Just when I thought I’m all done with my Christmas projects, the idea of making my own version of a gingerbread man ornament keeps popping in my head and I realized the fun of this season is neverending! So last night after putting my little boy to bed, I grabbed my crochet hook and gingerbread color Dapper Dreamer yarn that I bought a few months back to satisfy my creative mind. Good thing, I also have enough materials in my craft supplies like buttons and some zigzag ric rac lace ribbons and finished designing the project in less than an hour.
I love how it turned out – flat just like a real gingerbread man cookie! It’s also very easy to make and requires minimal sewing because I crocheted it continuously from joining the two legs to making the body and head. It can be an additional ornament on your Christmas tree or just hang it anywhere in the house for your little ones to see or you can simply tie it onto the top of your wrapped store bought gift, that way you have something handmade to give!
MATERIALS:
• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn (I used Dapper Dreamer Combed Cotton yarn in gingerbread color.
• Hook: 4.0mm crochet hook / US G/5 / UK 8
• Small size white buttons for the eyes and any other color of your choice for decorating the body.
• White zigzag ric rac lace ribbon for the arms and legs decoration.
ABBREVIATION/STITCHES:
• Magic ring
• sc – single crochet (US) / dc – double crochet (UK)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sl st – sip stitch
• inc – increase = two single crochet stitches in the same stitch
• dec – decrease = crochet two stitches together using the invisible decrease method
• [sc, inc] n times – repeat the pattern between parentheses n times.
• (N sts) – number of stitches in a round after finishing round
If you need guide with the stitches, you can always check my post about Basic Crochet Techniques HERE.
NOTES:
– Finished gingerbread man ornament measures approximately 6 inches. Any variations to hook size and yarn weight will result in a different sized piece.
– Every separate piece will be worked in continuous rounds, do not join rounds with a slip stitch or chains unless otherwise stated.
– Mark the first stitch of each round by using a stitch marker or a piece of yarn.
PATTERN
ARMS (make 2):
Begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc around
Round 5: sc around
Round 6: sc around
Round 7: sc around
Fasten off and leave a short yarn tail. Set both piece aside for now.
LEGS (make 2):
Begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: sc 6
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc around
Round 5: sc around
Round 6: sc around
Round 7: sc around
Fasten off and leave a short yarn tail. Repeat the same steps to make the second leg but do not fasten off, do not cut yarn.
BODY:
Round 1: Join legs with a single crochet in the first stitch of Round 7 of the first leg. Place your stitch marker in the single crochet stitch you just made (counted as your first stitch for the body), sc in each of the remaining 11 sts of first leg and in the next 12 sts of second leg (24 sts)
Round 2: sc around
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc 5, dec, sc 10, dec, sc 5 (22 sts)
Round 5: sc around
Round 6: sc 4, dec, sc 10, dec, sc 4 (20 sts)
Round 7: sc around
Round 8: sc 4, dec, sc 8, dec, sc 4 (18 sts)
Round 9: sc around
Round 10: sc 4, dec, sc 7, dec, sc 3 (16 sts)
Round 11: sc 3, dec, sc 7, dec, sc 2 (14 sts)
Round 12: sc 3, dec, sc 5, dec, sc 2 (12 sts)
Do not fasten off, proceed to next steps to crochet the head.
HEAD:
Round 1: [sc, inc] 6x (18 sts)
Round 2: [sc 2, inc] 6x (24 sts)
At this point, sew each arm at the side between Round 7 to Round 12 of the body using whip stitch method (total of 12 whip sts from front to back of each arm).
Now is also the best time to sew the 3 buttons onto the center of the body. This way, you will be able to hide the stitches inside the work. Once done, continue to next Rounds.
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc around
Round 5: sc around
Round 6: [sc 2, dec] 6 times (18 sts)
Round 7: sc around
Sew the white buttons at this point between Round 5 and Round 6 of head. Once done continue to next steps to complete the head.
