In this instructable I will show you how to crochet a little Christmas tree, complete with a star tree topper and coloured lights. The tree sits about 18 inches tall, great for a table top. The branches are crocheted around bamboo skewers and has a wood dowel for a trunk so it is nice and sturdy. The Evergreen Holiday Homespun yarn is used to make the needles which has a thread of gold running through it like tinsel.

Step 1: What You Will Need

Yarn:

Yarn weight 6: green (I used Lions Brand Holiday Homespun Evergreen -I got mine on sale at Michaels')
Yarn weight 4: yellow
Size 10 crochet thread: red, blue, green, yellow, orange or use embroidery thread

Other:

2.25mm crochet hook
Yarn needles
Polyfil/fibrefil stuffing
Wood dowel 1/2inch diameter and ~12inches long (can be found at craft or hobby or hardware stores)
Bamboo skewers (most grocery stores carry them)
Bits of wood for the stand (I used wood shims -you can find them at at hardware store)
LED Christmas lights (white) -you can also get them at Walmart here
Wood glue/ white glue
Masking tape
Scissors
Cutting tool
Drill with 1/8 inch bit

Use a 2.25mm crochet hook .
Here is the nomenclature that I used for the crochet pattern (these are US stitches see link for conversion to UK):

Rnd round
ch(s) chain stitch(s)
sc single crochet
st(s) stitch(s)
sc2tog decrease by crocheting 2 stitches together

Step 2: Cut Skewers

Bamboo skewers will serve as the branches for this tree. There are five levels of branches plus one branch on top. I cut the skewers as follows , starting from the bottom of the tree:

6 branches 7 inches long
5 branches 6 inches long
4 branches 5 inches long
4 branches 4 inches long
3 branches 3 inches long
1 top branch 3.5 inches long

Thus giving a total of 23 branches. Once cut, I wrapped tape around each end to prevent the yarn from sliding off.

Step 3: How to Crochet Loops on a Bamboo Skewer

Start with a slip knot.
Hold the bamboo skewer in your left hand (or right if you are left handed)
For the first stitch (image 2). Bring the crochet hook around the back of the skewer and yarn over. Draw the yarn through. This is your first chain stitch.
For the second stitch (image 3) form a loop with the loose end of yarn roughly 1-1.5inches long. Bring the crochet hook across the front of the skewer, yarn over (with yarn from the top side of the loop) and draw the yarn through to make a large loop.
Continue on this way along the length of the cable, alternating between these two stitches (chain and loop) making sure the crochet hook is moving in front of the skewer for one stitch and in behind for the next stitch.
The yarn should be tight around the skewer.

Step 4: Crochet Tree Branches

Now we are ready to do this with the holiday yarn. Make sure you tighten the yarn around the skewer. Crochet along the length of the skewer, squish down as you go, there shouldn't be any gaps between the stitches (you don't want to see any bamboo underneath). Once you reach the end (you will need to end with the first type of stitch -not the loop), tie off and leave a tail about the same size as the loops. Do this with all 23 branches (this sounds like a lot of work, but it is not to bad once you get the hang of it!)

Once you are finished crocheting the branches we can cut the loops to form the needles. Pull the loop away from the skewer and cut with scissors, each end should be the same size. Continue on this way along the length of the branch and fluff out the ends when you are done.

A few notes about the branches:

The loops I made were between 1-1.5 inches, and I made top branches a bit shorter. If you want, you can make them shorter (<1 inch) if you don't want your tree looking as full.
I had initially planned to make the tree using fun fur/ faux fur type of yarn but couldn't find any right shade of green (lime green didn't seem appropriate). If you do find the right shade you could use my instructions for Fluffy Earphone Sleeve to make the branches.

Step 5: Preparing the Trunk

The 1/2 inch diameter dowel is used for the tree trunk.
I spaced the branches out 2 inches apart with 2 inches at the base. I marked this with a pencil.
I whittled the top end so that it tapers to a point .
With the 1/8th inch drill bit, drill the holes for the branches. They should be about 1/8th inch deep and perpendicular to the trunk (except the top hole, which should be vertical) . The holes should be spaced evenly around the trunk (a protractor may be helpful here). Also stagger the branches from level to level.
You will need 6,5,4,4,3 holes from the bottom up and one hole at of the top of the trunk.

Step 6: Preparing the Stand

To make the base I used four 2inch by 4inch pieces of wood. I used cedar shims for this and cut them down to size. I arranged the pieces as in image 4 above with the trunk inserted into the centre. Glue this together with wood glue.

Step 7: Attaching the Branches

If you are following along you should still have the bits of tape on the ends of the branches. Remove the tape from one end and add a dab of glue to keep the yarn from sliding off (the glue should make contact with the yarn too). With the other end of the branch, also remove the tape and add glue, then insert into the hole in the trunk. Start from the bottom of the tree and work your way up, you may need to prop up the longer branches as the glue dries. The branches should be perpendicular to the trunk, except for the top branch.

Step 8: Crocheting the Star

Using Yellow yarn (or purple if you want to make a starfish!)

Star centre
Rnd1: 5 Magic Circle
Rnd2: 2sc in sc (10sts)
Rnd 3: 2sc in sc,sc (15sts)
Rnd4: *2sc in sc, sc, sc (repeat from*) (20sts)
Rnd5:*2sc in sc, sc, sc, sc (repeat from*) (25sts)

Star Points:
Row 1: 5 sc, ch 1, turn (5sts)
Row 2: sc in each sc , ch 1, turn(5sts)
Row 3: sc, sc2tog, sc,sc ch 1, turn (4sts)
Row 4: sc in each sc , ch 1, turn(4sts)
Row 5: sc sc2tog,sc ch 1, turn(3sts)
Row 6: sc in each sc , ch 1, turn(3sts)
Row 7: sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (2st)
Row 8: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn(2st)

Row 9: sc2tog (1st)
Fasten off, Weave in end
Make 4 more star points starting from the next sc on the star centre.

Make two of these stars and sew them together along the edges, stuffing the star with fibrefil as you go. Don't sew close all the way, leave a small gap at the crotch of two points. Insert the end of the top branch of the tree through the hole to use the star as a tree topper.

Step 9: Christmas Lights

With assorted colours, make as many as you need

Coloured Bulbs:
Rnd 1: ch 2
Rnd 2: 4sc in first ch (4sts)
Rnd 3: sc in sc (4sts)
Rnd 4: *2sc in sc (repeat from*) (6sts)
Rnd 5: sc in sc (6sts)
Rnd 6:*2sc in sc, sc (repeat from*) (8sts)
Rnd 7: sc in sc (8sts)
Rnd 8:*2sc in sc, sc, sc (repeat from*)(10 sts)
Rnd 9: sc2tog each sc (5sts)
Fasten off. Leave tail.

With a yarn needle weave the tail of yarn through the sc of the last row. Pull the crochet bulb over the LED light and pull the tail tight, this should cinch the bulb around the light. Tighten, tie off and weave in the end. Repeat with the rest of the bulbs alternating colours.

Note: Only use LED lights for this, incandescent lights give off too much heat and can be a fire hazard!