Every December after the fresh cut tree is up I set aside an evening to gather around and unpack our family ornaments. We take turns hanging them one at a time, sharing again the familiar story behind each one. A trio of brilliantly painted wooden angels always delights. Like a little chorus of seraphim in heaven, they sing out their song, “holy, holy, holy!” I wanted to share my family’s tradition with you by designing a simple pattern with just enough charming detail to earn a place on your family’s tree for years to come.

Your angel can be made with any yarn and the appropriate hook. I like a durable sport weight yarn in bright colors. For tidy looking stitches, consider going down a size from the recommended hook. The suggested materials make an angel about 4 inches tall. Gauge is not too important for this project: you’ll just get a bigger or smaller ornament.

Choose your favorite technique for the face and music. I used a fine-tip felt pen and a red pencil for the cheeks. You can embroider features, sew on beads, or glue on felt cutouts. To hang, simply thread a scrap of yarn through the head.

Enjoy!