Crochet Christmas Tree Gift Bag With a Drawstring Top
This crochet christmas tree gift bag is a small green drawstring pouch with a three tier tree, a brown trunk and a yellow star on the front. The bag is worked in the round from an oval chain base, so there are no side seams to sew, and each of the 16 steps below has a photo of the hands doing it.
One thing the gift bag roundups never tell you: small bags are hooked tighter than the yarn label suggests. In the five free gift bag patterns we checked, three designers chose a hook below the Craft Yarn Council range for their own yarn, because a tight fabric hides the gift and holds the bag’s shape.
How is the crochet christmas tree gift bag built?
The crochet christmas tree gift bag is built in two parts: a seamless bag body and a flat tree appliqué. The body starts as a chain of 18. You work double crochet along one side of the chain, turn around the end and work back along the other side, which gives an oval base of 34 stitches. Then you work round and round to 20 rounds.
The tree is three separate triangles in single crochet: a small one, a medium one and a large one. A small brown trunk and a five point star finish the tree, and a chain of 100 in red becomes the drawstring.
What do you need for a crochet christmas tree gift bag?
You need fine yarn in five colours, a 2.5 mm hook, a yarn needle and either a glue gun or a needle and thread to attach the tree.
| Spec | This gift bag |
|---|---|
| Yarn | Fine yarn: dark green body, light green tree, brown trunk, yellow star, red drawstring |
| Hook | 2.5 mm |
| Start | Chain 16 plus 2, first double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook |
| Body | 20 rounds of 34 double crochet, worked in the round |
| Tree | 3 single crochet tiers ending at 7, 13 and 19 stitches |
| Drawstring | Chain 100 |
| Extras | White yarn for snowflakes, small beads for ornaments (optional) |
| Yardage and size | Not stated in the original tutorial; see the yarn section to predict yours |
| Skill | Beginner |
Which stitches does the gift bag use?
The crochet christmas tree gift bag uses five basic stitches and one increase. There are two naming conventions for crochet stitches and we give both names, because the same word means a different stitch in each.
| Stitch in this pattern | Other convention | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Chain (ch) | Chain (ch) | Base, turning chains, drawstring |
| Double crochet (dc) | Treble (tr) | Every round of the bag body |
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) | Tree tiers, trunk, star |
| Increase (inc) | Increase (inc) | 2 sc in one stitch, at the tree edges |
| Slip stitch (sl st) | Slip stitch (ss) | Joining rounds, tree edging |
| Magic ring | Magic ring | Centre of the star |
There is no stitch multiple here. The body holds a steady 34 stitches every round, and each tree row grows by a fixed amount, so you only have to count, never divide.
What does the crochet christmas tree gift bag look like row by row?
The whole crochet christmas tree gift bag fits in one small table. Check your count at the end of every row against the last column.
| Part | Instructions | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| Body round 1 | Ch 18, dc in 3rd ch from hook; 15 dc, 3 dc in last ch, 14 dc along the other side, 2 dc in the last st, sl st to join | 34 |
| Body rounds 2 to 20 | Ch 2, 1 dc in each st, sl st to join | 34 |
| Tree row 1 | Ch 2, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook | 3 |
| Tree rows 2 to 5 | Ch 1, turn, 1 inc, sc across | 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| Tree rows 6 to 8 | Ch 1, turn, 1 inc, sc across to last st, 1 inc | 9, 11, 13 |
| Tree rows 9 to 11 | Same as rows 6 to 8 | 15, 17, 19 |
| Tiers | Small: stop after row 5. Medium: stop after row 8. Large: stop after row 11 | 7, 13, 19 |
| Trunk | Ch 7, start in 3rd ch, 5 sc; ch 2, turn, 5 sc; repeat for 2 rows | 5 per row |
| Star | Magic ring, 5 sc, sl st; (ch 3, sl st, 1 sc, sl st in next st) 5 times | 5 points |
| Drawstring | Ch 100 in red | 100 |
How do you make a crochet christmas tree gift bag? 16 photo steps
Follow the crochet christmas tree gift bag step by step below. The bag body comes first, then the three tree tiers, then the trim and assembly.
Step 1: Gather the yarn and hook
Set out dark green for the bag, light green for the tree, and small amounts of brown, yellow and red. Use a 2.5 mm hook for every part.
