Crochet Bauble Pattern: Santa Christmas Ornament

Building a Round Santa without a Lopsided Face

The ball uses six increases per round and mirrors them with six decreases at the top. A separate face panel gives you a clear sewing guide: its lower edge sits one round above the ball center, and the hat brim covers its upper edge. The beard is made from three graduated shell strips instead of one bulky applique.

Materials You'll Need

• About 75 yd (69 m) DK cotton (ball and hat), 100% cotton, in Deep burgundy.
• About 45 yd (41 m) DK cotton (brim, beard and pompom), 100% cotton, in Warm ivory.
• About 20 yd (18 m) DK cotton (face and nose), 100% cotton, in Peach beige.
• About 4 yd (4 m) DK cotton (eyes and loop), 100% cotton, in Black and Cocoa.
• 3.5 mm (US E-4) crochet hook.
• Polyester stuffing, about 1.5 oz (43 g).
• Yarn needle.
• Stitch marker.
• Scissors.

Cotton keeps the facial embroidery sharp. Choose stuffing that springs back when squeezed and add it in small pinches so the sphere stays round.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

• Skill level: Intermediate.
• Gauge: 22 sc and 24 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in firm single crochet.
• Finished size: About 4.5 in (11.5 cm) tall and 4 in (10 cm) wide.
• Working time: About 3 hours 30 minutes.

Dense fabric is essential. If white stuffing shows when the ball is stretched lightly, move down 0.25 to 0.5 mm in hook size.

Abbreviations and Special Stitches

Instructions use US crochet terms. Count at the end of every numbered row or round before moving on.

• mr: magic ring.
• ch: chain.
• sl st: slip stitch.
• sc: single crochet.
• hdc: half double crochet.
• dc: double crochet.
• inc: 2 stitches in the same stitch.
• dec: invisible single crochet decrease.
• BLO: back loop only.
• FLO: front loop only.
• sk: skip.
• sp: space.
• st(s): stitch(es).
• rnd(s): round(s).

Shell: Work 5 dc in the same stitch.

Invisible decrease: Insert the hook through the front loops of the next 2 stitches, yarn over and complete 1 sc.

Pattern Notes

• Work the ball and pompom in continuous spirals.
• Stuff the ball before Round 16.
• Make the beard strips separately and sew them on after the face panel.

Pin every applique before sewing. Check the ornament from the side as well as the front; a face can look centered while the hanging loop is several stitches off.

How to Follow This Crochet Bauble Pattern

Work the burgundy ball in a continuous spiral from the base. Add the hanging loop before the final decrease round, spreading its two tails over six stitches inside the ball. The face panel is a small rectangle with tapered upper corners. Three beard strips provide five, four and three shell sections, which overlap like roof tiles.

Placing the Face, Beard and Brim

1. Mark the vertical center of the stuffed ball and pin the face panel across it.
2. Sew the face panel with small whipstitches, easing the straight edges over the curve.
3. Place the largest beard strip first, then overlap the medium and small strips from bottom to top.
4. Center the ribbed brim over the top face edge and sew both long sides.
5. Attach the hat cone behind the brim, add the pompom and embroider two short black eyes.

The nose belongs just below the eye line, not at the center of the beard. Sew through the ball twice so it cannot rotate.

Details That Keep the Santa Bauble Neat

• Alternate the placement of decrease stitches so six vertical grooves do not form.
• Stuff the ball firmly before the opening becomes smaller than 18 stitches.
• Steam the beard strips lightly before layering them.
• Hide embroidery knots under the face panel rather than inside the open ball.

A Coordinated Christmas Bauble Crochet Pattern Set

Use the same ball for a snowman or reindeer, but keep each decoration flat enough that the sphere hangs upright. For a set of crochet baubles, repeat the burgundy background and change only the face applique. This keeps the ornaments related without repeating one design.

Care and Storage

Dust with a soft brush and spot clean the face. Store the bauble in a rigid box so the beard shells and pompom are not crushed.