Nothing sparks holiday cheer quite like a tiny, handmade Santa! This adorable crochet amigurumi isn't just a decoration. It's a bundle of festive magic you can make with your own hands!
With the Holidays just around the corner, now's the perfect time to bring some extra joy into your home or gift someone a smile with a handmade treasure. This amigurumi Santa is a beginner-friendly Christmas crochet pattern that's fun to make and comes with all the tips you need to create a Santa that's perfectly plump, jolly, and ready to spread holiday cheer.
Ever wondered what Santa might look like without the big white beard? Check out my amigurumi Santa Baby crochet pattern!
What You Need / Materials
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- Worsted-weight yarn in the following colors:
- Peach (I used Lily Sugar N' Cream Scents in Chamomile)
- Red (I used Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Red)
- White (I used Red Heart Super Saver in White)
- Black (I used Caron Simply Soft in Black)
- Yellow (similar to Red Heart Super Saver in Bright Yellow)
- 3.0 mm Crochet Hook
- Safety Eyes (I used 6.0 mm)
- Poly-fil or any Polyester Stuffing of your choice
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Markers
- Scissors
Prefer the PDF version?
Grab the ad-free, printable PDF pattern. Download and print at home, or view on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.Finished Size
- Finished amigurumi measures approximately 15 cm (5.9 inches) in height.
- Consider using a different yarn weight/category and appropriate hook size for this project to make it bigger/smaller.
Level of Difficulty
- ★★☆☆☆ Beginner / Easy
- Requires familiarity with stitches used (below), attaching plastic safety eyes, changing yarn colors, and basic embroidery.
Stitches & Abbreviations
- st/sts - stitch/stitches
- ch - chain
- slst - slip stitch
- sc - single crochet
- hdc - half double crochet
Pattern Notes
- This pattern is written using US crochet terms.
- Complete the pieces in the specified order to ensure proper assembly later.
- I used the underside of the amigurumi hairpiece as the visible side, allowing the strands to naturally curl towards the face.
- Use the yarn under single crochet technique to achieve tighter, more aligned stitches.
- Learn how to seamlessly change color in crochet mid-row or round to create clean color transitions.
- Crochet in continuous spiral rounds. Do not join at the end of each round unless otherwise stated.
- Use a running stitch marker to keep your place when crocheting in rounds.
- Use the invisible fasten-off method to create a smooth, knot-free edge that blends perfectly with your stitches.
- Optional: Use the invisible decrease to enhance the appearance of your amigurumi.
Free Crochet Pattern
Head
Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook with peach yarn...
Round 1: Magic Circle with a base of 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Sc inc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc, sc inc] x 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc, sc inc, sc] x 6 times (24 sts)
Round 5: [3 sc, sc inc] x 6 times (30 sts)
Round 6: [2 sc, sc inc, 2 sc] x 6 times (36 sts)
Round 7: [5 sc, sc inc] x 6 times (42 sts)
Round 8-14: Sc in each st around (42 sts)
Round 15: [5 sc, sc dec] x 6 times (36 sts)
Round 16: [2 sc, sc dec, 2 sc] x 6 times (30 sts)
Round 17: [3 sc, sc dec] x 6 times (24 sts)
Put in your safety eyes. I put mine between rows 10 and 11, about 7 stitches apart. Stuff the head with poly-fil before the opening gets too small.
Round 18: [Sc, sc dec, sc] x 6 times (18 sts)
Round 19: [Sc, sc dec] x 6 times (12 sts)
Round 20: Sc BLO in each st around (12 sts)
Round 21-23: Sc in each st around (12 sts)
Cut and fasten off. Stuff firmly and push rows 20-23 inside the head to create a tunnel and a hole for the neck to go into later.
Arms (x2)
Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook with peach yarn...
Round 1: Magic Ring with a base of 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: Sc in each st around (6 sts)
Change to red yarn...
Round 3-5: Sc in each st around (6 sts)
Cut and fasten off.
Legs and Body
Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook with black yarn...
Round 1: Magic Ring with a base of 6 sc (6 sts)
Round 2: [2 Sc, sc inc] x 2 times (8 sts)
Round 3: Sc in each st around (8 sts)
Change to red yarn...
Round 4-7: Sc in each st around (8 sts)
Cut and fasten off the first leg.
Repeat rounds 1-7 to make a second leg. Do not cut or fasten off, instead, finish off with a Ch 2.
Round 8: Join the second leg with the first leg. 8 sc around the first leg, 2 sc along the ch, 8 sc around the second leg, 2 sc along the other side of the ch (20 sts)
Round 9: Sc in each st around (20 sts)
Round 10: Sc BLO in each st around (20 sts)
Round 11-12: Sc in each st around (20 sts)
Round 13: 4 sc, 6 sc around the first arm, 10 sc, 6 sc around the second arm, 6 sc (32 sts)
Round 14: Sc dec in each st around (16 sts)
Round 15: Sc dec in each st around (8 sts)
Round 16-20: Sc in each st around (8 sts)
Cut and leave a long tail to attach the body to the head by threading the yarn tail through the hole on the bottom of the head. Then sew it to the top of the head and then sew it to the neck again to secure it. Do this a few times to make sure your head is secured.
Bottom of Santa Coat
Work on the front loops from round 10 with the doll legs facing away from you. Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook and red yarn...
