Every year around this time, the first crochet hooks turn towards Christmas, and baubles are at the top of the list. It makes sense: a crocheted Christmas ornament is done in an evening, you can use up leftover yarn, and it won't break when the cat knocks it off the tree. Add a yarn with a little shine and it looks festive straight away.
Checklist before you start
- Are you making a solid stuffed ball, or a cover that goes around an existing bauble?
- Can you already make a magic ring and increase and decrease in single crochet?
- Do you want one colour, stripes, or a shiny accent on a plain ball?
- Do you have stuffing, a tapestry needle and a piece of ribbon or yarn for the hanging loop?
- How many do you want to make: a few for the tree, or a whole set as a gift?
This pattern uses US crochet terms: single crochet (sc) is a double crochet in UK terms, and double crochet (dc) is a UK treble.
Three ways to crochet a Christmas ornament
| Stuffed ball | Cover for a bauble | Flat ornament | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technique | Rounds of sc with increases and decreases | Open stitch pattern around a plastic or foam ball | Two flat circles joined together |
| Time | About an hour per ball | An hour to an evening | Half an hour to an hour |
| Level | Beginner with some experience | Advanced beginner | Beginner |
| Great for | Unbreakable ornaments, also low on the tree within reach of children | Giving old baubles a new look | Hanging decorations and gift tags |
How to crochet a stuffed Christmas ball
A crocheted ball is one of the first things you learn in amigurumi. You work in continuous spiral rounds without joining, so place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round, or you'll lose count.
Start with 6 sc in a magic ring. In round 2, work 2 sc in each stitch, which gives you 12. Then increase by 6 stitches per round: *1 sc, 1 increase* (18), then *2 sc, 1 increase* (24), and *3 sc, 1 increase* (30). Now work five rounds of 30 sc without increasing, so the ball gets its round sides.
Decrease in the same order back: *3 sc, 1 decrease* (24), *2 sc, 1 decrease* (18). Stuff the ball firmly, but not so tightly that the stuffing shows between the stitches. Then work *1 sc, 1 decrease* (12) and a round of decreases only (6). Pull the yarn through the remaining loops, close the opening and weave the end inside.
How big your ball turns out depends on your yarn and hook. For a bigger ball, keep increasing for one or two more rounds (36, 42) and add a few extra straight rounds.
A cover for an existing bauble
Got a box of old or chipped baubles? Give them a crocheted jacket. Start with a small circle at the top, increase until it matches the size of the bauble, and continue in an airy pattern of double crochet and chains, so the bauble shimmers through a little. Try the cover on the bauble as you go, because every brand of bauble is a slightly different size.
Add some shine
A shiny yarn makes an ornament look festive straight away. We recently added Durable Starlux to the shop: a shiny 100% polyester yarn with a recommended hook size of 3.5 to 4.5 mm, and 160 metres in a 25 gram ball, so you can make quite a few ornaments with one ball. Gold, deep red and bright green are obvious Christmas choices.
You can crochet a whole ball in a shiny yarn, but it also works beautifully as an accent. Crochet the ball in a plain yarn and work only the middle rounds in gold, for example, or hold a shiny yarn together with a fine cotton for a subtle sparkle.
Finishing and hanging
The easiest way to add a loop is at the top of the ball: insert your hook into a stitch at the top, chain 10 to 12 and secure the chain in the same stitch. Threading a piece of ribbon through the top round works too. To make the ornament extra festive, embroider a few stitches in a contrasting colour over the ball with a tapestry needle, or sew a small pompom or bow on top.
Making them as a gift? Crochet a set of three or five in the same colours. They look like a set even if the balls aren't exactly the same size.
FAQ
What yarn should I use for crochet Christmas ornaments?
A cotton yarn holds its shape well and shows the stitches nicely. For shine, choose a metallic or glossy yarn, either for the whole ball or as an accent colour.
How big is a crocheted Christmas ball?
That depends on the thickness of your yarn, your hook and your tension. With the pattern above and a fine yarn you get a small tree ornament; more increase rounds make it bigger.
Can a beginner crochet a Christmas ornament?
Yes, as long as you can work single crochet, increases and decreases. The flat version made of two joined circles is even easier to start with.
How do I stop the stuffing from showing through?
Use a hook slightly smaller than the one on the ball band, so your stitches are tighter, and stuff the ball firmly but not to bursting.
Can I crochet a cover over an existing bauble?
Yes. Start with a small circle at the top and try the cover on the bauble as you go, so it fits snugly.
Start your ornaments in good time
Crocheting Christmas ornaments is a lovely project for dark November evenings: small, quick and easy to expand into a set. Pick the method that suits you, a stuffed ball, a cover or a flat ornament, and add a little shine. Looking for more festive ideas? See our five Christmas crochet projects, including a mini granny square garland made with the technique from our granny square guide.
