Christmas Elf – Free Crochet Outfit Pattern with Cap and Overall

Crochet ToysNovember 14, 202610 min read

This is a complete Christmas elf outfit in cotton on a 2 mm hook: a ribbed cap with ear openings, a green overall worked from two legs into one piece with a hood, and red-and-green shoes. Alongside the garment there is a bag of gifts, a decorated tree, a snowman, a monkey and a pair of gingerbread people — the whole set fits in one evening or two.

The overall is the piece to plan for. Both legs are 45-stitch tubes, they are joined over a 7-chain to make 104 stitches, and then the work deliberately stops going round the round at row 32 and becomes turning rows so the front opening and the buttonholes can be made. Read rows 32 to 45 before you begin that section.

All instructions are in US terminology.

Finished crochet elf wearing a green overall, red cap and red shoes — The finished elf, cap and shoes included.

What you need

Hook: 2 mm (US B), plus a needle with a wide eye
Yarn: YarnArt Jeans 82 green (2 skeins), Gazzal Jeans 1137 red (1 skein), plus white 01, mustard or beige, and YarnArt Jeans 48 beige or a fluffy alternative for the monkey
Eyes: 6 mm pair, plus 4 mm sew-on eyes or beads (4)
Notions: 10 beads (optional), 2 buttons for the bag and 5 for the overall, a small piece of felt (optional), fibre fill

The rest of the colours take less than one skein each. Any yarn and hook combination works if you match the gauge to the finished size you want.

Abbreviations

sc single crochet, dc double crochet, tr treble crochet
inc increase, dec decrease, ch chain, tch turning chain, sl st slip stitch, MR magic ring
Rounds are written as a total, so (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18 means the round finishes with 18 stitches.

Order of work map for the elf outfit — Outfit first, toys after.

Bag of gifts

Work with red.

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: inc in every stitch = 12
R3: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R4: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R5: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R6: (4 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 36
R7: (5 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 42
R8: (6 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 48
R9: (7 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 54
R10: (8 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 60
R11: (9 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 66
R12: sc all round into the back loops only = 66
R13–33: sc all round = 66
R34: attach green and work the round alternating one sc red, one sc green = 66
R35: sc all round, one green then one red = 66
R36: dc all round in green = 66
R37–38: alternate red and green stitches = 66
R39: cut the green, sc all round = 66

Then work the straps in green: ch 40, attach to the free loops of round 11, work 66 sc around into the front loops (that round was worked into the back loops earlier), ch 40. Sew the chain straps to the top of the bag. Crochet a red chain and run it through the double crochet stitches of round 36 with a needle.

Christmas tree

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: (1 sc, 1 inc)*3 = 9
R3: (2 sc, 1 inc)*3 = 12
R4: (3 sc, 1 inc)*3 = 15
R5–7: sc all round = 15
R8: (3 sc, 1 dec)*3 = 12
R9: (2 sc, 1 dec)*3 = 9
R10: 9 inc = 18
R11: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R12: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R13–15: sc all round = 30
R16: (3 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 24
R17: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R18: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R19: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R20: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R21: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R22: (4 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 36
R23–25: sc all round = 36
R26: (4 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 30
R27: back loops only, (3 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 24
R28: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R29: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R30: dec all round until the opening closes

Stuff the tree firmly before the last few rounds. Decorate with ribbons, beads, buttons or pom-poms.

Monkey

Work with beige.

Body R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: inc in every stitch = 12
R3: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R4: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R5–15: sc all round = 24
R16: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R17: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R18: dec all round until closed
Ears (make 2): 6 sc in MR, cut the thread
Muzzle: 6 sc in MR, inc all round = 12, (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
Limbs (make 4): ch 10, add a bead to the chain end if you like

Stuff the body with fibre fill, insert or sew the eyes, embroider a nose and mouth, then sew the ears and the muzzle. Sew arms and legs on, and add a chain tail with a bead at the end.

Snowman

Work with white.

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: 6 inc = 12
R3: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R4: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R5–7: sc all round = 24
R8: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R9: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R10: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R11: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R12: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R13–15: sc all round = 30
R16: (3 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 24
R17: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R18: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R19: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R20: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R21: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R22: (4 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 36
R23–24: sc all round = 36
R25: (4 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 30
R26: (3 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 24
R27: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R28: dec all round until closed

Stuff with fibre fill. Sew the eyes, button beads and a nose. Work two chains of 7 for the arms and sew them to the sides, adding beads at the ends if you want.

