Christmas crochet doesn't have to take weeks. Most Christmas projects are small enough to finish in an evening, and it's exactly those little ornaments that give your tree or table a personal touch you can't buy anywhere. Below you'll find five projects, from fifteen minutes of work to an amigurumi figure that fills a whole evening.
Decide this first
- How much time do you have: one evening for a few ornaments, or will you spread the project over the whole of December?
- Are you making something to hang up yourself, or is it a gift?
- Do you want subtle, natural colours, or sparkling gold and silver?
- Do you already have leftover yarn, or will you buy a Christmas colour specially?
Five Christmas crochet projects at a glance
| Project | Time | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Snowflake or star ornament | 15 to 30 minutes | Beginner |
| Mini Christmas tree | One evening | Beginner to intermediate |
| Mini granny square garland | Spread over a few evenings | Beginner |
| Christmas stocking ornament | About an hour per stocking | Beginner |
| Amigurumi Christmas figure | One evening or more | Intermediate |
1. Snowflake or star ornament
This is the quickest project on the list and a great way to practise working in the round. You crochet a flat circle or star from a magic ring, work a few rounds with picots or points, and thread a loop through it for hanging. Prefer two colours? A round in a shiny yarn between the base colour gives it an instant festive accent.
2. Mini Christmas tree
A mini Christmas tree is usually crocheted in continuous spiral rounds, from wide to narrow, so it naturally forms a point. Stuff it lightly and set it on a small round base so it stands upright. In a green cotton yarn it looks surprisingly realistic, especially with a few stitches in a lighter colour for snow.
3. Mini granny square garland
Crochet a series of small granny squares of two or three rounds in red, green and white, and string them together with a needle and a length of yarn to make a garland. This project is easy to spread over several evenings: each little square is done in a few minutes. New to the technique? Our granny square guide walks you through it step by step.
4. Christmas stocking ornament
A mini Christmas stocking is worked in rows back and forth for the foot and in rounds for the leg, with a simple edge at the top as a cuff. At this scale, about 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in), it's mainly decorative: hang it on the tree or use it to attach a gift tag. A stripe of gold or silver in the cuff makes it a little more festive than a single colour.
5. Amigurumi Christmas figure
For those who want to spend more time: a reindeer, Santa or snowman in amigurumi is the most time-consuming of the five projects, but also the one you'll enjoy longest. It's built like any other amigurumi figure: crochet the separate parts, stuff them and sew them together. If you've never made amigurumi before, start with something simple like a stuffed ball first. Our crochet Christmas ornaments guide includes a full stitch-count pattern for one.
Which yarn suits Christmas projects
For most Christmas ornaments a regular cotton yarn works perfectly, especially if you already have leftovers at home. If you want to add something festive, a yarn with a subtle sparkle, such as Durable Glam, is lovely for stars, tree toppers and accents. Don't use glitter yarn for a whole figure, though: in small amounts it adds sparkle, but over a large surface it quickly becomes too busy.
FAQ about Christmas crochet
When should I start my Christmas crochet projects?
Start well before December if you want to make several ornaments or an amigurumi figure, especially if they're gifts. A few snowflake ornaments are still easy to make in the last week.
Which project is quickest for beginners?
The snowflake or star ornament, because you work it in a few rounds from a magic ring without complicated parts.
Can I use leftover yarn for Christmas projects?
For most ornaments on this list, yes, as long as the leftovers are roughly the same thickness. A granny square garland is actually perfect for using up small scraps.
How do I keep my mini Christmas tree from leaning?
Make a sturdy base with enough stitches to stand flat, and don't overstuff the figure, because too much stuffing pulls the shape off balance.
Is an amigurumi Christmas figure difficult?
The technique itself is no harder than any other amigurumi project, but a figure with several parts, such as arms, a scarf or a hat, takes more time to sew together neatly.
Get started
Don't try all five at once this season: start with one project that suits your time and level, and add more once you've got the bug. Making gifts? A blanket takes longer, but our crochet baby blanket guide shows you how to plan one from yarn to border.
