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The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern
4.0★ Rating
8-10 Hours Time Needed
3.5K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

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

⏱️

All-Day Adventure

Requires 8-10 hours, ideal for a full day of immersive crocheting.

🧸

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 detailed Nutcracker amigurumi complete with a striped hat, cupcake base and a tiny snowman on top. You will work in rounds with color changes and back-loop accents to create the distinct uniform look. The pattern includes separate pieces for arms, legs, boots, accessories and face details for an expressive finished toy. Clear step-by-step rounds and photos in the original pattern help guide assembly and finishing.

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

Suitable for intermediate crocheters who enjoy detailed stitching and assembly work. Techniques include color changes, back loop work, popcorn stitches and small sewn-on details to create personality.

Why You'll Love This The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it combines playful details with classic amigurumi shaping to create a festive keepsake. The color striped hat and cupcake base are fun to make and add a lot of character to the toy. I enjoy the assembly step where the tiny snowman and wig bring the Nutcracker to life—those finishing touches are so rewarding. The design allows for creative color choices and small customizations to make each Nutcracker your own.

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 how this pattern lets me play with color — try pastel tones for a softer, vintage Nutcracker look instead of the bright red and green.

Want a miniature keychain version? Use thinner yarn and a smaller hook to create a tiny Nutcracker you can carry everywhere.

If you prefer a chunkier, cuddlier toy, swap to a bulky yarn and larger hook; you will get a big, plush Nutcracker perfect for cuddling.

I often change the hat shape: make a floppy hat or a pointed elf-style cap to change the character.

Experiment with embroidered facial expressions — moving the eyebrows or mouth slightly will change the personality entirely.

Customize the accessories by crocheting tiny gifts, a cane, or a crown and sew them on for a deluxe version.

Use safety eyes, beads, or felt for the eyes depending on the intended recipient; felt and beads are great for baby-safe toys.

Try metallic yarn or embroidery for the belt and buttons to add a touch of sparkle for holiday display pieces.

I sometimes add wire reinforcement to the arms or legs for posability — this helps the Nutcracker hold props like the tree or star.

Make a whole set of characters using the same body base but different hats and color schemes; it makes a fun themed display.

Swap the snowman for another topper, such as a star or tiny soldier, to match your holiday decor or story theme.

Finally, consider adding a small loop at the hat for hanging as an ornament or use the pattern scale to create a family of different-sized Nutcrackers.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping the back loop rows for the hat base or legs can flatten the texture; follow the 'on back loops' instructions carefully and practice on a small swatch before attaching. ✗ Forgetting to stuff gradually leads to lumps and bulges in the body and head; stuff a bit at a time and shape as you go to maintain smooth, even curves. ✗ Not leaving long sewing tails will make assembly harder later; always leave a long piece of yarn when closing parts so you can sew pieces together securely. ✗ Ignoring color-change points can make stripes misaligned and messy; change colors exactly where the pattern specifies and weave in ends neatly after each section. ✗ Pulling stitches too tight while working tiny pieces such as eyes or buttons will distort shapes; use consistent gentle tension and block small pieces flat before attaching.

The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

Make a festive Nutcracker amigurumi using cotton yarn and a small 2.0mm hook. This detailed pattern breaks the project into clear pieces — head, body, arms, legs, accessories and a tiny snowman — so you can create a charming holiday decoration. You will enjoy fun color changes, textured details and simple assembly steps to bring this character to life. Perfect for gifting or seasonal display, with stitch-by-stitch guidance.

Intermediate 8-10 Hours

Materials Needed for The Nutcracker Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    100% cotton yarn - multiple colors as shown (nude, red, white, pink, green, kaki, brown, yellow, turquoise) - small amounts of each color (approx 10-50g each depending on color usage)
  • 02
    Polyfill stuffing - small amount for head, body, arms, legs and accessories
  • 03
    Felt fabric for eye details - small scraps
  • 04
    Mini white beads for eye highlights and tree decorations
  • 05
    Black thread for teeth embroidery

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Ergonomic crochet hook size 2.0mm
  • 02
    Scissors
  • 03
    Black embroidery thread (for teeth)
  • 04
    Embroidery needle
  • 05
    Yarn needle for sewing pieces
  • 06
    Polyester stuffing (polyfil)
  • 07
    Glue (to attach wig and some small parts)
  • 08
    Pins to help position pieces while sewing
  • 09
    Small beads for eyes or decoration
  • 10
    Felt fabric for eye details

