Hello friends!
Last week I gave you the Santa Claus ornament pattern and I was pretty happy the way that he turned out. However, I felt that something or someone was missing. This is why I've decided to also make a new pattern for a Mrs. Claus ornament! I love patterns that are simple and can be worked up fast while I'm watching my favorite tv-show. If you need a quick and crafty project to set you in the Holiday mood, then this is exactly what you're looking for! The pattern for Mrs. Claus is quite similar to Santa's, I just changed the pattern for the bubble stitches on Mrs. Claus a bit. I think they would make a great appearance on the Christmas tree, or you can decorate your windows for the Holidays with them.
I love Christmas and all the joy it brings. Each country and culture have a different tradition and in Norway, we have something we call Julebukk. So today, I'm not only giving you the crochet pattern, but I also want to tell you about this old, Norwegian Christmas tradition.
Before you scroll down to read the rest I just want to thank all my readers for all your support! Be sure to follow me on Instagram or Facebook, so you don't miss any of my FREE patterns!
Julebukk - a Norwegian Christmas tradition
All this Christmas crocheting really set me in the Christmas mood! It is still pretty early, as we just celebrated Halloween! I come from Norway but I have been living in Germany for the last eight years. When I was growing up, I've never heard of Halloween.
What we did, however, was to go Julebukk. I am writing go because in Norway we say "gå julebukk" [jul = Christmas; bukk = male goat]. We would dress up and sometimes wear masks and we would walk from door to door and sing Christmas carols to our neighbours and friends. I remember we would wear wool clothes and we stuffed big pillows under our sweaters to make a huge belly. As a reward for singing we would get candy, yes, we had to work for it 😉 In difference to Halloween, Julebukk takes place right between Christmas and New Year, also called "romjul". Unfortunately, this tradition is more and more fading out, but at the time I grew up (in the eighties and nighties) Julebukk was pretty common. Some people are still passing this tradition on to their children, but it's getting fewer.
I asked my family if anyone had a picture of us going julebukk. And guess what, my father found these two pictures! Haha, we look pretty funny wearing those masks! In the first picture, we are wearing traditional Santa-masks, but in the second one, it looks like we are wearing some kind of geisha masks? Whatever it was, it wasn't exactly tradition but we sure look pretty funny!
Mrs. Claus crochet ornament pattern
Now that you have learned a little about the Norwegian culture, it's time to stitch up the lovely Mrs. Claus. I think that she would make a great appearance on the Christmas tree next to Santa Claus!Abbreviations used:
- ch – chain
- yo – yarn over
- st – stitch
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- inc – Increase ( single crochet increase, two single crochet in one stitch)
- dec – Decrease ( to single crochet together)
- Rnd – round
- Bobble stitch (bo)
Materials
- Yarn Group: C (16 – 19 stitches) / 10 ply / aran / worsted
- Weight/length: 50 g = approx 75 m
- Knitting tension: 10 x 10 cm = 17 sts x 22 rows
- Machine wash 60°C / Dry Flat
- Color, white (16) off white (17) and rusty red (37) You need a total of 0,705 Oz.
- Leftover yarn in red for the mouth.
- Hook size F/6
- Some filling material
Note
The pattern is written in US terms.
Head, color beige. Make two panels
Row 1) Chain 6, turn and sc in the second stitch from the hook and in each stitch. (5 sc)
Row 2) Chain 1, turn, 2 sc in the first stitch, 1 sc in the next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the last stitch. (7 sc)
Row 3) Chain 1, turn, 2 sc in the first stitch, 1 sc in the next 5 stitches, 2 sc in the last stitch. (9 sc)
Row 4) Chain 1 turn, 2 sc in the first stitch, 1 sc in the next 7 stitches, 2 sc in the last stitch. (11 sc)
Row 5 – 8) Chain 1, turn, 1 sc in each stitch, repeat for 4 rows. (11 sc)
Cut the yarn. Put the first part aside and make another one.
When you have made the two panels, lay them on top of each other and attach white yarn. We will be making her hair with the bobble stitches. Scroll below to get a short explanation of the bobble stitch or click on this link. Attach white yarn in the stitch just below the first stitch of row 8 (in row 7).
Row 9) 1 sc in each stitch like explained above, in total for 13 sc. Chain 3, turn. (We only have 11 sc, but I want you to put 1 sc extra on each side in row 7.)
Row 10) *1 bobble in the first sc, 1 sc in the next* Repeat total 5 times. Ch 1, turn. (7 bobbles, 6 sc) Each row ends with a bobble.
Row 11) Dec, 1 sc in the next 9 sc, 1 dec. Ch 3, turn (11 sc)
Row 12)*1 bobble in the first sc, 1 sc in the next* Repeat total 4 times. Ch 1, turn. (6 bobbles, 5 sc)
Row 13) 2 sc decreases, 1 sc in the next 3 sc, 2 sc decreases. Ch 3, turn. (7 sc) Do the decrease two times at the beginning and end here.
Row 14)*1 bobble in the first sc 1 sc in the next* Repeat total 3 times. Ch 1, turn. (4 bobbles, 3 sc)
Cut the yarn. weave in ends.
Sew in the eyes and mouth here.
To get a pretty mouth sew with small stitches and make two small triangles to form the lips.
Make one more stitch just below the triangles for a nicer underlip.
When you have sewn the eyes and mouth attach yarn in off white. Do a slip stitch just below her hair and do 1 sc in each stitch.
Stuff the head with some filling material before you close up.
When you get to the end, do a slip stitch in the first sc. Cut the yarn, weave in ends.
Make a chain so you can hang up your ornament. Attach yarn in white on the backside on the top where the bobble stitches are. Chain 25 chains (or as long as you want it to be) Join with a slip stitch in the first chain. Cut the yarn and weave in ends.
Special stitches:
The bobble stitch. Chain 3, yarn over, insert the hook in the same stitch and pull through two loops. Repeat until you have five loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all loops. I also made a more detailed explanation of the bobble stitch in this post.
I hope that you liked this post!
If there is something in the pattern that is not clear to you, don't hesitate to ask, I'm glad to help!
