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I love making crochet Christmas decorations, especially the ones that are quick enough to make in an evening and colourful enough to bring a little extra personality to the tree. This crochet Christmas present ornament combines simple Fair Isle crochet colourwork with tiny crocheted bows to create a festive bauble that looks like a beautifully wrapped present!
In this post you’ll find everything you need to know how to make this crochet ornament pattern step by step, including materials, stitches, a detailed video tutorial and free written pattern for blog subscribers.
Crochet Christmas Present Ornament Pattern Overview
When I created my crochet Christmas present ornament I knew I wanted a bauble decoration that used lots of colours but that was a simple repeat so that you didn’t get in too much of a tangle.
The bauble cover is crocheted in rounds using split crochet stitches and can be made to cover an 8cm plastic bauble, or stuffed firmly with fibre fill or yarn scraps instead. With plenty of opportunities to play with colour, it’s also a fun way to use up small amounts of yarn from your stash and create a collection of unique handmade Christmas decorations.
⭐⭐⭐ Difficulty level: Intermediate – using the fair isle crochet technique
💬 Hook Size: 2.75mm
📏 Sizes: 8cm/3.15″
✨ Crochet Technique: split extended single crochet and the fair isle technique
⚖️ Yarn Weight: Worsted Weight (category 4)
🧶 Yarn Used: Color Theory Yarn
🕐 Approx Crochet Time: 1 hour depending on your pace
👍 Perfect For: Christmas tree decorations, handmade gifts, stash-busting and adding a handmade touch to your festive home
Table of Contents
Things you’ll love about this crochet Christmas Ornament pattern
Video Tutorial for the Fair Isle Crochet Bauble Technique
Come along as I show you the fair isle bauble technique and see just how easy it is in our step-by-step video tutorial.
What makes this crochet Christmas ornament special?
This crochet Christmas present ornament is a little different from a traditional crochet bauble. Instead of using surface crochet or appliqué to add the present details, the gift boxes are created directly through the Fair Isle crochet colourwork, with tiny crocheted bows added afterwards to complete the design. The result is a colourful Christmas tree decoration with a fun three-dimensional detail that looks different from every angle.
More about Fair Isle Crochet Baubles
In addition to this crochet Christmas present ornament, I designed 7 Fair Isle crochet bauble patterns. The complete festive bauble collection also includes seven tapestry crochet designs and seven mosaic crochet designs, so there are plenty of different colourwork techniques and motifs to explore.
Fair Isle crochet is a colourwork technique that uses simple crochet stitches and changing colours to create a fabric with a knitted appearance. For this bauble, the main Fair Isle section is worked using split single crochet, which helps create the distinctive knit-look texture.
The only stitch you’ll need to know for the Fair Isle section of the baubles is a split single crochet stitch (ssc). It’s worked like a regular single crochet but ‘splits’ through the centre V of the stitch rather into the main body of the stitch as it’s usually done.
Here are the other baubles in the collection to show you how versatile the technique can be!
Crochet Ornament Pattern Materials
- A 2.75mm (C) crochet hook or hook needed to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- 8cm/3.15″ plastic baubles available here in a pack of 24: Fillable plastic baubles
- Alternatively, you could cover existing baubles that you have at home.
- You could also use Fibre Fill to stuff them or scraps of yarn ends! You just need to make sure to stuff them really full to get a good shape.
- Ribbon for hanging
Along with the above you will need the following yarn for your bauble:
Color Theory yarn, 100% acrylic, 246yds/100g.
Each bauble uses approx 20g of yarn (50yds) if you’d like to raid your stash!
It’s a category 4, worsted weight yarn which is what gives your bauble its durability. Find out more about yarn weights and categories.
For the whole collection of baubles I used the following colours:
3 balls of Ivory
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1 ball each of Nutmeg, Canyon, Raisin, Satellite, Dijon, Caper, Stonewash and Thunder
See my other worsted weight crochet patterns – you might find your next project there too!
Yarn Substitutes
Here are some that I think would work really well for this pattern in various price ranges:
- Lion Brand Heartland:100% acrylic; 252yds, 230m/140g
- Sirdar Country Classic Worsted: 50% wool, 50% acrylic; 218yds, 200m/100g
- Swish Worsted by WeCrochet: 100% superwash merino wool, 110yds, 100m/50g
Sizing
My baubles cover an 8cm/3.15″ plastic bauble with slight negative ease.
Are you looking for more crochet bauble patterns? Check out the entire festive bauble collection and choose your next one to make.
Glossary and Abbreviations
- ch(s) – chain(s) (chain stitch tutorial)
- sp – space
- ss – slip stitch (how to crochet a slip stitch)
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
- sk – skip
- rep – repeat
- yoh – yarn over hook
- blo – back loop only
- flo – front loop only
- rem – remaining
- tog – together
Crochet Stitches
The pattern is written in standard US terms and uses the following crochet stitches:
sc – single crochet (how to single crochet stitch)
ssc – split single crochet (split single crochet tutorial)
exsc – extended single crochet
Special Stitches
The baubles use basic stitches but worked in perhaps a new way. It’s great fun and not much of a change to create something really different!
