Delightful Crochet Santa: A Joy to Make and Give

This post may contain referral/affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Be still my little crochet heart because this Crochet Santa is riding his sleigh into town!

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots and red and white hat.

If you’re wondering how to crochet a Santa Claus amigurumi or you’re asking ‘How do you crochet a Christmas Santa’, you are totally going to love this small Santa destined for your hook!

This Crochet Santa free pattern just might be my favorite thing this season.  From his back little boots to his sweet little beard and mini Santa hat, this little guy is full of adorable!

Santa is the latest addition to my Tamingo Series of patterns, a collection of small, hand sized crochet amigurumi that perfect for little hands to grab.  

And quite honestly, they fit pretty nicely in these adult hands too.  My adorable crochet Santa Claus is getting proudly displayed in my holiday decor right next to my cutie pie Crochet Snowman.

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots and red and white hat.

Let’s talk all things Crochet Santa…

Crochet Santa Pattern

Only the mini santa hat is removable on this little guy!  The boots and coat are worked as part of the body with simple color changes.  To give the santa jacket the appearance of cuffs and trim and the boots some height, work in the back loop for the body and then come back later with another row or two in the front loop.

If you’re confused about working in the front or back loop, it’s really quite easy.  Check out our parts of a crochet stitch post for more help.

The belt is a simple chain that is sewn on afterward.  And can we talk about that belt buckle for half a second?  I’m completely loving that a small scrap of gold yarn totally makes this crochet santa perfect!  You can substitute gold floss if you prefer.

I love these small amigurumi patterns because you can often find just what you need in your scrap pile.  In fact.. that is what I did when I was designing this crochet santa pattern. I pulled from my stash.  But don’t worry, I did my best to estimate the quantity of yarn I used and the most important colors.

This cute little amigurumi Santa Claus is a versatile crochet pattern.  Use green yarn instead of red yarn for a cute little elf or Santa gnome.  You could also use the hat on it’s own as an elf hat or santa hat.

Or instead of leaving an opening at the bottom of the head, finish it off into a ball with an extra round of decreases and suddenly you have an adorable Santa ornament perfect for your Christmas tree!

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots and red and white hat.

Any worsted weight #4 yarn will work for this project.  If you’d like a smaller or larger Santa Claus, you could try using DK weight or Bulky weight to adjust the size.  I personally love him as is, though.  Sigh.

Isn’t he just the most adorable thing?  I’m so in love.  Let’s dive in to this fun crochet santa pattern!

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots and red and white hat.

Purchase an ad-free printable version of Crochet Santa Pattern Here

Crochet Santa Amigurumi

Here is what you will need:

  • US G 6/4.0 mm crochet hook(these are my absolute favorite hooks I recommend to everyone!).
  • Worsted Weight yarn
    • Main: 1/2 oz, sample used Paintbox Aran in Light Caramel (Col 208)
    • Pants, Coat and Hat: 1-1/4 oz in Red, sample used  Hobby Lobby I Love this Yarn in Red
    • Boots: 1/4 oz Black, sample used Paintbox Aran in Black (Col 201)
    • Trim and Beard: 1/2 oz White
    • Belt Buckle: 10 inches scrap yarn in gold color
  • 9 mm Black Safety Eyes
  • Fiberfill
  • Tapestry needle and scissors

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet AbbreviationsUS to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches such as the single crochet, double crochet and chain stitch used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.

Gauge is not important in this pattern.  You may use other weights of yarn.  Adjust hook size to fit your needs.  With the yarn and hook size given, my gauge is about 4 single crochet stitches to an inch.

Finished Crochet Santa is approximately 6.5″ tall from top of head (excluding hat, etc) to bottom of feet.

photo of a digital crochet amigurumi ebook

Head:

With Main Color yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st (12 st)

R3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (18 st)

R4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (24 st)

R5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (30 st)

R6-11:  sc around. (30 st)

R12: *sc in next 3 st, sc2tog.  Repeat from * around (24 st) Begin stuffing head

R13: *sc in next 2 st, sc2tog.  Repeat from * around (18 st)

Insert safety eyes between rows 8 and 9, leaving 3 stitches in between the eyes.  Adjust stuffing and stuff the remainder of the head.

