This beautiful rustic crochet nativity pattern set is a perfect addition to your holiday decor. It’s lovely and chic to display during the holiday season and perfect for little hands to play with as well. The mini set includes the Holy Family which is easy, and suitable for an advanced beginner. Make one of these gorgeous nativity sets for yourself and make one to gift away this year! In this post you will find links to the FREE crochet nativity pieces, as well as yarn alternatives.
Don’t have time for the full nativity set? Make a Holy Family Ornament instead!
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This crochet nativity pattern has been a true labor of love. Over the past several years it has grown from a small family Holy Family of 3 to a whole set of 14 pieces! I have dearly loved creating new additions, but even more, I have loved seeing your creations that you have graciously shared with me via email or social media.
If you have ever reached out to me about this nativity, please know I have treasured your words.
You’re tired of sifting through complicated tutorials and patterns that leave you feeling overwhelmed.
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This pattern is fairly simple, so even advanced beginners can make it. This lovely set makes an endearing gift that will be treasured for generations.
It’s rustic, yet modern, so it compliments all styles and trends, and it’s perfect for curious little hands. My children adore playing with the pieces every year, and it makes my heart sing to see them enjoy the set so much.
FREE set includes Mary, Joseph, Baby, and Manger. Keep scrolling to get these pattern FREE ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
RUSTIC CROCHET NATIVITY – CROCHET PATTERN
Along with the free pieces (Mary, Joseph, Baby, Manger, KEEP SCROLLING for links to these pieces), your full crochet nativity pattern includes 3 wisemen, 2 shepherds, palm tree, sheep, donkey, camel, angel, stars (simple instructions for making a star backdrop using dowel is included).
Rustic Nativity Crochet-a-Long
We took a year off, but this year I am back to hosting a nativity CAL, just in time for an extra piece!
This year I am paring it down a bit. As we add new pieces, the set keeps growing, which makes planning a CAL (without it lasting three weeks!) a bit tricky. Can you help me out? I’d love your vote on which format we should use for this year’s CAL.
NEW ADDITION THIS YEAR!
This year is extra special, because we have a new addition!
A sweet little cow!
This sweet lady is lying comfortably, her legs tucked under her, her tail relaxed. She looks onward at the precious commotion happening in her stable!
2025 NATIVITY CAL DETAILS
WHEN: December 1st – 5th, 2025
HOW: Email and Social media are the best ways to join!
⭐️ Join my email list to get CAL email updates
⭐️ Follow on Facebook here
⭐️ Join our Facebook Group
What you need:
– suggested hook: Size E – F (3.5mm – 3.75mm) hook (The hook exact hook size doesn’t matter, just make sure your gauge is very tight, you shouldn’t be able to see stuffing or spaces between your stitches.
– Fingering Weight Yarn: I suggest Palette Yarn by WeCrochet. It’s my absolute favorite and I love the finished look! It is a 100% wool and has a gorgeous, rustic flair. I just love it and I only use this yarn for my sets, however, I understand if you want other options.
– Weights or washers
– Polyfil Stuffing
NOTES ON THE YARN:
Here are the colors if you are using the suggested yarn Palette: 1 skein of each will get you 2 or more sets.
– Briar Heather (Joseph’s clothes)
– Hare Heather (Manger + NEW PIECE!)
– Bittersweet Heather (wiseman body, face)
– Oyster Heather (Angel, Shepherd cloak, Mary’s Cloak)
– Wheat Heather (faces, Camel)
– Marble Heather (Joseph’s Cloak, Mary’s body, Standing shepherd)
– Verdant Heather (tree, kneeling wiseman)
– Almond (tree trunk, shepherd body)
– Gosling (Donkey)
– Pumice Heather (Donkey)
– Wonderland heather (optional, for Mary’s cloak if you want it blue
ALTERNATIVE YARN:
These are my suggestions for alternative yarns, I have not used these personally but they might make a good substitute if for any reason the suggested yarn doesn’t work for you.
– Mix and match Bon-Bons
– WeCrochet Comfy Fingering
– Lion Brand Heartland (This is a larger gauge yarn but you can use the smallest hook you can, your pieces might be a big bigger, or you can split the yarn and use half strands)
– WeCrochet Lindy Chain
– Paintbox DK Cotton
– Sheepjes Catona
DON’T MISS THE CAL!
Join our mailing list so you don’t miss anything!
RUSTIC CROCHET NATIVITY SET – FREE CROCHET PATTERN
The full pattern includes 15 figures, but you can get the mini set (Mary, Joseph, Manger, Baby) for FREE. Keep scrolling for links to each piece.
Palette Yarn Color List For Holy Family Mini Set (free patterns):
Hare Heather (Manger, bottom of Joseph
Oyster Heather – Mary Cloak, Baby Body
Briar Heather – Joseph Body
Wheat Heather – Faces
Marble Heather – Joseph Cloak, Mary Body
FREE NATIVITY SET PATTERN LINKS
The mini nativity set is available for FREE on my blog! Click each photo below to see the patterns.
xoxo,
Would love to get the patterns! Thank you!
Would love some animal patterns! Donkey, sheep, camel. Pretty please!
I have them on my to-do list, I will definitely be added them at some point!
