Cork Nativity
To begin, I’d love to take credit for the original idea, but it’s not mine. I discovered Angry Angel’s Cork Soldiers, Ninjas, and Gnomes on Craftster (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=337126.msg3900600#msg3900600 ) and knew that I had to do *something* similar. Without her original work, and permission to repost her patterns with my variations, this wouldn’t have been possible.
As with her originals, this pattern is FREE, as in beer, and may be redistributed as long as credit is given where credit is due. Also in line with her original pattern, “Feel free to use these for personal use, or to raise money for good causes.”
I’ve followed this a couple a times after I finished tweaking, so I think it’s good to go. All errors are mine, and if you let me know, I’ll correct them.
Required skillset (things you need to know how to do, or are willing to learn):
Materials:
- You'll need a supply of corks, a permanent black marker (Sharpie), and a small piece of chenille stem for the shepherd's crook.
- Small amounts of several colors of yarn. I used Red Heart Solids.
- Crochet hook - the original designs called for a F/3.75mm, but that didn't gauge right for me, so I dropped down to an E/3.5mm.
Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
hdc = half double crochet (US), half treble crochet (UK)
bob = bobble (see link above )
tog = together
sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together
FO = fasten off
Notes:
- Work in rounds except where noted, and do not join the rounds.
- Work through both loops, except when noted.
- A stitch marker or scrap of yarn to mark the beginning of each round might be helpful. (Especially if you have distractions!)
- Depending upon your yarn, hook, tension, and cork size, you may need to add an additional row or two to cover the entire cork.
- Modifications are encouraged, and I’d love to see any additional figures or animals that you add to the scene.
Mary
Original Design: Cork and Crochet Knight
Changes: I skipped rounds 4,5 & 11
You’ll need two colors - one for her shawl/cowl (white), and one for her dress (light blue).
Start using white yarn:
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Round 4: 1 sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ch1, turn.
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, ch1, turn - 10 sc.
Row 2: Sc in next 10 sc, ch5.
Round 5: Sc into 1st sc of row 2, sc in next 9 sc, 5 sc over ch5 - 15 sc.
Sc in next 2 sc, change to light blue yarn and mark as start of round.
Round 6 - 9: (4 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Sc in next 2 sc, change to white yarn and mark as start of round.
Round 10: Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ss in next sc, FO and weave in end.
Finishing:
- Insert a cork and adjust.
- Tie a scrap of white yarn (or cowl color) around the “waist” with a square knot. Cut the ends so that they are slightly shorter than the distance from the belt to the base of the cork. For each tail, Insert a hook between the crochet and the cork. Find an appropriate space then YO each tail and pull through.
- Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Joseph
Original Designs: Cork and Crochet Knight, Cork and Crochet Gnome
Changes: The Knight is the base. As with Mary, I skipped rounds 4,5 & 11. I added the beard from the directions for the Gnome.
You’ll need two colors - his hair/beard (brown), and one for his robe (Gold).
Start using brown yarn:
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Round 4: 1 sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ch1, turn.
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, ch1, turn - 10 sc.
Row 2: Sc in next 10 sc, ch5.
Round 5: Sc into 1st sc of row 2, sc in next 9 sc, 5 sc over ch5 - 15 sc.
Round 6: Sc in next sc, change to gold but carry the brown yarn under. Sc in next 9 sc
Drop the gold, and change to hair colour yarn in the next sticth.
Beard: Row 1: FLO Ch 2 in first stitch, Sc in next 4 sc, ch1, turn.
Row 2: Miss 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch1, turn.
Row 3: Miss 1st sc, sc in next sc, ss in next sc. FO, leaving a 2 in. tail
Pick up gold yarn and continue Round 6 working in the back loops behind beard. Pull yarn through 1st back loop, yarn over hook and pull through. Sc in same back loop and each of next 4.
Round 7 - 11: (5 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Sc in next two stitches; Ss in next sc; FO and weave in end.
Use the tail from beard to secure it to the body.
Finishing:
- Insert a cork and adjust.
- Tie a scrap of yarn around the “waist” with a square knot. Cut the ends so that they are slightly shorter than the distance from the belt to the base of the cork. For each tail, Insert a hook between the crochet and the cork. Find an appropriate space then YO the tail and pull through.
- Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Babe in the Manger
(this is not my best Baby Jesus - I forgot what I was doing and chained 5 instead of 3 across the top of the face. It’s a mistake I’ve made several times, so you’ve been warned.)
You’ll need three colors - brown for the manager, white for the “swadling clothes”, and yellow for the straw and halo (optional - not shown).
Start with brown yarn.
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Round 3: BLO - [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Ss in next stitch.
Start working in rows, joining with a ss at the end of each row, unless noted (Rows 5 & 6 in particular)
Row 1-3: (3 rows) chain 2; sc x 4.
