Easy Crochet Nutcracker Ornament: Free Pattern

Size: about 12 cm (4.7 in) tall in DK yarn (approximate; it depends on your tension)

Yarn: DK weight (CYC 3). A (red) about 20 yd (18 m), B (pale pink) about 10 yd (9 m), C (black) about 15 yd (14 m); D (gold) small amount

Hook: 3.0-3.5 mm (smaller than the yarn label, for a tight fabric with no stuffing showing)

Notions: a little yarn for the embroidered details, fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, yarn needle

ABBREVIATIONS (US terms): MR magic ring, sc single crochet, inc 2 sc in one stitch, dec single crochet 2 together (invisible decrease recommended), st(s) stitch(es), sl st slip stitch, FO fasten off, Rnd(s) round(s)

Notes: Worked in continuous spiral rounds; move your stitch marker up each round. The number in brackets is the stitch count at the end of the round.

Body (make 1, colour A), about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 6 sc in MR 6
• Rnd 2 inc in each st around 12
• Rnd 3 (sc, inc) x 6 18
• Rnd 4 (sc 2, inc) x 6 24
• Rnd 5 sc, inc, (sc 3, inc) x 5, sc 2 30
• Rnds 6-11 sc in each st around 30
• Rnd 12 (sc 3, dec) x 6 24
• Rnd 13 sc, dec, (sc 2, dec) x 5, sc 18

Stuff firmly, and keep stuffing as you close.

• Rnd 14 (sc, dec) x 6 12
• Rnd 15 dec in each st around 6

FO, weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull closed.

Head (make 1, colour B), about 3.6 cm (1.4 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 6 sc in MR 6
• Rnd 2 inc in each st around 12
• Rnd 3 (sc, inc) x 6 18
• Rnd 4 (sc 2, inc) x 6 24
• Rnds 5-7 sc in each st around 24
• Rnd 8 (sc 2, dec) x 6 18

Stuff firmly, and keep stuffing as you close.

• Rnd 9 (sc, dec) x 6 12
• Rnd 10 dec in each st around 6

FO, weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull closed.

Hat (make 1, colour C), about 3.6 cm (1.4 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 6 sc in MR 6
• Rnd 2 inc in each st around 12
• Rnd 3 (sc, inc) x 6 18
• Rnd 4 (sc 2, inc) x 6 24
• Rnds 5-13 sc in each st around 24

FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly.

Arm (make 2, colour B), about 1.2 cm (0.5 in) across at its widest

• Rnd 1 4 sc in MR 4
• Rnd 2 inc in each st around 8
• Rnd 3 sc in each st around 8

Change to colour A.

• Rnds 4-8 sc in each st around 8

Stuff firmly, and keep stuffing as you close.

• Rnd 9 dec in each st around 4

FO, weave the tail through the front loops of the last stitches and pull closed.

Assembly

1. Embroider the two small eyes on the head at Rnd 6 with colour C. About 5 stitches apart.
2. Embroider the black moustache on the head at Rnd 8 with colour C. Centred under the eyes, 5 stitches wide, the ends curling up.
3. Embroider the two rows of gold buttons on the body around Rnds 5-11 with colour D. Down the front.
4. Embroider the gold braid lines on the body around Rnds 5-9 with colour D. Three short lines across the chest between the buttons, 4 stitches wide.
5. Sew the head to the body between Rnds 1 and 2. Head on top of the body.
6. Sew the hat to the head at Rnd 3. On top of the head, its open edge sewn all the way around at Rnd 3.
7. Sew the arms to the body between Rnds 4 and 6. One on each side, hanging down, the pink hands at the bottom.
8. Thread a length of colour C through the top of the hat and tie into a hanging loop.
9. Weave in all ends.