Crochet 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 to the end of the round.
• Stuff as you go.

Feet- (make 2)

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 but not the second foot.

Body-

You will be placing your st marker in a new spot in this round.

Rd 23: Line up the legs, making sure that the feet are pointing the same direction, ch 2, sc on the other leg and place your st marker, sc 14 around the leg, sc 2 across the ch, sc 14 around the other leg, sc 2 on the other side of the ch (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 rds 57 and 58, 9 sts apart.

Rd 65: sc 2, dec (18) Stuff, make sure that you stuff the shoulders and neck very tight to help prevent a wobbly head.

Rd 66: sc, dec (12)

Rd 67: dec (6)

FO, sew in ends.

Hat-

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 rds 59 and 60, stuff as you sew. Sew in ends.

Hair-

White

There are 3 options to get the nutcracker hair look;

1. is hairy yarn, 2. is brush normal yarn, or 3. take an inch or 2 inch piece of yarn latched on all across the white hairpieces and separate the strands, you may 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 rds as the hat, starting 4 sts behind the eyes on either side, and down to between rds 50 and 51.

Beard-

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 rds 52 and 53, centered between the eyes. Sew in ends.

Nose-

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 rds 55 and 56 and sew down to the beard, centered on the beard. Sew in ends.

Collar-

Yellow

Starting on the yellow rd on the neck 4 sts behind where the hair ends, in FLO hdc 2, dc, hdc 2, sc, hdc 2, dc, hdc, sc 3

Arms- (make 2)

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 rd on either side of the body.

Details-

Belt Buckle- In yellow centered on the black rds of the body make a square around a st.

Chest Buckle Things- In yellow 2 rds above the black belt center, take the yarn from one side of the body to the other side with 7 sts between. Go up 2 rds and repeat with 6 sts between. Go up 2 rds and repeat with 5 sts between. Go up 2 rds and repeat with 4 sts between. Go up 2 rds and repeat with 3 sts between.