Looking to make easy gifts this Christmas?  What about Christmas yarn crafts that work up quickly?  All you need is various yarns from your stash, a few supplies, and some inspiration.  I’ll provide as much inspiration as I can with this list of 15+ DIY yarn Christmas decorations below.  You’ll be ‘hooked’ in no time! 

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What can I make with yarn for Christmas?

Each year I sometimes struggle to come up with ideas for handmade Christmas decorations or gifts.  Like you, I enjoy knitting, crochet, and sewing, and I love to incorporate those crafts into Christmas designs.

During past seasons at this blog, I have offered projects made with yarn, such as DIY yarn Christmas ornaments and handmade yarn Christmas crafts.

If you are looking for ideas for things to make with yarn this year, I have compiled a list of my favorite Christmas yarn crafts, and I’m sure I’ll be adding to it each season.  I hope you find this list helpful to set you on your Christmas crafting way!

Christmas Yarn Crafts

Although I could have compiled a huge list of yarn crafts in a variety of colors and themes, I chose to stick to the style this blog is known for – yarn crafts in classic neutrals (with farmhouse & Scandinavian flair).

I narrowed my list to include DIY Christmas yarn crafts that have a soothing palette and classic look.  If you love creamy yarn, ticking stripes, Scandinavian, and farmhouse styles, you will LOVE these projects!

The skills needed to make these yarn crafts range from crocheting a chain, knitting, crocheting simple stitches, making yarn tassels, or simply braiding yarn.  You’ll just need yarn from your stash, various hooks or needles, wood beads/discs, and hot glue. 

DIY Yarn Christmas Gifts

This list of yarn crafts is also great for gift ideas.  Any of these projects can be made in little time, then packaged as a sweet gift for a friend or family member.  The recipient will appreciate your handmade effort.

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I’d love to hear which project is your favorite from the list below, so be sure to tell me in the comments!  Without further ado, here is the top 15+ list of easy DIY yarn crafts for Christmas…

DIY Yarn Christmas Ornaments

Crochet Stocking Ornament

Christmas stockings are ubiquitous during this season – you see them everywhere!  I have a super easy crochet pattern for a Christmas stocking ornament that takes just minutes to make.  I know you can crochet one in under 30 minutes. 

Take a look at THIS CROCHET STOCKING ORNAMENT PATTERN to get all the steps.  Make some in various colors, or change color for the cuff.  You get to make it unique!

Mini Christmas Tree Ornament

If you’re looking for a quick crochet project that you can make in multiples, then THIS FLAT CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT is for you. Make a bunch for a garland, or use them as gift toppers, too.

Ticking Stripe Balls

If you enjoy farmhouse style and ticking stripes, you will love THESE TICKING STRIPE BALL ORNAMENTS.  Although they are mainly made from Styrofoam balls and ticking stripe fabric strips, you can also add a sweet yarn label to them. 

I crocheted little labels with a tiny bit of yarn, then added pretty jewelry charms with meaningful words for the Christmas season.  This is another project where you can make them to suit your tastes.  Use whatever fabric strips speak to you, and any color yarn that compliments your fabric.  They’re very easy to make!

I also offer a bundle of 10 mini crochet ornament patterns…

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Knitting in the works Ornament

If you are an avid knitter or know someone who is, these ‘knitting in the works’ ornaments are a perfect addition to the Christmas tree.  You can use tiny ‘needles’ and set up a miniature knitted piece, along with the yarn ball.  Personalize the project with any color yarn you prefer.  It will be a lovely reminder of your favorite hobby every time you look at the ornament! 

Mini Knit Mittens Ornament

Another adorable ornament for your Christmas tree is a pair of miniature mittens.  You basically follow a pattern for a typical mitten, only make it in a mini size.  I have THIS FREE CHRISTMAS MITTEN ORNAMENT PATTERN available on the blog for a solid-colored mittens ornament. 

You can also grab a BUNDLE OF 3 MITTEN ORNAMENT PATTERNS in the Etsy shop.  These include striped and snowflake motif patterns, too.  The mitten ornaments take just an afternoon to knit, so you can make several for presents or gift toppers! 

Mini Knit Hat Ornaments

Once you’ve mastered the mitten ornaments, try to tackle these matching STOCKING HAT ORNAMENTS! They use the same pattern motifs as the mitten bundle. Wouldn’t they all look so cute together on the same Christmas tree?

Boho Scandinavian Ornaments

I have an easy crochet pattern for BOHO SCANDINAVIAN NAPKIN RINGS that are made with wood rings.  They look so pretty wrapped around simple linen napkins during the summertime.

And guess what?  These napkin rings can also function as Boho Scandinavian ornaments for your Christmas tree!  Just slip the wood ring over the branches and enjoy the macrame-style look of it.  The texture of the yarn pattern is perfect for that Nordic look.

Deer Scene Ornament

Today I have a brand-new Christmas ornament DIY for you as well – make this deer scene ornament!  The ‘winter scene’ in this ornament also gives a nod to Scandinavian and Nordic Christmas style. 

You will need the following supplies to make this deer scene ornament:

• Wood disc base (2” diameter)
• Mini Christmas tree (about 2-3” high)
• Tiny deer figure
• One white cotton ball
• Few yards of cotton ivory yarn (size 4, Medium)
• Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook
• About 1” diameter wood bead
• Tapestry needle
• Hot glue gun and glue

Steps to make Deer Scene Ornament:

Spread out cotton from cotton ball and glue some to the 2” wood base.

