Festive Crochet Christmas Cracker Free Pattern

This year, use crochet to make your Christmas a little more environmentally friendly while creating some handmade cracker decorations that can be used for years to come.  My Silent Night Crochet Christmas Cracker is a festive and easy way to dress up your Christmas table. It’s easy to customize to fit your decor and it can also be used as a fun, unique gift wrap.  All you need is some yarn, toilet roll tubes and this free pattern.  

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A Way to Minimize Waste

This free crochet christmas cracker pattern is part of the 2023 Christmas in July Make Along, hosted by Underground Crafter.  When I first started brainstorming ideas for a Christmas in July project, I started thinking about different ways that I could use crochet to minimize waste this Christmas and/or create something that could be used year after year by my family.

While cleaning out my storage room one day, I came across a box of Christmas crackers we had left over from last Christmas and then it hit me.  I could make my own Christmas Crackers and by doing so, I’d be able to fill them with actually useful little gifts and treats and when we are done with them, we could just store them again until next year.

While I was working away on my first crochet Christmas cracker one of my Aunts mentioned that she thought that it would also make a cool, reusable gift wrap.  You could use it to wrap small items like gift cards, jewelry, treats and more.  So it can definitely serve more than one purpose.

Yarn Choice

I chose to use a cotton yarn over an acrylic yarn for this design for two reasons: the cotton gives the project more structure and it will also hold up better in the washing machine should someone spill their wine or chocolate milk on one and they need to be washed.  

Want More Free Christmas Crochet Patterns? Check These Out!

• Holly Jolly Festive Crochet Mug Rug
  
  
• Easy Crochet Christmas Baubles – with video tutorial!
  
  
• Country Winter Wreath – it lights up!

What to Put in a Homemade Crochet Christmas Cracker?

There are a ton of fun options for things that you could put in your homemade crackers!  Here I’ve listed some suggestions but don’t feel limited to this list and pick things that your friends and family will love:

• Candies and chocolates
  
  
• Stitch Markers (for the crocheter in your life *wink*
  
  
• Small toys like toy cars, mini figures, etc.
  
  
• Stationary like novelty erasers, self-inking stamps, post-it notes, etc.
  
  
• Jewellry like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.
  
  
• Small hair accessories
  
  
• Makeup like lip gloss, lip stick, small eyeshadow palettes, blush
  
  
• Temporary tattoos or stickers
  
  
• Glow sticks
  
  
• Gift cards
  
  
• Nail polish
  
  
• Mini skeins/hanks of yarn
  
  
• Mini bottles of alcohol
  
  
• Small self-care items like face masks, nail files, tweezer, mini hand and face creams
  
  
• Keychains
  
  
• Magnets
  
  
• Row Counters
  
  
• Enamel pins
  
  
• And don’t forget the paper crown!

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the finished product created by this free crochet pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form (including video tutorials), or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.  This pattern is for personal use only.

Skill Level:

• Easy

Terminology:

• US Terms

Supplies:

• E / 3.5 mm Crochet Hook
  
  
• WeCrochet Dishie (100% Cotton yarn, Worsted Weight (4), 190 yds/174 m) 1 ball each in the following colours:
  • Colour A (C1): Silver (approx. 28 yds)
  • Colour B (C2): Navy (approx. 64 yds)
    
    
• Cardboard Tube Like a Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Tube
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
• Tapestry Needle
  
  
• Stitch Marker

Abbreviations:

• BLO = Back Loops Only
  
  
• C1 = Colour A
  
  
• C2 = Colour B
  
  
• CH = Chain
  
  
• CH-SP(s) = Chain Space(s)
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  
• HDC = Half Double Crochet
  
  
• RSS = Reverse Slip Stitch Colour Change (See Special Stitches & Techniques)
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet
  
  
• SK = Skip
  
  
• ST(s) = Stitch(es)
  
  
• SL ST = Slip Stitch
  
  
• YO = Yarn Over

Special Stitches and Techniques:

• Invisible Finish/Join: FO leaving a long tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle.  Place the tapestry needle through the top of the 2^nd ST from front to back and pull through.  Place tip of needle into top of the last ST of the round, under the back loop of the stitch, and pull through to the back of the work.  Weave in the end. Check out my free invisible finish/join tutorial here.
  
  
• Reverse Slip Stitch Colour Change: Remove working loop from hook and insert hook into designated stitch from back to front. Pick up working loop and pull the loop through to the back of work, YO with new colour and pull through loop on hook.
  
  
  

Finished Size:

• Approx. 10” long x 7.5” around

Gauge:

• Approx 11 sts x 9 rows = 2 inches

Notes:

• Gauge is not vital to the pattern but it may affect the size of your make and the amount of yarn required.
  
  
• Right side of the project should always be facing you.
  
