Mosaic Argyle Crochet Christmas Ornament – Free Pattern

Do you love mosaic crochet or want to try it? Have some scraps of yarn left over from a holiday project like a winter afghan or a Christmas tree skirt? Why not create a beautiful mosaic crochet Christmas ornament? This ornament features a gorgeous diamond design that makes a cozy touch for your tree or a lovely last-minute holiday gift.

The Mosaic Argyle Bauble is made using overlay mosaic crochet. This is one of my favorite techniques, and one that you’ll find in lots of my patterns! In this method, some stitches drop down over the row below to create intricate-looking designs, using only one color at a time.

You’ll be working this Christmas ornament using mosaic crochet in rounds. Even though you’re changing colors every round, you’ll have very few ends to weave in. Instead of fastening off after each round, you can to drop the non-working yarn to the inside of the project and pick up the new color.

This ornament works up quickly and would make a great intro into the world of mosaic crochet. Once you master the technique, you’ll be able to take on any of my other mosaic crochet patterns. Check out all of them here.

If you want another quick and easy pattern using this same motif, also check out my Mosaic Argyle Pumpkins!

More Crochet Christmas Ornaments

If you love to crochet Christmas ornaments, you might also like these other free patterns on the blog:

Pattern Details for the Mosaic Crochet Christmas Ornament

This free mosaic crochet pattern includes written instructions and a chart for a 3.25″ Christmas ornament.

The construction of these ornaments is simple. Essentially, you’ll be crocheting a short tube that you’ll gather to close at each end, with a plastic ball ornament inside. You’ll leave a tiny hole at the top for the hanging loop to poke through.

If you can’t get your hands on a round bauble ornament, or you want an inexpensive option, you could always stuff your ornament with Polyfil, stuffing from an old pillow, or even reuse old clothes or scraps of fabric.

The Yarn

For the Mosaic Argyle Bauble, I used Heartland by Lion Brand. This worsted weight (#4) yarn comes in dozens of beautiful, heathered shades, each one inspired by one of America’s national parks. I went with “Acadia” and “Rocky Mountains” for my ornament. But you have lots of options so you can choose one to match your holiday decor.

This ornament uses a tiny amount of yarn. That makes this pattern an excellent stash busting crochet project to use up any worsted weight yarn you may already have. If you want to substitute another brand, just keep in mind that Heartland is on the lighter end for a medium-weight yarn so your gauge may vary.

Purchase this yarn here

The Hook

The hook I used to work up this pattern was a G/4mm. A favorite style of hook that I use and recommend are Furls Streamline Metal Hooks. The ergonomic shape of these hooks feels great in my hand. I can crochet for hours without palm or wrist pain. And they have a smooth finish, so the yarn glides across them beautifully. If you’re looking to treat yourself, I suggest you purchase one and try it out!

We all crochet a little differently, so you may find a G hook doesn’t work for you. That’s OK! It’s always a good idea to make a swatch using the yarn & hook of your choice so you will have a better idea of your tension and the size of your finished project.

Purchase A Furls Hook Here

Frequently Asked Questions

My ornament doesn’t fit. What can I do?

Because everyone’s tension is a little different depending on their hook, yarn, and crochet style, your finished cover may turn out slightly different in size. Be sure to test your ornament regularly as you work. If the cover is too snug or too loose, try going up or down a hook size to adjust the sizing. Or, if you prefer, you can simply use a different-sized bauble.

Can I make a different size of ornament?

Absolutely! If you’d like to cover a different-sized ornament, you’ll need to adjust both the width and height of the cover. To make it wider or narrower, adjust the length of your starting chain, keeping it to a multiple of 8 stitches. To make it taller or shorter, simply crochet more or fewer rows.

You can also experiment with a different yarn and/or hook size to create a larger or smaller ornament. Just be sure to check the cover against your bauble as you work so you can adjust the size as needed.

Is mosaic crochet beginner-friendly?