Gently glue the mini Christmas tree and deer figure to the wood base (not the cotton).

With size G crochet hook and cotton yarn, chain sts until you reach 9” and fasten off, leaving a tail several inches long.  Repeat 2 more times to make 3 chains.

Glue the slip knot at the end of each chain to the bottom of the wood base, making sure to evenly distribute the chains.  Trim the tail from each knot here. *Make sure not to block your deer scene with these chains.

Using a tapestry needle, thread the top of all 3 chains through the wood bead.

Gently nudge the wood bead down the 3 chains, centering it so that the scene is upright.

Tie the 3 chain tails in a knot above, then make a loop with them.  Use this loop to hang on the tree.

Wood Ornaments Embellished with Yarn

The next brand-new Christmas ornament DIY I have for you is this idea – embellish existing wood ornaments with yarn!  For instance, I made yarn garlands for these wood Christmas tree ornaments. 

You will need the following supplies to embellish your own:

• Wood Christmas tree ornament
• Little bit of yarn (size 4, Medium)
• Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook
• Tiny bells, beads, or other ornaments
• Hot glue gun and glue

Steps to embellish Wood Tree Ornament:

With size G crochet hook and yarn, chain sts until you reach your desired garland length and fasten off.

Position the chain garland around your tree ornament to your liking, and string on any beads, bells, or tiny ornaments onto the garland.

Glue the garland in place at the back of your wood ornament.

Hang the ornaments on the tree and admire your work!

Another similar idea is to embellish a wood winter animal ornament with a crochet chain ‘scarf’ around its’ neck.

DIY Yarn Christmas Garlands

How do you make a Christmas garland out of yarn?

Crochet Christmas Garland

One of my favorite uses for chunky pretty yarn is a Christmas tree garland.  I love the texture!    You just need a skein of chunky yarn in your favorite color and a large size S crochet hook.  Learn HOW TO MAKE A CROCHET GARLAND in my blog post tutorial, and you will see how easy it is! 

Crochet Yarn and Bell Garland

Yet another garland project can be made on a smaller scale.  For instance, if you have a miniature table top tree, you can crochet this garland and add sweet little bells to it.

The steps to make the bell garland are simple.  Proceed as follows with a few yards of size 4 yarn:

With a size J (6.00 mm) crochet hook, chain sts to your desired length in a multiple of 5 stitches plus 1.  (For instance, I chained 81)

Row 1: Sc in 1^st ch from hook; *ch 7, sk 4 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across, evenly distributing bells on 4^th chain of every other ch 7 as follows: 

Showcase your mini garland on a table top tree:

DIY Yarn Candle Cozies

How do you make a DIY yarn Christmas candle cozy?

Christmas Tree Candle Cozy

Christmas is also a perfect time to light candles in pleasing holiday scents.  Why not jazz the candles up a bit with a knitted candle cozy? Check out my KNIT PATTERN FOR A CHRISTMAS CANDLE COZY.  The Snowflake candle cozy is straightforward to knit, even for beginners.  Only Knit and Purl stitches are used. You will use a contrasting-colored yarn (CC) with your main colored yarn (MC) to form the snowflake shape.  Feel free to make your snowflake pop in bright colors, too!

Scandinavian Votive Candle Cozy

Another serendipitous discovery with my DIY projects was that my SCANDINAVIAN KNIT NAPKIN RINGS PATTERN also works as a candle cozy for votive candles!  The knitted napkin rings are the perfect circumference to also wrap around votive candle holders.  The sweet Scandinavian motif fits in well with a Nordic winter scene. 

DIY Yarn Baskets

Christmas Tree Basket

A couple of years ago I designed a Harvest basket to hold apples. It was crocheted with sturdy rope. To my delight, I realized that I could also use it as a tabletop Christmas tree basket. I just added some thick yarn to cushion around the tree:

You can get the free crochet pattern for the CHRISTMAS TREE BASKET HERE.

DIY Yarn Christmas Pot

THIS CROCHET BASKET would also make a perfect home for a Pointsettia plant or Amaryllis bulb, wouldn’t you agree? Or you could insert a miniature tree inside and hang some little ornaments:

DIY Yarn Tassels

Don’t forget about one of the easiest yarn crafts to make – TASSELS!

Add them to PILLOWS, HANDMADE BLANKETS, GARLANDS, or hang them as ornaments from the Christmas tree this season. They take just minutes to make and are worth the effort.

Find more ideas for Christmas crafts in my CHRISTMAS category. You will also find FREE printables, such as these:

ADVENT GIFT TAGS

CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

HYGGE CHRISTMAS CARD

So if you were wondering “how do you make Christmas decorations out of yarn?” this season, I hope I gave you some ideas.  My list of DIY yarn projects for Christmas could certainly be longer, but I hope this is a great place for you to start.  Brainstorm your own DIY yarn Christmas crafts after you take a stab at these.  I’m sure your ideas will start flowing once you get your hands crafting…

The yarn stash buster Christmas crafts listed above are a wonderful way to use up your loose yarns and make a gift in the process!