I know many of you will say how it is early to even start thinking about Christmas but I had to in order to get all things done before the “fever” starts.
In most of European countries the Saint Nicholas day, december 6th is celebrated and is big event for children, as this Saint is gift bringer (and not to forget all the yummy cookies made for that day). Most of the Christmas fairs all around European main city squares will be opened at this time of year….it is just wonderful time of the year!
For all of us crafters that means lots and lots of work and preparations before December 6th!
Now you can understand how I didn’t start early! I started right on time!
Before I continue with my ornaments would like to add link to Christmas patterns made by my dear blogger friend Serah. She designed little Teddies caring tiny stockings and those are something you should check out (if you already haven’t) and try to make them this year. Here is her link:
Naughty or Nice, free patterns for all
I have thought of few easy designs do be made. I have to make them easy in order to make them fast so I can finish them in time and prepare the sale during Christmas fair.
As I like to share what I come up with and try to encourage all of you to try making the same, have written the patterns for these little ornaments hopping you will have time to make them for you family and friends or if you a crafter and will sell this year, will have time to make them for sale (if you will like them at all!)
I have taken the photo of my tiny ornaments, placing them on one blue/black coral branch for you to see. Here they are. Some are finished (those hanging) and some are still in progress
All are done out of one basic head pattern and then the hats have made all the work. With reindeer is little bit more work to do with the horns but the final result is worth all the trouble.
As you can see there are Santa’s helpers, Santas, Gnomes, Snowmen, Gingermen and Reindeers…
You can use these heads and Little Karlas bodes for example, and make complete tiny dolls if you like to have doll ornaments, instead of just heads. I wanted something little, cute and fast to do so I decided to go with heads only.
The other option what can be done is mixing hats with heads and you will get many more combinations than ones presented here. If you will have time, play, enjoy making these little ones you kids will love and will make great addition to you christmas tree.
Think we can start with the patterns. Will give you as many details as possible. If you will have any further questions to ask, feel free to leave me message here or send me mail. Will be glad to help!
Materials used:
5 ply cotton yarn in various colors (white, black, green, red, brown light/dark)
Merino wool or any other wool suitable for brushing (for Santa’s and Gnome’s beard)
2 mm crochet hook
darning/embroidery needle
little tiny jungle bells for hats (if you can’t find these, make pom-poms or use bows, beads, buttons…)
4 mm round black beads for eyes
blushing powder (for cheeks)
textile glue (to make everything easier and faster)
5 mm wide satin ribbon
Polyester stuffing or any other of your choice
Abbreviations:
sc – single crochet (US terms)
ch – chain
inc – increase, two stitches in one stitch
dec – decrease, invisible decrease
2sctog – 2 stitches together decrease (used on beard only)
sl st – slip stitch
hdc – half double crochet (US terms)
Basic Ornament’s Head
color of your choice, depending what ornament you will make
Sc 6 in magic ring
R1 inc6 (12 sts)
R2 *inc1, sc1* x6 (18 sts)
R3 *inc1, sc2* x6 (24 sts)
R4 *inc1, sc3* x6 (30 sts)
R5 *inc1, sc4* x6 (36 sts)
R6 *inc1, sc5* x6 (42 sts)
R7-R11 sc42
R12 *dec1, sc5* x6 (36 sts)
R13 *dec1, sc4* x6 (30 sts)
R14 *dec1, sc3* x6 (24 sts)
R15 *dec1, sc2* x6 (18 sts)
Begin stuffing the head.
R16 *dec1, sc1* x6 (12 sts)
R17 dec6 (6 sts)
Tie off leaving long end for sewing. Sew/close the last row and hide ends.
Once you finish the head, and close the last round nicely and clearly, turn it up. The last row will be up (will be covered by hat later).
The eyes are placed in between rows 9-10 (but as you need to turn up the head, last row up, they will sit on the right place. Will be placed on the upper half of the head). This is for those that are using safety eyes. Place the eyes in between rows 9-10, leaving three-four stitches between them
For those that will sew the eyes as I did will be easier. Place the eyes between the second and third middle row (those of 42 stitches count).
With red yarn embroider the nose one row below the eyes.
Embroider or paint the lips and as final touch add blushing on the cheeks.
Elf’s hat (green top and bottom, white/red stripes)
Start with green yarn
Sc6in magic ring
R1-R2 sc6
Change color at the last stitch of the previous row.
You will change it following way. Push the hook through the stitch, yarn over and pull the working color yarn. Now you have 2 loops on the hook. Change yarn color at this point to one for the next row and pull thorugh both loops in order to finish single crochet stitch. Continue with next row. In the same way, continue changing the yarn color at every row.
