Knit Around Tree Skirt
Deck the halls with our Knit Around Tree Skirt! A soft woolen blanket of snow that does the sneaky job of hiding the hardware, a tree skirt makes the magic!
If you celebrate Christmas, welcoming a twinkly tree into your home every December is a source of childlike wonder that never grows old.
A Christmas tree and all its decorations are a chance to recall a whole story-filled tradition: the glass reindeer you coveted in the store and found in your stocking when you were six, the stuffed Santa your grandmother gave your father when he was nine.
A made-with-love tree skirt definitely enriches the story, and with its peppermint stripes amidst soft folds of snow-white wool, our Knit Around Tree Skirt is the fa-la-la of tree skirts!
It’s a clever knit, too. Short rows create wedges that add up to a whole pie, and in garter stitch, there’s not much to worry about… just adding a dash-of-color stripe every now and then!
For such an important object, we used our beautiful Super Soft Merino. It is as soft as snow and also comes in ten new colors, some of which happen to strike a merry Christmas chord. Make your Knit Around Tree Skirt in this palette of four reds and oranges, try the greens-only version, or mix it up with both… Add a bough of holly, and a tradition is born!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoKnitAroundTreeSkirt, and #PurlSohoSuperSoftMerino. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Main Color: 5 (10) skeins of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this bulky weight yarn is 87 yards; approximately 435 (870) yards required. We used Heirloom White.
- Color A: 1 (1) skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 12 (24) yards required. We used Red Gingham.
- Color B: 1 (1) skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 12 (24) yards required. We used Alizarin Crimson.
- Color C: 1 (1) skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 12 (24) yards required. We used Red Poppy.
- Color D: 1 (1) skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 12 (24) yards required. We used Super Orange.
- US 13 (9 mm), 24-inch circular or straight needles
- A stitch marker
Prefer the green side of Christmas? Try these colors instead…
- Main Color: Heirloom White.
- Color A: Clover Green
- Color B: Fresh Pickle
- Color C: Frond Green
- Color D: Reef Green
Gauge
12 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
12 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Sizes
Small (Large)
- Finished Circumference: 75½ (144½) inches
- Finished Diameter: 24 (46) inches
- Finished Length Of Flap: 10 (20) inches
- Center Diameter: Approximately 5 inches
Sample: The Large size is shown here.
Notes
Stitch Multiple
This pattern works over a multiple of 5 stitches.
Short Row Shaping: WRP-T (Wrap and Turn)
Keeping yarn in back, slip next stitch purlwise from left needle to right needle. Bring yarn to front. Return slipped stitch to left needle. Turn work so wrong side is facing you.
To see this technique in action, visit our Short Row Tutorial and follow along with the wrap and turn on the knit side section (at 0:30 seconds), except do not bring the yarn to the back before you turn.
Knitting Stitches With Their Wraps
Keeping yarn in back, pick up wrap with right needle from front to back and place on left needle. Knit stitch and wrap together. This step is described at minute 2:45 of our Short Row Tutorial.
Pattern
Wedge 1
With Main Color (MC), cast on 30 (55) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): With MC, knit to end of row.
Join Color A.
Rows 2 + 3: With Color A, knit to end of row.
Cut Color A.
Row 4 (right side): With MC, knit to last 10 stitches, place marker (pm), k5, wrap and turn (wrp-t, see Notes).
Row 5: Knit to end of row.
Row 6: Knit to marker, remove marker, wrp-t.
Row 7: K5, pm, knit to end of row.
Small Size
Rows 8-11: Repeat Rows 6 and 7 two more times.
Row 12: Repeat Row 6.
Row 13: Knit to end of row.
Row 14: Knit to end of row, knitting wrapped stitches with their wraps.
Large Size
Rows 8-21: Repeat Rows 6 and 7 seven more times.
Row 22: Repeat Row 6.
Row 23: Knit to end of row.
Row 24: Knit to end of row, knitting wrapped stitches with their wraps.
Triangle 2
Repeat Rows 1-14 (1-24), using MC for Rows 2 + 3 and Color A for Rows 6 + 7 (8 + 9).
Triangle 3
Repeat Rows 1-14 (1-24), using MC for Rows 2 + 3 and Color A for Rows 10 + 11 (14 + 15).
Triangle 4: Large Size Only
Repeat Rows 1-24, using MC for Rows 2 + 3 and Color A for Rows 20 + 21.
Wedges 2 + 3
Repeat Triangles 1-3 (1-4), using Color B instead of Color A.
