Crochet Gingerbread Candy Cane Ornament: Free Christmas Pattern

Gingerbread + plus candy canes! What could be a better Christmas combination? This free crochet pattern to create your own Gingerbread Candy Cane Ornaments uses basic stitches and turns out super cute! Hang them on your Christmas tree, add to door wreaths, or gift on their own! This easy pattern also lends itself to crafting stock for your market stall – that will sell, like hotcakes gingerbread! This unique Gingerbread Boy decoration features mini candy canes as limbs, making your ornaments irresistibly adorable. But wait, there’s more! You don’t have to source mini candy canes if you don’t want to, because there’s an arm or leg alternative, included in the pattern below… just keep reading.

Get the Entire Candy Cane Holder Collection!

The Candy Cane Holder Ornament Collection features 16 adorable patterns! Snag all the festive fun right now in the Crochet Candy Canes Bundle e-book.

This bundle includes the complete set of 16 patterns, complete with process photos, tutorial links, and a convenient clickable table of contents.

Inside, you’ll find this super popular Gingerbread Candy Cane Ornament, along with instructions to create his festive friends: Santa, Snowman, Reindeer, Kitty, Dinosaur, Unicorn, Bear, Puppy, Mrs. Claus, Elf, Mouse, Moose, Gingerbread Girl, Penguin, and Giraffe!

All this holiday goodness is ready for you NOW! Grab your bundle today on Ravelry or Etsy!

Adorable and Unique Christmas Ornaments 

Handmade ornaments hold a special place in my heart, and this new Christmas Tree Ornament series is my latest favourite. These adorable creations feature mini candy canes as arms and legs, with an alternative option for curly cue limbs if mini candy canes aren’t available. Their charm makes them perfect for teacher gifts, craft fair tables, or as a sweet addition to wrapped presents or your holiday decor.  

The Candy Cane Ornament Collection is versatile, offering instructions to create unique and festive designs. Quick to make and requiring minimal sewing, the head and body are crocheted in one piece, leaving only the facial features and optional tail to add later. These ornaments are as practical as they are adorable!  

Also, did I mention? This candy cane holder pattern is available for free, so you can start making your ornaments right away!

Materials and Yarn Details for Crochet Candy Cane Holders

This amigurumi collection was designed using WeCrochet’s Brava Worsted Yarn, a medium (4) weight yarn that’s soft with vibrant colours. While Brava is ideal for this project, feel free to substitute with your favourite worsted-weight yarn, but avoid changing the yarn weight to maintain the design’s integrity. The yarn is readily available on the WeCrochet website.  

For the eyes, 6mm flat back black pearls were hot glued in place, though 6 mm safety eyes or embroidered features work too. Keep in mind that flat back pearls and safety eyes can pose a choking hazard for children under 3. The pattern also provides a complete materials list, ensuring you have everything needed to crochet your own Gingerbread Candy Cane Ornament.  

Check out the Gingerbread Boy Candy Cane Ornament crochet pattern below or grab the inexpensive ad-free PDF with additional helpful photos on Ravelry or Etsy

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Interested in more cute crochet patterns? Check these out!

What you will need for your Gingerbread Candy Cane Ornament Crochet Pattern

A detailed, step-by-step pattern with both written instructions and links to video tutorials

Gauge:   

4 rounds of sc = 1.5 inches diameter

Gauge Pattern:       

Create a Magic Ring
Round 1:     6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2:     2sc in each st (12)
Round 3:     *sc, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 4:    *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24)

Abbreviations:

BLO	Back Loop Only
ch	chain
FLO	Front Loop Only
sc	single crochet
scdec	single crochet decrease
ss	slip stitch
st(s)	stich(es)
*to*	repeat the sequence between the ** the number of times indicated

Special Stitches & Techniques: 

Magic ring – https://youtu.be/ayek4XfmDvM
Sleepy Eye – https://youtu.be/4kO0XAkXMGo (if not using safety eyes/flat back pearls)
How to Close the Head and Begin the Body –https://youtu.be/h42lU_7gam4

Notes:

• #sc (eg. 2sc, 3sc, etc) shows the number of scs to be completed in the indicated st
• sts listed within brackets are to be worked in the same st.  Eg. (Sc, hdc)
• I highly recommend using a stitch marker to help keep track of the rounds
• All rounds will be continuous (unless otherwise stated).
• When changing colours, end off previous colour unless noted otherwise.

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Check out the Candy Cane Ornament Collection in a 16 Pattern Bundle on Ravelry or Etsy!

