Holiday is coming. Make with us cheerful Christmas decorations to hang on the door and on the tree. What we need are:
- Calicò yarn, 1 ball for each of the following colours: pink, red, white, black, and green
- A 3.00mm (no. 11) crochet hook
- A 3.00mm (no. 11) circular needle
- Yarn needle with rounded point
- Other items: stitch marker, a metal ring 20cm in diameter; wadding for stuffing; polystyrene spheres 7cm in diameter; polystyrene spheres 8cm in diameter; red satin ribbon 0.5cm wide and 1.5cm wide
Stitches, using crochet hook, are
- Chain (ch)
- Slip stitch (sl st)
- Double crochet (dc)
- Half treble (htr)
- Treble (tr)
- Double treble (dtr)
- Ridge double crochet back: work 1 dc inserting hook into back loop only of previous row (= 1 RdcB)
- Loop stitch: insert hook into st, wrap yarn around needle and keep finger at the desired length for loop. Wrap hook clockwise around the yarn (yarn under) laying in front of the index finger and then grab the yarn laying behind the index finger. Pull yarn through stitch (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through remaining loops. Remove finger from loop.
Stitches, using needles, are stocking stitch (st st): all rounds K in circular working.
How to work Santa Claus wreath decorations
Santa Claus
LEGS – 1st LEG: with crochet hook and black yarn work a magic ring and, into this ring, work in a continuous spiral (= without ending each round with a ss):
1st round: 6 dc.
2nd round: inc 1 st (= 2 dc into same st) in each st of previous round (= 12 dc).
3rd round: * 1 dc, inc 1 st; rep from * all round (= 18 dc).
4th round: 1dc into each st.
5th round: 2 dc, dec 4 sts (1 dec = tog2dc), 8 dc (14 dc remain). 6th round: 2 dc, dec 2 sts, 8 dc (12 dc remain).
7th round: 1dc into each st.
Change to red yarn.
From 8th to 11th round: 1dc into each st. Cut off yarn.
2nd LEG: work as 1st Leg. At end of 11th round do not cut off yarn and cont to work Body.
BODY: with red yarn
1st round: 12 dc on 2nd Leg and 12 dc on 1st Leg, joining thus the Legs (= 24 dc).
2nd round: inc 2 sts, 10 dc, inc 2 sts, 10 dc (= 28 dc).
From 3rd to 7th round: 1dc into each st.
8th round: 11 dc, dec 1 st, 11 dc, dec 1 st and 2 dc (= 26 dc).
Stuff legs and, in part, the body.
9th round: * 3 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around ending with a dc (there are 21 dc).
10° giro: 1dc into each st of previous round.
11th round: * 2 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around ending with a dc (16 dc remain).
Cont with pink yarn for Head
1st round: 16 dc.
2nd round: * 1 dc, inc 1 st; rep from * all around (there are 24 dc).
3rd round: * 2 dc, inc 1 st; rep from * all around (there are 32 dc).
4th and 5th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
6th round: * 2 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (24 dc remain).
7th round: 1dc into each st of previous round.
8th round: * 1 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (16 dc remain).
9th round: * dec 1 st; rep from * all around.
Cut yarn and fasten off. Complete head stuffing.
ARMS (make 2): with crochet hook and pink yarn work a magic ring and, into this ring, work in a continuous spiral as follows:
1st round: 6 dc.
2nd round: * 1 dc, inc 1 st; rep from * all around (there are 9 dc).
3rd and 4th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
Change to red yarn.
From 5th to 10th round: 1dc into each st of previous round.
Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing.
WRISTBANDS (make 2): with white yarn ch18and work 17sts in loop st. Cut yarn and fasten off.
HAT: with red yarn ch27, join with a ss into first ch to form a ring. Work in a continuous spiral into this ring as follows:
1st and 2nd rounds: 27 dc.
3rd round: * 7 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (24 dc remain).
4th and 5th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
6th round: * 6 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (21 dc remain).
7th and 8th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
9th round: * 5 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (18 dc remain).
10th and 11th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
12th round: * 4 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (15 dc remain).
13th and 14th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
15th round: * 3 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (12 dc remain).
16th and 17th rounds: 1dc into each st of previous round.
18th round: * 2 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (9 dc remain).
19th round: 1dc into each st of previous round.
20th round: * 1 dc, dec 1 st; rep from * all around (6 dc remain).
21st round: 1dc into each st of previous round.
Cut yarn. Fasten off.
BORDER: with white yarn ch36 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work as follows:
1st row: 1dc into each ch; turn.
2nd row: ch1, 1 loop st into each st to end.
Cut yarn and fasten off.
See Border to lower edge of Hat.
POMPOM: with white yarn work a magic ring. Work in a continuous spiral into this ring as follows:
1st round: 4 dc.
2nd round: 1 inc in each st (= 8 dc).
3rd and 4th rounds: 1 dc into each st of previous round.
5th round: dec 4 sts.
Cut yarn. Sew pompom on hat.
BELT: with black yarn ch32 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work 1 ss in each ch to end. Cut yarn and fasten off.
BEARD: with white yarn ch3 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work as follows:
1st row: 2 dc; turn.
