 6: Ch 3, *dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc – 72 dc.

Rnd 7: Ch 3, *dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc – 84 dc.

Rnd 8: Ch 3, *dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc – 96 dc.

Rnd 9: Ch 3, *dc in next 7 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 11 more times, join with sl st to first dc – 108 dc.

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sk next 2 sts, 5 tr in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sk next st, 5 dc in next st, sk next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * 8 more times, omitting last sc on final rep, join with sl st to first sc – 18 Shells.

Fasten off, leaving a 3-foot long tail for sewing.

Weave in other end.

Tree Trunk

Materials

Yarn:

 Red Heart Super Saver (100% Acrylic; 364 yards [333 meters]/198 grams): Platoon (C), 30 yards

Hooks: US size G/6 (4.00 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle; measuring tape

Pattern

Ch 46.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn – 45 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in blo of each sc across, turn.

Rep Row 2 until fabric meas 2½″.

Fasten off, leaving a 3-foot long tail for sewing.

Weave in other end.

Finishing

Center Tree Trunk on Background so that it just overlaps the field of green at bottom. Pin Trunk to Background. Using the long tail and tapestry needle, whip stitch Tree Trunk to Background around the outer edge.

Center Treetop at top of Tree Trunk and pin it to Background. Using the long tail, whip stitch Treetop to Background along the outer edge.

Part 2 and Part 3