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The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern
4.6★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
2.7K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

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Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

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Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern creates a whimsical Nutcracker-style amigurumi with a cupcake hat and candy base. You will crochet the body as one main piece and make small accessories like a cherry, candy cane and wig. The pattern uses cotton yarn and small hook sizes for a neat finish.

The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Detailed step-by-step rounds are included for every piece and color change to help you follow along. The pattern also explains assembly and finishing touches like embroidered teeth and felt eyes.

Why You'll Love This The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it blends a classic toy silhouette with playful, candy-inspired details that are a joy to stitch. I enjoy the way the cupcake hat and candy base add character and allow for color play. The pattern challenges me just enough with textured stitches and small parts while remaining approachable. It makes a lovely handmade gift that I feel proud to give, and I love seeing how each crocheter personalizes the colors and facial details.

The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love to change colors to give the Nutcracker different personalities; try a vintage palette or bold primary colors for a different vibe.

You can make the doll larger or smaller by changing yarn weight and hook size — bulky yarn gives a chunky version while fine yarn makes a tiny keychain size.

I sometimes replace the felt eye details with safety eyes or embroidered eyes to create varied expressions and textures.

Swap the cupcake glace stripe colors for seasonal themes like red/green for Christmas or pastel for spring gifts.

Try adding wire inside the arms or legs if you want posable limbs and more dynamic display poses.

Embellish the hat with beads, tiny pompoms or a crocheted pom-pom for a playful topper.

Use a variegated yarn for the body or the hat to introduce subtle color changes without switching yarns frequently.

Experiment with embroidery styles for the teeth and eyebrows — thin black thread gives a cartoon look while thicker yarn creates bold features.

I often create matching mini accessories like a tiny gift or hat for the Nutcracker to hold, doubling the cuteness factor.

For a softer toy, use acrylic or brushed cotton yarns and round the edges with a denser stuffing approach to make it more cuddly.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping stitch markers during rounds can cause you to lose the start point and make the shaping uneven; place a marker at the beginning of each round and move it as you work to maintain consistent rounds. ✗ Not stuffing pieces evenly results in lumpy shapes or misshapen limbs; stuff gradually while checking the shape and add small amounts of fiberfill for smooth, firm shaping. ✗ Changing colors without securing the ends neatly leads to messy joins and loose tails; weave in or carry your yarn when possible and leave tidy tails to stitch in later. ✗ Sewing parts without pinning first can create crooked placement and asymmetry; always pin or baste parts in place to check spacing before stitching them on securely.

The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

Make a charming, pastel Nutcracker amigurumi with a playful cupcake hat and candy base. This pattern walks you through every piece — body, arms, legs, cupcake hat, wig and tiny accessories — so you can assemble a detailed toy full of personality. Perfect as a handmade gift or a festive decoration, the design combines classic amigurumi shaping with fun surface details and simple embroidery.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    100% cotton yarn in assorted colors (pastel palette similar to pictures: pink, white, nude/skin tone, lilac, green, mint, purple) - use small fingering/sock/cotton weight appropriate for 2.0mm hook (quantities depend on size and color usage)
  • 02
    Polyester stuffing (poly fill) to stuff the doll and accessories
  • 03
    Felt fabric for eye details (small circles for pupils and eyelids)
  • 04
    Mini white beads for eye highlights (optional)
  • 05
    Black embroidery thread for teeth embroidery
  • 06
    Glue for attaching small parts (used for felt, buttons, small decorations)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Ergonomic crochet hook 2.0mm (as specified)
  • 02
    Scissors
  • 03
    Embroidery needle for sewing and embroidery
  • 04
    Yarn needle for sewing pieces together and weaving ends
  • 05
    Black thread for teeth embroidery
  • 06
    Glue for attaching felt and small parts
  • 07
    Small beads (optional) for eye highlights

Progress Tracker

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— Materials :

Info :

100% Cotton yarn (colors from picture or the ones you prefer) poly fil to stuff the doll, ergonomic hook of 2mm, scissors, black thread (for teeth embroidery) and embroidery needle. I also used glue to attach some parts, and felt fabric for eye details.

— Procedure :

Info :

Knit all parts following instructions, stuff and sew according to pictures. Body is one piece. Sew the arms (stuff them first) and then legs. Dont forget to sew/attach with glue the feet. Attach them to the candy base with blue (or sew if you prefer) After working the cupcake hat (see instructions) stick the wig and do face (see details). I attached the buttons, beard, cherry, candy buckle and candy cane with glue.