Wedge 4
Repeat Triangles 1-3 (1-4), using Color A for Color A.
Wedge 5
Repeat Triangles 1-3 (1-4), using Color C instead of Color A.
Wedges 6 + 7
Repeat Triangles 1-3 (1-4), using Color D instead of Color A.
Wedge 8
Repeat Triangles 1-3 (1-4), using Color C instead of Color A.
Finish
Next Row (wrong side): With MC, knit to end of row.
With the right side facing you, bind off knitwise.
Weave in the ends and steam block.
LEARN ABOUT SUPER SOFT MERINO + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
The best reason to use Super Soft Merino for this project is because it is the dreamiest, cuddliest, toastiest yarn you can imagine! A single ply of 100% merino wool, Super Soft Merino has a nice, loose spin that shows off the softness of its fiber and keeps it nice and lightweight. Its gauge ranges from a chunky/bulky-weight to super bulky-weight (2.75-3.25 stitches per inch), making it a great choice for quick (and beautiful!) hand-knit gifts. And more… Super Soft Merino comes in over 30 amazing colors, too!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Super Soft Merino knitting patterns and cast on!
More Chunky/Bulky + Super Bulky-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of chunky/bulky weight yarns
- Shop our entire collection of super bulky-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop merino wool
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 45 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 1000’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Row 4 should be clearer. Do you knit to the last 10, pm, knit5, wrap & turn?
Hi Belinda,
Thank you! We were, indeed, missing one critical little word… knit! Now fixed, we and everyone else who comes along to knit this tree skirt are very appreciative that you took the time to point this out. Happy knitting!
Whitney
this would make a lovely christmas shawl/wrap!
I just finished a shawl very similar in construction to this tree skirt, and it does , indeed, make a wonderful, warm , snuggly shawl. I used worsted weight yarn and smaller needles, but the wrap-and-turn principle was the same, and it is absolutely cuddly. If you choose to make a shawl out of this, I’m sure the folks at Purl Soho would love to see it.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! That sounds like a wonderful project! Wrap and turns are such a great way to get lovely shaping, and I am sure that this would be a great shawl as well!
All the best,
Gianna
That is such a beautiful tree skirt. I have made several quilted tree skirts and they were fun to make. I do love the knitted skirt and I think I’ll make a couple for my mini bead tree. It is about 12″ tall and the branches are made with beaded wire and then bent into the shape of the tree. These trees were all the rage about 25 years ago. There were kits for making them and lots and lots of tiny glass ornaments. This little tree needs a special skirt. I haven’t read all the directions so I’m hoping I will be able to make the mini skirt. Thank you for the pattern and all the beautiful pictures.
Hi Gerald,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! This sounds like the perfect project for your little trees and luckily the pattern is written for a small and large option!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you for this project I was looking for a nice tree skirt and this hits the mark! Can’t wait to receive my yarn and start knitting!
Is there a way to make this larger?
Hi Leeia,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, you can easily adjust the size of the pattern, just keep in mind that this pattern works over a multiple of 5 stitches.
All the best,
Gianan
Hi! this is such a cute pattern! I’m hoping to make it with some worsted weight tweed yarn that I have in my stash. Crossing my knitting needles that it will work!
Hi Crys,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! This pattern should be fairly easy to adjust for a worst weight yarn! Wishing you all the best and please let us know how this turns out!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Love this! The Pom poms pictured are fantastic too, are the made with the same wool?
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! Yes, the pom poms are also made with our Super Soft Merino! We made them using our wonderful Pom Pom Maker Set!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Yay! I was searching all over to find an easy and simple knitting pattern for the tree skirt the last month or so and was so wishing Purl Soho made something like that! And look at this! Thank you!
Hi, maybe I’m missing something, but what do you do with the marker when repeating rows 6 and 7? Are you just slipping it?
Whoops I figured it out😜
In Triangle 2 where rows 8-11 say repeat rows 6 and 7 twice, do you use color A for all 4 rows? (small skirt)
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes that is correct! For rows 6-7 you will use Color A only the first time you work them and then when you repeat it you will go back to using the main color so that there is only one stripe of the contrasting Color A!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi
Can we just replace the wrap and turns by German short rows? I’m also doing the thistle yoke pullover and it’s really so simple!
Many thanks
Lula
Hi Lula,
Thanks for reaching out! I think you could definitely use German Short Rows in place of the Warp + Turn for a similar result!
