My favorites have beads on both sides, I used a handful of dd's plastic beads which we have piles of since she's moved on to glass. If you don't celebrate Christmas this is a nice fall window ornament or maybe a faux taxi-driver air freshener for your car.
Use whatever size yarn and needles you have handy. Teach the grandkids with this one. My dd is making one smallish face cloth sized, starting with 35 sts or so, with aran wt cotton on 9s and decorating it with puffy paint dots/ornaments for her nana.
Pattern:
Cast on 21 stitches. Knit one row.
Knit 9, knit 3 stitches together (this decreases 2 sts), k9
Next row, knit.
Knit 8, knit 3 sts together, k8,
Next row, knit.
Keep decreasing every other row until 1 stitch is left. Fasten off,
form yarn end into hanging loop and tie at top of tree.
Beaded tree:
Thread beads on to yarn before starting tree. To place bead, knit one
stitch, before next stitch bring bead up close to knitting, knit next stitch,
making sure bead stays to back of knitting. Repeat, placing beads where
you want them (on both RS and WS rows looks great as it hangs)!