This Easy Crochet Santa Claus Pattern makes a cuddly amigurumi Santa doll with a round peach face, a fluffy white beard, a red hat with a pom-pom, a plump red coat with a black belt, and little black boots. It is worked in simple continuous rounds with basic increases and decreases, so it is a lovely project for confident beginners. Place him under the tree, on a mantel, or in a Christmas basket, or give him as a handmade gift.
Pattern Information
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate, with shaping, embroidery, and sewing.
Terms: US crochet terminology.
Construction: The head, body, arms, legs, hat, and beard are worked separately in continuous rounds, then sewn together. The face is embroidered.
Estimated size: About 20 cm (8 in) tall including the hat, using DK-weight cotton. Actual dimensions depend on yarn, tension, and stuffing.
Pattern note: This is an original design based on the title concept. Stitch counts have been checked, but the pattern has not been physically crocheted or independently tested. Adjust the shaping and feature placement to suit your yarn.
Materials
- DK-weight cotton yarn in red, approximately 40 g, for the coat, arms, and hat.
- White yarn, approximately 25 g, for the beard, hat brim, pom-pom, and coat trim.
- Peach or light skin tone yarn, approximately 10 g, for the head and hands.
- Black yarn, approximately 10 g, for the boots and belt.
- A little yellow yarn for the belt buckle, pink thread for the cheeks and nose.
- Black embroidery thread for the eyes (if embroidered).
- A 2.75 mm hook as a starting point (use a hook small enough to keep the fabric dense).
- Two 8 mm black safety eyes, or black thread for embroidered eyes.
- Fiberfill, stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, and removable pins.
Use embroidered eyes if the doll is for a baby or young child.
Stitches and Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | magic ring |
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| inc | 2 sc in one stitch |
| dec | invisible single crochet decrease over the next 2 stitches |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Work in a spiral without joining or turning unless directed otherwise. Numbers in brackets give the completed stitch count. Repeat parentheses the stated number of times. Move the marker at the start of every round.
Before You Begin
Crochet tightly so the stuffing does not show through the stitches. Stuff firmly but evenly, adding small pieces rather than large clumps. The hat is not stuffed, and the arms and legs need only light stuffing.
When you change color, switch on the final yarn-over of the last stitch of the previous round, and carry the unused yarn loosely inside the piece.
Head (peach)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Rounds 7–12: Sc in every stitch. [36 per round; 6 rounds]
Insert the safety eyes between Rounds 9 and 10, with about 8 stitches between them. Fit the backs securely.
Round 13: (4 sc, dec) × 6. [30]
Round 14: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Round 15: (2 sc, dec) × 6. [18]
Stuff the head firmly.
Round 16: (Sc, dec) × 6. [12]
Round 17: Dec × 6. [6]
Fasten off with a long tail, close the hole, and hide the end.
Body (red, black, red)
Round 1: With red, 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Rounds 6–9: Sc in every stitch. [30 per round; 4 rounds]
Round 10: Change to black. Sc around. [30]
Round 11: Sc around in black. [30]
Rounds 12–14: Change to red. Sc around. [30 per round; 3 rounds]
Round 15: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Round 16: (2 sc, dec) × 6. [18]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff firmly, flatten the bottom slightly so the doll sits upright, and leave the neck open for sewing.
Buckle: With yellow, embroider a small square of straight stitches on the front of the black belt. Coat trim: With white, work a vertical line of small stitches or French knots down the center front, from the neck to the belt.
Legs (make 2)
Round 1: With black, 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, dec) × 4. [8]
Rounds 4–5: Sc around. [8 per round]
Change to red on the final yarn-over of the last stitch.
Rounds 6–10: Sc around in red. [8 per round; 5 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff lightly, leaving the top unfilled.
Arms (make 2)
Round 1: With peach, 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 3. [9]
Round 3: Sc around. Change to white on the final yarn-over. [9]
Round 4: Sc around in white. Change to red. [9]
Rounds 5–10: Sc around in red. [9 per round; 6 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff lightly.
Hat (red and white)
Round 1: With red, 6 sc in MR. [6]
Rounds 2–3: Sc around. [6 per round]
Round 4: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 5: Sc around. [12]
Round 6: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 7: Sc around. [18]
Round 8: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 9: Sc around. [24]
Round 10: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 11: Sc around. [30]
Round 12: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Round 13: Sc around. Change to white on the final yarn-over. [36]
Rounds 14–15: Sc around in white. [36 per round]
Sl st in the next stitch, fasten off with a long tail. Leave the hat unstuffed.
Pom-pom (white):
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: Sc around. [12]
Round 4: Dec × 6. [6]
Stuff lightly, close the hole, and sew to the tip of the hat.
Beard (white)
Worked flat in rows.
Ch 13.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. [12 sc]
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. [12]
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 8 sts, sc2tog. Turn. [10]
Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 6 sts, sc2tog. Turn. [8]
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 4 sts, sc2tog. Turn. [6]
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog. [4]
Fasten off with a long tail. Along the edges, add short fringe by pulling 3 cm (1.25 in) pieces of white yarn through the stitches, and trim and fluff them.
Note: sc2tog means single crochet 2 stitches together.
Moustache (make 2): Ch 6, sl st in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, 2 hdc in the last ch. Fasten off with a long tail.
Assembly and Face
- Head to body: Pin the head over the neck opening and sew around with small, strong stitches.
- Beard: Sew the straight top edge of the beard across the lower half of the face, at Rounds 11–13, with the point hanging down over the chest. Sew the two moustache pieces just under the nose position, curling outward.
- Nose and cheeks: With pink thread, embroider a small round nose between the moustache pieces and two cheeks above the beard, just below the eyes.
- Legs: Sew the legs to the bottom of the body, about 3 stitches apart, with the boots facing forward.
- Arms: Sew the arms to the sides of the body just below the neck.
- Hat: Place the hat on the head with the white brim just above the eyes. Sew all around with small stitches. Fold the tip to one side and add a tack stitch at the fold.
- Final check: Hide every tail and give each piece a gentle tug to check it holds.
Practical Tips and Troubleshooting
The head tilts. Pin the head on first, check from the front and side, and sew with the closing hole facing the body.
The beard looks flat. Add more fringe, or sew a second layer of beard rows behind the first.
The hat falls off. Use more stitches around the brim, or add a small tack at the back.
The doll will not sit up. Flatten the bottom of the body and sew the legs on at the same height.
The eyes look uneven. Pin the eyes before inserting them, and check the face from the front and from above before fastening the backs.
FAQ
Can I make it bigger? Yes. Use chunky yarn and a 4 mm hook. The doll will be about one and a half times larger.
Can I embroider the eyes? Yes. Make two small black satin-stitch ovals between Rounds 9 and 10, with 8 stitches between them, and add a tiny white highlight.
Can I make Mrs. Claus? Yes. Use white or grey hair instead of a beard, add a bun, and make a red dress by working the body longer and increasing at the bottom.
Can I turn it into an ornament? Yes. Sew a ch-15 loop to the top of the hat and hang it on the tree.
More Free Crochet Patterns
- Crochet Christmas Toys Pattern
- Crochet Christmas Decorations Pattern
- Crochet Reindeer Pattern
Save This Pattern
Pin this Easy Crochet Santa Claus Pattern to your Pinterest board for your next festive project. Happy crocheting!