R3-R18 sc6 (changing color at each row from R3-R37)
R19 *inc1, sc2* x2 (8 sts)
R20 *inc1, sc3* x2 (10 sts)
R21 *inc1, sc4* x2 (12 sts)
R22 *inc1, sc5* x2 (14 sts)
R23 *inc1, sc6* x2 (16 sts)
R24 *inc1, sc7* x2 (18 sts)
R25 *inc1, sc8* x2 (20 sts)
R26 *inc1, sc9* x2 (22 sts)
R27 *inc1, sc10* x2 (24 sts)
R28 *inc1, sc11* x2 (26 sts)
R29 *inc1, sc12* x2 (28 sts)
R30 *inc1, sc13* x2 (30 sts)
R31 *inc 1, sc14* x2 (32 sts)
R32 *inc1, sc15* x2 (34 sts)
R33 *inc1, sc16* x2 (36 sts)
R34 *inc1, sc17* x2 (38 sts)
R35 *inc1, sc18* x2 (40 sts)
R36 *inc1, sc19* x2 (42 sts)
R37 *inc1, sc20* x2 (44 sts) change color to green at last stitch
R38-R40 sc44 following way (one stitch back loop, next one front loop. Work this way for entire row. Overlap the bl/fl for the next two rows as well. If you start with back loop at the first row (R38) start every following row (39 & 40) with back loop stitch as well.
If this seems to complicated, stitch the last three rows in plain single crochet through both loops.
Elf’s Star collar
sc5 in magic ring
R1 inc5 (10 sts)
*sc1, ch5, starting at the second chain from hook sl st1, sc1, hdc2, slip stitch to next stitch* repeat until all 5 points of the star are made. Tie off, hide ends and sew or glue on the bottom of Elf’s head. Decorate with glitter, beads or anything you like.
Black Snowman’s hat
Sc5 in magic ring
R1 inc5 (10 sts)
R2 inc10 (20 sts)
R3 *inc1, sc1* x10 (30 sts)
R4 *inc1, sc2* x10 (40 sts)
R5 work blo sc40
R6-R7 sc40
R8 *dec1, sc6* x5 (35 sts)
R9-R11 sc35
R12 *dec1, sc5* x5 (30 sts)
R13-R15 sc30
R16 work flo *inc1, sc1* x15 (45 sts)
R17 sc45
R18 *inc1, sc2* x15 (60 sts)
Tie off hide end.
For hat decoration I used white/red twisted yarn pieces I placed under tiny crocheted wreath I made by making 8 sc in magic ring, slip stitched last to first stitch and tried not to close the ring to tight.
You can use beads, buttons, glitters, bows…play a little and experiment. Decorate the smiling snowman the way you like.
Santa’s hat
White yarn (I used Red Heart, Soft Merino yarn, but any yarn you can brush later or one that will give you fuzzy effect will work fine)
Sc6 in magic ring
R1 *inc1, sc1* x3 (9 sts)
R2 sc9
R3 *dec1, sc1* x3 (6 sts)
Change to red yarn
R4-R5 sc6
R6 *inc1, sc2* x2 (8 sts)
R7 sc8
R8 *inc1, sc3* x2 (10 sts)
R9 sc10
R10 *inc1, sc4* x2 (12 sts)
R11 *inc1, sc5* x2 (14 sts)
R12 *inc1, sc6* x2 (16 sts)
R13 *inc1, sc7* x2 (18 sts)
R14 *inc1, sc8* x2 (20 sts)
R15 *inc1, sc9* x2 (22 sts)
R16 *inc1, sc10* x2 (24 sts)
R17 *inc1, sc11* x2 (26 sts)
R18 *inc1, sc12* x2 (28 sts)
R19 *inc1, sc13* x2 (30 sts)
R20 *inc 1, sc14* x2 (32 sts)
R21 *inc1, sc15* x2 (34 sts)
R22 *inc1, sc16* x2 (36 sts)
R23 *inc1, sc17* x2 (38 sts)
R24 *inc1, sc18* x2 (40 sts)
R25 *inc1, sc19* x2 (42 sts)
R26 *inc1, sc20* x2 (44 sts)
Change color to white
R27-R29 sc44 sts
Tie off, hide ends and brush well top of the hat and bottom edge.