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— 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 red

Round 23 :

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

Round 24-34 :

60 sc in red (left 60) change to pink

Round 35-36 :

60 sc in pink (left 60) change to red

Round 37-41 :

60 sc in red (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) stuff

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 :

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 5-8 :

18 sc (left 18) change to white

Round 9 :

18 slip stitch (left 18)

Round 10 :

obl 18 sc (left 18) change to kaki

Round 11 :

18 slip stitch (left 18)

Round 12 :

obl 18 sc (left 18)

Round 13-18 :

18 sc (left 18) leave a long piece of yarn to sew, do not forget stuffing

— 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. Stuff a little and sew the pieces to the legs to create boots.

— Left Arm :

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 red

Round 9-17 :

12 sc (left 12) change to pink

Round 18-19 :

12 sc (left 12) change to nude

Round 18-20 :

12 sc (left 12) stuff

Round 21 :

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

— Right Arm (Part 1) :

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 red

Round 9-17 :

12 sc (left 12) stuff now

Round 18 :

obl decrease x6, with a needle hide the yarn

— Right Arm (Part 2) :

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

2 sc in each stitch (left 12)

Round 3-4 :

12 sc (left 12) change to pink

Round 5-6 :

12 sc (left 12) change to red

Round 7-13 :

12 (left 12) stuff leave a long piece of yarn to sew with part 1

— Buttons :

Item Name (P1) :

6 sc on magic ring, slip stitch, chain 13, "go up" with 1 chain and 6sc on chain 13. Finish with slip stitch and attach to body with glue. Use pins to help.

— Pink Base for Cupcake :

Info :

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

— Hat Base :

Info :

Chain 10, chain 1 more to "go up" and sc in all stitches. Chain 1, obl sc in all stitches. Change to green. Chain 1, obl sc in all stitches. Chain 1, obl sc in all stitches. Change to red. Repeat this until you have 14 red rows and 13 green rows. Once finished, sew the sides to create the hat.

Info :

Sew this piece with the pink base using pink thread so the stitches are not visible.

— Snowman 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 10-14 :

54 sc (left 54)

Info :

Once finished, sew this piece to the hat base, do not forget stuffing

— Snowman Head :

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 7-11 :

36 sc (left 36)

Round 12 :

4 sc, 1 dec all row (left 30)

Round 13 :

3 sc, 1 dec all row (left 24)

Round 14 :

2 sc, 1 dec all row (left 18)

Round 15 :

1 sc, 1 dec all row (left 12) stuff

Round 16 :

1 dec all row (left 6) close

— Snowman'S Hat Base (in green) :

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)

— Snowman'S Hat Upper Part (in green) :

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 :

obl, 18 sc (left 18) change to yellow

Round 5 :

18 sc (left 18) sew to base, do not stuff

— Cheeks and Button :

Item Name (P1) :

6sc into magic ring

— Scarf :

Info :

Chain 50 and work 1hdc red, 1 hdc white in all stitches

— Nose (face) :

Infos :

4sc into magic ring (left 4). 1sc, 2 sc in next stitch (left 6) sew to face, do not stuff

— Arms (simple chain) :

Item Name (P1) :

Chain 7 and sc in every stitch, make 2 pieces

— 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 19 times.

Round 3 :

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

Info :

Note: try the wig, depending on your yarn it might need more or less than 19 hairs.

— Christmas Tree :

Round 1 :

6sc into magic ring (left 6)

Round 2 :

6 sc (left 6)

Round 3 :

1 sc, 2 sc in next stitch (left 9)

Round 4 :

9 sc (left 9)

Round 5 :

2 sc, 2 sc in next stitch (left 12)

Round 6 :

12 sc (left 12)

Round 7 :

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

Round 8 :

18 sc (left 18)

Round 9 :

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

Round 10 :

24 sc (left 24)

Round 11 :

obl, decrease (using 3 stitches instead of 2) all row and stuff. Change to brown

Round 12 :

obl, sc all row

Round 13 :

sc all row, cut the yarn and hide

Round 14 :

to create the white details, insert your hook between rows 10 and 11 and slip stitch all row. Repeat this procedure in the other rows (check last picture)

Item Name (P1) :

STAR: On magic ring, work sc, dc (5 times) and finish with sc. I attached the star with glue to the hand and tree. I also embroidered red stitches in the tree to create the look.