Split single crochet
Insert hook into the centre (between the ‘legs’) of stitch. Yarn over and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook
Extended split single crochet
Insert hook into the centre (between the ‘legs’) of stitch. Yarn over and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through one loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
Extended split single crochet 2 together
Insert hook into the centre (between the ‘legs’) of stitch. Yarn over and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through one loop on the hook. Insert hook into the centre (between the ‘legs’) of next stitch. Yarn over and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through one loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all loops on the hook.
Pattern Gauge
Tension isn’t essential for this project so just make sure to match up the Base to your bauble so that you know it will fit before working the main body.
If you are going to stuff your baubles then you don’t need to worry about tension at all and they can be as big or small as you like 🙂
Before you dive into crocheting your bauble, take a moment to read through the pattern notes—it’s a game-changer!
These handy insights will not only simplify your pattern-reading journey but also ensure a smoother crochet experience. You’ll find helpful tips on deciphering the sizing, transitioning yarn colours, and tips on turning your work.
Trust me, a quick peek at these notes will set you up for crochet success!
- The Fair Isle baubles are worked in continuous rounds with increases until Round 7, a set amount of 42 sts until Round 22 and then decreases until Round 27 to complete.
- Always change yarn on the the last ‘yarn over and pull through’ when you need to change colour.
- All stitches are worked as split stitches in the Fair Isle baubles.
- Carrying your colours across the back of the work is a great idea! These are known as ‘floats’. Make sure to catch your floats regularly in long sections that don’t use that colour to avoid them pulling too tight.
- The pattern is written in standard US crochet terms.
Crochet Christmas Present Ornament Pattern
There are a few options for you to access and enjoy this crochet pattern:
- View the free pattern on the blog – all blog subscribers will be able to view the patterns supported by ads by logging into their Grow account.
- Purchase the individual pattern on Etsy or Ravelry as a beautifully formatted PDF with extra stitch charts, schematic and colour information page and more!
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Get the PDF Pattern
Perfect to print out or use on any device, with added schematic and charts, colour inspiration and stitch tutorials.
Pattern Support
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US Terminology
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Round 19: (A) x 1, (C) x 1, (B) x 1, (C) x 1, (A) x 25, (G) x 1, (B) x 1, (G) x 1, (A) x 10
Round 20: (A) x 1, (C) x 1, (B) x 1, (C) x 1, (A) x 25, (G) x 1, (B) x 1, (G) x 1, (A) x 10
Round 21: (A) x 29, (G) x 1, (B) x 1, (G) x 1, (A) x 10
Round 22: (A) x 42
TOP
Work all stitches as split Exsc in this section using A.
Before making the Top, weave in ends and insert the bauble into the cover. Work the remaining rounds with the bauble in place. If your bauble has a removable cap then taking it off at this point could be helpful.
If you would like to add bows to your bauble it is best to do this before making the top.
Use a small amount of Dijon (or the colour of your choice) to thread through the centre of the top of the present using a needle or small crochet hook. You need the yarn to have both ends facing the right side.
Tie the ends of the yarn into a neat bow as in the images.
Round 23: * split Exsc in next 5 sts, Exsc2tog over next 2 sts; rep from * around [36].
Round 24: * split Exsc in next 4 sts, split Exsc2tog over next 2 sts; rep from * around [30].
Round 25: * split Exsc in next 3 sts, split Exsc2tog over next 2 sts; rep from * around [24].
Round 26: * split Exsc in next 2 sts, split Exsc2tog over next 2 sts; rep from * around [18].
Round 27: * split Exsc in next st, split Exsc2tog over next 2 sts; rep from * around [12].
TO FINISH
Weave in ends and add a ribbon to hang if desired.
Congratulations on crocheting your very own fair isle crochet bauble! 🌟 Now that you’ve crafted this fun project, why stop here? Dive into my other fun Christmas Crochet Patterns each waiting to be transformed into your next crochet masterpiece.
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Frequently Asked Questions about this Crochet Bauble Pattern
Yes. Although the pattern is designed to cover an 8 cm plastic bauble, you can also stuff the crochet cover firmly with fibre fill or yarn scraps to create the shape. This is a great option if you already have suitable baubles at home or would prefer to make a completely soft crochet Christmas decoration.
Fair Isle crochet can look complicated, but this pattern uses simple crochet stitches and repeated colour changes to create the design. The main Fair Isle section uses split single crochet, and the accompanying video tutorial demonstrates the technique so you can see exactly how it works before starting your ornament.
Absolutely! This is one of my favourite things about this crochet Christmas present ornament. You can use traditional festive colours, choose a modern neutral palette or use leftover yarn from your stash to create a colourful collection of presents. Just remember that good contrast between your colours will help the design stand out.
Each bauble takes approximately one hour to crochet, depending on your crochet speed and experience. Once you get into the rhythm of the repeated colourwork, you may find yourself wanting to make several in different colour combinations!
The pattern is designed specifically to cover an 8 cm / 3.15 in plastic bauble, so a different size bauble may require adjustments to the pattern. You can, however, stuff the crochet cover instead, which gives you more flexibility with the finished size.
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I adore crocheting Christmas decorations! They are so quick, easy and make perfect gifts. Here’s a few other of my designs you might like:
- Easy Crochet Stocking Pattern – with granny stitch detail!
- C2C Christmas crochet blanket – can be personalised with any name you like!
- Christmas Crochet Gnome Pattern – super cute and beginner friendly.