Hat: in red, 6 sc in MR, 6 inc = 12, then rounds 2 to 5 of 12 sc, round 6 into the front loops only of 12 sc, round 7 of 12 sc. Cut the thread and sew the hat to the head.

Gingerbread men

Work with beige or mustard.

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: 6 inc = 12
R3: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R4: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R5–7: sc all round = 24
R8: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R9: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R10–11: sc all round = 12
R12: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R13: sc all round = 18
R14: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R15: sc all round = 24
R16: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R17: (4 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 36
R18–26: sc all round
R27: fold in half and crochet through both layers, 18 sc

That body makes a gingerbread girl. The boy is the same except rounds 18 to 26 stay at 30 stitches. Legs and arms (make 4): 6 sc in MR, 6 inc = 12, then rounds 2 to 7 of 12 sc. Cut the thread and use it to sew. Sew the eyes, embroider cheeks and a mouth, fold the body in half and attach the limbs, then sew buttons and a decorative stitch across the arms and legs.

Cap

Work with green. The cap begins as a flat ribbed ribbon.

Ribbon: ch 4, start in the second chain, work turning chains and back loops only — rows 1 to 75 of 3 sc
Try the ribbon on the head: it must slide on freely, so add rows if it does not
Join and crochet through both ends, then change to red and pick up 75 stitches along the ribbon
R76: sl st all round = 75
R77: 4 sc, (1 sc, 1 inc)*33, 5 sc = 108
R78: sc all round = 108
R79: alternate one green and one red sc = 108
R80: one red, one green = 108
R81: sc all round in red only = 108

Ear openings.

R82: 36 sc, ch 10, skip 10 stitches, 16 sc, ch 10, skip 10 stitches, 36 sc = 108
R83: sc all round = 108
R84: alternate green and red = 108
R85: one red, one green = 108
R86–87: cut the green, sc all round = 108
R88: (16 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 102
R89: sc all round = 102
R90: (15 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 96
R91: sc all round = 96
R92: (14 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 90
R93: sc all round = 90
R94: (13 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 84
R95: (12 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 78
R96: (11 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 72
R97: sc all round = 72
R98: (10 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 66
R99: sc all round = 66
R100: (9 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 60
R101: sc all round = 60
R102: (8 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 54
R103: sc all round = 54
R104: (7 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 48
R105: sc all round = 48
R106: (6 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 42
R107: sc all round = 42
R108: (5 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 36
R109: sc all round = 36
R110: (4 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 30
R111: sc all round = 30
R112: (3 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 24
R113–124: sc all round = 24
R125: (2 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 18
R126–133: sc all round = 18
R134: (1 sc, 1 dec)*6 = 12
R135–142: sc all round = 12
R143: 6 dec = 6
R144–150: sc all round = 6

Pompom

Work with green.

R1: 6 sc in MR
R2: 6 inc = 12
R3: (1 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 18
R4: (2 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 24
R5: (3 sc, 1 inc)*6 = 30
R6–8: sc all round = 30
R9: (2 sc, 1 dec)*7, 2 sc = 23
R10: (1 sc, 1 dec)*7, 2 sc = 16
R11: stuff with fibre fill, dec all round until closed

Sew the pompom to the cap.

Shoes

Sole, in green. Make ch 11 and work around it, with a sl st and a turning chain at the end of every round.

R1: from the second chain, 1 inc, 8 sc, 4 sc into one chain, 8 sc, 1 inc = 24
R2: 1 inc, 9 sc, 4 inc, 9 sc, 1 inc = 30
R3: 1 inc, 12 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc, 1 inc, 12 sc, 1 inc = 34
R4: 4 sc, 1 inc, (3 sc, 1 inc)*6, 4 sc, 1 inc = 42
R5: sc all round = 42
R6: 5 sc, 1 inc, (4 sc, 1 inc)*6, 5 sc, 1 inc = 50
R7: sc all round = 50

Put the sole against the foot: it should be a little larger. If it is not, work one more round of sc. Turn the sole over and work across the wrong side into the back loops only, sc all round = 50.

Top part, in red. Attach red.

R8: into the front loops only, sc all round = 50
R9: sc all round = 50
R10: one green, one red = 50
R11: one red, one green = 50
R12: cut the green, sc all round = 50
R13: 15 sc, 10 dec, 15 sc = 40
R14: sc all round = 40
R15: 19 sc, 1 dec, 19 sc = 39
R16: sc all round = 39
R17: attach green, sl st all round = 39

Make the second shoe the same way. Crochet two small pompoms as for the cap and sew them to the top of each shoe; beads for eyes and an embroidered mouth are optional.

