Mini Crochet Christmas Cracker Pattern

Transform a classic holiday tradition into a handmade treasure with this mini crochet Christmas cracker.

Two crochet Christmas crackers, one red and one yellow, each tied with a ribbon and adorned with a gold bell.

It’s Day 2 of the 12 Days of Crochet Christmas!

So I might be a little obsessed with these mini crochet Christmas crackers. They’re small enough to hang on the tree and they would make the cutest party favours as part of your festive place settings.

I kept the embellishments simple but that mini scalloped edging is the perfect finishing touch. I also think they’d be fun decorated with French knots or beads.

What are Christmas Crackers?

Christmas Crackers are a type of party favor that originated in England. They’re used to celebrate Christmas and other special occasions/festive events.

They typically contain a paper crown, joke, a small gift/novelty item and a snap which gives the cracker a fun bang when two people pull it open.

Two crochet Christmas crackers, one red and one yellow. The red cracker is open with a chocolate Santa peeking out.

About the Pattern

This mini crochet Christmas cracker pattern is no-sew.

We’ll start by crocheting the body of the cracker, including the little loop hole through which it’s tied closed, and to create a sharper angle, we’ll be working some rounds through the back loop and the third loop.

The ends are crocheted on last and are finished with a fun decorative edging.

This crochet Christmas cracker is easily customisable simply by using different colours and adding embellishments such as: small appliques, beads/sequins, embroidery or little personalised gift tags with the recipients name on them.

A yellow Christmas cracker tied with a ribbon and adorned with a gold bell being held up from one end by a hand.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Christmas Cracker Pattern

  • Basic stitches: Uses mostly single crochet stitches.
  • No-sew: Doesn’t require any sewing aside from hiding ends.
  • Customisable: A simple base pattern that you can add your own flare to.

More Crochet Patterns

If you love this mini crochet Christmas cracker pattern, you might also like to check out these other Christmas ornament patterns:


Crochet Christmas Cracker Pattern

Materials

  • DK weight yarn in your choice of colour (I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in Pillar Red and Mustard Yellow for the crackers pictured)
  • 2.5mm crochet hook
  • Yarn/twine for the tie
  • Optional: 1cm gold bell for decorating
  • Stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sc – single crochet
  • inc – increase
  • invdec – invisible decrease
  • dec – decrease
  • sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • BLO – back loop only
  • sk – skip
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • st/s – stitch/es
  • […] – repeat the instructions in brackets
  • (…) – indicates stitch count at end of round

Useful Links

Finished Size

The finished Christmas cracker measures approximately 4.5″ (11.5cm) long. Size may vary depending on tension and materials used.

Gauge

Gauge is not important in this pattern. However, using a different yarn and hook size will change the size of the finished item.

Notes

  • Pieces are worked in a continuous spiral starting with a magic ring unless otherwise specified. Mark the first stitch of each round with a removable stitch marker.
  • Some back loop only rounds are worked through the back loop and third loop of the stitch to create a sharper angle. If you find this too difficult you can just crochet into the back loops only.

Pattern Instructions

Cracker

R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)

R2: Working in the BLO – [inc] x6 (12)

R3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18)

R4: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x5, sc (24)

R5: Working in the BLO + 3rd loop – [sc] x24 (24)

R6-12: [Sc] x24 (24) 7 rounds

R13: 3 sc, ch 18, sk 18, 3 sc back on cracker (6 sc + 18 chs)

In this next round, work into the back bump of the ch. We’ll be skipping 2 chs in the middle to create the small hole for the closure.

R14: 3 sc, 8 sc along ch, ch 3, sk 2 chs, 8 sc along ch, 3 sc back on cracker (24 sc + 3 chs)

In this next round, sc into the ch space and not the ch itself.

R15: 11 sc, 2 sc into the ch 3 space, 11 sc (24)

R16-21: [Sc] x24 (24) 6 rounds

R22: Working in the BLO + 3rd loop – sc, dec, [2 sc, dec] x5, sc (18)

R23: [Sc, invdec] x6 (12)

R24: [Invdec] x6 (6)

Cut the yarn leaving a tail and pull through last st. Weave the yarn tail through the back loops only of the final round and pull to close.

Weave in ends.

Ends

Join yarn to first leftover front loop from R2 of the cracker.

R1: Ch 1, inc in same space. Inc in each front loop around (12)

R2: [Sc, inc] x6 (18)

R3: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x5, sc (24)

R4: Working in the BLO + 3rd loop – [sc] x24 (24)

R5-6: [Sc] x24 (24) 2 rounds

R7: [Sc2tog, ch 1, hdc around sc2tog from front to back] x12

Fasten off invisibly to same st as first sc2tog. Weave in ends.

Repeat for the other end, joining yarn in the first leftover front loop from R24 of the cracker.

Finishing

Pull a loop of contrasting yarn or twine through a st directly opposite the small ch opening. Pull the tails through the loop and tighten.

Fill the cracker and thread one yarn tail through the ch opening from the inside out. Add a bell if desired and tie the yarn/twine in a bow. Trim ends.

A yellow crochet Christmas cracker tied with a ribbon and adorned with a gold bell.

not ready to make this yet?

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Pinterest image showing a collage of small crochet Christmas crackers. Text reads: "Easy mini Christmas cracker, free crochet pattern, www.stitchbyfay.com".

Explore More Crochet Patterns

After you crochet this mini Christmas cracker, here are some more crochet patterns to try:

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We hope you enjoyed this pattern. Come and hang out with me in the Stitch by Fay Community Facebook group. We created this space for you to share pictures, ask questions and support each other.

Happy crocheting.

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be copied, reproduced, altered, published or distributed in any format (including video). If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site.

You can sell finished products made from this pattern in small quantities. Do NOT use our photos as your sale photos.

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4 Comments

  1. Hiya Fay,
    I’m sorry to bother you not sure if you had my original query.
    When we are doing the chain section on the main body of the cracker, I’m confused when we have to do the ch18 and then the 8 + 3 chain miss 2 8 again as I have the loose loop and then it goes to SC in 24 all round. Do we attach the chain back to the main cracker body for the 24 all round.
    I’m so sorry I just don’t understand it properly 😟😭
    Many thanks in advance

  2. Thank you so much for this pattern it is so adorable! I’m struggling in 2 places, unsure if you’ll be able to help me?
    1) when I join to make the first end of the cracker, my end is showing wrong side out, is that correct or is there a way I can do it right side out?
    2) finishing the end of the cracker, sc2tog/ch1/HD around isn’t giving me picots like yours, it’s just drawing it in like closing a ball.

    Any insights would be greatly appreciated, I’m hoping to make a set of 6 for a Christmas party next week.

    Again thanks so much, it’s such a beautiful project!