I played around with the sheep pattern and got a donkey out of it. I dont know where to send you a pic.
Coo! you can tag me on Instagram: @whistleandivy
Will the yarn listen be enough for 2 nativity sets, or should I order double?
It will be enough for two :)
Thank you! This was my question as well. I want to make two sets but don’t want to run out. If it seems like I have enough left, I’ll go for three!
Is there a shepherd boy? And little sheep or other animals? That would be a wonderful addition if not.
I’m so excited to make this for my daughter! Thank you so much for making this free
I have shepherds! No animals yet though.
(Scroll to the bottom to get all the patterns)
https://www.whistleandivy.com/2017/11/crochet-nativity-set-cal-2017.html
Thank you. I do think animals would be a wonderful edition. 🙂
This will be a lovely gift for my daughter who has a birthday right before Christmas 🙂 thank you again
Thank you so much for the pattern! I had been wanting to do this since last year when I first saw the just the main pieces of Mary, Joseph and the Baby and Manger! Finally got it done and thanks for the extra pieces of Angel, Shepherd (he is so cute), Wisemen and Palm Tree.
This was suppose to be a Rustic look, but I had some sparkly yarn, Caron Simply Soft Party yarn that I used for a lot of the Nativity. Wish I had used some for the Angel and may redo that where it has a little sparkle too! Also used one of the smaller capes (without the strings) as a wrap or blanket for Baby Jesus as he just looked too plain in the manger to me! Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1809371032467980&set=a.151560768249023.37733.100001853036162&type=3&theater
It looks great! Wonderful job!
Thank you so much! We need some little critters now to go with the set!☺
I’m pretty new at crocheting, especially in the round. I’ve tried you tubing but still can’t determine exactly if I am joining and starting each round correctly.
I am joining with my slip stitch into the first stitch if the previous round. Then chain 1, which doesn’t count as a stitch. Does that mean I should make my first single crochet in to the same first stitch of the previous round or the second stitch of the previous round?
You will make it in the “same stitch” it will look like the same stitch that the chain is coming up from.
Thanks so muchnfor the pattern Bethany. I only made Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus this year and everyone loved them. I hope to add the remaining pieces for Christmas 2018.
Thank you so much for making this available! Can’t wait to get started.
You’re welcome!
I love your patterns and want to order the yarn, but I don’t see how much of each color to order (I’m tired so I may be missing it..) Can you help?
Hello! You can make 3 sets or more from one skein each.
Hi, I too have just subscribed to your blog. I love your work and am excited to join a group of like minded people. Besides how could you not be so talented, I named my daughter Bethany and she is wonderful with fiber arts. Anyway, thanks for your graciousness.
Thanks for Subscribing Pamela! Haha, Bethany is a good name ;)
Started a bit late but will join with the three kings.this is too cute, thank you for sharing, think I’m gonna make them for my grandchildren
Can;t wait to start with the 3 kings..!
I think this will be a wonderful keepsake for many years.
I agree <3
I’ve been admiring this sweet little set since you first published it. I’ve gone ahead and ordered my yarn (which I can only hope it arrives soon!) and look forward to tackling this project. Thank you again for sharing your crochet talents!
Thank you! I am so glad you are joining us, I hope you enjoy making the patterns!
How do i get the free pattern for the whole set
The free patterns are on individual pages, so click on each photo to see the pattern for each figure.
Thank you, Bethany. I stumbled upon the 2016 set about a month ago and made 6 sets and they sold quickly. I love, love, love the new set and ordered the yarn the same day I saw that post. I sure hope my yarn comes by the 13th. I hope you consider animals in the future to compliment the set :) Blessings to you for sharing your talents with us.
Thank you! I am so glad you like the set! I attempted animals this year and they didn’t turn out well :( I will see what I can do for next year!
Hi i was wondering whee you got your little stable from x
I got it from an Etsy shop – http://tidd.ly/546c8c73
I recommend them!
Super j’attends avec impatience de pouvoir continuer cette si jolie crêche !
They are so cute !!!
Thank you!
I’m so excited to start this! I have never done a CAL before and am hoping my yarn arrives in time. Will the Angel use the same colors that you have listed? I love this so much that I am going to make a set for each of my children, my sister and myself! Thank you so much! It was a much needed bright spot to my entire week.
Kristin
Yes! I made the angel with the cream color. I am glad you are excited, I hope you enjoy it!
Next year will you be adding a sheep or a camel? To finish it off?
Kristin
I attempted animals this year and they looked too cutesy and a bit tacky. But I will try again! I will need to get started earlier, I think.
These are so amazing. I’m excited to make a set. Thank you!
Thank you Debbie!
I am so excited to get started on this! Very beautiful in its simplicity.
Bethany, I absolutely love your work! I did not participate last year (wasn’t on a computer then!) but would love to participate this year. I hope to have all the pieces from last year completed soon.
Thanks for sharing your talents,
Joy
Glad you like it Joy! We will be starting from the beginning, so no need to rush :)
I love this and I will definitely be following along. I just requested to join your group on Facebook. I need to up my crochet game and this is perfect for taking things up a notch. Thanks!
Glad you like it! I am happy to have you join us :)