Bonsai Tree

Finally got around to making up a pattern for these little trees. I’ve made quite a few of them now, and with each one being different from the last it was somewhat difficult writing a pattern for it. But I think this one will come out pretty consistently since I wrote up the pattern first then followed it to make adjustments. Don’t recommend creating patterns this way, but it worked out alright for this particular project.

The tree stands around 5 in. tall and close to 3 in. wide making it great for a desk ornament. The planter the tree sits in is weighted so it should easily stay up right even a top the most cluttered of desks. I would say this is a fairly easy pattern, it just has a lot of pieces that need to be sewn together. But I love that there is so much variety to it, whether it’s your yarn color choice, how you bend the wire, or the size/shape of your leaves there’s just so many different ways to make up your tree.

Materials:
2.25mm crochet hook for tree
2.75mm crochet hook for planter
Worsted weight yarn in colors:
-Black
-Tan
-Brown
-Green
Fiberfill
Stuffing pellets
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
Dowel
Wire
Card stock, a 5.25” x 5.25” square

Abbreviations:
Sc = single crochet
St = stitch
Ch = chain
Sl St = slip stitch
Rnd = round
Dec = Decrease, two sc together
Inc = Increase, two sc in the same st
F. Lps = Front loops of a st
B. Lps = Back loops of a st
[…] = repeat instructions within brackets as specified

Techniques:

Magic circle: Essential to the start of most amigurumi, I have a picture tutorial here.

Invisible decrease: Good for preventing gaps and giving a more uniform look to your sc’s. Invisible decrease tutorial.

Working in front lps: For my patterns I always work sc’s in the front loops of the stitch, unless otherwise specified. By working in only the front loops the sc’s will stack up straighter than if you worked them in both loops.

Stitch markers: I use a stitch marker (bobby pin) for keeping track of the beginning of my rounds, I place it in the first stitch of the round.

Staggered rounds: Staggered rounds off set the patterns inc’s or dec’s so you don’t get that pinwheel look and it is more of a circle instead of a hexagon. For example, [4 sc, inc] x6 is an even inc round that can be a staggered round, so it would become, 2 sc, inc, [4 sc, inc] x5, 2 sc, the even sc’s are split at the beginning of the round.

Close: Closing a piece is threading your yarn needle with the yarn end and putting it through each of the front loops of the last rounds’ sc’s, usually 6, and pulling tight. It should look like a mini magic circle, then put the needle through the center of it and out through the piece. Tie your knot and stuff ends back into the piece.

Whip stitch: Usually means the finished piece is folded flat with the last sc or yarn end at the edge of the piece. Thread yarn needle with yarn end, and again with only the front loops, ‘zigzag,’ or whip stitch the opening closed.

Square Planter (in black yarn)
Use 2.75mm hook
RND 1: 4 sc in a magic circle (4 sts)
RND 2: 4 inc in all 4 sts (8 sts)
RND 3: [sc, 3 sc in next st] x4 (16 sts)
RND 4: 2 sc, 3 sc in next st, [3 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, sc (24 sts)
RND 5: 3 sc, 3 sc in next st, [5 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, 2 sc (32 sts)
RND 6: 4 sc, 3 sc in next st, [7 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, 3 sc (40 sts)
RND 7-12: 40 sc in all 40 sts for 6 rnds (40 sts)
RND 13: 6 sc, 3 sc in next st, [11 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, 5 sc (sl st last 3 sts) (48 sts)
Sl st in next two sts, leave a shorter yarn end to weave in.

Planter legs (Make 4 in black yarn)
Use 2.75mm hook
RND 1: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
Sl st into first sc then leave a length of yarn for sewing into the corners of the bottom of the planter.

With the 5.25in x 5.25in. Square piece of card stock make a box. This box with fit into the planter and be filled later with stuffing pellets to weigh the planter down.

Sand/Dirt (in tan color)
Use 2.75 mm hook
RND 1: 4 sc in magic circle (4 sts)
RND 2: 4 inc in all 4 sts (8 sts)
RND 3: [sc, 3 sc in next st] x4 (16 sts)
RND 4: 2 sc, 3 sc in next st, [3 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, sc (24 sts)
RND 5: 3 sc, 3 sc in next st, [5 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, 2 sc (32 sts)
RND 6: 4 sc, 3 sc in next st, [7 sc, 3 sc in next st] x3, 3 sc (40 sts)
Leave a length of yarn for attaching sand to the square planter. Carefully whip stitch the sand square into rnd 12 of the planter’s b. Lps.

When you have one side sew together pull it back and fill the cardstock box with stuffing pellets. Continue whip stitching the sand and planter together. Don’t tip the planter else you’ll lose your pellets.

When you’re down to just one corner left to sew add a thin layer of fiberfill over the top of stuffing pellets. Finishing sewing and tie in your yarn end.