Santa’s/Gnome’s Beard
ch17
we are making rows here, don’t forget to chain one before turning
R1-R2 sc16
R3 2sctog, sc12, 2sctog (14 sts)
R4 sc14
R5 2sctog, sc10, 2sctog (12 sts)
R6 sc12
R7 2sctog, sc8, 2sctog (10 sts)
R8 sc10
R9 2sctog, sc6, 2sctog (8 sts)
R10 sc8
R11 2sctog, sc4, 2sctog (6 sts)
R12 sc6
R13 2sctog, sc2, 2sctog (4 sts)
R14 sc4
R15 2sctog x2 (2 sts)
R16 sc2
R17 2sctog (1st)
R18 sc1 (tie off)
Gnome’s Nose
sc6 in magic ring
R1 *inc1, sc1* x3 (9 sts)
R2 sc9
add some stuffing
R3 *dec1, sc1* x3 (6 sts)
R4 flatten the piece and stitch through both sides (should make 2sc). Tie of leaving long end for sewing.
Instead of embroidering the nose, sew this one on the Gnome’s had.
Gnome’s hat – longer
In order to make gnome’s hat longer, what you will do is repeat each increased row. For example, if you increased working row is 8 sc, the next one you won’t increase, but will repeat same stitch count.
I suggest increasing+repeat way, maximum reaching stitch count 20 (otherwise the hat will be too long), then continue with increasing each line (as written in the pattern for Santa’s hat)
Gnome’s hat has no fuzzy edges, so make it all one colored. Add one or two extra rows at the end so the hat falls more over Gnome’s eyes.
Reindeer
Horns
Tiny Side Horns x2
sc4 in magic ring
R1-R2 sc4
Tie off
Top horn to start with:
Sc4 in magic ring
R1-R3 sc4
R4 sc2 attaching one of the smaller horns previously made (stitch through the loose horn and working horn), sc2 (on the working horn) (4 sts)
R5 sc2 (recently attached horn only), sc2 working horn (4 sts)
R6 inc1, sc1, inc1, sc1 (attaching the third horn-again stitch through both, lose horn and working piece) (6 sts)
R7 sc5, sc3 (work the stitches attached horn only) (8 sts)
R8 sc8
R9 *dec1, sc2* x2 (6 sts)
R10-R11 sc6
Tie off leaving long end for sewing
Ears x2
leave long end here, when starting the chain
for sewing the ear on the head later Ch5
Starting as second chain from the hook: slst1, sc1, hdc1, 3hdc in last stitch, work around chain, hdc1, sc1, slst1
Tie off. To secure the knot at the end of the ear piece, I like to add drop of glue or drop of clear nail polish (this way don’t have to hide the end and ear finish with nice pointy look)
Nose
Ch4
R1 sc2, 3sc in one stitch, continue working around chain, sc1, inc1 (8 sts)
R2 inc1, sc1, inc3, sc1 inc2 (14 sts)
R3 sc1, inc1, sc2, *inc1, sc1* x2, inc1, sc2, inc1, sc1, inc1 (20)
R4-R6 sc20
Tie off, stuff, pin and sew onto head.
On top, with red yarn and embroidery or darning needle embroider red nose.
GingerMen heads are just in addition to all above! One is using Santa’s hat. Girl has Elf’s collar. You can really use many different variations.
The bows used are done:
ch6
R1-22 sc5
Tie off, sew ends together. Use yarn to wrap around middle in order to create bow.
or
ch23
R1-R6 sc22 (changing colors as desired)
Tie off, sew the ends, create the bow.
And that is it!
Now we can all start making ornaments!
Wishing you all the happiest weekend!
Love to everyone,
Vanja
Which pattern is best for putting hair on little elf please x
There are two options. If making boy elf follow the boy hair pattern. For the girl you can choose one given for girl elf, or you can choose and make any of the hair patterns I posted in my free patterns. So instead of looking for the pattern you like, look after hair style you like, download it and use it for your elf girl.
I recently found your blog and think your work is great.I’m well into my Christmas crafting.I did struggle with the deer horns at first. 1 because my hook kept bending(aluminium), so I dug out an old steel one and discovered the aluminium one was actually badly sized anyway. Secondly I had difficulty holding the small horn due to arthritis. This was solved by adding an extra row to the small horns.I was surprised what a difference these changes made. I’m now a happy bunny with my deer.
Hi Christine,
I can imagine how frustrated it was to make the little horns. Repeating few stitches in rounds is not easy for healthy hands and fingers, so can imagine how you’ve struggled to get them done. Next time, instead of adding one extra row, try adding one extra stitch, but when doing so, try keeping gauge tighter. This way the difference will be slight and will be easier to work (with this extra stitch in one round).
Another option to add horns is, instead of making little ones and work them together onto big ones, start the circle of little horn directly on finished bigger one. Work towards the top, close end and hide thread. Hope it makes sense.
Whenever you find small work like this, that is difficult for your hands to hold and work on, try to find the way to make it more simple and easier for you to complete. Important is to get the work done.
Thank you for your message and best of luck with your Christmas crafting.
Thank you for your advice. Getting on well now .I have a large collection of heads and hats. They look great when assembled.