Cute Hanging Santa Claus
A cheerful little Santa ornament for your Christmas tree — about 4.5 inches tall, with a floppy hat, fluffy beard, and a hanging loop. The free 23-page PDF has step-by-step photos for every single part.
Easy · 3–5 hours · 3.25 mm hook · US terms
Read the full 23-page pattern
Flip through every page right here — step-by-step photos for all 9 parts, from the body to the beard. Tap the big buttons, use your keyboard arrows, or swipe.
Want it on paper? Download the PDF for printing →
Materials
- Yarn: worsted weight (#4) acrylic — red (~35 g), white (~20 g), peach (~15 g), black (~5 g)
- Hook: 3.25 mm
- Stuffing: fiberfill, about 15 g
- Yarn needle and scissors
Finished size: about 11–12 cm (4.5 in) tall, not counting the hanging loop. Time: 3–5 hours for a beginner — a cozy weekend project.
How it's built (9 parts)
- Body (red): worked in rounds from a magic ring, growing to 30 stitches, then decreasing and stuffing firmly as you close.
- Head (peach): same idea — rounds up to 24 stitches, stuffed firmly.
- Hat: white brim first, then switch to red for the long floppy tip. Bend the tip to one side and tack it down. Finish with a white pom-pom sewn to the tip.
- Beard (white): worked in flat rows, decreasing from 10 stitches down to 2 for that triangle shape.
- Mustache (white): a tiny 7-chain piece — slip stitches and single crochets.
- Nose & eyes: a small peach nose ball, and the eyes are simply embroidered — two short straight stitches.
- Arms (red, make 2): small tubes, left unstuffed.
- Boots (black, make 2, optional): little rounded shoes with a pinch of stuffing.
- Assembly: sew head to body, beard below the nose, mustache above the beard, arms at the sides, boots underneath, hat tilted on top — then the hanging loop, tug-tested.
The PDF walks through every round with photos and stitch counts, so you're never guessing.
Senior-friendly tips
- Do it in sittings: body one evening, head and hat the next — no rush.
- Count out loud: the rounds are short; counting each round's stitches prevents the classic "why is this lopsided" moment.
- Stuff as you go: don't wait until the hole is tiny — add fiberfill a little at a time.
- Light yarn first: start with the white beard or red body rather than the black boots — dark yarn is hardest on the eyes.
Is this really doable for a beginner?
Yes — it's rated Easy, not intermediate. Every part uses only basic stitches (single crochet, increases, decreases). The 23-page PDF photographs each part, and the pieces are small, so mistakes are cheap to redo.
What if I don't celebrate Christmas?
Skip the red hat and make it in any colors — it becomes a cute gnome ornament that works year-round.
Can I sell the Santas I make?
Yes! Anything you make from this pattern is yours to keep, gift, or sell. Please just don't sell or redistribute the pattern PDF itself.
Honest note: this pattern is AI-designed and has not been physically tested yet. If a stitch count ever looks off, trust your eyes and adjust — and tell us so we can fix it.