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Chinese New Year is approaching. I love creating things for Chinese New Year and so this year I thought I would make a crochet clementine tree.

Clementines, or small oranges, can symbolize good fortune and good luck. They are often used as decorations at home and given as a hostess gift when visiting family and friends during Chinese New Year. I remember as a little girl going to visit relatives and my parents taking some oranges with them. I also remember clementines being displayed in a bowl in our living room during Chinese New Year.

As soon as Christmas is over, the Asian supermarkets here are all decorated for Chinese New Year. The produce section provides a variety of oranges – both loose and some in boxes.

I even found this stuffed clementine tree at my local store!

I’ve crocheted other items for Chinese New Year and have a few posts of things if you are interested:

• Crochet Projects for Chinese New Year
• Chinese New Year Lion Amigurumi Crochet Pattern Review
•  

Chinese New Year is a time for family and friends and for me, the memory of clementines inspired me to make a crochet clementine tree.

There are a few patterns out there and as usual, I’ve taken aspects from various patterns to make my own display.

Things You Need to Make a Crochet Clementine Tree

• Orange yarn – I used Impeccable Brights in orange as that is what I had in my stash. Clementines are used in Chinese New Year because orange is such a bright and happy colour.
• Green yarn – I used Lion Brand, Vanna’s Choice in Kelly Green as that is what I had in my stash and you don’t need that much green.
• Brown yarn for the tree trunk and branches – I like Lion Brand, Vanna’s Choice in Barley. This is a tweed-like yarn and so it has variations in colour which make it look nice.
• Crochet hook – I used my 5mm hook for this project.
• A large straw to put inside the tree trunk to help stabilize it. I used a leftover bubble tea straw.
• A small straw for the smaller branches.
• Fibre fill for stuffing.
• Scissors
• Sewing needle (I prefer the bent tip ones)
• Finishing needles
• Pot or decorative bowl to put the clementine tree in.
• Rocks or pebbles to weigh the clementine tree down. You can get these at the dollar store or craft store, or just go for a walk and collect them (be sure to wash them first).

Clementine Crochet Pattern

Starting with the clementines, I used the pattern from Doriyumi. The clementines are a crocheted sphere. The pattern gives you the option of adding safety eyes and an embroidered mouth, but I decided to just make the basics.

I made 8 clementines as the number 8 is considered to be very lucky in Chinese.

My finished clementines had a small hole at one end. I used a finishing needle to close that up. A regular sewing needle would also work. Weave the end through the clementine and cut the excess off.

The Doriyumi pattern also provides instructions to make the leaves. I made 2 leave per clementine and then a few extras to fill in on the tree branches.

I sewed the leaves together in pairs. I did it in a variety of ways – side by side, overlapping, opposite. This variation looks nice.

Then I sewed the leaves on to the tops of the clementines. Leave your green ends to attach it to the tree.

Clementine Tree Trunk and Branches

Quite often you can purchase the clementines that are still attached to the branches. This can symbolize fertility. I remember my mother telling me how these were special – they just weren’t the regular oranges in the market.

Prepare your frame first. The larger straw will be used as the trunk. I cut the smaller straw in half to be used as 2 branches. If you want longer branches or more than 2 branches you may need additional straws.

Cut small slits into the larger straw and insert the smaller straws. I didn’t feel that I needed to glue or tape them in. They seemed stable enough.

For the basis of the tree trunk, I used Twinkie Chan’s pattern for Groot. I had previously made Groot and so I was familiar with this pattern. This crochet Groot sits in a small pot and has a wide base – I wanted something similar for my Clementine Tree so I wanted something similar.

Using my brown yarn, I started the Groot pattern up to Round 11 (12 stitches). I added some fibre fill in the bottom and inserted my straw frame.

Then I continued going in rounds to cover up the straw. I didn’t need to mark the beginning of my rows – I simply kept going. When I got to a branch, I simply did my SC around it – skipping the stitch. This naturally made it thinner and taper. I did the same when I got to the second branch. I continued crocheting until the top of the straw. I left a long enough end to sew the top closed.

To cover the branches, I simply picked up stitches around it. Then I kept crocheting in a continuous circle until it was completely covered. At the end, to close it off you could either leave an end to sew close or SC 2 tog until it is closed.

Unlike crocheting Amigurumi, I am using a larger crochet hook (5mm) and so your work may appear “holey”. Don’t worry about that as you will be covering it up.

Finishing Up Your Crochet Clementine Tree

Sew the clementines onto the tree. This is the fun part. I sewed on extra leaves in areas that seemed a little empty.

Place your crochet clementine tree into a pot or bowl. I used a rice bowl for mine. Fill with rocks to stabilize. What I like about this is that you can change it out if you ever get tired of the pot, or if you find something you like better in future. You can even take it out of the bowl and store it away for the rest of the year.

Look how cute this is! I love that I can use it year after year.

Want to remember how to make this crochet clementine tree? Be sure to save it to your favourite Pinterest board.