Inside – The Two Track Crochet Bauble makes for a rustic addition to your Christmas tree. Learn how to make it with this free tutorial.
Do you want to learn how to add texture to your crochet pieces, but in a beginner-friendly way? The Two Track Crochet Bauble is the right place to start! Keep reading to learn how to add texture with this free crochet pattern.
Crocheting from Memories
My favorite memories from the beginning of my marriage belong on a dirt road. My husband and I started our life together in Grand Canyon, AZ – a place squeezed between a ponderosa pine forest and the edge of the world’s biggest canyon. This small town lacked in the amenity department of a larger city. So, we made up our own fun. Driving down the two-track dirt roads was one way we spent our time.
This Christmas Crochet Bauble honors those memories of driving down red dirt roads of Northern Arizona. We would look for wildlife, or elk antlers, together. My husband would scout for the best places to setup a game camera, and I would ooh and ahh over the wildflowers. But, my most cherished memories from those two-roads whirl around cutting down our own Christmas Tree.
The Key Stitch is the 3rd Loop
Have you tried crocheting in the 3rd Loop of a Half Double Crochet? It’s easier than it sounds!
During those early years of learning to crochet, my Pinterest searches continuously revealed a mysterious stitch that looked a little like knitting. Not that I knew how to knit at that point, but I recognized the the small v’s in some beginner headband patterns. After a YouTube search, I gave the 3rd Loop Half Double Crochet a try and fell in love with it.
3 Reasons You’ll Love Crocheting in the 3rd Loop
- Creates a lovely, just barely raised texture
- Adds a linear element to crochet projects
- Easy enough a hedgehog can crochet it (and they don’t have thumbs)
Learning new crochet techniques is not always easy. But, I’m here to help! There is a video tutorial in the pattern instructions about all the different loops to crochet into. If you still need help after watching the video, please email Joanna at hello@highdesertyarn.com
Yarn + Substitutes
Worsted Weight Acrylic – That’s What’s on the Bauble
Using up little bits of yarn is every crocheter’s dream. Well, maybe not our most exciting dream, but sure does feel fantastic when we use up a FULL skein of yarn. This crochet bauble pattern uses about 25yds of worsted weight acrylic. So, dig through that bin of tiny yarn balls and pick your favorite color for the Arvensis Bauble. Otherwise, those unused balls will keep haunting your dreams with tiny voices of “please pick me”.
Great Acrylic Yarn Options
- Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek – pictured in the Two Track Crochet Bauble
- Red Heart with Love Metallic
- I Love This Yarn Metallic
- Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran
A Very Bauble Christmas CAL
The Two Track Crochet Bauble is one of the featured crochet patterns of A Very Bauble Christmas CAL. Erin from Juniper & Oakes teamed up with me to create this event. A Very Bauble Christmas CAL provides you with 10 crochet ornaments to make in 10 days. There is a little bit of everything in terms of design – simple and clean to textured and colorful.
What to Expect
- Event runs from Monday, November 28th through Sunday, December 11th, 2022
- A new crochet bauble pattern will be available for free at 9am EST each day Monday through Friday
- A Bauble Bundle will be available for pre-sale on Wednesday, November 23rd
- Event takes places in the High Desert Yarn Handmade Community on Facebook
- Need daily reminders for this CAL? Signup for the HDY Newsletter to get them sent straight to your inbox. Click here to signup.
Discover all 10 Bauble Crochet Patterns – Click Here
Pattern Instructions
NOTE ABOUT THIS FREE CROCHET PATTERN :
Thank you for choosing this free pattern as part of your crochet journey! It’s an honor for you to be here, browsing the High Desert Yarn Blog. This pattern is 100% free for you to crochet from, but please, do not screenshot, or copy+paste this pattern. However, work directly from this webpage. The ad revenue from this website allows me to offer free crochet patterns. If you do not like the scrolling, or ads, then you may purchase the ad-free PDF in my Etsy Shop. Thank you for your cooperation. Happy creating! -Joanna (Owner + Creative)
Materials
- Yarn – Worsted/Medium Weight (category 4) 100% Acrylic
- Approximately 25yds
- Crochet Hook – H/8 (5.00mm) or correct hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Plastic Ornament/Bauble (2.65″ around)
Notes
Experience Level = Advanced Beginner. It will help if you have an understanding of the HDC, increasing, and decreasing stitches.
Check your gauge! This is important if you want your bauble to be the same size as the pattern.
CH 1 at the end of a round DOES NOT count as a stitch.
Join each round with a Slip Stitch. Alternatively, you can use the No Cut Join Method. See this photo tutorial here.
Do not turn at the end of a round.
Gauge + Finished Size
Rounds 1 & 2 = 2″ diameter
- Create gauge using RNDs 1-2 in the pattern instructions
- Gauge is measured across the diameter of the circle
This crochet pattern fits around a 2.65″ plastic ornament.
Stitch Abbreviations
American (US) terms used throughout
MC – magic circle (magic ring)
CH(S) – chain(s)
ST(S) – stitch(es)
HDC – half double crochet
HDC 2tog – half double crochet two together (decreasing HDC)
BLO – back loop only
SL ST – slip stitch
RND(s) – round(s)
Special Stitches
Half Double Crochet BLO + 3rd Loop
Both of these crochet stitches are worked as a HDC, but the difference is in the placement of these stitches. Watch this video tutorial to learn the different “loops” of a HDC, and how to work these two stitches.
Pattern Instructions
MC
Round 1: CH 1. 12 HDC in MC. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (12 STS)
Round 2: 2 HDC in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 3: HDC in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 4: HDC BLO in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 5: HDC in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 6: HDC 3rd Loop in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 7: HDC 3rd Loop in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 8: HDC in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Round 9: HDC BLO in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (24 STS)
Insert the plastic bauble, and use RND 10 to close the top.
Round 10: HDC 2tog in each ST around. Join RND with SL ST to 1st ST. CH 1. (12 STS)
Fasten off, and leave a long tail. If the top round needs cinching, then weave the lang tail through each stitch of the final round and pull tight. Hang your beautiful crochet bauble!
Copyright Policy
You are free to use this crochet pattern to make and sell the final product, but do not republish or distribute this pattern in any way. DO NOT claim it as your own in part or in whole. Please give credit to High Desert Yarn, as the designer, in your listings, on your blog, or social media platforms. All images are property of High Desert Yarn. Do not use any of these images as your own.
Can’t get enough of crocheted baubles?
Follow along with the Very Bauble Christmas CAL!
- Buy the Bauble Bundle to fast forward to the next pattern – purchase here.
- Post a picture of your Arvensis Bauble in the HDY Handmade Community on Facebook.
- Head to the next free pattern in the CAL here (available on December 1, 2022).
High Desert Yarn is made possible by YOUR support. Thank you for reading this blog post, and helping build High Desert Yarn. Happy Creating, Joanna
This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission when you use my affiliate links. This is to no added cost to you. Thank you for supporting me in this way!