  
• This pattern alternates between working in joined rounds and working in a continuous spiral.  Only join the ends of a round where indicated.
  
  
• The cracker is broken down into 3 parts: First End, Body and Second End. It is crocheted in a single piece, from bottom to top. After completing the cracker, we’ll crochet the ties and then assemble it.
  
  
• For areas using two colours of yarn, carry unused colours and crochet over them as you work.
  
  
• For large areas using only one colour (i.e. Rounds 4 – 13) carry the unused colour up the inside of the piece or cut the second colour and rejoin the next time it is used.
  
  
• This entire project is worked in rounds worked in the BLO (except where indicated).
  
  
• Colour changes are executed using the last yarn over of the previous stitch (unless where stated otherwise).
  
  
• Instructions within the brackets () are to be repeated the number of times specified next to the brackets. I.e. (C1) x 2 means you’ll single crochet in the back loop only with colour 1 in the next 2 stitches.
  
  
• A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the round.

First End

Using Colour A, CH 40.  Taking care not to twist the chain, join the last CH to the first CH with a SL ST to form a ring.

Round 1: CH 1. SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change (See Special Stitches & Techniques). (40)

Change to Colour B

Round 2: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change.(40)

Change to Colour A

Round 3: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour B

Rounds 4 – 12: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Do NOT join.Continue working in a continuous spiral. (40)

Round 13: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with a SL ST. (40)

Round 14: CH 1, HDC in the first ST, CH 1, SK 1, *HDC, CH 1, SK 1, repeat from * 18 more times. Join last ST to first ST with SL ST. (20 HDC, 20 CH-SPs)

Round 15: CH 1, In BLO, SC in each ST and CH-SP around. Join last ST to first ST with SL ST. (40)

Round 16: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour A

Round 17: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour B

Round 18: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Do NOT join.  Continue working in a continuous spiral. (40)

Body, Written Instructions:

All stitches in this section are single crochet stitches worked in the BLO.  C1 or C2 identifies the colour you’re using and the numbers next to them indicate the number of stitches you’ll do in each colour.  Want the colourwork chart for this section instead? Grab a copy of the ad-free PDF version of this pattern in my Ravelry and Etsy shops which includes the colourwork chart.

Example: (C2) x 5 means you’ll do a BLO SC stitch in colour 2 in the next 5 stitches.

Row 19: (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7.

Row 20: (C1) x 4, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 3.

Row 21: (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7.

Row 22: (C1) x 3, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 2.

Row 23: (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7.

Row 24: (C1) x 2, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 1.

Row 25: (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3.

 Want to Make More Christmas Decorations?  Check Out These Free Patterns

• Gnome Christmas Tree Ornaments
  
  
• Baby Owl Crochet Tree Ornament
  
  
• Snowy Pines Tree Ornament

Row 26: (C2) x 3, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 5, (C1) x 3, (C2) x 2.

Row 27: (C2) x 4, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3.

Row 28: (C2) x 2, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 3, (C1) x 5, (C2) x 1.

Row 29: (C2) x 4, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3.

Row 30: (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7, (C2) x 1, (C1) x 7.

Row 31: (C2) x 4, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 7, (C1) x 1, (C2) x 3.

Proceed with Second End Instructions.

Second End:

Round 32: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour A

Round 33: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour B

Rounds 34 – 35: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with SL ST. (40)

Round 36: CH 1, HDC in the first ST, CH 1, SK 1, *HDC, CH 1, SK 1, repeat from * 18 more times. Join last ST to first ST with SL ST. (20 HDC, 20 CH-SPs)

Rounds 37 – 45: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Do NOT join. Continue working in a continuous spiral.  (40)

Round 46: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour A

Round 47: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour B

Round 48: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join last ST to first ST with RSS Colour Change. (40)

Change to Colour A

Round 49: In BLO, SC in the first ST and each ST around. (40)

FO with invisible join (See Special Stitches and Techniques).

Ties (Make 2)

Using Color B and leaving a yarn tail at least 2 inches long, CH 70. (Add or subtract chains to adjust the tie to your preferred length).

FO and pull yarn through the last CH. Tie an overhand knot over the space where the yarn tail meets the chain on each end of the tie, getting as close to the chain as possible.

Trim the yarn tails to approx. 1” long. Set aside for assembly.

Assembly:

Hold a cardboard paper towel or toilet paper tube next to your cracker so it lines up with the Body section of the cracker. 

If needed, to ensure the tube will fit inside this section, trim your tube so that it fits inside the Body section of the cracker. Insert the tube inside the cracker.

Inserting the ties: Thread the tie onto a tapestry needle or using a crochet hook, weave the tie through the chain spaces created in Rounds 16 and 36 of the First and Second Ends.

Use:

Insert small toys, treats, gifts and other trinkets inside the body of the cracker and tie the ties in a bow to secure each end shut.