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,
Hey there. If I were to buy every color you listed about how many sets would I get out of it? I am wanting to make these for my grandmas my husband’s grandma and mother. I am so excited to gift these!! Thank you a ton!
So I hate to give an answer here. I haven’t sat down with fresh balls and made the whole set at once, they were added gradually and I used different colors here and there. I think you can get two at least.
What is the name of the Etsy shop where you bought the creche? The link isn’t working for me.
Its called JJ Ladells
The link for the standing visitors is not working, just taking me to a Page not found.
We are in the middle of our 2019 nativity CAL, the scheduled posts will be temporarily unavailable until their publish date.
Hi, looking for the nativity set pattern. Unfortunately I found the crochet along already happened in Nov. Fyi, I joined the group and email list. Thanks in advance.
If you scroll to the bottom of this post, you will find links to each figure.
OK this may be a dumb question but I can’t seem to figure out how to keep the rocks in while trying to finish crocheting the bottom of Mary. Can you please help me? Thanks
how many rows left do you have when you are trying to add the rocks?
I am trying to add them after row 15 on Mary right after put in the stuffing. I may have over stuffed with the poly fill.
Update! I finally figured it out. I had too much poly fill & too many rocks. I am loving this set. I am a little behind but hope to catch up this weekend.
Oh yay! Glad you got it!
If I buy the pattern from etsy will it include the sheep?
It’s not included in the PDF just yet!
Okay, thank you! I will wait a little while to buy the pattern and just get started off the free ones here on your site. I’m excited to get started!
Thanks for your patience Melanie!
Thanks for asking. I had the same question. I want to purchase the PDF once the sheep is added. I can’t follow the patterns because there are so many ads and my phone likes to click them when I’m trying to scroll.
Yes, the sheep is included.
Greetings from Rockingham – Western Australia. Do the nativity instructions have an accompanying video – and if so where do I access that please?
There is no video, very sorry Tracy!
Hi Bethany,
Thank you so much for the beautiful patterns. They are so fun to make!! I’ve seen some camels and sheep in different pictures… are there patterns to that somewhere for free on your website? Or do I have to buy them somewhere?
Hi Dani! You are probably seeing photos by other users :) I don’t have animals yet, but I will have a sheep at the end our CAL!
I loved making m iij ne. I took off the face piece of the sheep and pointed the ears up it turned into a cute little donkey and with a smaller face piece a little deer. Thank you so much I have been looking for a unique nativity scene and now I have one.
To make the entire set, do I need only 1 skein of each color yarn?
Yes only one skein of each.
Can you tell me approximate size of pieces? Especially heights. Considering crocheting a crèche but want it all to look right together.
It depends on your gauge, hook and yarn, but my Jospeh is approx. 5″ tall.
Can you use worsted weight yarn for this project?
Will we get the angel pattern too, or is it some other place? Can’t wait to start!
YES! The angel is included, thanks for the reminder!
Hi Beth, I’m really excited about the Nativity Crochet Along. I was wondering if WeCrochet will be offering a kit with the suggested colors?
I love this set – are any of the patterns available currently available? The links in earlier comments just come back to the same page, and I can’t find the patterns.
Thanks!
Hello!
I wasn’t thinking when I rewrote the pattern for the CAL! I added links to all the figures at the bottom of the page.
Thank you! (And sorry for hijacking another comment)
Hello, is one skein per color enough for this pattern? Also, are their any other 100% wool 2 ply yarns you recommend or is this the best one for this project? Thank you so much, I’m so excited to participate in this crochet along, it’s my first one!
Yes, 1 is plenty! This yarn is my favorite, so I don’t have alternative suggestions. I’m sorry!
So happy to see this. I have my pattern and all supplies. I made Joseph, Mary, Baby and manger 2 years ago. I want to crochet the rest. I have a creche coming that I think will work.
I have made 5 sets of the nativity set since 2017. I used #4 yarn so my figures are taller but just as beautiful. The latest set I made is for a silent auction at my church. Thank you for these amazing patterns. If you ever do a pattern for the animals, I’d be interested.
I would love to make this for a Christian friend. Can you please offer a cruelty=free yarn that approximates the yarn you used?
Hi Jerri! I can’t think of one, I am very sorry!
Thank you.
natural wool is very cruelty free. the sheep need to be sheared. they are well taken care of. they are not killed to get the wool off – it is trimmed like a hair cut –
Hello, love these sets. Thank you so much for offering them to us free of charge! I have just 1 question? Is the 2016 set still available? I have never seen it but someone mentioned it here….can you guide me to it please? And are there any more previous sets or is 2016 as far back as it goes? Thanks
Hi Rose! The patterns are the same for all years, I have just added extra figures. Is that what you mean?
Loved it this!!! Made it for my daughter and son in law last year for Christmas. Wondering if your are adding any animals?
Thank you! I am working on a little sheep (the animals are proving to be quite challenging to design!). So I feel confident that I will have a sheep this year. Next on my list are a donkey and camel.
Can,t wait for the camel. I adore this set. The best ever! Have made sixT he. PALM TREE IS SO BEAUTIFUL
SO glad you like it! I am not sure when I will have a camel but I will have a sheep this year :)
Can this set be made with worsted weight yarn & if so what size of hook?
It might change the size but you could definitely try! I would use the smallest hook that you can manage.
Would you be considering another CAL this year. I want to do the set for my first grandchild’s wedding, and i want it to be extra special and beautiful. I just don’t trust myself to do it alone.
I hadn’t thought to, but I really like this idea. I will think about it! I am hoping to get the animals done, but it’s been a challenge!
I’d be down for this CAL too!! 😄😄
I am ordering the yarn today. I would also be interested in doing it as a CAL.
I have had so much interest that I think I will!
yay!
I would love to join in too!
yay! I am putting in on my calendar. I will share details in a few weeks!
Yay! Just found this and absolutley love it!
I have been making this up using Hobby Lobby’s Sugarwheel cotton because the colors are already coordinated within each skein and I wasn’t sure I could do it so I wanted to practice on a smaller investment. So far it’s been turning out great! I am curious about the shepherd’s crook shown on the picture of the kneeling visitor. I can’t seem to find instructions. Please help?
Its just wire that I bent into a crook shape :)
I have made a few of the pieces so far and I am working on the wise men now. I am having a very hard time with the turban. I got it done but I am not understanding how to tie the knot and wrap the length of yarn. Can someone please explain it better?
I am sorry, I tried to explain as best as I could. You will be “scrunching” it to look like a turban, so you will insert your needle into the turban a row above the chains and then back out the bottom, and then back through the top, going around so it scrunches it up.