Switch to white, carrying the brown - BLO sc x5.
Switch back to brown, carrying the white - sc x5, join -- 15 stitches total
Row 4: Chain 2; Sc x4;
Switch to white - BLO sc, chain 1 and turn.
Row 5: BLO Sc;
Switch to brown: sc x10
Switch to white: BLO sc x1, chain 1 and turn.
Row 6: Sc
Switch to brown - sc x10
Switch to white - sc, chain 3, sc in the first stitch.
Switch back to working in rounds.
Round 1: Loosely run the brown tail along the back so that it will wind up behind the cork.
Switch to brown, carrying the white and catching the loose brown strand - sc x 10
Switch to white - BLO sc, sc x 3 over the chain, BLO sc
Round 2: Switch to brown - sc x 10; BLO sc x 5 -- 15 sc.
You can cut the white yarn at this point, and either carry the tail or weave it in.
Sc x2 and mark the start of the round.
If you want Baby Jesus to have a halo, drop the brown thread for a moment and return to the 3 front loops over the opening. With your “halo” yarn:
Stitch 1 chain 1, sc
Stitch 2 2 hdc
Stitch 3 sc, ss
Pull the tails through the back and tie them off (The knot will help raise the halo), but don’t cut them yet.
Holding the tails of the halo, insert the cork and adjust. Cut the halo tails and return to the brown.
Round 3 (optional - holds the cork in place): Insert the cork and adjust.
BLO: [sc2tog, sc x 3] 3 times -- 12 sc.
FO and weave in ends.
Loosely stitch a yellow or gold scrap along the border of the white for hay, if desired.
Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Wise Man #1
Original Designs: Cork and Crochet Knight, Cork and Crochet Gnome
Changes: The Knight is the base. I skipped rounds 5 & 11. I added the beard from the directions for the Gnome.
You’ll need two colors - his hair/beard, and one for his hat/robe. Also, a scrap of contrasting color for his belt.
Start with hat/robe color
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Change to hair/beard color. You can either carry the robe color, or catch it on the first stitch of each round until it’s needed again.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Round 4: 1 sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ch1, turn.
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, ch1, turn - 10 sc.
Row 2: Sc in next 10 sc, ch5.
Round 5: Sc into 1st sc of row 2, sc in next 7 sc; pick up the robe color and carry it again, 2 sc, 5 sc over ch5 - 15 sc.
Round 6: Sc in next sc, change to robe color but carry the hair color yarn under. Sc in next 9 sc
Drop the robe color, and change to hair colour yarn in the next sticth.
Beard: Row 1: FLO Ch 2 in first stitch, Sc in next 4 sc, ch1, turn.
Row 2: Miss 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ss in chain. FO, leaving a 2 in. tail
Pick up robe color yarn and continue Round 6 working in the back loops behind beard. Pull yarn through 1st back loop, yarn over hook and pull through. Sc in same back loop and each of next 4.
Round 7 - 10: (4 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Sc in next two stitches; Ss in next sc; FO and weave in end.
Use the tail from beard to secure it to the body.
Finishing:
- Insert cork and adjust
- Tie a scrap of yarn around the “waist” with a square knot. Cut the ends so that they are slightly shorter than the distance from the belt to the base of the cork. For each tail, Insert a hook between the crochet and the cork. Find an appropriate space then YO the tail and pull through.
- Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Wise Man #2
Original Designs: Cork and Crochet Gnome
Changes: I used only a single color for the body (no pants), skipped rounds 6-7,
You’ll need two colors - his hair/beard, and one for his hat/robe. Also, a scrap of contrasting color for his belt.
Start with hat/robe color
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 2 times - 8 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 2 times - 10 sc.
Round 4: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc] 2 times - 12 sc.
Round 5: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Sc in next 8 sc, change to hair colour yarn, sc in next sc, then mark as start of round.
Round 6: Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ch1, turn.
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, sc into 1st sc of the row. Ch 1 and turn.
Round 7: 5 sc over ch5, sc into the 1st sc of the row, change to hat/robe color yarn but carry the hair color yarn under, 9 sc in next 10 sc - 15 sc.
Round 8: Sc in next 2 sc, change to top colour yarn but carry the hair colour yarn under. Sc in next 8 sc, change to hair colour yarn.
Drop the robe color, and change to hair colour yarn in the next sticth.
Beard: Row 1: FLO Ch 2 in first stitch, Sc in next 4 sc, ch1, turn.
Row 2: Miss 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ss in chain, ch1, turn.
Row 3: Sc in 2nd st, ss in next. FO, leaving a 2 in. tail
Pick up robe color yarn and continue Round 6 working in the back loops behind beard. Pull yarn through 1st back loop, yarn over hook and pull through. Sc in same back loop and each of next 4.
Round 9-12: (4 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc
Ss in next sc, FO and weave in end.
