Introducing the Crocheted Light-Up Christmas Tree pattern, a delightful homage to the nostalgic tabletop ceramic trees of the 1950s. This unique creation incorporates crocodile scales to add depth and structure, creating a charming and festive centerpiece for your holiday décor. The crochet crocodile scales lend a three-dimensional quality to the tree, giving it a playful and textured appearance. This crocheted version brings a handmade touch to the classic ceramic design, infusing your space with both vintage charm and modern craftsmanship.

Time:  Weekend Project

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Size

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky (100% acrylic; 108 yards [99 meters]/100 grams): #28237 dark green (MC, 5 balls)

Hook/Needles: US size J/10 (6.0 mm) hook

Notions: 50 LED Battery 16 foot Operated Christmas Lights, one strand,

#F5337CL  15-inch strand glass, opaque gold 7-8mm round beads, 2 strands from www.firemountaingems.com, 4.8-inch x 11.9-inch foam cone, tapestry needle, hand sewing needle and dark green thread, 3″ x3″ gold colored star (this particular star is a foam vase-filler/table-scatter star)

Special Stitches

V-st: (Dc, ch 1, dc) in indicated stitch.

Crocodile Scale: Ch 3, 5 dc from top to bottom around left post of indicated V-st, ch 3, insert hook from right to left through front lp of last dc made and in next lp below front lp of same dc, yo, pull lp up through all 3 lps on hook to form picot, work 6 dc from bottom to top around right post of same V-st.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up.

Chain-3 (ch 3) at beg of rnds counts as a double crochet stitch.

Pattern

Tree

Rnd 1: Ch 60, sl st in end ch to form a ring, ch 3 (see Pattern Notes), dc in each ch around, join in top of beg ch-3. (60 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 4, dc in same place (beg V-st made), sk next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st (2-dc group made), sk next 2 sts, [V-st (see Special Stitches) in next st, sk next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, sk next 2 sts] around, join in 3^rd ch of beg ch-4.  (10 V-sts, 10 2-dc groups)

Rnd 3: Sl st in center of same beg V-st, [crocodile scale (see Special Stitches) in same V-st, turn work to WS, sl st in center of next 2-dc group, sl st in center of next V-st, turn to RS] around, ending last sl st in center of first crocodile scale made, turn to RS. (10 crocodile scales)

Rnd 4: Working in centers of crocodile scales and over sl sts in center of each 2-dc group, ch 1, sc in same crocodile scale, ch 3, sc in center of next 2-dc group, [ch 3, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, sc in center of next 2-dc group] around, join in beg sc. (20 sc)

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same place (beg 2-dc group made), sk next 3 chs, V-st on next st, [sk next 3 chs, work 2 dc in next st, sk next 3 chs, V-st in next st] around, sk last 3 chs, join in top of beg ch-3. (10 V-sts, 10 2-dc groups)

Rnd 6: Turn to WS, sl st in first V-st, [turn to RS, crocodile scale in same V-st, turn to WS, sl st in center of next 2-dc group, sl st in center of next V-st] around, ending last sl st in center of first crocodile scale made, turn to RS. (10 crocodile scales)               

Rnds 7-12: Rep rnds 4-6 twice.

Rnd 13: Working in centers of crocodile scales and over sl sts in center of each 2-dc group, ch 1, sc in same place, ch 3, *sc in center of next 2-dc group, ch 3, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, sc in next 2-dc group, ch 3, sk next crocodile (dec made), sc in next 2-dc group, ch 3, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, sc in next 2-dc group, ch 3, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, sk next 2-dc group*, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, rep from * to * once, join in beg sc. (16 sc)

Rnd 14: Rep rnd 5. (8 V-sts, 8 2-dc groups)

Rnd 15: Rep rnd 6. (8 crocodile scales)               

Rnds 16-24: [Rep rnds 4-6] 3 times.

Rnd 25:  Working in centers of crocodile scales and over sl sts in center of each 2-dc group, ch 1, sc in same place, ch 3, *sc in center of next 2-dc group, ch 3, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, sk next 2-dc group, sc in next crocodile, ch 3, sc in next 2-dc group, ch 3, sc in next crocodile scale, ch 3, sk in next 2-dc group*, sc in next crocodile scale rep from * to * once , join in beg sc. (12 sc)

Rnd 26: Rep rnd 5. (6 V-sts, 6 2-dc groups) 

Rnd 27: Rep rnd 6. (6 crocodile scales)

Rnds 28-30: Rep rnds 4-6 once.

Rnd 31: Working in centers of crocodile scales and over sl sts in center of each 2-dc group, ch 1, sc in same place, ch 3, [sk next crocodile scale, sc in center of next 2-dc group, ch 3] around, ending with sk next crocodile scale, join in beg sc.  (6 sc)

Rnd 32: Ch 3, dc in same place, sk next 3 chs, V-st in next st, [sk next 3 chs, 2-dc group in next st, sk next 3 chs, V-st in next st] around, join in top of beg ch-3. (3 V-sts, 3 2-dc groups)

Rnd 33: Rep rnd 6. Fasten off leaving a 12-inch tail. (3 scales)                                                                                                                                     

Liner

Rnd 1: Ch 38, join in end of ch to form a ring, ch 3, dc in each st around, join. (38 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc around, dec 2 sts evenly spaced. (36)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in each st around.

Rnds 4-13: Rep rnds 2-3 alternately 5 times. (26)

Rnds 14-16: Rep rnd 2. (20 dc at end of rnd 16.)

Rnd 17: Ch 3, dc around, dec 6 sts evenly spaced. (14 dc)

Rnd 18: Ch 3, [dc dec in next 2 sts] around to last st, sk last st, join in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off leaving a 12” tail. (7 dc).

Finishing

Thread liner yarn tail through tapestry needle, weave needle through tops of rem sts, pull tightly to close and knot end to secure. Pull end to WS of Liner.  Place Liner over styrofoam cone.

Thread tree yarn tail through tapestry needle, weave needle through centers of crocodile scales, pull yarn tightly to close and knot end to secure. Pull ends to WS of Tree.

Use hand sewing needle and thread to sew 1 bead to tip of each crocodile scale.

With tree RS facing and working inside tree, beg with end of light strand opposite from battery pack, insert tip of first light up through center top of tree, insert tip of next light in any sc of rnd 34, [insert tip of light through next sc] around, working in circular fashion around tree in sc rnds, rep from [ ] to bottom of tree. Slide tree over liner (which already is covering the styrofoam cone). Insert battery pack between WS of tree and liner for storage during and between uses. Top tree with gold star or other ornament for tree topper.