I’m glad you asked! This Christmas ornament may look complicated, but overlay mosaic crochet is a deceptively easy technique. If you can make basic stitches like the single and double crochet, you’re already halfway there! I’ve included a basic overview below, along with links to several resources to help you learn the technique.

I’m a crochet teacher. Can I teach this pattern to my class?

Go for it! I just ask that each student visits the post to view the free pattern. Or if you would like to provide printable copies, please purchase a copy of the PDF for each student from the Juniper & Oakes Shop, Ravelry, or Etsy.

What is Overlay mosaic crochet?

To successfully complete this project, you’ll need to be familiar with mosaic crochet. If you’ve never heard of the technique before, that’s okay! Let me break it down for you.

Overlay Mosaic Crochet is a technique that requires you to work in the BLO (back loop only) and then drop down to pick up the front loop of stitches from lower rounds (or rows) which creates textured stitches that lay over the stitches from previous rounds and can be used to create wonderfully intricate patterns.

These patterns are worked in one direction only, dropping the working yarn at the end of each round, and picking up the new color. When you’re working in the round, you can simply drop the non-working yarn to the back of the project and pick it up on the next round.

Each new round consists of only ONE color, but with the use of the sc and drop down dc stitches, you get the mosaic design. Most overlay mosaic patterns come with a chart. The symbols on the chart tell you when to use a dc and when to use the special drop down dc.

It seems complicated, but I promise, it’s super easy (and addictive) as you go. Not only that, but once you master overlay mosaic crochet, you’ll be able to create many of the most popular designs on this blog.

Visit this blog post for a basic overview of the technique

Feel free to watch the video below to familiarize yourself a bit with the technique. **Note that the sample in this video is worked flat, whereas the Mosaic Argyle Christmas ornament are worked in the round. The beginning and end of the rounds will be slightly different but the technique is the same.

Please SUBSCRIBE to my channel, comment that you joined in from the Mosaic in a Month CAL, and like the videos. Thank you so much!

Mosaic YouTube Playlist

I have created a playlist on YouTube with the videos about this technique; more will be added as they are released. Click here to access.

Where to get the pattern for the Mosaic Crochet Ornament

Don’t like dealing with ads? You can purchase a printable PDF version of this pattern for free for just a few dollars from my shop (you can add it to your Ravelry pattern library from there)! You can also buy the pattern from Ravelry or Etsy, or view it on Gosadi.

OR

View the pattern below for free!

Free Pattern for the Mosaic Crochet Argyle Ornament

Skill Level: Adventurous Beginner/Intermediate

Materials

• Heartland from Lion Brand (251 yds/230 m per 142g/5oz skein)
  • or any worsted #4 yarn (Heartland runs lighter than the average #4)
  • Color A (Rocky Mountains) – 1 skein
  • Color B (Acadia) – 1 skein
• Size G/4mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• 3.25″ plastic ball ornament from Michaels

Gauge

Not essential for this pattern. Simply adjust hook size or bauble size if too big or small

Finished Measurements

Fits a 3.25″ plastic bauble ornament

Stitch Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• BLOsc – Back Loop Only Single Crochet
• ch – Chain
• dc – Double Crochet
• FLOdc – Front Loop Only Double Crochet
• Fsc – Foundation single crochet
• RS – Right Side
• RSC – Crab Stitch (Reverse Single Crochet)
• sc – Single Crochet

