This free crochet Christmas garland pattern turns a few balls of green, cream, red and gold yarn into the prettiest handmade swag for your mantel. Little tiered Christmas trees, shiny gold stars and round red and cream baubles hang from a cream chain, finished with a scalloped edge and soft cream tassels. It looks boutique-bought and works up in one cozy weekend.
The garland is made from small, simple motifs, so it suits a confident beginner. Each tree is worked flat in rows, each star takes two rounds, and each bauble is a tiny sphere. Join them to a long cream chain, add the scalloped edge and tassels, and hang it with pride. If you can single crochet, increase and decrease, you can make this garland.
The finished garland measures about 150 cm (59 inches) long, including the hanging loops, so it fits a standard mantel beautifully. If you enjoyed our crochet Christmas tree pattern, this garland is the perfect companion piece — the same deep green trees, now strung together for the mantel — and it pairs beautifully with our crochet wheat stitch Christmas tree pattern.
Materials for This Crochet Christmas Garland Pattern
- Deep forest-green worsted-weight (#4) yarn, approx. 60 g — for the mini trees
- Cream worsted-weight yarn, approx. 80 g — for the chain, scalloped edge, tassels and cream baubles
- Cranberry-red worsted-weight yarn, approx. 40 g — for the red baubles
- Gold metallic or gold worsted-weight yarn, approx. 20 g — for the stars
- 4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing, a small handful — for the baubles
- Stitch markers, yarn needle and scissors
- A piece of card about 7 cm (2.75 in) wide — for winding the tassels
A smooth worsted-weight yarn in deep forest green gives the trees a rich, classic look. For more festive ideas, Briana K Designs has a lovely round-up of 36 free Christmas crochet patterns to mix with your garland. Avoid fluffy or novelty yarns: the trees and stars need crisp stitches to hold their shape.
Step 1: Crochet the Mini Christmas Trees
Start with the trees — you need five of them. With green yarn, chain 2 and single crochet in the second chain from the hook. Then work back and forth in rows, increasing by one stitch on most rows so the triangle widens gently — 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12 stitches — giving the tree its classic tiered shape, with three soft steps from tip to base.
Once the triangle is done, work a neat single-crochet edge around all three sides, placing (single crochet, chain 2, single crochet) in the tip and in each bottom corner to keep the points crisp. Then crochet a tiny trunk — chain 4, work 3 single crochet back along the chain, and repeat for two more rows — and sew it to the centre of the base. Repeat until you have five little green trees.
Step 2: Make the Gold Star Toppers
The gold stars are the quickest motif in this crochet Christmas garland pattern — each one takes only a few minutes. Make a magic ring in gold yarn and work 10 single crochet stitches into it, then pull the tail tight and join with a slip stitch. For the points, work (single crochet in the next stitch, chain 3, slip stitch in the second chain from the hook, single crochet in the next chain, skip 1 stitch, slip stitch in the next stitch) five times around. Each repeat uses two stitches from the ring, so the five points come out perfectly even.
Fasten off with a long tail for sewing and flatten each star so the points sit neatly. You need six stars in total. If your gold yarn is metallic, work slowly — it can split if you rush, and even tension keeps the points sharp.
Step 3: Crochet the Round Red and Cream Baubles
The baubles are tiny spheres worked in the round — you need eight, four red and four cream. Start with a magic ring and work 6 single crochet into it. Increase evenly over the next three rounds — 12, then 18, then 24 stitches — then work three rounds straight with no increases. This gives you a neat little ball shape.
Now decrease evenly — 18 stitches, then 12 — stuffing firmly with fiberfill before the opening gets too small. Finish with 6 decreases, fasten off, and weave the tail through the last stitches to close the hole. Each bauble should feel firm and round, about 4 cm (1.5 inches) across. Make four red and four cream.
Step 4: Work the Joining Chain and Space the Motifs
Now bring the garland together. With cream yarn, chain 182, then work one single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across — 181 stitches. This long cream chain is the backbone of the garland, so keep your tension relaxed and even; a tight chain will curl and pull the garland out of shape.
Lay the chain flat and mark every 9th stitch. Then attach the motifs in a repeating rhythm — tree, red bauble, star, cream bauble, tree — sewing each one on with its long tail. Leave a star at each end, and step back often to check the spacing: even spacing is what makes a handmade garland look professional.
Step 5: Add Tassels and a Cream Scalloped Edge
The scalloped edge is what turns this Christmas garland from simple into special. With cream yarn, join at one end and work along the bottom edge: slip stitch in the first stitch, then repeat (skip 2 stitches, work 5 double crochet in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, slip stitch in the next stitch) thirty times. Because you chained 182, the count works out exactly — 30 scallops, no leftover stitches.
Next, make five cream tassels: wrap cream yarn around your 7 cm card about 20 times, slide the bundle off, tie a short length tightly around the top, and cut the bottom loops. Wrap another short length around the neck, about 1 cm down, and trim the ends even. Sew one tassel below each tree, so they hang just below the scalloped edge.
Step 6: Attach Hanging Loops and Style the Garland on the Mantel
Almost there — your crochet Christmas garland pattern is nearly finished. At each end, chain 12 and slip stitch back into the first chain to form a hanging loop, then fasten off and weave in the end. Small clear hooks, a nail, or a length of ribbon tied around the loop will hold it.
Drape the garland across your mantel in a gentle swag, letting the centre dip a little lower than the ends. Tuck a few fresh pine sprigs behind it, as in the photo, and adjust the motifs so the trees and baubles face forward. Give the tassels a gentle shake so they hang straight, then step back and enjoy it — your handmade garland is ready for Christmas.
Tips for a Perfect Crochet Christmas Garland Pattern
- Count the chain before you start the scallops. The 30-scallop edge only works if the chain is exactly 182. Count it twice.
- Sew the motifs on before the scalloped edge. It is much easier to attach trees, stars and baubles to a plain chain than to work around the shells.
- Block the trees lightly. A quick steam with an iron held just above the fabric (never pressed flat) straightens the edges and makes them look crisp.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Crochet Christmas Garland Pattern
Is this crochet Christmas garland pattern suitable for beginners?
Yes. It uses only single crochet, double crochet, increases, decreases and a magic ring, and every motif is a small, simple shape. Make the motifs one evening and join them the next.
How long does the garland take to crochet?
Most crocheters finish in a weekend — two evenings for the motifs and one more for joining, the scalloped edge and tassels. Each motif is small, so it is also a great stash-buster.
Can I make the garland longer or shorter?
Absolutely. Add or remove chains in multiples of 6 before the single-crochet row — each extra 6 stitches adds one scallop and room for one more motif. Just re-count so the scallops still fit exactly.
What colours work best for a crochet Christmas garland?
The classic deep green, cream, cranberry red and gold suits almost any mantel. For a snowy look, try sage green with white and silver; for a rustic feel, swap the red for warm rust.
Conclusion: Your Crochet Christmas Garland Pattern Is Ready
This crochet Christmas garland pattern is a joyful, relaxing make that brings a handmade touch to your Christmas home. The little green trees, gold stars and round baubles come together on a cream chain with a pretty scalloped edge, and the garland looks just as lovely over a mantel as across a doorway or window. Download the free printable PDF pattern below, gather your yarn, and happy crocheting!