R14: *sc in next st, sc2tog.  Repeat from * around (12 st). Fasten off leaving a long strand for sewing.

Note on Limb and Body construction:  The legs are worked separately and then joined together in the first row of the body.  The body is worked to the neck and fastened off. Then the arms are worked and the pieces are sewn together.  Please follow the instructions carefully for stuffing and fastening off notes.  There is a detailed photo tutorial in the Amigurumi Beginners Guide if you would like more detailed instructions on how to work this method of leg to body construction.

Legs (make 2):

With black yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st (12 st)

R3: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (15st)

R4: sc around

R5: *sc in next 3 st, sc2tog.  Repeat from * around.  Change to red yarn in last stitch  (12 st).

R6:  With red yarn and working in the back loop only (this row only), sc in next 3 st, [(sc2 tog) three times], sc in last 3 st (9 st).  Stuff the feet.

R7-10:  Working in both loops again, sc around (9 st),

Fasten off for first leg.  After 2nd leg, do not fasten off, continue to body below.  Stuff the rest of the legs.

Boot Tops:

Work the top of the boots before moving on to the body, note that the red yarn will still be attached for the 2nd leg in preparation for the body. Note that I prefer to work the boot tops in the round and use an invisible join method at the end, but you also could ch1 to start each round and join with a slip stitch at the end of the round if you prefer.

Attach black yarn to one of the free, unworked loops at the top of the boot.

R1: Working in the front loops, sc around (12 st)

R2: sc around.  At end of round, join to start with an invisible join.  (See note above.)

Repeat for the 2nd boot.  Use a yarn needle to weave in ends.

MORE TAMINGO AMIGURUMI PATTERNS

If you love the Santa crochet pattern, you might also like to check out these other patterns in the Tamingo Series:

Crochet girl doll, crochet bunny in gray and a black and purple crochet witch

1. Rachel  //   2. Bernadette the Bunny //   3. Sami the Witch

Santa Claus Body:

In the next row, the legs are crocheted together and form the bottom of the body.  Position the legs so that they are in the correct position with both feet facing forward. Use a stitch marker to mark where they meet in the middle. This stitch marker holds the center stitch from each leg to each other.  Make sure that you also have a stitch marker in the last stitch worked in the leg just completed.  This stitch will be the last stitch worked in this row.

R1:  Continuing with red yarn, sc in the next stitch of the leg just worked.  Continue to single crochet in each stitch until you reach the marker holding the 2 legs together.  Work a single crochet in the next stitch (which is the stitch holding the legs together).  THEN work a single crochet in the matching stitch on the OTHER leg.  You can remove the stitch marker if you’d like.  Continue to single crochet all the way around the other leg (9 stitches on that leg). 

You are now at the middle of the doll on the opposite side.  Single crochet in the remaining unworked stitches on the first leg worked in this row, finishing in the stitch you marked as the end of the row.  Count your stitches for this row.  There should be 18 stitches in the row.  If you have more or less than this, take a look at the stitches worked at the joining points and see if you’ve missed or worked an extra stitch here.

R2:  Continuing to work in the round, *sc in next 2 st, 2sc in next st, repeat from * around (24 st)

R3-4:  sc around. (24 st)

The next round ONLY is worked through the back loops only

R5: Working in the Back Loop Only: sc around (24 st)

R6: Working through both loops again, *sc in next 2 st, sc2tog.  Repeat from * around (18 st)

R7-8:  sc around (18 st).  Stuff body.

R9: *sc in next st, sc2tog.  Repeat from * around (12 st).

R10:  sc around (12 st).  Fasten off leaving a long strand for joining.  Stuff the body.

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots and red and white hat.

Coat Bottom:

Hold body, feet side up with the back of doll facing.  Attach red yarn with a slip stitch to a front loop on row 5 of the body.

R1:  ch1 sc in same st as joining and sc around. Join with sl st to top of 1st sc in round. Fasten off red. (24 st)

With the body still in feet side up position, rotate doll so that the center front is facing you.  The fur trim begins with a standing hdc stitch in the center (or slightly left of center) stitch. If you are unfamiliar with how to work a standing stitch, or prefer not to do so, you can chain 2 to start the row instead.