Please let us know how it turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I’m using up some worsted weight in my yarn stash. I cast on 55 stitches and am using a size 7 US needle and it looks great but it’s only about 12″ from the center to the edge, which will be too small for a standard tree. I was thinking about casting on 110 stitches instead. My question: Would I still wrap & turn every 5 stitches, or would that measurement also double (to every 10 stitches). Wondering how 5 vs. 10 stitches effects the curve of the skirt. Has anyone tried this or does anyone have any thoughts on the wrap and turn ratio?
Hi Darcy,
Thanks for reaching out! I think that working the wrap and turns every 10 stitches instead of 5 would be fine and would maintain and even ratio since you are expanding the overall stitch count and working on a smaller gauge!
Please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Is it just me wanting to make this as a skirt for myself? 😎
Can you suggest yarn requirements for a predominantly red and green skirt? And pictures of one done already?
Hi Betsey,
Thanks for reaching out! We do not have any photos of other color combinations since we only made the sample in the red and white combination! If you are looking for a red and green combination I have two options to suggest, 1st I would recommend using our Super Soft Merino in Red Gingham as the Main Color and using the listed greens as the accents (Clover Green, Fresh Pickle, Frond Green, and Reef Green.) The second option I would suggest is using Clover Green or Fresh Pickle as the Main Color with the listed reds as the accents (Red Gingham, Alizarin Crimson, Red Poppy and Super Orange)
I hope this helps and please let us know how it turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Be careful! According to the pattern, the large version uses _exactly_ 10 skeins of the Main Color. I am finding myself about 1 skein short. Buy yourself an extra.
Why are some of the triangles called “wedges”? What’s the difference?
Hi Carol,
Thanks for writing in! To break it down- there are 8 wedges that make up the tree skirt, and those wedges are built up of several triangles (each triangle makes up one stripe of the contrasting color) So the triangle and wedges are not the same, but the triangles help make up each wedge!
I hope this clears things up!
Gianna
is there a tutorial for this project?
Hi Kendra,
Thanks for reaching out! We do not have a tutorial for this project but we do have tutorials for some of the techniques used for this! You can find the links to the tutorials in the pattern, they are highlighted in pink. For example, the Short Rows: Wrap + Turn tutorial is a key component of this project!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I love this cute tree skirt and am hoping to make on. I was planning on using the heirloom white as the main color. I would like to use the fresh pickle and the red poppy as two of my 4 contrast colors. Can you suggest 2 more that would work with these selections? They can either be in the red/green family or be completely different colors. Thank you! And thanks for all the great patterns your shop provides! They are some of my favorites.
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for reaching out and for your kind words! I would love to suggest some colors! With Red Poppy and Fresh Pickle, I would suggest using Red Gingham and Frond Green.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
I’m knitting this tree skirt just now and am loving it so far! I have a question about the pattern instructions though. I’m knitting the large size and am at the heading labeled “Wedges 2 + 3”. It says to repeat triangles 1-4, however there is no section labeled Triangle 1 on the pattern so I’m unsure where you want the knitter to begin for starting Wedge 2.
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for reaching out! This is such a fun knit, I am so glad to hear that you have enjoyed it so far! For Wedges 2 + 3 you will repeat triangles 1-4, using Color B instead of Color A, the beginning of Wedge 1 is also the start of Triangle 1 so you will begin again at Row 1 of Wedge 1 and work rows 1-24 for Triangle 1!
I hope this clears things up!
Gianna
I am currently working on this tree skirt.. I had to modify the pattern somewhat to make it larger.. I’m using a worsted weight sparkle yarn. When the lights hit it, the lights should bounce off the sparkle…
Do you think GOOD WOOL would work for this pattern? Im looking for something a bit less expensive than the Super Merino considering it’s 10 of main color. Thank you!
Hi Erin!
Thank you for your question! Good Wool would be too thin to use for this pattern, as Good Wool is a sport weight to light worsted weight yarn, while Super Soft Merino is a Chunky/Bulky weight yarn. Instead, I recommend using your favorite chunky/bulky weight yarn, or knitting at a slightly smaller gauge with Partridge.
I hope this helps with your project planning!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi,
I just printed the pattern and am excited to make this for our daughter. I am confused by the pattern. Wedge 1 is listed and then goes in to Triangle 2 , 3 and so on. When I get to Wedges 2 & 3, it says to repeat Triangle 1-3. I only see Wedge 1, not a Triangle 1. Is Wedge 1 the same as Triangle 1?
