Free Knitting Pattern: Knitted Tree Skirt for Small Table-Top Christmas Tree

This circular knitting pattern makes a charming tree skirt or doily to accessorize a miniature or table-top Christmas tree. Although designed as a Christmas tree skirt, you could also use this pattern to knit a round doily to put under a decorative bowl or lamp.

My in-laws recently gave me a small ceramic Christmas tree. I was especially thrilled to receive this gift because it was actually made by my husband's grandmother over fifty years ago. I was less thrilled, however, with the possibility of this ceramic tree scratching the surface of my console table while out on display, so I designed this Christmas tree skirt knitting pattern to create a round doily for under it. This skirt or doily features bands of different stitch patterns and can be adjusted in size depending on your needs.

I intentionally did not make my tree skirt very Christmas-y because I wanted to use it under other things during the rest of the year. However, if you'd like to add more holiday cheer to your doily or skirt, there are a few ways to accomplish this:

1. You can knit each band of this pattern in a different color, alternating between red, green, and white as you choose.

2. You could knit this pattern in a yarn that has a thread of gold or silver that runs through it. This is a great way to add some holiday sparkle to your tree skirt.

3, This pattern would look really pretty knit in a yarn that has sequins or beads running through it. I've never knit with one of these yarns, but this pattern would be perfect for it!

• about 300 yards of worsted weight yarn
• size #8 dpns and a #8 circular needle (you will need both as the size of your skirt increases)
• one stitch marker
• crochet hook for circular cast on (I used a size H hook)
• tapestry needle to weave in ends

Gauge = 17 stitches x 24 rows in Stst = 4 inches, gauge is not terribly important in this project, but will change the overall size of your finished Christmas Tree skirt. Adjust your needle size as needed.

Finished Size = about 15 inches in diameter after blocking, though adjustable

This knitting pattern is completely adjustable. You can stop knitting at any time and bind off to create the size of tree skirt that you need. The picot edging is totally optional. If you don't like one stitch pattern in the bands of this skirt, you can replace it with another. You can completely alter this pattern to make the tree skirt or doily you want.

To Begin, cast on 9 stitches using Emily Ocker's circular cast on. You will need a crochet hook for this cast on. I used a size H crochet hook, but the size is not essential. I only have one crochet hook and use it whenever I do this cast on, regardless of the weight of yarn I'm using.

Move your cast on stitches to three dpns, place marker, and join in the round to begin knitting. As you continue to work this piece and your skirt becomes larger, you can add another dpn when you need it. As some point, move your stitches to a circular needle to accommodate the size of your skirt or doily.

Round 1: Knit all 9 stitches, as you begin working your stitches, pull on the end of your yarn to tighten the hole in the center of your cast on. After you've worked a few rows, you may want to weave in this end to keep your center point snug.

Rnd 2: Yo, k1 all around (18 sts total)

Rnds 3 and 4: Knit all stitches

Rnd 5: Yo, k1 all around (36 stitches total)

Rnds 6 - 9: Knit all stitches

Rnd 10: Yo, k1 all around, end with another yo (73 stitches total)

Rnd 11: Knit all stitches

Rnd 12: K1, p1 all around (with these next five rounds, you will be working in seed st)

Rnd 13: P1, k1 all around

Rnd 14: K1, p1 all around

Rnd 15: P1, k1 all around

Rnd 16: K1, p1 all around

Rnd 17: Yo, k1 all around (146 stitches total)

Rnd 18: Knit all stitches

Rnd 19: k2tog, yo all around (stitch count remains the same)

Rnd 20: Knit all stitches

Rnd 21: Yo, ssk all around, end with an additional yo (147 stitches total)

Rnd 22: Knit all stitches

Rnd 23: K1, p1 all around (begin seed st for next 7 rounds as directed below)

Rnd 24: P1, k1 all around

Rnd 25: K1, p1 all around

Rnd 26: P1, k1 all around

Rnd 27: K1, p1 all around

Rnd 28: P1, k1 all around

Rnd 29: K1, p1 all around, then end with a yo (148 stitches total)

Rnd 30: Knit all stitches

Rnd 31: k2tog, yo all around (stitch count remains the same at 148)

Rnd 32: Knit all stitches

Rnd 33: Yo, ssk all around (still 148 stitches)

Rnd 34: Knit all stitches

Rnd 35: Yo, k1 around (296 stitches total)

Rnds 36 - 40: Knit all stitches

Bind off or begin picot edging.

The picot edge adds a little decorative edge to your tree skirt, but is completely optional. To add a picot edge:

Cast on 2 additional sts at the beginning of the round. Then bind off 4 sts (this includes the 2 sts you just cast on). Slip the resulting st on your right hand needle back to the left needle. Cast on another 2 sts and continue the process of binding off 4 sts and moving your stitch back to the left needle. Do this until all your stitches have been bound off. Weave in your ends.

I would suggest pinning your skirt or doily down dry, then spraying it with water to block. To pin this piece for blocking, I put a few pins in at where 12 o'clock would be, then moved to 6 o'clock, pulling my piece flat on my blocking pad. Then I put a few pins in at 9 o'clock and at 3 o'clock. Once I had these spots secure, I filled in between my clock positions, placing a few pins in at a time, then moving to another area. I left the edge in a ruffle, but I made sure the center area was flat. Then I sprayed the whole piece with cool water and let dry completely.

There are other uses for this knitting pattern to create handmade items for your home:

• You can use your tree skirt throughout the year as a pretty doily under a bowl, lamp or other decorative item. You can sew on buttons around the outside seed stitch band to add additional detail or tailor this doily for other holidays.
• You can knit two of them, with or without the picot edging, and sew them together (back-to-back) to cover a round pillow.
• Knit in cotton yarn and follow the pattern to round 22 to create a special round dishcloth or washcloth. You can use a basic bind off or add the picot edging to finish off this cloth.

© 2015 Donna Herron. No part of this pattern may be copied or reproduced in any way without permission from the author/designer. For personal use only. This pattern and materials made from this pattern are not meant for commercial sale.