Christmas Tabletop Ornament Tree Using a Knitting Needle

I recently found this Christmas tabletop knitting needle ornament tree in an old Christmas decorating book and wanted to try it out. It is a non-permanent way to use your ornaments and can be done in many variations. It is perfect to place on a mantle, table, or just to accent your decor.

All you need for the basic version is a knitting needle and about 16-20 classic ball ornaments of varying size.  I made two trees. One using vintage ornaments I had. The other tree I found basic ornaments at Walmart.  They were $2.50 for a box of 10 -18 balls.

The ornaments are simply placed over the knitting needle – largest ornaments on the bottom – smallest on top. I removed the metal ring from the top ornament and hid the tip of the needle by placing the ornament upside down over the tip.   The four bottom ornaments hold the tree up.  Super simple!

For the ornament tree above I left about 4″ of the needle empty so I could place an old-fashioned tree topper over the tip of the knitting needle for the finishing touch.

The bottom can be simply left alone, adorned with some greenery, or placed in an urn or planter.

For this ornament tree, I added a star ornament on the top and made a coordinating tree stand from an empty spool of ribbon and some scrapbook paper.

Experiment with different style balls and your favorite colors.   Use all one color or try a different color for each size ball you add to the knitting needle or try four balls of varying sizes in each color. This will give you a spiral effect.

How to Make a Christmas Ornament Tree Using a Knitting Needle

supplies needed:

• A mix of round Christmas ornaments in 4 different sizes –for one tree you will need about 20 balls.  At least 4 of each size.
• Knitting Needle – 14 inches long (tall tree)  Spray paint the needles if needed to match your ornaments.
• Optional: Christmas tree peak topper or a star ornament, ribbon spool, spray paint, scrapbook paper, glue, spray paint, paper cutter

The ribbon spool stand is optional. It is not needed for the tree to stand. I made it to create a tree stand just like a real Christmas tree has.

1. To make the ribbon spool tree stand: Spray the spool with spray paint to coordinate with your ornaments.  Cut scrapbook paper the width of the spool. You could use ribbon, but I like the more finished look of the paper on the spool.

2. Attach the paper with glue. I used Aleene’s Tacky Line Roll Adhesive.

Attach to the spool.3.

4. Thread the knitting needle up through the bottom of the spool.

5. If the spool has a large hole – you can stuff it with pieces of STYROFOAM to make sure the needle stays straight.

6. String four large Christmas ball ornaments (about 4” diameter) onto the needle, slipping the metal loops on the balls over the point of the needle. These four balls will form the base of the tree.

How to Place Ornaments on The Knitting Needle

NOTE:  If you do not want to use the spool tree stand and want to make the basic ornament tree, all you need to start the tree is 4 large ornaments. These four ornaments when placed squarely on a table will hold the needle upright.

1. Using the the ring on the top of each ornament, string 4 larger ornaments onto the needle. Next add four balls slightly smaller ornaments. Each one will fit between two of the larger ones.  Then string on another four, slightly smaller, and finally four more again, slightly smaller, so that your tree has sixteen Christmas ball ornaments in all.  You can add more or less depending on the size of your balls.

The tip will look like this.

On top of the needle place a Christmas star ornament.  I found this one at Michaels.  It had a “spring” style attachment that I removed.  I used that existing hole to place the star on the top of the knitting needle.  I used an awl to make the hole a bit larger so it fit over the tip of the needle.

Another way to display the tree is to place the whole thing in or on top of a planter.

For the holidays I thought this one would look nice in my kitchen.  Adds some color and festivity to the space by my sink.

My ornament tree helper – Trax. I tied some festive ribbon around his neck.

For more quick holiday decorating ideas, click over to my Ornament Bowl Tutorial and other Holiday Decorating Ideas.