Step 2: Make a slip knot and chain 18
Make a slip knot and chain 16, then 2 more. Those 2 extra chains stand in for the height of the first double crochet.
Step 3: Work 15 double crochet along the chain
Start in the 3rd chain from the hook and work 15 double crochet along the chain, one in each chain, stopping before the last one.
Step 4: Put 3 double crochet in the last chain
Work 3 double crochet into the last chain. This fans the stitches around the end so you can carry on along the other side of the chain without turning the work.
Step 5: Finish the oval base at 34 stitches
Work 14 double crochet along the other side of the chain, then 2 double crochet in the last stitch. Slip stitch into the first stitch to join. You now have 34 stitches: 15, plus 3, plus 14, plus 2.
Step 6: Chain 2 and work a round of double crochet
Chain 2, then work 1 double crochet in each stitch around, 34 in all, and slip stitch to the first stitch.
Step 7: Repeat to round 20
Repeat the round from Step 6 until the bag has 20 rounds. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Step 8: Start the tree tip with 3 single crochet
In light green, make a slip knot, chain 2 and work 3 single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook. Chain 1, turn, then work 1 increase and 2 single crochet: 4 stitches.
Step 9: Grow the small tier to 7 stitches
Keep going: chain 1, turn, 1 increase, then single crochet across, for rows of 5, 6 and 7 stitches. Stop here for the small top tier. Make a second triangle the same way and keep it going for the medium tier.
Step 10: Increase at both ends for the medium tier
From the 7 stitch row, chain 1, turn, then 1 increase, 5 single crochet, 1 increase: 9 stitches. Repeat with 7 and then 9 single crochet between the increases for rows of 11 and 13. That is the medium tier.
Step 11: Carry on to 19 stitches for the large tier
Make a third triangle through the 13 stitch row, then work three more rows with an increase at each end: 11, 13 and then 15 single crochet between the increases, for 15, 17 and 19 stitches.
Step 12: Slip stitch along both sides
Slip stitch down both sloping sides of each tier. It hides the stepped row ends.
Step 13: Crochet the brown trunk
In brown, chain 7 and start in the 3rd chain: 5 single crochet. Chain 2, turn, 5 single crochet, and repeat for 2 rows.
Step 14: Make the yellow star
In yellow, make a magic ring, work 5 single crochet and slip stitch to close. For each point, chain 3, slip stitch, 1 single crochet, then slip stitch in the next stitch. Repeat 5 times.
Step 15: Attach the tree to the bag
Place the star near the top, then the small, medium and large tiers so each one overlaps the one below, and the trunk under the large tier. The original uses a glue gun. Sewing with matching yarn is washable and lasts longer.
Step 16: Chain 100 and weave in the drawstring
In red, chain 100. Weave it in and out through the stitches a little below the top edge, pull both ends to close the bag and tie a bow. Add white snowflakes in straight stitches and a few beads as ornaments if you like.
Where does a crochet christmas tree gift bag go wrong?
A crochet christmas tree gift bag usually goes wrong in one of three places, and all three show up early if you count.
- The base twists. If you turn the chain over when you start the second side, round 1 spirals and the bag will never sit flat. Keep the chain facing the same way and work into the loops along its bottom edge. A count other than 34 at the join is the warning sign.
- The sides lean. The chain 2 at the start of each round is not a stitch here. Working into it adds one stitch per round, so by round 20 the bag flares. Always finish a round with exactly 34 stitches.
- The tree tiers do not match. Put the increase in the first stitch every time, and in rows 6 onward put a second increase in the last stitch. If the triangle leans to one side, an increase has been missed. The row counts 7, 13 and 19 catch it.
What hook size and yarn weight suit a crochet christmas tree gift bag?
Use a small hook for the yarn you choose. This crochet christmas tree gift bag uses a 2.5 mm hook, which sits in the Craft Yarn Council range of 2.25 to 3.5 mm for super fine yarn. A fine, firm fabric keeps the gift out of sight and gives the tree a flat, smooth background.