— Notes/Abbreviations :

Infos :

THE NUTCRACKER (2.0MM HOOK). sc: single crochet dc: double crochet dec: decrease inc: increase hdc: half double crochet trc: triple crochet

— Body :

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each stitch (left 12)

Round 3 :

1 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 18)

Round 4 :

2 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 24)

Round 5 :

3 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 30)

Round 6 :

4 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 36)

Round 7 :

5 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 42)

Round 8 :

6 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 48)

Round 9 :

7 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 54)

Round 10 :

8 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 60)

Round 11 :

on back loops: 60 sc (left 60)

Round 12-21 :

60 sc (left 60)

Round 22 :

26 sc, change to white and 8 sc, change to nude and finish (left 60) change to Pink

Round 23 :

26 sc, change to white and 8 sc, change again to pink and finish (left 60)

Round 24-34 :

60 sc in pink (left 60) change to lilac

Round 35-36 :

60 sc in lilac (left 60) change to pink

Round 37-41 :

60 sc in Pink (left 60) change to White

Round 42-43 :

60 sc in White (left 60)

Round 44 :

on back loops 8 sc, 1 dec (left 54)

Round 45 :

7 sc, 1 dec (left 48)

Round 46 :

6 sc, 1 dec (left 42)

Round 47 :

5 sc, 1 dec (left 36)

Round 48 :

4 sc, 1 dec (left 30)

Round 49 :

3 sc, 1 dec (left 24)

Round 50 :

2 sc, 1 dec (left 18)

Round 51 :

1 sc, 1 dec (left 12) leave a long piece of yarn and close.

— Legs :

Info :

LEGS (MAKE 2) start with green

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

2sc in each stitch around (left 12)

Round 3 :

1 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 18)

Round 4 :

18 sc on back loops (left 18)

Round 5-9 :

18 sc (left 18) change to lilac

Round 10-16 :

18 sc (left 18) leave a long piece of yarn to sew

— Arms :

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each stitch (left 12)

Round 3 :

1 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 18)

Round 4 :

2 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 24)

Round 5-6 :

24 sc (left 24)

Round 7 :

2 sc, 1 dec (left 18)

Round 8 :

1 sc, 1 dec (left 12) change to Pink

Round 9-17 :

12 sc (left 12) change to green

Round 18-19 :

12 sc (left 12) change to nude

Round 18-20 :

12 sc (left 12)

Round 21 :

dec all row (left 6) hide the yarn with needle and cut it

— Green Base For Cupcake :

Round 1 :

On back loops from top of the head, work 1 pop corn stitch (hdc), 1 hdc. See video.

— Buttons :

Item Name (P1) :

BUTTONS (MAKE 2): 6 sc on magic ring, chain 13, "go up" with 1 chain and6sc on chain 13. Finish with slip stitch and attach to body with glue.

— Cupcake Hat :

Item Name (P1) :

Cupcake base: 1. Insert your hook in the last round of the head (just before the back loop round) and sc all round (like pictures). 2. Dc all round. 3-8. Work all rounds with the "front and back post" double crochet stitch (see video of how to). Leave a long piece of yarn to sew with glace.

Item Name (P2) :

Cupcake glace: 1. Chain 15 (start with White). 2. Chain 1 to go up, 1 dec, 13 sc and 1 inc on last stitch. 3. Chain 1 to go up, on back loops: 1 inc, 13 sc and 1 dec (change to Pink). 4. Chain 1 to go up, on front loops: 1 dec, 13 sc and 1 inc on last stitch. 5. Chain 1 to go up, on back loops: 1 inc, 13 sc and 1 dec (change to white). 6. Continue until you have 10 white/10 pink , leave a long piece of yarn. 7. Sew the last part with the first one (like a ring), leave a long piece of yarn to close the top. 8. Sew the glace with the cupcake base (see picture). 9. To close the top, use a needle to pass the yarn you left through all the colors (see picture). 10. Tighten and close.

— Cherry For Cupcake :

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

2sc in each stitch around (left 12)

Round 3 :

1 sc, 2 sc in next st (left 18)

Round 4-5 :

18 sc (left 18)

Round 6 :

1 sc, 1 dec (left 12)

Round 7 :

Now stuff it and attach it with glue to the glace

— Feet :

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

Instead of continuing the round, "go up" with one chain and 2sc in each stitch (left 12)

Round 3-7 :

Chain 1 to "go up" and 12 sc (left 12) See pictures. You can sew the pieces to the boots or attach them with glue.

— Candy Buckle :

Round 1 :

Into magic ring, 8 sc (one pink, one White)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each stitch (Pink in Pink, White in White)

Round 3 :

In White 1sc, 1sc/ in Pink 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc.

— Beard :

Round 1 :

Chain 7 and dc on each chain (left 7)

Round 2 :

7 dc (left 7)

Round 3 :

In chain nr.4, 7 dc and slip stitch in chain nr. 7

— Candy Cane :

Round 1 :

Using White, chain 25 and 3 sc in each stitch, curls will appear inmediatamente

Round 2 :

Using Pink, chain 25 and 3 sc in each stitch, curls will appear immediately

Round 3 :

Braid both pieces to get the shape of the candy cane

— Hair-Wig :

Round 1 :

Chain 15 and hdc in each stitch, DO NOT CUT THE YARN

Round 2 :

Now chain 20 and hdc in each stitch repeat this 15 times

Round 3 :

For last "hair", chain 15 and hdc in each stitch. Attach the wig with glue

— The Face :

Item Name (P1) :

NOSE: Chain 5. On chain nr. 5, 2 chains and hdc on chains 4,3,2,1. Cut the thread and hide

Item Name (P2) :

EYES (MAKE 2): 1. White part: Chain 3. On chain nr. 3, 4 chains and trc on chains 2 and 1. Cut the thread and hide, attach to the face with glue. 2. Now cut two circles of felt fabric (as the pupils) and attach them too. I also used two mini White beads and attached them to the blue piece. 3. Finally cut two more pieces of gray felt fabric to be the eyelids.

