What could be more classic than the bottle brush Christmas tree ornament? Crochet your very own keepsake using size 10 crochet cotton. You’ll even learn how to make your own bottle brush tree out of yarn.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished measurements (of assembled car) are 3¾” length x 2¼” width

Gauge: 40 sc and 46 rows = 4” [10 cm] in patt after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn:

 Nazli Gelin Garden 10 (100% Egyptian Giza Mercerized Cotton; 306 yards [280 meters]/50 grams): 700-51 Lilac (A), 1 ball; 700-01 White (B), 1 ball; 700-19 Black (C), 1 ball; 700-52 Purple (D), 1 ball; 700-48 Green (E), 1 ball.

Hook: US size 8 (1.5 mm): steel

Notions: Tapestry needle; 10” piece of flexible wire; pliers; small piece of cork; small piece of white felt; 18” of linen yarn; fabric glue; polyester stuffing

Car Pattern

Side (make 2)

With A, ch 37.

Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, turn – 36 hdc.

Rows 2-7: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Row 8: Ch 1, sc in first 24 sc, turn – 12 sc rem unworked on this end for Front of Car.

Row 9: Ch 1, sc in first 17 sc, turn – 7 sc rem unworked on this end for Back of Car.

Rows 10-13: Ch 1, sc in each of next 17 sc, turn.

Row 14: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc2tog, sc in each sc to last 3 sc, sc2tog, turn, sc in last sc, turn – 15 sc.

Row 15: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc2tog, sc in each sc to last 3 sc, sc2tog, turn, sc in last sc, turn – 13 sc.

Fasten off.

Bottom of Car

With A, ch 18.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, turn – 17 sc.

Rows 2-40: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. Fasten off.

Top of Car

With A, ch 18.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, turn – 17 sc.

Rows 2-66: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. Fasten off.

Tires (make 4)

With C, beg with adjustable ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join with sl st to beg sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, join with sl st to beg sc – 12 sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around, join with sl st to beg sc – 18 sc.

Switch to B.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around, join with sl st to beg sc – 24 sc.

Switch to C.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around, join with sl st to beg sc – 30 sc.

Rnd 6: Ch 1, hdc in each sc around, join with sl st to beg hdc.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in each hdc around, join with sl st to beg sc.

Rnd 8: Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog) around, join with sl st to beg sc – 24 sc.

Rnd 9: Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog) around, join with sl st to beg sc – 18 sc.

Rnd 10: Ch 1, (sc in next sc, sc2tog) around, join with sl st to beg sc – 12 sc.

Fasten off leaving 8” tail.

Weave tail in and out of rem sc, pull taut.

Bottle Brush Tree

Fold 10” piece of wire in half, forming a loop in the fold. Cut 400, 4” pieces of E. Spread out the 4” pieces of E over one half of the wire, beginning below the loop, and ending 1½” above the open portion of the folded wire. Bring the open ends of the wire together. Hold the loop in one hand and the ends in the other hand. Twist the wire in opposite direction, thereby twisting the yarn and securing it in the wire. Use pliers instead of your fingers once the tension in the wire becomes too difficult to turn in your bare hands. Twist 15-20 times until yarn is fully secure. Trim yarn to form a tree shape. Trim ends of wire to 1”. Stick ends into piece of cork, securing with glue if necessary.

Finishing

Car Assembly

Sew sides of Bottom to lower edges of Side pieces. Sew sides of Top of Car along top and sides of Side pieces. Sew ends of Bottom to ends of Top of Car. With D, work blanket stitch along all seams.

Windows

Cut 4 pieces of felt, 1 3/8” wide x 1/2” tall. Round corners on top of all pieces. Glue a window to each side, at the front, and at the back.

Sew Tires to car. Thread linen yarn through windows. Place Tree on top of car. Wrap linen yarn around Tree, through windows again, and then back to the top of the Tree. Tie in a knot, securing Tree. Tie another knot in linen yarn 3” above first knot as hanging loop. Trim ends.