Crochet Christmas ornaments: how to keep track of rounds

Baubles, mini trees and tiny gnomes are quick to make, but they're almost all increases and short rounds worked in a spiral. Lose count once and the shape goes lumpy. Here's how to keep your place, even on ornament number twelve.

1. Mark the first stitch of every round

Amigurumi is usually worked in a continuous spiral, so there's no visible "end" of a round. Clip a locking stitch marker into the first stitch and move it up each time you come back to it. A scrap of contrasting yarn woven in and out works too, and you can leave it in until the ornament is finished.

2. Check the stitch count, not just the round number

Most round shapes follow a simple rule: increase rounds add 6 stitches (6, 12, 18, 24…), and decrease rounds take 6 away. If your count at the marker matches the pattern's number in brackets, you're on the right round.

3. Use this chart for a basic bauble

A common, generic way to make a small ball ornament in single crochet (US terms; UK: double crochet). Your pattern may differ, so follow your designer's version if you have one.

New to "( ) × 6"? See how to read repeats. Pattern in UK terms? Use the US↔UK converter.

4. Tick rounds off on paper

Print or copy the round list and put a tick (or a bead in a little dish) after each one. It's old-fashioned and it works, especially when you're making a batch of the same ornament.

5. Make ornaments in a batch, one stage at a time

Crochet all the tops, then all the bodies, then do all the stuffing and sewing. You repeat the same rounds several times in a row, so you stop needing to look things up.

6. Stop putting the hook down to count

With tiny pieces, every time you put the work down to tap a counter or scroll a PDF, you risk losing the marker or the loop. A foot pedal, a tap on your earbuds or saying "next" can move your pattern on without letting go. If your hands get sore with small hooks, our tips for sore hands may help, and we've compared hands-free row counter apps.