Special Stitches & techniques

BLOsc: single crochet made in the back loop of the stitch in the row below

FLOdc: double crochet made in the front loop of the stitch 2 rows below

Pattern Notes

• Stitches between *asterisks* are repeated.
• Ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
• This pattern uses the overlay mosaic technique. If unfamiliar, be sure to watch my video tutorials.
• Every round is worked in a different color. Instead of fastening off after each round, I prefer to drop the yarn on the WS (inside) and pick it back up for next time.
• Each round begins with 1 border stitch (ch 1) , has a repeat of 8 stitches, and 1 border stitch (sl st) at the end.
• Test fit with the ornament throughout. If you find the bauble is too tight or too loose, then adjust your hook size accordingly. If you tend to have loose tension when you crochet, you may need to go down a hook size to make this bauble, or simply buy a bigger bauble to make your finished size.
• You may choose to repeat the pattern as many times as you wish. Make sure your foundation row is made up of any multiple of 8 stitches.
• The chart included is for a base of 8 st (plus the ch 1 & sl st)
• If you prefer to fit a different size ball ornament, you’ll need to adjust BOTH width and height:
  • Wider/Narrower: Add/subtract FSC stitches
  • Taller/shorter: Add/subtract rounds
  • Be sure to just work more or less repeats as needed.
• There is a video walkthrough of this pattern. Click here to watch it.

Chart

This chart matches the video tutorial.

Written Instructions for the Mosaic Argyle Christmas Ornament

Round 1: With Color A, FSC x40 (or any multiple of 8), sl st to 1st FSC to join. (ensure there are no twists in the circle)

Round 2: With Color B, BLOsc around, sl st to join.

Round 3: With Color A, ch 1, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc x3, FLOdc, BLOsc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 4: With Color B, ch 1, *BLOsc, [FLOdc, BLOsc x2] x 2, FLOdc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 5: With Color A, ch 1, *FLOdc, BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc, FLOdc, BLOsc x2*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 6: With Color B, ch 1, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc x3, FLOdc, BLOsc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 7: With Color A, ch 1, *BLOsc, [FLOdc, BLOsc x2] x 2, FLOdc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 8: With Color B, ch 1, *FLOdc, BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc, FLOdc, BLOsc x2*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 9: With Color A, ch 1, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc x3, FLOdc, BLOsc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 10: With Color B, ch 1, *BLOsc, [FLOdc, BLOsc x2] x 2, FLOdc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 11: With Color A, ch 1, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc x3, FLOdc, BLOsc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 12: With Color B, ch 1, *FLOdc, BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc, FLOdc, BLOsc x2*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 13: With Color A, ch 1, *BLOsc, [FLOdc, BLOsc x2] x 2, FLOdc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 14: With Color B, ch 1, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc x3, FLOdc, BLOsc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 15: With Color A, ch 1, *FLOdc, BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc, FLOdc, BLOsc x2*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Round 16: With Color B, ch 1, *BLOsc, [FLOdc, BLOsc x2] x 2, FLOdc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join. (Small : skip to assembly.)

Round 17: With Color A, ch 1, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc, BLOsc x3, FLOdc, BLOsc*, repeat around, sl st to ch 1 to join.

Assembly

1. With yarn needle, weave tail along one edge around.
2. Pull the tail tight to close the bottom of the ornament cover.
3. Sew yarn across the cinch in a couple different directions to reinforce closure
4. Fasten off and leave tail on inside of ornament.
5. Insert the ornament.
6. Repeat steps 1-2 on the top of the ornament, pulling the tail tight to close the around the top of bauble. Repeat step 3.
7. Tie a knot, and weave in the end.

Ready, Set… CROCHET!

Action Items:

• Work up the Mosaic Argyle Christmas Ornament
• Post a picture of your finished ornament(s) in the J&O FB Group
• If you have any issues, questions, or tips, please post them on the J&O FB Group as well.

Definitely post pictures and share about your project on any social media you have. When you make this scarf, be sure to tag me @juniperandoakes and use #juniperandoakes so we can see your progress!

The Fine Print

This pattern and its images are the property of Juniper and Oakes ©2024. The pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not copy/paste, distribute, or alter and claim as your own. You may sell products made by this pattern, but please credit @juniperandoakes and remember to link back to juniperandoakes.com or credit Juniper & Oakes on the craft fair tag.

You may post pictures on social media and tag @juniperandoakes and use the hashtag #juniperandoakes. If you make this pattern, please email a picture to [email protected] and I will include it in a gallery on my website. You can also post pictures on my Facebook Page, or in the Juniper + Oakes Crochet Community Facebook Group.

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Let me know if you run into a problem. I respond quickly and will help any way I can to clarify any confusion or challenging stitches.