SaveMost crochet Christmas projects end up on the tree, which means that by the second week of December the tree is crowded and the rest of the house looks exactly as it did in November. These are the pieces for everywhere else.
Part of our seasonal library.
They are also, mostly, bigger. A garland is an evening. A table runner is a weekend. That is worth knowing before you start something in the third week of December.
Front door and hallway
The first thing anyone sees, and usually the last thing anyone decorates.
Front door wreath
Easy3 hours
Worked around a foam ring in forest green, with red bobbles as berries. Weatherproof if you use acrylic rather than wool.
Door hanger sign
Beginner2 hours
A rectangle in single crochet with a word worked in tapestry crochet. Keep it to one short word.
Bauble garland for the bannister
Beginner4 hours
Twelve 40 mm covers on twine. Slow but entirely mindless.
Mantel garland
Easy3 hours
Alternating flat stars and small trees strung along cord, spaced by hand rather than measured.
Stocking, full size
Easy5 hours
Worked in the round from the cuff. Worsted on a 5.0 mm hook, about 45 cm finished.
Advent calendar pockets
Intermediate8 hours
Twenty four small pouches sewn onto a backing. The longest project here by a distance.
Table runner
Intermediate6 hours
A long filet crochet panel in cream cotton. Blocks beautifully and stores flat.
Placemats, set of four
Easy4 hours
Thick cotton in a dense stitch so they lie flat under a plate.
Napkin rings
Beginner1 hour
Four small bands with a holly leaf on each. Fastest thing on this list.
Coaster set
Beginner1 hour
Six snowflake coasters in cotton. Useful long after Christmas if you keep them white.
Centrepiece basket
Easy3 hours
A shallow bowl in doubled cotton, stiff enough to hold baubles or clementines.
Candle mat
Beginner1 hour
A flat round doily under a pillar candle. Cotton only, never acrylic, near a flame.
Tree skirt
Intermediate10 hours
A large flat circle with a slit to the centre. The one project here that genuinely needs planning.
Gift bags
Beginner2 hours
Small drawstring pouches that replace wrapping paper and get used again.
Window snowflake set
Beginner2 hours
Six stiffened flakes hung at different heights on invisible thread.
Bunting, triangular
Beginner3 hours
Ten flags in alternating colours on a long chain.
Cushion cover, festive
Easy5 hours
A plain cover with a single motif worked in tapestry crochet on the front.
Pot plant cosy
Beginner1 hour
A sleeve that turns a supermarket poinsettia into something deliberate.
Stair garland
Easy4 hours
A longer version of the mantel garland, roughly three metres.
Hanging star cluster
Beginner2 hours
Five stars at staggered lengths from one ring, hung in a window.
Fairy light covers
Beginner2 hours
Small crochet cups that slip over LED bulbs. LED only, never filament, they get hot.
Mini tree for a side table
Easy2 hours
A stuffed cone about 25 cm tall with a weighted base so it does not topple.
Only put crochet near LED fairy lights. Filament bulbs run hot enough to scorch cotton and to melt acrylic, and acrylic melts rather than burns, which makes it worse rather than better.
How long you actually have
Counting backwards from Christmas, assuming a few evenings a week.
| Start by | What is still realistic |
|---|---|
| Early November | Advent calendar, tree skirt, table runner |
| Late November | Stockings, cushion covers, long garlands |
| Early December | Wreath, placemats, bunting, gift bags |
| Mid December | Coasters, napkin rings, candle mats, fairy light covers |
| The last week | Nothing larger than a coaster, and be honest about it |
Questions
What is the quickest Christmas decoration to crochet?
Napkin rings or coasters. Both are under an hour and both use scraps.
What yarn should I use for a crochet wreath?
Acrylic if it hangs outside, because it survives damp. Wool indoors, where it looks better.
How long does a crochet tree skirt take?
About ten hours for a 90 cm skirt in worsted, and it takes six to eight skeins.
Can I put crochet near fairy lights?
Only LED. Filament bulbs get hot enough to scorch cotton and melt acrylic.
How do I make a crochet garland hang evenly?
Space the pieces by eye on the floor first, then attach. Measuring gives a mechanical look that reads as shop bought.
Will crochet decorations survive storage?
Cotton will for years. Wool needs a moth deterrent. Store flat pieces between tissue so the stiffener does not crack.