Christmas tree decoration, hanging angel and angel tree topper.

The lace angel is knitted from the bottom up in the round, all in one piece. There is a small hanging ornament pattern and a tree-topper pattern. After knitting it is starched.

The English language pattern includes a taste of the Irish language, with a glossary and pronunciation tips in case you want them. There will also be an Irish language version available shortly hopefully.

Aingeal na Nollag - Christmas Angel

In another life I was given a Christmas gift of a crocheted angel by a student. I was so touched by this handmade gift by her grandmother in Hungary. Every Christmas I would stare at it in awe and promise myself that I would one day learn to crochet so I could make angels like that.

Eventually one Christmas I took the dive. With the help and advice of some knowledgeable women, a good beginner’s book and lots of online videos, I figured out how to make the angel. I made several as gifts but for some reason the desire to knit it and teach others to make their own angels was always there.

Creating the knitted angel has been a vastly different experience and it showed me how strikingly different construction is in these two crafts. It has turned out to be such a different angel yet it retains much of the outline shape.

Everybody could do with an angel in their lives, particularly in this lonely and detached world of today. I am so grateful to be able to share my angel with you.

A huge thank you to Kathie Popadin who tech-edited this pattern and went above and beyond to support me in publishing my first pattern. To my test knitters, who gave me valuable feedback and support, thank you so much.

Skills involved:
Long-tail cast on
Lace knitting
Knitting in the round
Decreasing
Increasing
Knitted shell edging (video guide provided)
Stuffing the head
Starching (recipe using cornflour/cornstarch provided)
Optional crochet chain for hanging loop

Recommended Materials
2mm needles - dpns, circulars or 2 circulars 
Cotton crochet thread size no. 10

Recommended Notions
12/16 stitch markers
Stuffing for the head e.g. the filling of an old cushion
A darning needle
Cornflour/cornstarch