The other free gift bag designers do the same thing on purpose. Three of the five we checked go below the standard range for their own yarn:
| Pattern | Yarn weight | Designer’s hook | Standard crochet hook range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Tree Mini Gift Bag | Fine (2) | 3 mm | 3.5 to 4.5 mm |
| Santa Sack Gift Bags | Light (3) | 4 mm | 4.5 to 5.5 mm |
| Christmas Goodie Bag Ornament | Medium (4) | 5 mm | 5.5 to 6.5 mm |
| Small Crochet Gift Bag | Medium (4) | 5.5 mm | 5.5 to 6.5 mm |
| Christmas Crochet Gift Bag | Medium (4) | 6 mm | 5.5 to 6.5 mm |
So if you swap yarn, go down a hook size from the label rather than up. If the fabric still shows gaps you could see a gift through, go down one more.
How much yarn does the crochet christmas tree gift bag take?
The original tutorial does not give a yardage or a finished size, so we will not invent one. What we can give you is the stitch count, which decides how much yarn and time the bag takes.
Our count: 912 stitches. That is 680 double crochet in the bag body plus 232 single crochet across the three tree tiers, before the trunk, star and drawstring. Method: calculated from the tutorial’s own counts, 20 rounds times 34 double crochet for the body, and 25 plus 58 plus 149 single crochet for the small, medium and large tiers.
Almost three quarters of the stitches are the dark green body, so buy most of your yarn in that colour. The tree needs far less, and the trunk, star and drawstring are scraps. For comparison, the designers who publish a figure for a small gift bag state from about 60 yd to about 271 yd, a spread driven by yarn thickness, bag size and colourwork, so weigh your first body round against the ball if you need to know sooner.
What other free crochet christmas gift bag patterns are worth making?
Five more free crochet christmas gift bag patterns are worth making, all on their designers’ own pages:
- Christmas Tree Mini Gift Bag by The Crochet Village: a tree worked in colourwork, 4.5 by 5.5 in, about 271 yd, 3 mm hook.
- Santa Sack Gift Bags in 3 Sizes by Sunflower Cottage Crochet: round bottomed sacks, the medium 4.25 in across the base and 9 in tall; no total yardage is printed.
- Christmas Crochet Gift Bag by My Crochet Space: a granny stitch bag with a faux fur trim, 6 in across the base and 7 in tall; no yardage is printed.
- Small Crochet Gift Bag by Crafting Each Day: about 60 yd, 13 in around and 6.5 in tall; no gauge is given.
- Christmas Goodie Bag Ornament by Handy Little Me: a tiny treat bag, 2.5 in across the base and 3 in tall, measured in grams rather than yards.
Three of these measure the base as a circle, not a flat width, so compare heights rather than widths when you choose. For bigger bags, see our free crochet bag patterns roundup.
Crochet christmas tree gift bag FAQ
Is this crochet christmas tree gift bag pattern free?
Yes. The full pattern on this page, with the row table and all 16 photo steps, costs nothing, and the five extra patterns are free on their designers’ pages.
Is the gift bag good for beginners?
Yes. It uses only chains, single crochet, double crochet, increases and slip stitches, and the bag body repeats one round 19 times.
How many rounds does the bag have?
The body has 20 rounds of 34 double crochet. Add rounds for a taller bag, or chain more at the start for a wider one, adding 2 stitches to every round for each extra chain.
Do I have to glue the tree on?
No. The original uses a glue gun, but sewing each tier on with matching yarn makes a bag you can wash and reuse every year.
What fits inside a crochet christmas tree gift bag?
It is sized for small gifts: a gift card, jewellery, sweets or a small ornament. The drawstring closes the top so nothing slips out.
How long is the drawstring?
It is a chain of 100 in red. Chain more for a bigger bow, or fewer for a short knot.
Where to go next after this crochet christmas tree gift bag?
- Accessories: bags and wearables, like the free crochet shoulder bag pattern
- Free patterns: holiday makes like the Christmas crochet blanket roundup
- Stitches and squares: practise the double crochet rounds this bag is built on
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System
- The Crochet Village, Christmas Tree Mini Gift Bag
- Sunflower Cottage Crochet, Santa Sack Gift Bags in 3 Sizes
- My Crochet Space, Christmas Crochet Gift Bag
- Crafting Each Day, Small Crochet Gift Bag
- Handy Little Me, Christmas Goodie Bag Ornament
Video credit: The steps in this guide are retold in our own words from the video tutorial So Easy! Crochet Christmas Tree Gift Bag by Ati crochet on YouTube, and the step photos are frames from that video. Watch it for the full demonstration and support the creator.