Item Name (P3) :

EYEBROWS: Chain 4 and cut the yarn, attach them with glue

Item Name (P4) :

MUSTACHE: 1. Chain 8. 2. Sc in the first 3 stitches and slip stitch on the rest

Item Name (P5) :

THEETH DETAILS: I embroidered the teeth so they look better (see picture)...

— Candy Base :

Round 1 :

7sc into magic ring (start with white)

Round 2 :

1 sc pink and 1sc white in same st, repeat all round (left 14)

Round 3 :

2 pink sc in pink st, 1 white sc in white st (left 21) Use white in white stitches, pink in pink st

Round 4 :

1 sc pink, 1 sc pink, 2 sc in white st (left 28)

Round 5 :

1 increase pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White, 1 sc White

Round 6 :

1 Sc Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White, increase White

Round 7 :

1 Sc Pink, 1 sc Pink, increase Pink, 1 sc White, 1 sc White, increase White

Round 8 :

1 Sc Pink, inc pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White in next 4 stitches

Round 9 :

1 Sc Pink in next 5 st, 1 sc White, inc White, 1 sc White, 1 sc White

Round 10 :

1 Sc Pink in next 3 st, inc Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White in next 3 st, inc White, 1 sc White

Round 11 :

1 Sc Pink in next 4 st, inc Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White in next 6 st

Round 12 :

On back loops: 1 sc Pink in next 7 st, 1 sc White in next 6 st

Round 13-14 :

1 sc Pink in next 7 st, 1 sc White in next 6 st

Round 15 :

On back loops: 1 Sc Pink in next 5 st, dec Pink, 1 sc White in next 6 st

Round 16 :

1 Sc Pink in next 3 st, dec Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White in next 3 st, dec White, 1 sc White

Round 17 :

1sc Pink in next 5 st, 1 sc White in next 2 st, dec White, 1sc White

Round 18 :

1sc Pink in next 2 st, dec Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White in next 4 st

Round 19 :

1sc Pink in next 2 st, dec Pink,1 sc White in next 2 st, dec White

Round 20 :

1sc Pink in next 3 st, 1 sc White, dec White

Round 21 :

dec Pink, 1 sc Pink, 1 sc White, 1 sc White

Round 22 :

1 sc Pink in next 2 st, dec White

Round 23 :

dec Pink,1 sc White and close

Info :

Front and back details: (see pictures)

Assembly Instructions

  • Attach head/cupcake base to the top of the body by aligning the last round of the head (before the back loop round) with the cupcake base and sewing securely with a yarn needle.
  • Sew the arms to the sides of the body after stuffing them; position them slightly forward and stitch through the body rounds to secure for a natural pose.
  • Sew the legs to the bottom of the body and attach the feet to the boots or glue them in place; then attach the feet assembly to the candy base using glue or sew them securely for stability.
  • Attach the cupcake glace and cherry to the cupcake base with a long yarn tail and glue for extra security; sew the wig onto the top of the hat and glue felt eye details and eyebrows in place.
  • Attach small accessories (buttons, beard, candy buckle, candy cane) with glue as indicated in the procedure, and embroider the teeth with black thread before final placement.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of each round to avoid losing track of your stitch count during increases and color changes.
  • 💡Stuff all pieces firmly but evenly; under-stuffed parts will look floppy while overstuffing can distort the shape and seams.
  • 💡When changing colors, leave a long tail to sew or weave in later and tidy each color change to avoid bulky joins.
  • 💡Pin and position each accessory and facial feature before sewing/gluing to ensure symmetrical and pleasing placement.

This pastel Nutcracker amigurumi is a delightful mix of toy and confection — perfect for gifts and holiday display. The cupcake hat, candy base and braided candy cane add playful charm and endless customization options. Make one in your favorite colors and enjoy the finishing touches like embroidered teeth and felt eyes. 🧶✨🎁

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished amigurumi measures approximately 20-25 cm tall depending on your yarn tension and exact yarn weight when using the recommended 2.0mm hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights but this will change the final size and the required hook; adjust your hook size accordingly and be aware that denser yarns may affect small detail shaping.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate and assumes familiarity with basic amigurumi stitches (single crochet, increases, decreases) and working in the round as well as simple color changes and surface embroidery.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 5-7 hours, though time may vary based on experience level, detail work like embroidery, and assembly time.