THank you
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for reaching out; I can certainly see how it’s difficult to differentiate between the Triangles and Wedges in this pattern! However, they’re actually not referring to the same thing–each Triangle is actually a subsection of each Wedge. So fro example, the instructions for Wedges 2 + 3 have you “Repeat Triangles 1-3 (1-4), using Color B instead of Color A.” Condensing the instructions within each Wedge into Triangle subsections helps make the pattern shorter and (hopefully) easier to follow!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there! I’m feeling a little stuck on the step of repeating rows 6 and 7. Why do you place the marker on row 7? Do you move back five stitches each time? I may be overthinking, this is my first knitting project in years and I’m excited to make a new Christmas tree skirt! Thanks in advance!
Hi Anna,
Thanks for reaching out! The reason that we include a stitch marker in this pattern is to make it easier to know where to work each wrap + turn. You’re totally right, each wrap + turn is done 5 stitches before the previous row’s wrap + turn, so you could just go off of that. But many knitters find it difficult to locate the previous wrap + turn, and the stitch marker just helps with that! Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
I want to make this for a mini Christmas tree that I have. I’m planning on using worsted weight yarn and casting on 20 stitches. Would I still use 14 rows for each wedge, or do you think I’d need less? Thanks!
Hi Nikki,
Thanks for reaching out, and that sounds like a great idea! That’s kind of a tricky calculation, but I think I can get you a useful answer with a bit more information. Can you let me know what your gauge is in garter stitch, with your intended yarn and needles?
I’ll keep an eye out for your reply, and then I’ll be able to look into this further!
All the best,
Lili
Where the pattern explains knitting stitches with their wraps at the beginning it says to go to minute 3:29 of the video, but it looks like 2:45 is actually for knitting and 3:29 is for purling, which would not be needed for this pattern. Is that correct?
Hi Sam,
Thanks so much for pointing this out! We’ve updated the timestamp, so it should correctly be 2:45 now. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there,
Question about picking up the wrapped stitch (wedge 1, row 6+7)…because we are knitting ahead 5 stitches each time, we won’t encounter the wrapped stitch, will we? Or is it immediately after you wrap and
turn? Thank you!
Hi Shauna,
That’s a great question! On row 6, you will be turning your work each time you wrap the stitch right after you remove your marker so you actually don’t encounter any wrapped stitches until row 14 of your wedge when you resolve them all. I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello Purl SoHo Team, I love this pattern. I am confused on the wrap-T. I have knit the wrap and knit stitch together and am on the wrong side. Do I pick up knitting again n the right side? To knit to the end of the row, am I knitting the last 5 stitches? I have read the instructions, reviews the photos in the tutorial and watched the video. I am hopelessly confused! Thanks for any insight.
Anne
Hi Anne,
Thank you for writing in. I’m afraid I am not quite sure where you are in the pattern but I believe you may be on either row 14 of the small or 24 of the larger size. For this row you will work as follows: Row 14/24: Knit to end of row, knitting wrapped stitches with their wraps. This means you will knit to the end of the row (all stitches) and along the way you will be knitting the wraps with their corresponding knit stitches. I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi Gabriella,
Thanks for the quick response. I am actually on Row 5 and 6. I have never done a wrp-t and have totally confused myself. Thanks for any help!
Hi Anne,
Thank you for following up! On these rows you are working ‘short rows’ and this will mean you are only working to the place of the marker from which you will then wrap your stitch and turn the work to get ready to work the other way. So in this case, you are only working to the end on row 5 but on row 6, you are stopping at the marker to complete the wrap and turn at which point you will begin working in the other direction without working those stitches on the other side of the wrap and turn. I hope this helps but you can also find our full wrap and turn tutorial here. One thing to keep in mind is that the video demonstrates the W&T method on stockinette stitch so you will only need to pay attention to the knit row instructions. This also means in the first steps, you do not need to move your working yarn to the back of the work since you will at that point already be set up to ‘knit’ the stitches going the other way after you turn.
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hi Purl Soho! It has been years since I knit and I’ve forgotten a fair bit so apologies in advance for my question. For this pattern, Row 1. When you knit to the end of the row, and join Color A, are you supposed to cut MC? Knit two rows with color A, cut and then join MC for row 5? Thank you in advance!
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for writing in! In this pattern, the stripes in the CCs are so narrow that you do not need to cut the MC while you’re knitting with any of the CCs. You can just start knitting with it again on the next MC row!
All the best,
Lili