2nd row: ch1, 1 loop st into each of 2 sts on previous row; turn.
3rd row: ch1, inc 1 st in each of 2 sts on previous row; turn.
4th row: ch1, 1 loop st into each of 4 sts on previous row; turn.
5th row: ch1, inc l st into next st, 2 dc, inc 1 st into next st; turn.
6th row: ch1, 1 loop st into each of 6 sts on previous row; turn.
7th row: ch1, inc l st into next st, 4 dc, inc 1 st into next st; turn.
8th row: ch1, 1 loop st into each of 8 sts on previous row; turn.
9th row: ch1, 1 dc into each of 8 sts on previous row.
Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing.
MUSTACHE: with white yarn ch12 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work as follows: 1 ss, 2 dc, 1 htr, 1 dc, 1 ss, 1 dc, 1 htr, 2 dc and 1 ss. Cut yarn and fasten off.
FINISHING: Stuff arms and join to body. Sew Wristbands around arms, corresponding to colour change. Embroider eyes with black and mouth with red. Sew beard and mustache to face, sew hat over head and belt around waist.
Christmas Wreath decorations
COATING: With hook and red yarn, cover ring upper part, working 1 row of 132 dc and 1 row of 132 trebles. Cut yarn and fasten off. With hook and green yarn, cover ring lower part, working 1 row of 72 dc and 1 row of 72 trebles. Cut yarn and fasten off. Wind these coatings. To hang up wreath, with red yarn work a row of chains as long as necessary, fold in half for a loop and sew to the middle of upper part.
BOW: with red yarn ch4 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work 3 dc, turn and rep this row until stripe measures 40cm. Cut yarn and fasten off. With white yarn, work a round of dc all around this stripe, ending with a ss into first dc. Fasten off.
Sew Bow at base of loop to hang up wreath, then join Santa Claus.
How to make baubles for Christmas tree
Red crochet bauble
This bauble measures 8cm in diameter.
COATING: with hook and red yarn ch26 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work a row of 25 dc. Work 42 rows in Ridge double crochet back.
Join short side seams of this Coating with a row of dc,
insert polystyrene sphere 8cm in diameter,
then with yarn needle and red yarn work a row of running st along upper edge and lower edge to close coating around sphere.
CURLS: (make 2) with white yarn ch31 and, starting from 2nd ch from hook, work a row of dc, inc 1 st into each ch (= there are 60 dc). Cut yarn and fasten off.
LARGE FLOWERS: (make 2) with white yarn work a magic ring and, into this ring, work: * ch3, 3 dtr, ch3, 1 dc; rep from * 5 times (= 5 petals). Cut yarn and fasten off.
SMALL FLOWERS: (make 2) with white yarn work a magic ring and, into this ring, work: * ch3, 2 tr, ch3, 1 dc; rep from * 4 times (= 4 petals). Cut yarn and fasten off.
Prepare satin ribbon.
Make a loop with satin ribbon 0.5cm wide, sew loop to top of bauble, then sew some stripes of ribbon 1.5cm wide, curls and flowers.
Granny bauble
This bauble measures 7cm in diameter.
COATING: it is made up of 2 pieces. For each piece, with red yarn work a magic ring and, into this ring, work as follows:
1st round: 1 ss, ch3 (=1 tr), 11 trebles, end with a ss into 3rd of first ch3.
Cont with green yarn.
2nd round: work 2 tr between trebles of previous round; end with a ss into first tr (= there are 24 dc).
Cont with red yarn.
3rd round: work 3 tr between trebles of previous round; end with a ss into first tr.
Cont with green yarn.
4th and 6th rounds: work 4 tr between trebles of previous round; end with a ss into first tr.
Cont with red yarn.
5th round: work 4 tr between trebles of previous round; end with a ss into first tr.
At end of 6th round, with green yarn join the two pieces with a row of dc, inserting polystyrene sphere 7cm in diameter.
Make a row of chain in green yarn to create a loop to hang up bauble, then cut yarn and fasten off.
Knitted baubles
GREEN&RED: (8cm in diameter) with 3.00mm circular needle and green yarn, cast on 44 sts and work 8 rounds in st st. Cont in st st, working a round as follows: * 1 st in green, 1 st in red; rep from * to end. Then work other 18 rounds in red. Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing. With yarn needle, thread end through sts, draw up tightly and secure. Insert polystyrene sphere 8cm in diameter, then close lower side with a row of running st, draw up yarn tightly and secure. Make a loop with green yarn to hang up bauble.
RED&WHITE: (7cm in diameter) with 3.00mm circular needle and red yarn, cast on 40 sts and work 8 rounds in st st. Cont in st st, working a round as follows: * 1 st in red, 1 st in white; rep from * to end. Then work other 10 rounds in white. Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing. With yarn needle, thread end through sts, draw up tightly and secure. Insert polystyrene sphere 7cm in diameter, then close lower side with a row of running st, draw up yarn tightly and secure. Make a loop with red yarn to hang up bauble.
Concept, works and pictures made by:
Barbara Mazzi and Elisa Mezzani, Filofilò – Merceria Creativa
Piazza IV Novembre, 10 – Villafranca di Verona (VR)