Round 1: Sc join to the front loops from round 10, sc in each st around (20 sts)
Change to white yarn...
Round 2: Sc in each st around (20 sts)
Cut and fasten off.
Santa Hat
Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook and red yarn...
Round 1: Magic Ring with a base of 4 sc (4 sts)
Round 2: [Sc, sc inc] x 2 times (6 sts)
Round 3: [2 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (8 sts)
Round 4: [3 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (10 sts)
Round 5: [4 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (12 sts)
Round 6: [5 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (14 sts)
Round 7: [6 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (16 sts)
Round 8: [7 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (18 sts)
Round 9: [8 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (20 sts)
Round 10: [9 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (22 sts)
Round 11: [10 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (24 sts)
Round 12: [11 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (26 sts)
Round 13: [12 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (28 sts)
Round 14: [13 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (30 sts)
Round 15: [14 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (32 sts)
Round 16: [15 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (34 sts)
Round 17: [16 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (36 sts)
Round 18: [17 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (38 sts)
Round 19: [18 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (40 sts)
Round 20: [19 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (42 sts)
Round 21: [20 sc, sc inc] x 2 times (44 sts)
Round 22-23: Sc in each st around (44 sts)
Change to white yarn...
Round 24-27: Sc in each st around (44 sts)
Fold up the white rows to create some dimension to the hat.
Cut, and fasten off.
Beard
Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook with white yarn...
Row 1: Ch 4, hdc into the 3rd ch from the hook, 1 hdc (2 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 slst BLO
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, hdc into the 3rd ch from the hook, hdc into each st across (3 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 3 slst BLO
Row 5: Ch 2, turn, 3 hdc into each st across (3 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, 3 slst BLO
Row 7: Ch 4, turn, hdc into the 3rd ch from the hook and up the ch, hdc into each st across (5 sts)
Row 8: Ch 1, turn, 5 slst BLO
Row 9: Ch 3, turn, hdc into the 3rd ch from the hook, 5 hdc into each st across (6 sts)
Row 10: Ch 1, turn 5 slst BLO
Row 11: Ch 2, turn, hdc into each st across (5 sts)
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, 3 slst BLO
Row 13: Ch 2, turn, hdc into each st across (3 sts)
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, 3 slst BLO
Row 15: Ch 2, turn, hdc into each st across (3 sts)
Row 16: Ch 1, turn 2 slst BLO
Row 17: Ch 2, turn, hdc into each st across (2 sts)
Cut and leave a tail to sew onto the face.
Mustache
Using a 3.0 mm crochet hook with white yarn...
Row 1: Ch 4, sc into the 2nd ch from the hook and up the ch (3 sts)
Row 2: Repeat row 1
Cut and leave a tail to sew onto the face.
Assembly
For the belt, I used black yarn to make a chain of 21 and sewed it above row 10 on the body. Then use some yellow yarn and embroider the buckle on the belt.
To add some finishing touches to Santa's coat, I used some white yarn to make a ch of 5 and sewed it vertically on the jacket.
The pompom on the top of the hat was made using white yarn. I used a fork to make the pompom and it came out the perfect size!
Prefer the PDF version?
Grab the ad-free, printable PDF pattern. Download and print at home, or view on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.Crochet Design: Behind the Scenes
When I first made this little Amigurumi Santa, I left off the beard. And honestly, I thought he was just too cute. I decided to call him Santa Baby and even published him as a separate crochet pattern. But then I realized, Santa without a beard isn't really Santa.
Designing a beard was trickier than I thought. Who knew that beards and mustaches could be so technical? I learned that a beard without a mustache is actually called an Amish beard. Once I added a mustache, though, he finally looked like the jolly Santa we all know and love.
Creative Uses and Ideas
- Christmas Tree Ornament: Attach a loop to the top of his hat and hang him on your Christmas tree for a handmade touch.
- Mini Mantal Buddy: Place him on a shelf, mantel, or windowsill among candles, pinecones, or garlands.
- Table Centerpiece Accent: Add him to a festive centerpiece with small ornaments or fairy lights.
- Holiday Shelfie: Make a little "Santa scene" with tiny presents, reindeer, or snowflake confetti.
- Stocking Stuffer: Perfectly sized to slip into a Christmas stocking.
- Secret Santa Surprise: Ideal for crafty or festive-themed Secret Santa exchanges.
- Elf on the Shelf Alternative: Hide him in funny or mischievous spots for kids to find.
- Advent Countdown: Have him "travel" to a new spot each day leading up to Christmas.
- Keychain or Bag Charm: With a small loop, he can become a festive charm for bags or keys.
You Might Also Like...
- Christmas Mouse Ears Crochet Santa Hat: Add some magic to your holidays with these Disney-themed Santa hats, perfect for gifting and festive photos!
- Crochet Christmas Pickle Ornament: Add a fun, quirky twist to your tree with this adorable Christmas pickle ornament, perfect for family traditions!
- Flatland Christmas Bauble: These charming flat bauble ornaments are easy to make and add a handmade touch to your holiday decor.
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This is an original crochet pattern written by Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio. Please do not claim this crochet pattern as your own. If you wish to share this crochet pattern, you may link to this blog post, but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for personal use, but please DO NOT sell or distribute the crochet pattern.
You may sell products made from this crochet pattern, but please credit the design to Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio, and provide a link to my blog www.OnceUponaCheerio.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for understanding!
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