Round 8: [sc, dec] 6 times (12 sts)
Round 9: dec 6 times
Cut yarn leaving a long tail. If you prefer to crochet the string that you can use to hang the ornament, make sure to leave atleast 2.5 feet long yarn tail. Fasten off then weave through the stitches of last round. Pull tail end gently to close the gap. Crochet 20 chains or more then slip stitch in the any stitch of previous round. Fasten off and hide tail.
Lastly, cut out some zigzag ric rac lace ribbon then place on both arms and legs as shown on photos using fabric glue.
OMG! This is so cute and the pattern was super easy to follow. THANK YOU! I wish I could share a picture of how mine turned out!
Thank you! 💖
How Very Very Cute… i think i will give this crochet gingerbread man a try.. i would love to know how to make it a larger size like maybe 12 inches or 14, or 18 inches… so i could lightly stuff it.. do you have any suggestion on how i could make it a larger size ? if you do i would please like your suggestions… Thank you.. From Alice
Thanks, Alice! 🥰 You can use a heavier weight of yarn matched with a bigger size hook to make a bigger piece.
I just printed the pattern and there weren’t any of the picture for making this
Just found this sweet pattern and stitched one up tonight. Will “decorate” in the morning. Thank you so much for sharing it!
Wow, love to see your work! Merry Christmas in advance to you and your family! 🎄💕
Just made this! Super easy and adorable!
Wow! Thank you and have a blessed Christmas! ❤️
Just made my first little sweetie….more to come. It is such a pleasure to follow a pattern so well written…the tips for adding buttons as you go are such a help. You do this so well and how kind to share your talent. Bless you and stay well.
Thank you, Cecelia! Sending love!💕 God bless you & stay safe.❤️
Thanks for this lovely pattern! I’m making some and added instead of buttons I make 6 sc in mr hehehe Now I’m looking for you in instagram for show you the result ❤️ Thanks again ❤️😬
Please do tag me, love seeing all the lovely makes and creative ideas! 💕💕💕
Thank you Fei, for creating these adorable gingerbread people! You have inspired my 2020 Christmas ornaments for kids and grand-kids. I look forward to making several of them.
You’re welcome, Bette!❤️ Love the Christmas feels!🎄 And glad to inspire, can’t wait to see your 2020 Christmas ornaments.🥰
Thanks for the pattern! He was super easy to make! Making a second one! Great little gifts!
Wow, love to hear you’re enjoying making them! Happy Holidays! 🎄⭐️
Exactly what I was looking for! So much fun to make. Thank you for your generosity in sharing this great gingerbread man pattern.
You’re welcome, Penny! Happy Holidays! 🎄⭐️
Thank you for writing and sharing such a cute pattern! I love gingerbread men and there aren’t many crochet patterns out there for them, so I was really happy to find this one.
I’ve made two gingerbread men using this pattern so far. I wasn’t able to find small buttons or ric rac lace yarn, so instead I used gold brads for the eyes and buttons, and gold thread for the mouth and detail on the ends of the arms and legs. The gold looks nice with the brown yarn and it makes him look like a fancy gingerbread man :). I also used a gold ribbon for the top instead of chain stitching. For the body, I used Red Heart Soft yarn in ‘toast’ and a 4.25mm hook.
Wow, you’re very creative! We can use almost anything to decorate this gingerbread man, right? Btw, thank you so much for your kind words, you inspire me to continue designing and making more projects.
Love Gingerbread boys & girls, I cant wait to start them.
Thank you so much.
Victoria <3
You’re welcome, Victoria! Happy Holidays! 🎄
Thank you for this lovely pattern, very easy to follow and so cute. Really quick too 😉 xx
You are welcome, Pam! And thank you so much for your kind words. Glad the pattern worked well for you! ❤️
Great pattern and so easy and cute.
Thanks, Joyce! I’m glad the pattern worked well for you. 😊 Happy Holidays! 🎄
I really love your little Gingerbread Man Ornaments!
They’re so easy to make and there are so much variations for the decorations (buttons, ribbon, sew the eyes…).
Greetings from Germany,
Tina
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it, Tina. I agree, we can basically use any decorative craft supplies we have at home! 🙂 Happy Holidays to you and yours!