Crochet Santa - with pattern in English

When I was showing my little Santa in an international crochet group there was a lot of requests of the pattern (of course, how many times have I not been inspired in groups and asked for the pattern!) With permission från Åsa who created the pattern and runs the blog "Steen i Stugan" I have translated the pattern into English and I'm proud to share it with you! I think the Santas turns out adorable! If you prefer the pattern in original language (Swedish) or if you want to see inspiring pictures of how you can decorate the Santas take a look at "Steen i Stugan"!

Crocheted Santa

Notes:
Crochet hook used for these Santas is 3,5 and yarn appropriate for that hook size. I have used an acrylic yarn, Åsa used a 50-50 mix of acrylic and cotton yarn. For stuffing I have used pillow filling and rice. Use the colors of yarn that you like, but one color for the head (I used cream/beige) and one for the body and hat (I used red).

Abbreviations:
St = Stitch
Sl st = Slip stitch
Ch = Chain
Sc = Single chrochet
Inc = Increase
Dec = Decrease
Bl = Back loops
Fl = Front loops

Crochet in circles. To make the Santa you start with crocheting the head. Within parenthesis is the number of stitches on the round.


HEAD AND BODY
Start with your choice of color for the head.
Chain 2
1: 6 sc in first ch (6)
2: 2 inc in each st (12)
3: 1 sc, 2 inc (18)
4: 2 sc, 2 inc (24)
5-7: Sc in each st (24)
8: 2 sc, 2 dec (18)
9: 1 sc, 2 dec (12)
Here you continue crocheting the body, change into the color of yarn of your choice.
10: Sc in each st (12)
11: 1 sc, 2 inc (18)
12: 2 inc (36)
13-14: Sc in each st (36)
15: 5 sc, 2 inc (42)
16-18: sc in each st (42)
19: 5 sc, 2 dec (36)
20-21: sc in each st (36)
22: 4 sc, 2 dec (30)
23: 3 sc, 2 dec (24)
24-25: sc in each st (24)
26: 2 inc in fl (48)
Fasten off

HAT
Chain 2
1: 6 sc in 1st ch (6)
2-6: sc in each st (6)
7: 1 sc, 2 inc (9)
8: sc in each st (9)
9: 2 sc, 2 inc (12)
10: sc in each st (12)
11: 3 sc, 2 inc (15)
12: sc in each st (15)
13: 4 sc, 2 inc (18)
14: sc in each st (18)
15: 5 sc, 2 inc (21)
16: sc in each st (21)
17: 6 sc, 2 inc (24)
18: sc in each st (24)
19: 7 sc, 2 inc (27)
20: 8 sc, 2 inc (30)
21: 9 sc, 2 inc (33)
22: 10 sc, 2 inc (36)
Finish with 3 sl st and fasten off

Stuff the head and body. To seal the bottom of the body, make a circle bottom as follow:

BOTTOM
Chain 2
1: 6 sc in 1st ch (6)
2: 2 inc (12)
3: 1 sc, 2 inc (18)
4: 2 sc, 2 inc (24)
Finish with a long tail of yarn to fasten the bottom under the body. Sew in the back loops of body round 24.

Make a nose and decorate as you wish! Beard, braids, shawl...


Did I make any changes? I chooe to sew on the nose after finishing the head, before making the body. I like making a knot on yarn ends inside the and that's why I sew on the nose and fastened the ends inside the head by a knot :) I also decided to stuff the head with pillow filling and the body with rice (inside a plastic bag so the rice won't spill out). Why rice you might wonder... It gives the Santa some weight and it stands great!

As soon as I finish the head I sew on the nose

I hope that you'll enjoy this pattern and the finished product as much as I did! If you have any questions, feel free to make a comment! And if you blog about your Santa from this pattern I know both Åsa and I would be very glad to get a link and see your Santas!

Enjoy!