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Start your Gingerbread Boy Candy Cane Ornament Crochet Pattern

Gingerbread Boy Head/Body:

The head/body is created in continuous rounds beginning with the head

Using Brown, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *2sc* 6 times (12)
Round 3: *sc, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 4: *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24), change to White
Round 5: sc in each st (24), change to Brown
Rounds 6-10: sc in each st (24)
Round 11: *sc in the next 2 sts, scdec* 6 times (18)
Round 12: *sc in the next st, scdec* 6 times (12)
See Video for assistance with the next 2 Rounds: https://youtu.be/h42lU_7gam4

Round 13: FLO for the entire round, sc in each st (12), do not end off…

• Place a stitch marker in the loop on your hook to keep it from pulling out.
• Place on a flat surface with the top of the head facing away from you and the last stitch sitting at the far right (far left if left handed) and ‘flatten’ the head down. 
• If using – add safety eyes to Round 7 approx 3 sts apart
• Lightly stuff the head.  Flatten the head down.
• Using a scrap piece of yarn and starting with the first and last st of Round 13, mattress stitch in the back loops of Round 12, across the opening.
• Continue working Round 14 from where you left off after Round 13.

Round 14: creating the arm holes *ch5, sc in the next 6 sts* twice (12 + 10chs) 
Round 15: *sc in the next 5 chs, sc in the next 6 sts* twice (22)
Round 16: *sc in the next 9 sts, scdec* twice (20)
Rounds 17-18: sc in each st (20)
Round 19: *sc in the next 8 sts, scdec* twice (18)
Rounds 20-23: sc in each st (18)
End off, by slip stitching to the next st, weave in end.

Bow: Made in a joined chain.

Using Green, ch 6

Join to the first ch creating a loop.  End off, leaving a 9” tail.  Flatten the loop and wrap the tail around the centre to create the centre of the bow.

Gingerbread Boy Scarf (not shown, optional) :

Created in a chain.

Using Colour of choice, ch 35
End off, cut ends close to beginning and end of chain.

Alternative: Curly Cue Arms/Legs (make 2, if not using candy canes):

Created in 1 row

Using Colour of  Choice, ch 36

Row 1:  3sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, 3sc in each of the next 34chs (105)
End off, Sew on bells if desired, Weave in ends

Sewing Placement – I highly recommend pinning ALL parts in place BEFORE sewing to make sure everything sits properly and is to your liking 🙂

Eyes (if not using safety eyes): Hot glue on the flat backed pearl or embroider eye/sleepy eye at approx. Round 7, 4 sts apart.  See video for assistance: https://youtu.be/4kO0XAkXMGo

Mouth: Using Black, embroider on the mouth as desired.  See video for tips: https://youtube.com/shorts/O3zWtj2Y2pE?feature=share

Bow: Place in the centre of the smallest part of the neck.  Sew in place

Buttons: Using Red, embroider 3 buttons down the centre of the body.

Scarf (optional): Tie in place around the neck

Ornament Hanger Cut a piece of twine approx 6” long.  Sew through the top of the head.  Tie a knot.

Arms/Legs: Add your mini candy canes or curly cues  into the holes made in Round 14 of the Head/Body.

Congratulations!

You have now completed your Gingerbread Candy Cane Ornament Crochet Pattern!

Quick Gingerbread Recipe

Once you’ve crocheted a gingerbread boy candy cane holder, you might want to bake a batch of real gingerbread!

Here’s my go to recipe to make with the kiddos at Christmas.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
5. Chill in the Fridge: Divide the dough in half and press and pat into discs. Chill the dough in the fridge for an hour before rolling.
6. Roll and Cut: Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread shapes.
7. Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are firm. Let them cool completely before decorating.

Optional: Decorate with icing or candy to turn your Gingerbread cookies into boy and girl characters! This is often the kid’s favourite part!

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Thank you so much for joining us! I hope you loved completing your Gingerbread Boy Candy Cane Crochet Pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it for you. Don’t want to miss a stitch? Subscribe to the Darling Maple Designs newsletter and I’ll send updates for new pattern releases, sales and promotions straight to your inbox. See you again soon! Sara <3

Want even more Gingerbread goodness this Christmas? I have more free crochet patterns for gingerbread amigugumi ornaments!

Gingerbread Girl Candy Cane Holder

Flip Flop Gingerbread Kitty Cat

Lil’ Loops Gingerbread Man

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If you have any questions or concerns with this, or any other pattern written by Darling Maple Designs, please do not hesitate to contact me at: info@darlingmapledesigns.com.

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