purlJam

# 2026 Nordic Star Crochet Ornament
**A Stranded Colorwork Pattern inspired by Arne & Carlos**

This ornament features a classic Nordic aesthetic using stranded crochet. By using the waistcoat stitch, we achieve a look that mimics traditional knitting, allowing the "2026" commemorative year and geometric stars to stand out clearly.

## YARN WEIGHT
Worsted weight (#4)

## SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIS YARN WEIGHT
- **Gauge**: 18 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in Waistcoat Stitch (csc) worked in the round.
- **Hook Size**: US G/6 (4.0 mm) or size needed to obtain a firm fabric.
- **Notions**: Poly-fill stuffing, tapestry needle, stitch marker.

## TERMINOLOGY & ABBREVIATION PROFILE
- **US English terminology used throughout.**
- **ch**: chain
- **st(s)**: stitch(es)
- **sl st**: slip stitch
- **sc**: single crochet
- **csc (Center Single Crochet)**: Also known as Waistcoat Stitch. Insert hook *between* the vertical legs of the next stitch (the "V"), yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- **inc**: 2 csc in the same stitch.
- **dec**: Insert hook into center of first st, pull up a loop, insert hook into center of next st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
- **MC**: Main Color (Red)
- **CC1**: Contrast Color 1 (White)
- **CC2**: Contrast Color 2 (Green)

---

## COLOR MANAGEMENT & STRANDING
- **Color Palette**:
  - **MC**: Red (approx. 30 yards)
  - **CC1**: White (approx. 20 yards)
  - **CC2**: Green (approx. 10 yards)
- **Float Management**: Carry the unused yarn behind your work. For floats longer than 4 stitches, "catch" the float by trapping it behind a stitch to prevent snagging and maintain even tension.
- **Tension**: Keep floats loose. If the floats are too tight, the ornament will pucker and lose its spherical shape.

---

## CHARTS SECTION

### Chart A: 2026 & Nordic Bands
- **Width**: 48 stitches (The chart shows one 48-st repeat).
- **Height**: Rows 1–31.
- **How to read**: Read all rows from **Right to Left** as this is worked in the round.

**Key:**
- □ = MC (Red)
- ■ = CC1 (White)
- ● = CC2 (Green)

```
31: □□□□□□□□□□□□ (12 sts) [Close]
30: □■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■ (24 sts)
29: □■■■□■■■□■■■□■■■□■■■□■■■ (36 sts)
28: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ (48 sts)
27: ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
26: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
25: □■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
24: □□□□■□■□□□□■□■□□□□■□□□□■□□□■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□
23: □□□■■□■□□□■■□■□□□■■□□□■■□□■□□□□■□■□□□□■□■□□□□■
22: □□■□□□■□□■□□□■□□■□□□□■□□□□□□□■■□□■□□□■■□□■□□□
21: □■■■■■■□■■■■■■□■■■■■■□■■■■■■□□□■□□□□■□■□□□□■□■
20: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□
19: □□□■■■□□□■■■□□□■■■□□□■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
18: □□■□□□■□■□□□■□■□□□■□■□□□■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□
17: □□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□■□□□□■□■□□□□■□■□□□□
16: □□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□
15: □□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□■□□□□□■□□□□□■□
14: □□■■■■■■□■■■■■■□■■■■■■□■■■■■■□■■■■■■□■■■■■■
13: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
12: ■□□□■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■□□□■□■■■■■□■■■■■
11: ■□□□■□■□□□■□■□□□□□■□□□■□■□□□■□■□□□■□■□□□□
10: ■■■■■□■□□□■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■□□□■□■■■■■
09: □□□□■□■□□□■□■□□□□□■□□□□□□□□□■□■□□□■□□□□□■
08: ■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■□■■■■■
07: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
06: ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
05: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
04: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ (48 sts)
03: □■■■□■■■□■■■□■■■□■■■□■■■ (36 sts)
02: □■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■ (24 sts)
01: □□□□□□□□□□□□ (12 sts) [Start]
```
*Note: The middle rows (8-12) contain the digit motifs for "2 0 2 6".*

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### Step 1: Base Construction
**Row 1**: With MC, create a magic ring. Work 12 sc into ring. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
*Math: 12 sts total.*

**Row 2 (Increase)**: Ch 1. *csc in next st, inc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sts)
*Wait, to reach 48 sts effectively:*
**Revised Row 2**: *Inc in every st* around. (24 sts)
**Row 3 (Increase)**: *csc in next st, inc in next st; repeat from * around. (36 sts)
**Row 4 (Increase)**: *csc in next 2 sts, inc in next st; repeat from * around. (48 sts)
**Row 5**: csc in each st around. (48 sts)

### Step 2: The Colorwork Body (Refer to Chart)
*Crucial: For all remaining rows, use the Waistcoat Stitch (csc) to ensure the pattern aligns vertically.*

**Row 6**: With CC2, csc in each st around. (48 sts)
**Row 7**: With MC, csc in each st around. (48 sts)
**Rows 8–12 (The Year 2026)**: Follow Chart for "2026" motif using MC and CC1.
**Row 13**: With MC, csc in each st around. (48 sts)
**Rows 14–26**: Follow Chart for Nordic Star motifs using MC, CC1, and CC2. 
*Note: Ensure you are stuffing the ornament firmly as you reach Row 26.*

### Step 3: Top Shaping & Closing
**Row 27**: With CC2, csc in each st around. (48 sts)
**Row 28 (Decrease)**: With MC, *csc in next 2 sts, dec; repeat from * around. (36 sts)
**Row 29 (Decrease)**: *csc in next st, dec; repeat from * around. (24 sts)
**Row 30 (Decrease)**: *dec around*. (12 sts)
**Row 31**: csc in each st around. (12 sts)

*Math Validation: 5 (base) + 21 (body) + 5 (top) = 31 Rows total.*

### Finishing
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use the tapestry needle to weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 12 stitches and pull tight to close. Create a loop of yarn or use a ribbon to hang.

---

## BLOCKING & CARE
Since this is an ornament, "blocking" is achieved by the internal stuffing. If your stitches look slightly uneven, gently roll the finished ornament between your palms to settle the polyester fiber and even out the tension of the floats. Do not iron. If using wool, a light steam can help set the stitches.