12 Crochet Christmas Toys Free Patterns
Christmas amigurumi are the little crochet friends that come out every December: Santas on the mantel, snowmen on the shelf and tiny trees on the tree. They make sweet gifts, stocking stuffers and ornaments that last for years.
We opened and checked each of these 12 free patterns. You will find four Santas (from easy to advanced), a friendly elf, two snowman projects, a penguin, a gingerbread boy and three quick ornaments you can make in an evening.
Crochet Christmas Toys Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Crochet hook set (3 mm to 5 mm)
- Worsted weight yarn in red, white, green and brown
- Faux fur or fluffy white yarn for beards and trim
- Safety eyes
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Jingle bells and small pom-pom maker
- Stitch markers and yarn needles
1. No-Sew Santa
Photo: Jess Huff
This tall Santa doll stands about 14 inches, with a red suit, white trim and a fluffy white beard and mustache. As the name says, the design avoids sewing pieces together, which saves a lot of time at the end. It uses worsted yarn and two hook sizes. He makes a great centerpiece for a holiday shelf or a big gift.
- Designer: Jess Huff
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E) and 4.5 mm (7) for trim
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Amigurumi Santa Claus
Photo: The Sun and the Turtle
This small Santa has a peach face, a red body with white trim, black boots and a pom-pom beanie. His beard is needle felted, which gives it a soft, real look. Felt cheeks and a belt add sweet details. The designer files it as an advanced pattern, so pick this one when you want a challenge.
- Designer: The Sun and the Turtle
- Skill level: Advanced
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 3 mm
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Father Christmas
Photo: A Bunch of Buttons
This Father Christmas can be a hanging ornament or a sitting softie. The small version is about 6 inches tall. He has a popcorn-stitch nose, popcorn thumbs and a beard made with loop stitch or bobbles. The big version can be weighted so he sits up nicely. It is a fun way to practice textured stitches.
- Designer: A Bunch of Buttons
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3) for small, worsted/aran (#4) for large
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E) or 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Santa and His Mini Elfus
Photo: San / Loopsan
A chubby, round Santa with a big white beard and two tiny green elves to keep him company. The designer calls it an easy project that is fine for beginners. Note that Santa is made from her separate Elfus pattern in red, which is linked on the page. Make a little set to sit under the tree.
- Designer: San / Loopsan
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E) or 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Posh Pete the Elf Doll
Photo: Sara Sach / Posh Pooch Designs
Pete is a friendly 18-inch elf with a green sparkle body, red arms, a white fur collar and a pom-pom hat. The designer made him as a softer, cuter take on the classic shelf elf. There are a lot of pieces to sew, but each step has a video. Kids will love moving him around the house all month.
- Designer: Sara Sach / Posh Pooch Designs
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 3.75 mm (F)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Classic Crochet Snowman
Photo: Sarah / Repeat Crafter Me
A cozy little snowman about 6 inches tall, with a carrot nose, a crochet scarf and a black top hat. The hat uses front and back loop rounds to get a crisp brim. Only basic stitches are used: magic ring, single crochet, decreases and slip stitch. It is a great first Christmas amigurumi.
- Designer: Sarah / Repeat Crafter Me
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Arctic No Nose Snowman Family
This set gives you three snowmen in small, medium and large, from about 8.5 to 14.5 inches long. Each one has a hat and a scarf, and they are worked in easy continuous rounds. They look great lined up on a mantel or a porch bench, and the different sizes make a cute family.
- Designer: Christina Ryan / Creative Snugglies (guest post on Oombawka Design Crochet)
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Penguin Family
These penguins are built from simple rectangles that you seam together, so there is no tricky shaping. The adult penguin is about 10 inches tall. You can add a Santa hat, headband or bow made with fluffy fur yarn. The baby penguin and its accessories are in a separate linked post.
- Designer: Rhondda Mol / Oombawka Design Crochet
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) plus jumbo fur yarn (#7) for accessories
- Hook: 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. The Gingerbread Boy
Photo: K4TT / FiberDoodles
A sweet gingerbread boy in warm brown yarn with red cheeks, icing zigzags, gumdrop buttons and a french-knot smile. He is worked in rounds and stuffed as you go, then the arms and legs are sewn on. He makes a cute ornament or a stocking stuffer for a cookie-loving kid.
- Designer: K4TT / FiberDoodles
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 3.75 mm (F)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Joy the Mini Christmas Tree
Photo: Holly Lanier / Storyland Amis
Joy is a baby Christmas tree with a happy face, a brown trunk and a gold star on top. She is about 4 inches tall and has safety eyes and an embroidered smile. Add tiny pom-poms as ornaments and a hanging loop if you want her on the tree. She is quick to make, so you can do a few for gifts.
- Designer: Holly Lanier / Storyland Amis
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Gingerbread Tree and Christmas Tree Ornaments
Photo: June Gilbank / PlanetJune
This flat, chunky tree ornament is made in one continuous spiral with no sewing. Make it in brown for a gingerbread tree, or in green or white with a brown trunk for a classic tree. It is about 3.5 inches tall. Decorate with beads or embroidery, and it is ready to hang.
- Designer: June Gilbank / PlanetJune
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E)
- Price: Free (optional donation for PDF)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
12. Christmas Pickle Ornament
Photo: Stacey Trock / FreshStitches (Ravelry)
Hiding a pickle on the tree is a fun old tradition: whoever finds it first gets a small prize. This crochet version is easy, with very little shaping and one bobble stitch that the pattern explains. It is a free download on Ravelry. It makes a funny, sweet gift tag topper or stocking stuffer.
- Designer: Stacey Trock / FreshStitches (Ravelry)
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free (Ravelry download)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- First Christmas amigurumi? Start with #6 or #11. Simple stitches, small size.
- Need many small gifts fast? Make a batch of #10, #11 or #12.
- Want a big holiday centerpiece? Go for #1, #5 or the snowman family in #7.
- Making for kids? #5 is a soft elf to play with, and #8 is a sturdy penguin.
- Ready for a challenge? Try #2 with its needle-felted beard, or #3 with popcorn stitches.
FAQ
When should I start crocheting Christmas amigurumi?
If you plan to give them as gifts, start in September or October. Small ornaments take an evening, but dolls like #1 or #5 can take a week or more with all the sewing. Starting early also gives you time to make extras for craft fairs.
What yarn is best for Christmas amigurumi?
Worsted weight acrylic in red, white, green and brown covers almost every pattern here. Add a fluffy or faux fur white yarn for beards and hat trim. For ornaments, a cotton yarn gives neat stitch definition and holds its shape on the tree.
How do I hang an amigurumi on the Christmas tree?
Sew a loop of yarn, thin ribbon or gold thread firmly into the top of the piece before you weave in the ends. For heavier pieces, use an ornament hook through the loop. Keep big toys like the Santa dolls on a shelf or mantel instead.
Pick a few favorites, warm up some cocoa, and fill your home with handmade Christmas friends this year.