Overall

Work with green. Make ch 46, join and crochet in rounds.

R1: sc all round = 45
R2: back loops only, 44 sc, ch 1, skip 1 stitch (this opening takes the strap later)
R3: sc all round = 45
R4: fold across and crochet through both layers, sc all round = 45
R5–9: sc all round = 45

The first leg is done. Cut the thread. Work the second leg the same way but do not cut the thread at the end.

Join the legs.

R10: start from the second leg, ch 7, join the first leg, 45 sc, 7 sc along the chain, 45 sc, 7 sc along the chain = 104
R11–31: sc all round = 104
R32: work only 100 sc

Now stop working in rounds and continue in turning rows, with a turning chain at the end of every row.

Row 33: sc all across, ch 5 for a buttonhole = 109
Row 34: sc all across = 109
Row 35: 105 sc, ch 3, join the chain with a single crochet = 109
Row 36: sc all across = 109
Row 37: (8 sc, 1 dec)*10, 9 sc = 99
Rows 38–39: sc all across = 99
Row 40: 1 sc, ch 3, skip 3 stitches, 95 sc — a buttonhole in this row
Row 41: (8 sc, 1 dec)*9, 9 sc = 90
Rows 42–45: sc all across = 90

Make buttonholes in rows 40, 46, 52 and 57. Divide the stitches into three parts and work each separately.

Right front

Rows 46–48: 21 sc
Row 49: 1 sc, 1 dec, 18 sc = 20
Row 50: 17 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 19
Row 51: 1 sc, 1 dec, 16 sc = 18
Row 52: 15 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 17
Row 53: 1 sc, 1 dec, 14 sc = 16
Row 54: 13 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 15
Row 55: 1 sc, 1 dec, 12 sc = 14
Row 56: 11 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 13
Row 57: 1 sc, 1 dec, 10 sc = 12
Row 58: 12 sc

Do not cut the thread. Work 12 sl st along the armhole and 9 sl st along the main fabric at row 45, which brings you to the back without cutting.

Back

Rows 46–48: sc all across = 34
Row 49: 1 sc, 1 dec, 28 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 32
Row 50: 1 sc, 1 dec, 26 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 30
Row 51: 1 sc, 1 dec, 24 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 28
Row 52: 1 sc, 1 dec, 22 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 26
Row 53: 1 sc, 1 dec, 20 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 24
Row 54: 1 sc, 1 dec, 18 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 22
Row 55: 1 sc, 1 dec, 16 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 20
Rows 56–57: sc all across = 20

Make ch 5 at the end of the row and join the right front to the back.

Left front

Attach the thread to row 46, skipping 9 stitches on the main fabric.

Rows 46–48: sc all across = 17
Row 49: 14 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 16
Row 50: sc all across = 16
Row 51: 13 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 15
Row 52: sc all across = 15
Row 53: 12 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 14
Row 54: sc all across = 14
Row 55: 11 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 13
Row 56: sc all across = 13
Row 57: 10 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 12

Make ch 5 at the end of row 57, join to the back, and start the sleeves.

Sleeves

R1: work around the armhole — 12 sl st, 9 sl st, 12 sl st, 5 sc = 38
R2–24: sc in rounds = 38
R25: attach red and alternate red and green, one stitch each, to the end of the round = 38
R26: one green, one red = 38
R27: cut the red, sc all round = 38
R28: sl st all round

Make the second sleeve the same way.

Hood

Start along the top of the overall and attach the thread.

Row 1: 12 sc (front), 5 sc (sleeve), 20 sc (back), 5 sc (sleeve), 12 sc (front) = 54
Row 2: 3 sc, (2 sc, 1 inc)*16, 3 sc = 70
Rows 3–42: sc all round = 70
Row 43: fold the hood in half and crochet through both layers across the wrong side, 35 sc

Cut the thread and turn the hood inside out.

Straps and finishing

In red, make two chains of 40 to 50 stitches. Thread a needle with a chain, insert it into the opening on the lower leg and run it to the middle of the leg bottom at the side, then pull it out. Run the second end the same way, leaving one stitch, and tie a bow. Beads on the strap ends are optional. Sew the buttons to the overall last, once the piece is blocked.

List of the cap rounds from the ribbon to the point — 150 rounds from a 3-stitch ribbon.

Pattern: “Christmas outfit” by Olya Usolya. Photography and instructions reproduced on freecrochetpatterns.org with the designer’s permission. Please credit the designer and link back to this page if you share your finished elf.