Crocheting a Nutcracker Toy
Crocheting a Nutcracker toy can be such a delightful project! The intricate details and the charming character of the Nutcracker come together beautifully in crochet form. As you work on each stitch, envisioning the final piece, there's a sense of joy and accomplishment that accompanies each completed section.
The vibrant colors and the personal touch you can add make it even more special. Whether you're creating it as a gift or to add a festive touch to your own decor, the process of crocheting a Nutcracker toy is not only enjoyable but also a wonderful way to express your creativity and spread some holiday cheer.Materials
- Worsted weight yarn
- Blue, red, yellow, black, skin color, and fuzzy/hairy white.
- Hook size 3.5mm (E)
- 10mm Safety Eyes, or an alternative form of eyes
- Stitch Marker
- PolyFill
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
- Sewing Pins
Abbreviations
- Rd(s) - Round(s)
- MR - Magic Ring
- Sc - Single Crochet
- St(s) - Stitch(es)
- Ch - Chain
- Sl St - Slip Stitch
- Inc - Increase
- Dec - Invisible Decrease
- In front loops only pick up the next two loops, yarn over, and pull through twice.
- FO - Fasten Off
- BLO - Back Loop Only
- FLO - Front Loop Only
Notes
- Magic Ring Alternative - chain 2 and single crochet in the second chain from the hook.
- This will be crocheted in the round.
- If not specified or in the repeat until the end of the round.
- Stuff as you go.
Feet
(make 2)
Color: Black
Rd 1: sc 6 in MR
Rd 2: sc, inc (12)
Rd 3: sc 1, inc (18)
Rd 4: sc 2, inc (24)
Rd 5-7: sc around (24) (3 rounds)
Rd 8: (sc 3, dec) x4, sc 2, dec (19)
Rd 9: dec, (sc 2, dec) x4, sc (14)
Rd 10-15: sc around (14) (6 rounds)
Change to blue
Rd 16-22: sc around (14) (7 rounds)
Stuff
FO the first foot but not the second.
Body
You will be placing your stitch marker in a new spot in this round.
Rd 23: Line up the legs, ensuring that the feet are pointing the same direction, ch 2, sc on the other leg and place your stitch marker, sc 14 around the leg, sc 2 across the chain, sc 14 around the other leg, sc 2 on the other side of the chain (32)
Rd 24-27: sc around (32) (4 rounds)
Rd 28: sc 6, dec, sc 14, dec, sc 8 (30)
Change to black
Rd 29: BLO sc around (30)
Rd 30: sc around (30)
Change to red
Rd 31: BLO sc around (30)
Rd 32-35: sc around (30) (4 rounds)
Rd 36: sc 3, dec (24)
Rd 37-38: sc around (24) (2 rounds)
Rd 39: sc 2, dec (18)
Rd 40-41: sc around (18) (2 rounds) Stuff
Rd 42: sc, dec (12)
Rd 43: sc around (12)
Change to yellow
Rd 44: sc around (12)
Change to skin color
An option to add strength to the neck is by stuffing a small foam curler in the neck. This will help to get rid of the wobble in the neck.
Rd 45: in BLO sc around (12)
Rd 46: sc, inc (18)
Rd 47: sc 2, inc (24)
Rd 48: sc 3, inc (30)
Rd 49: sc 4, inc (36)
Rd 50: sc 5, inc (42)
Rd 51: sc 6, inc (48)
Rd 52-60: sc around (48) (9 rounds)
Rd 61: sc 6, dec (42)
Rd 62: sc 5, dec (36)
Rd 63: sc 4, dec (30)
Rd 64: sc 3, dec (24) Insert eyes between rounds 57 and 58, 9 stitches apart.
Rd 65: sc 2, dec (18) Stuff, ensuring that you stuff the shoulders and neck very tightly to help prevent a wobbly head.
Rd 66: sc, dec (12)
Rd 67: dec (6)
FO, sew in ends.
Hat
Color: Black
Rd 1: sc 6 in MR
Rd 2: inc (12)
Rd 3: sc, inc (18)
Rd 4: sc 2, inc (24)
Rd 5: sc 3, inc (30)
Rd 6: sc 4, inc (36)
Rd 7: sc 5, inc (42)
Rd 8: sc 6, inc (48)
Rd 9: In BLO sc around (48)
Rd 10-20: sc around (48) (11 rounds)
Change to red
Rd 21: sc around (48)
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew the hat to the head with the bottom of the hat sewn between rounds 59 and 60, stuff as you sew. Sew in ends.
Hair
Color: White
There are 3 options to get the nutcracker hair look;
- Use hairy yarn.
- Brush normal yarn.
- Take a 1 or 2-inch piece of yarn, latch it across the white hairpieces, separate the strands, brush them, and then trim.
This is crocheted in rows rather than rounds.
Ch 11
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc across, ch 1 turn (10)
Row 2-35: sc across ch 1 turn (10) (34 rows) or until the piece makes it all around the head.
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew to the face starting between the same rounds as the hat, starting 4 stitches behind the eyes on either side, and down to between rounds 50 and 51.
Beard
Color: White
This will be crocheted in rows.
Ch 5
Row 1: sc in the 2 ch from the hook, sc across ch 1 and turn (4)
Row 2-12: sc across (4) (11 rows)
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew between rounds 52 and 53, centered between the eyes. Sew in ends.
Nose
Color: Skin Color
Ch 3, sc in the 2 ch from the hook, sl st in 3.
FO leaving a tail for sewing. Sew the top between rounds 55 and 56 and sew down to the beard, centered on the beard. Sew in ends.
Collar
Color: Yellow
Starting on the yellow round on the neck 4 stitches behind where the hair ends, in FLO hdc 2, dc, hdc 2, sc, hdc 2, dc, hdc, sc 3
Arms
(make 2)
Color: Skin Color
Rd 1: sc 6 in MR
Rd 2: inc (12)
Rd 3: sc, inc (18)
Rd 4-5: sc around (18) (2 rounds)
Rd 6: sc, dec (12)
Rd 7: sc 4, dec (10)
Change to blue
Rd 8: In FLO sc 4, inc (12)
Rd 9-10: sc around (12) (2 rounds)
Rd 11: sc 2, dec (9)
Change to red
Rd 12-16: sc around (9) (5 rounds)
Change to yellow
Rd 17: inc (18)
Rd 18-21: sc around (18) (4 rounds)
Rd 22: In BLO dec (9)
Rd 23: sc, dec (6) Stuff
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Insert the yarn tail into the arm and out the side and sew to the body, lining the top of the arm with the yellow round on either side of the body.
Details
Belt Buckle: In yellow, centered on the black rounds of the body, make a square around a stitch.
Chest Buckle Things: In yellow, 2 rounds above the black belt center, take the yarn from one side of the body to the other side with 7 stitches between. Go up 2 rounds and repeat with 6 stitches between. Go up 2 rounds and repeat with 5 stitches between. Go up 2 rounds and repeat with 4 stitches between. Go up 2 rounds and repeat with 3 stitches between.