A handmade gift says something a bought one can't: I spent my evenings making this for you. This guide gathers our favorite Christmas makes by who they're for, from decorations for the tree to a little something for a friend. Each idea links to its pattern, and the whole range is in Christmas crochet patterns.
A quick note so you know what you're reading: these are all Crochetease patterns. They're digital PDF downloads, which you can print or follow on your phone. If you'd like to try our style first, there's a free pattern at the end.
Before you start
- Smaller makes: one character, a butterfly for the tree or a pair of baby slippers. Good for Secret Santa and stocking fillers.
- Bigger projects: a set of lanterns, a cardigan or a whole family of characters. Start early, or give the first piece on Christmas morning and finish the rest in January. Nobody minds.
- Decorations, not toys: the characters in this guide use small parts such as wire, safety eyes, beads or buttons, so keep them away from young children.
- Lights: the lanterns and glow lamps are lit by a light you add. Use an LED one, never a candle or a bulb that gets hot.
For mom, grandma and the home
Christmas lanterns for the mantel. Four lanterns, Santa, Snowman, Reindeer and Elf, to stand on a shelf or a mantel, each lit by a small light you add. The light isn't included. This is the gift for the person who decorates early.
→ Christmas Lantern Set
A Christmas tree family. A smiling tree family, father, mother, kid and baby, for a windowsill or a sideboard. It's an especially sweet gift for a family with a new baby.
→ Christmas Tree Family Set
For the character lover: fairies and bears
Santa, Snowman, Reindeer and Elf come in two sets, as fairies and as teddy bears, for the tree, the mantel or a gift.
- Christmas Fairies: the four Christmas friends as fairies with wings. → Christmas Fairies Set
- Christmas Bears: the same four as teddy bears. → Christmas Bears Set
The fairies have friends all year round in fairy crochet patterns.
Small gifts for friends and Secret Santa
- Christmas Butterflies: Santa, Snowman, Reindeer and Elf butterfly characters, 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm). Charming on a tree. → Christmas Butterflies Set
- Swinging Angels: three little angels, about 8 in (20 cm), each with different wings, and the swing they sit on. → Swinging Angels Set
A gift that glows
For someone who loves a cozy room in winter: crochet flower night lights in rose, sunflower, tulip and blossom. Each one is built around a mini desk lamp you add, listed in its materials. The lamp isn't included with the PDF patterns, and the set's material guide gives the size of lamp to look for.
→ Flower Glow Lamps patterns
Lanterns and more night lights are in night light and lantern patterns.
For cozy Christmas mornings: hooded cardigans
A crocheted cardigan is the handmade answer to the Christmas sweater. The Christmas Hooded Cardigans set has four designs: Santa, Reindeer, Elf and Snowman. The Santa pattern is written for 3 to 5 years, the Elf for 3 to 4 years and the Snowman for 3 years, each with a size chart to adapt it. Pick one design, or make one of each.
→ Christmas Hooded Cardigans
→ Just one? The Snowman Hooded Cardigan is also sold on its own.
The Snowman comes with a scarf, and its pattern says to leave the scarf off for children under 3.
For a baby's first Christmas
Christmas slippers for tiny feet. Santa, Snowman, Reindeer and Elf slippers, each written for 6 to 9 months, with a size chart or a different sole to adapt the size. A lovely add-on to a baby-shower gift too.
→ Christmas Cheer Slipper Set
Christmas baby jumpsuits. A first Christmas only happens once, and a crocheted jumpsuit becomes the outfit in every photo. The set includes Santa, a reindeer, an elf, a snowman and a gingerbread baby, each with its own pattern.
→ Christmas Baby Jumpsuits patterns
For a baby, embroider the eyes instead, and leave off the bells, beads, pompoms and any decorative buttons. Where a jumpsuit closes with buttons, sew them on firmly and check them before each wear: small parts can come loose.
More cardigans, slippers and jumpsuits are in crochet clothes and slipper patterns.
A whole Christmas scene
For the one who wants to make everything: festive amigurumi, from Santa and an elf to a snowman, a reindeer, a pudding bear and two penguins, one in a snow globe. Make them across December and give the set, or give one a day as an advent surprise.
→ Christmas Decoration Set patterns
Start with a free pattern
Not sure yet? Our Penguin Amigurumi pattern is free: a 16 cm (6 in) penguin with earmuffs and a scarf. Make one and see how you like our patterns. A decoration, not a toy: it uses wire, beads and buttons, so keep it away from young children.
→ Free Penguin crochet pattern
Questions
How do I get the pattern after I buy?
Your pattern is ready to download after checkout. Can't find it? See Find your downloads, or contact us with your order number and we'll send your files.
What yarn and hook do I need?
Each pattern lists what you need to make it. Any yarn of the same weight works, though a thicker yarn makes a bigger piece. For clothes and slippers, match the pattern's gauge where it gives one, so the size comes out right. The lanterns and glow lamps also need a small LED light, which isn't included.
Are the patterns in English?
Yes, with US crochet terms. Crocheting in UK terms? Our single crochet (sc) is your double crochet (dc).
Written by the Crochetease team. Crochetease is a crochet pattern shop based in France, selling PDF patterns for amigurumi, seasonal décor, baby clothes and night lights.