R2:  Using white yarn, make a standing hdc stitch in the center front stitch.  Work hdc across the row.  At the end of the row, do not join. (This gives the appearance of an open coat.)  Fasten off yarn and carefully weave in ends.

Belt:

With black yarn, chain 25.  Fasten off and carefully sew belt onto doll with ends at the back of work, referring to photo.  Weave in ends.

Belt Buckle:

Thread tapestry needle with gold yarn to make 4 straight stitches for the buckle.  Weave in ends.

Arms (make 2):

With Main Color yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st (12 st)

R3:  sc around, changing to red in last stitch (12 st).

R4:  With red, sc around (12 st).

R5:  Working in back loops this round only, sc around (12 st).

R6:  Working in both loops again, *sc in next st, (sc2 tog, repeat from * around (8 st). Lightly stuff hand

R7-9:  sc around

Leave remainder of arm unstuffed.

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots.

Sleeve cuff:

With White yarn and hand positioned up, attach yarn to any stitch in round.

R1:  ch 1, sc around, at end of round, join to top of 1st stitch in round.  Fasten off and weave in yarn.

Repeat for cuff on other arm.

Assembly:

Using yarn from ends of work, sew head to body.  Sew arms to sides near the neckline.  Using same yarn as head, sew several straight stitches between the eyes as shown for the nose.

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots.

Mustache:

With White yarn, ch 3, dc in 3rd chain from hook.  Then ch 3 again, dc in 3rd chain from hook.  Fasten off yarn, leaving ends for sewing and weaving in.

Beard:

The beard starts with a magic ring.  However, the stitches are NOT joined.  Instead, the beard is worked back and forth in rows in a half circle shape.

With White yarn, make a magic ring.

R1:  3 sc into ring (3 sts). Turn  (Do not join, turn after each row).

R2:  ch1, 2sc in next st, 2hdc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (6 st) Turn

R3:  ch1, sc in next st, 2sc in next st, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in last st (9 st).  Turn.

R4:  ch 1, *sc, ch 1 in next st.  Repeat from * around.  Turn

R5:  Ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp, *ch 2, sc in ch-1 sp.  Repeat from * around.  At end of round, sc in the last ch-1 sp and sl st to last st.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Position beard under nose and mustache on top of beard.  Once you are satisified with the position, sew both pieces in place with white yarn.  Weave in any remaining ends.

Red and white mini santa hat

Crochet Santa Hat:

With red yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  4 sc into ring (4 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st (8 st)

R3:  sc around (8 st)

R4: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (12 st)

R5:  sc around (12 st)

R6: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (16 st)

R7:  sc around (16 st)

R8: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (20 st)

R9:  sc around (20 st)

R10: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (24 st)

R11:  sc around (24 st)

R12: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (28 st)

R13:  sc around (28 st)

R14: *sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (32 st)

R15-17:  sc around.  At end of last round, join to first stitch and fasten off. (32 st)

R18:  For hat trim, join white yarn to any stitch in the previous round.  Ch 2, hdc around, join with a sl st to the top of the first st.  Fasten off.

red and white mini santa hat crochet pattern

Hat Pom Pom:

With white yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  5 sc into ring (5 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st (10 st)

R3:  sc around (10 st)

R4:  *sc 2 tog.  Repeat from * around (5 st).  Fasten off, weave through last stitches and pull tight.

Sew pom pom to tip of hat.  Santa’s hat will likely not stay folded in place on its own, so you may wish to fold the hat down and tack the top of the hat to the body of the hat with a few stitches.  Try hat on Santa, fold over tip and then carefully holding in place, remove the hat and secure the fold to the body of the hat about midway between the pom pom and the fold with a few stitches of red yarn.

Crochet Santa in red suit, black boots and red and white hat.

Purchase an ad-free printable version of Crochet Santa Pattern Here

There’s something about crocheting cute things that speaks right to my heart! Be sure to check out these free heartwarming patterns:

So many of you love my darling amigurumi crochet heart pattern, my valentine crochet bottle cover and the ever so popular crochet heart appliqué!

I love seeing your finished projects!  If you enjoyed making the Crochet Santa,  I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo.  If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!

Image of Crochet Santa Claus in Red and White

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments

  1. Thank you very much for the FREE version!
    I plan to make some of your darling amigurumi characters for children in need.