Use the tail from beard to secure it to the body.
Finishing:
- Insert cork and adjust
- Tie a scrap of yarn around the “waist” with a square knot. Cut the ends so that they are slightly shorter than the distance from the belt to the base of the cork. For each tail, Insert a hook between the crochet and the cork. Find an appropriate space then YO the tail and pull through.
- Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Wise Man #3
You’ll need 3 colors - turban, hair/beard, and body, plus a scrap of contrasting color for a belt, and optionally, a bit of stuffing for the tuban.
Start with turban color
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 3 sc in ea, sc -- 18 sc.
Round 3: 1 sc in ea. -- 18 sc.
Round 4: [ sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc ] * 3 - 15sc.
Round 5: 1 sc in ea. -- 15sc.
Switch to hair color
Round 6: 1 sc in ea -- 15sc.
Ch 1, turn.
Round 7:
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, ch1, turn - 10 sc.
Row 2: Sc in next 10 sc, ch5.
Round 8: Sc into 1st sc of row 2, sc in next 9 sc, 5 sc over ch5 - 15 sc.
Round 9: Sc in next sc, change to body color but carry the hair color under. Sc in next 9 sc
Drop the gold, and change to hair colour yarn in the next sticth.
Beard: Row 1: FLO Ch 2 in first stitch, Sc in next 4 sc, ch1, turn.
Row 2: Miss 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch1, turn.
Row 3: Miss 1st sc, sc in next sc, ss in next sc. FO, leaving a 2 in. tail
Pick up body yarn and continue Round 6 working in the back loops behind beard. Pull yarn through 1st back loop, yarn over hook and pull through. Sc in same back loop and each of next 4.
Round 10-12: (3 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Sc in next two stitches; Ss in next sc; FO and weave in end.
Use the tail from beard to secure it to the body.
Stuff a small ball of batting into the the turban to keep it round (optional).
Finishing:
- Insert cork and adjust
- Tie a scrap of yarn around the “waist” with a square knot. Cut the ends so that they are slightly shorter than the distance from the belt to the base of the cork. For each tail, Insert a hook between the crochet and the cork. Find an appropriate space then YO the tail and pull through.
- Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Shepherd
Original Design: Cork and Crochet Knight
Changes: I skipped rounds 5 & 11, and switched to the body color earlier than the original design.
You’ll need 2 colors - hair and body, a chenille stem for a crook, and a scrap of contrasting color for a belt, and optionally, a bit of stuffing for the tuban.
Additionally, familiarize yourself with how to change colors (http://www.planetjune.com/blog/amigurumi-help/changing-colour/) - you’ll need to use this method in round 4, row 2 to prevent the odd hair or body color showing in the wrong spot.
Start with hair color
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Round 4: Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Ch1, turn.
Row 1: Sc in next 10 sc, ch1, turn - 10 sc.
Start carrying the body color under the hair color.
Row 2: Sc in next 10 sc, switch to body color and ch5.
Round 5: Sc into 1st sc of row 2, sc in next 9 sc, 5 sc over ch5 - 15 sc.
Round 6 - 11: (6 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 15 sc..
Ss in next sc, FO and weave in end.
Finishing:
- Insert a cork and adjust.
- Form a crook out of a chenille stem.
- Tie a scrap of contrasting yarn around the “waist” with a square knot, with the crook between the “belt” and the body. Cut the ends so that they are slightly shorter than the distance from the belt to the base of the cork. For each tail, Insert a hook between the crochet and the cork. Find an appropriate space then YO the tail and pull through.
- Carefully draw a face in the gap.
Sheep
You’ll only need one color.
The directions are for a regular cork, but If you like, you can use a shorter cork and eliminate one of the rows that is worked even.
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times – 15 sc.
Round 4: Sc in each sc around - 15 sc.
Round 5: Bob in the first, sc ea. of the next two st, bob in the fourth st, sc in ea. of the next 11 st - 15 st.
Round 6-9: (4 rounds) Sc in ea. st -15 sc.
Round 9: Sc in first st, bob in second, sc in ea. of the next two st, bob in fifth st, sc in ea of the next 10 st.
Round 10: Sc in ea. st -- 15 sc.
Turn inside out and insert cork.
Round 11: FLO [ sc2tog, sc in ea. of the next 3 stitches] times 3 - 12 sc.
FO in weave in end, being careful not to close the gap.
Carefully draw a face in the opening.
http://bbqcrochets.blogspot.com/2012/12/cork-nativity.html
Another friend saw a picture of my very rough Space Invaders potholders, and asked for a set. I've recently discovered Tunisian crochet and decided that this it was perfect for this. I made two panels for each potholder then sc'd around each panel with black to give me a clean base for the green edging. I joined the left with slip stich and the the right with single crochet. I'll use slip stitches in the future.
