Easy Christmas Crochet Ornaments You Can Make in 20 Minutes

The quickest Christmas crochet ornaments are small, flat or lightly stuffed shapes like stars, baubles, candy canes, mini stockings, trees, hearts, bells and wreaths. Each one uses a few basic stitches and a small amount of worsted yarn, and most can be finished in 15 to 20 minutes. They’re perfect for last-minute gifts, tree decorations and market stalls.

Below are 10 easy ornaments you can make in about 20 minutes each, what you need to get started, and simple tips to make them faster, neater and ready to hang.

What Do You Need to Crochet Christmas Ornaments?

• Yarn: worsted weight (weight 4) acrylic or cotton in red, green, white and gold. Cotton holds its shape best for flat ornaments.
• Crochet hook: 4 to 5 mm for worsted yarn. A slightly smaller hook gives firmer ornaments.
• Stuffing: a small handful for baubles and puffy shapes.
• Yarn needle and scissors
• Ribbon or yarn for hanging loops, plus optional bells, beads or buttons for decoration.

Most ornaments use only chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet, so they’re a great project for beginners too.

10 Easy Christmas Crochet Ornaments You Can Make in 20 Minutes

1. Five-Point Star

The star is the fastest ornament on this list, usually 10 to 15 minutes. Work 10 single crochet into a magic ring, then make each point by chaining 4, working back down the chain with slip stitch, single crochet and half double crochet, and skipping one stitch before the next point. Gold or yellow cotton looks best, and a star also works as a gift topper.

2. Classic Bauble

A bauble is a small stuffed ball worked in rounds of single crochet: increase for a few rounds, work a few straight rounds, then decrease and stuff before closing. Add a different coloured top round or a few stripes to make it look like a glass ornament. It takes about 20 minutes.

3. Candy Cane

Chain a long row in white, work one row of single crochet, then switch to red for the second row to create stripes. Bend the top into a hook and stitch it in place. Candy canes take about 15 minutes and look great hung in groups.

4. Mini Christmas Stocking

A mini stocking is made from two small flat pieces sewn together, or worked in the round with a simple heel. Add a white cuff in the last two rows. At around 20 minutes each, they’re perfect for holding a small gift card or sweet.

5. Little Christmas Tree

Work a small triangle in rows, decreasing one stitch at each end of every row until you reach the tip. Add a brown trunk, a tiny yellow star on top, and a few French knots or beads for baubles. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Flat Heart

A heart is worked in just two or three rounds into a magic ring, with the shape created by changing stitch height. It takes about 10 minutes, and red hearts make a sweet, simple tree decoration or gift tag.

7. Christmas Bell

Start at the top with a magic ring and increase slowly, then work a few straight rounds and flare out the bottom edge with extra stitches. Sew a real jingle bell inside for sound. A bell takes about 20 minutes.

8. Mini Wreath

Chain a short length, join it into a ring, then work clusters of double crochet around it in green. Finish with a tiny red bow or three red beads for berries. Each mini wreath takes around 15 minutes.

9. Simple Snowflake

A small snowflake worked in one or two rounds of chains and slip stitches takes about 15 minutes. Use white cotton and stiffen it with fabric stiffener or a sugar-and-water mix so it holds its shape. Allow time for it to dry overnight.

10. Mini Gingerbread Man

Work two flat pieces in light brown, then sew them together around the edge. Add white embroidered details for icing and two buttons down the front. A mini gingerbread man takes about 20 minutes, slightly longer if you add lots of decoration.

Want a Ready-Made Christmas Ornament Pattern?

If you’d like a full, step-by-step pattern with every round written out, our Santa Christmas ornament pattern includes shaping, colour changes and finishing instructions for a 5½-inch Santa with a beard, hat and tiny wire glasses. It’s a great next step once you’ve made a few of the quick ornaments above.

How Can You Make Ornaments Faster?

• Batch them. Make five stars in a row instead of switching designs. You’ll memorise the pattern and speed up quickly.
• Use thicker yarn. Worsted or aran weight works up faster than thin cotton thread.
• Crochet over the tail. Work over your starting tail in the first round, so you have fewer ends to weave in later.
• Prepare hanging loops in advance. Cut all your ribbon loops at once before you start.
• Keep colours simple. Fewer colour changes means fewer ends and faster finishing.

How Do You Hang and Finish Crochet Ornaments?

For a hanging loop, chain 10 to 15 at the top of the ornament and slip stitch back into the starting point, or thread a short piece of ribbon through the top stitches and knot it. Flat ornaments like snowflakes, stars and hearts look neater when blocked or stiffened: pin them flat on a foam board, spray or brush with fabric stiffener, and leave them to dry completely.

Which Christmas Ornaments Sell Best at Markets?

Small, low-cost ornaments sell best because shoppers buy them in sets or as stocking fillers. Stars, mini stockings, gingerbread men, candy canes and gnomes are popular choices, and selling them in bundles of three or five works well. Plan your stock early: our guide on when to start Christmas crochet projects explains how far ahead to begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest crochet ornament for beginners?

A five-point star or a flat heart. Both use only basic stitches, take about 10 to 15 minutes, and look finished straight away.

How much yarn do I need for a crochet ornament?

Very little. Most small ornaments use 5 to 15 metres of worsted yarn, so a single ball can make a whole set.

What yarn is best for Christmas ornaments?

Cotton is best for flat ornaments like stars and snowflakes because it holds its shape. Acrylic works well for stuffed baubles, bells and gingerbread men.

How do I make crochet ornaments stiff?

Use a fabric stiffener, or a mix of sugar and water, then pin the ornament flat on a foam board and let it dry overnight.

Can I sell crochet ornaments I make?

Yes, you can sell finished ornaments you’ve made yourself. If you use a pattern, check its licence. Our patterns allow you to sell the finished items, but not the pattern file.

Start Your Christmas Ornament Collection

Pick one ornament, make a few, and you’ll have a handmade set for your tree in a single evening. For more festive ideas, browse our Christmas crochet patterns and the full holiday crochet collection. For cosy winter makes, explore our winter crochet patterns, or start with one of our free crochet patterns. You’ll find everything at Crochet Needle.