— The Face :

Section :

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

Item Name (P1) :

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.

Info :

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

Info :

MUSTACHE: 1. Chain 8. 2. Sc in the first 3 stitches and slip stitch on the rest. Attach with glue, use pins to help

Info :

TEETH DETAILS: I embroidered the teeth with black thread so they look better (see picture)...

Round 1 :

BEARD: 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. Attach with glue, use pins to help

Item Name (P1) :

BELT BUCKLE: 6 sc into magic ring

— Candy Base :

Round 1 :

7sc into magic ring (start with white)

Round 2 :

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

Round 3 :

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

Round 4 :

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

Round 5 :

1 increase red, 1 sc red, 1 sc White, 1 sc White

Round 6 :

1 Sc red, 1 sc red, 1 sc red, increase white, 1 sc White

Round 7 :

Increase red, 1 Sc red, 1 sc red, increase White,1 sc White, 1 sc White

Round 8 :

Increase red, 1 Sc red,1 sc red, 1 sc red, 1 sc White in next 4 stitches

Round 9 :

1 Sc red in next 5 st, inc white, 1 sc White, 1 sc White, 1 sc White

Round 10 :

Increase red, 1 Sc red in next 4 st, increase white, 1 sc White in next 4 st

Round 11 :

Increase red, 1 Sc red in next 5 st, 1 sc White in next 6 st

Round 12 :

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

Round 13-14 :

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

Round 15 :

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

Round 16 :

Dec red,1 Sc red in next 4 st, dec white, 1 sc White in next 4 st

Round 17 :

1sc red in next 5 st, dec white, 1 sc White in next 3 st

Round 18 :

Dec red, 1sc red in next 3 st, 1 sc White in next 4 st

Round 19 :

Dec red, 1sc red in next 2 st, dec white, 1 sc White in next 2 st

Round 20 :

1 sc red in next 3 st, dec white, 1 sc White

Round 21 :

Dec red, 1 sc red, sc white in next two stitches

Round 22 :

1 sc red in next 2 st, dec White

Round 23 :

dec red,1 sc White and close

Info :

Front and back details: (see pictures)

Assembly Instructions

  • Knit all parts following the instructions, stuff each piece firmly and sew according to the pictures shown in the pattern.
  • Sew the arms to the body after stuffing them and then sew the legs; attach the feet to the candy base and sew that assembly to the bottom of the body.
  • Sew the hat sides together and attach it to the top of the head, then sew the snowman piece to the hat base; use glue for the wig and small parts as noted.
  • Attach buttons with glue and pins to hold them in place while drying; attach the star to the hand and tree with glue and secure with stitches if needed.
  • Pin facial features (eyes, beard, mustache) in place before gluing or sewing; embroider the teeth with black thread for better definition.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers to keep track of the beginning of rounds and color changes for consistent shaping.
  • 💡Stuff pieces gradually and check shaping often; overstuffing can distort your amigurumi and under-stuffing will make pieces floppy.
  • 💡Pin parts in place before sewing to ensure correct alignment and symmetry, especially for facial features and hat placement.
  • 💡Weave in ends as you go to avoid a large finishing task at the end and to keep small pieces tidy.
  • 💡Use glue sparingly for wig and small felt or bead details and allow to dry fully before handling.

This Nutcracker amigurumi pattern invites you to create a charming holiday figure bursting with color and personality. The design combines classic shaping with playful details like the cupcake hat and tiny snowman to delight makers and gift recipients alike. Pick bright cotton yarns, follow the step-by-step rounds, and enjoy bringing a festive friend to life. 🧶🎄

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished amigurumi measures approximately 25-30 cm tall when using cotton yarn and a 2.0mm hook as recommended; exact size depends on yarn tension.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights, but this will affect the final size and stitch counts; adjust your hook accordingly and consider making a gauge swatch.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so basic knowledge of single crochet, increases, decreases and working in rounds is recommended for best results.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 8-10 hours, though time may vary based on experience level, color changes and assembly complexity.

Are there assembly photos to follow?

Yes, the pattern includes photos showing assembly and placement of small details such as the wig, hat, and facial features to guide you during construction.