Tree Trunk (in brown)
Use 2.25mm hook
RND 1: 3 sc in magic circle (3 sts)
RND 2: Inc in first st, 2 sc in next 2 sts (4 sts)
RND 3: 4 sc in all 4 sts (4 sts)
RND 5: Inc in first st, 3 sc in next 3 sts (5 sts)
RND 6: 5 sc in all 5 sts (5 sts)
RND 7: Inc in first st, 4 sc in next 4 sts (6 sts)
RND 8-9: 6 sc in all 6 sts for 2 rnds (6 sts)
RND 10: Inc in first st, 5 sc in next 5 sts (7 sts)
RND 11-12: 7 sc in all 7 sts for 2 rnds (7 sts)
RND 13: Inc in first st, 6 sc in next 6 sts (8 sts)
RND 14: [3 sc, inc] x2 (10 sts)
RND 15-17: 10 sc in all 10 sts for 3 rnds (10 sts)
RND 18: [4 sc, inc] x2 (12 sts)
RND 19-21: 12 sc in all 12 sts for 3 rnds (12 sts)
Leave a length of yarn for attaching the trunk to the dirt in the planter. To shape the tree trunk carefully insert the floral wire through the trunk and add fiberfill into the base of thunk. Bend tree into a curly hook shape, then cut the wire leaving about an inch of excess that will be curled around itself and bent back into the base of the trunk.

Branch (in brown)
Use 2.25mm hook
RND 1: 3 sc in magic circle (3 sts)
RND 2: Inc in first st, 2 sc in next 2 sts (4 sts)
RND 3: 4 sc in all 4 sts (4 sts)
RND 5: Inc in first st, 3 sc in next 3 sts (5 sts)
RND 6: Inc in first st, 4 sc in next 4 sts (6 sts)
RND 7: 5 sc in all 5 sts (6 sts)
No need to stuff the branch. Leave a length of yarn for attaching to trunk. Attach branch to the first bend in the trunk.

Leaf Bundle (in green)
Use 2.25mm hook
RND 1: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
RND 2: [insert hook, y/o, pull through, ch 2, y/o, pull through both lps on hook, sc in same st] x6 (12 sts)
RND 3: Dec x6 (6 sts)

Rnd 2 complete. For rnd 3, 6 dec’s

Large leaf cluster
Make 7 leaf bundles and leave a shorter length of yarn for each one except for the last leaf bundle. Do not cut the yarn for the last one, you will be attaching the other leaf bundles off of this one. Cut the beginning yarn ends or tuck them inside each leaf bundle. To start connecting them begin from your last bundle in which the yarn is still attached, [sl st into another bundle one st before it’s last st. Then sc through last st of new bundle, sc in the next st (use this sc to secure the yarn end of the new bundle), sl st in next st] repeat these steps for the next 5 bundles.
Once you have them connected in a line, take the time to cut down the extra yarn ends and stuff them into the bundles using a wooden dowel.

From here sl st into the third bundle from the hook, sl st into next bundle, sl st into next bundle, skip one bundle and sl st into last bundle, turn, sl st into fourth bundle from hook. This will complete the large leaf cluster. Leave a length of yarn for attaching to the top of the trunk.

Small leaf cluster
Make 4 leaf bundles and leave a shorter length of yarn for each one except for the last leaf bundle. Do not cut the yarn for the last one, you will be attaching the other leaf bundles off of this one. Cut the beginning yarn ends or tuck them inside each leaf bundle. To start connecting them begin from your last bundle in which the yarn is still attached, [sl st into another bundle one st before the it’s last st. Then sc through last st of new bundle, sc in the next st (use this sc to secure the yarn end of the new bundle), sl st in next st] repeat these steps for the next 2 bundles.
Once you have them connected in a line, take the time to cut down the yarn ends and stuff them into the bundles using a wooden dowel.
From here sl st into the third bundle from the hook, sl st into next bundle. This will complete the small leaf cluster. Leave a length of yarn for attaching to the branch.

Now, when sewing the leaves on to the tree there isn’t any set way to do it. You’re going to be skipping stitches as you sew and maybe even bunch up stitches to give more volume to your leaves. Just kind of start and I promise there is no way you can mess it up unless you’re sewing it to the wrong end of the tree.

The last step for the bonsai tree is to sew on it to the planter. You can have it centered on in the planter or off set to the right or left for that artist feel. Re-bend the wire and ta da! You have yourself a yarn bonsai tree.

This pattern is free, please don’t try to sell it or claim it as your own. You are more than welcome to share it as well as make as many as your little heart desires, if you feel compelled to sell your creations, go for it. Also, if you make alterations to my patterns or use them as a base for another project share them with me! I’d love to see them!