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,
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How many sets can be made with the yarn on the list (1 skein of each of 11 colors)? Thank you!
Can anyone give me a list of alternative yarn brands and a color list? I cannot use wool! I live in a warm climate and we have moths that destroy any project that I make with wool. I can’t imagine doing all the work for this beautiful nativity to have a moth damage it. Please help me out with some yarn alternative suggestions!
I used the red heart brand and picked my own colors.
I’ve made this set many times with lots of different yarns. I often just use what I have on hand. If you use Super Saver, the set will be slightly larger than Bethany’s set. My favorite yarn to use is Caron Simply Soft because they have the muted colors that makes it feel “rustic”. Good luck!
Love this pattern!! Sweetest nativity crochet set I’ve found. I’m making two small sets for my sisters for Christmas and bought the creche you recommended. (The Etsy website says they’re going out of business, though.) Thanks for all of your great patterns!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Thanks for the heads up on the shop, darn it! I will have to shop around and find another one to recommend.
I bought my creche from them back in April and it said the same thing and it looks like they still have a lot of inventory.
I loved mine I used Red heart yarn. I will continue to follow to see if you add another addition so I can add it to my set.
I am struggling with the manger.
I think I am missing something at the “turn 90 degrees” …..
it say two more hdc… but I didn’t do kne before that…
You are just rotating the piece in your hand so you can work down the next side.
Ty, so there is no chain one, just rotate then 2 hdc ?
Btw , can you change my name to Pat and remove the email address showing in the above comment ? Ty
Yes because you are not working a new row, you are working a border around your flat square, eliminating the raw edge. 2 hdc make 3 with the last st forming a corner.
Loved making this!!! I gifted it to my daughter and her family two years ago! And last year I made two of the laying sheep. Wondering if there is another animal to add this year?
Hello! I am working on my third natavity set, but I am having issues with Mary’s shawl. The very last step to do at down the short side to make a hood. Where exactly are you putting the sl St? Do you by any chance have a photo of where exactly that is?
Did you fold it in half? Once it’s folded in half, it will have a short side, then you will sl st it, sewing it into a hood shape. The foundation chain is the part the faces out around her head and face, so you will sl st along the folded last row.
I appriciate your respond however I am still not getting it. Thanks for your time. I have tore it apart 3 or 4 times and it’s just not turning out. Do I tie off the last row then fold? And I am just not understanding where the sl St goes.
You don’t need to tie off. Once you finish the row, you are at the end. Folding it in half put your two ends against each other, and the middle of the last row right at the fold. Where you left off is where you can slip st. This will sew the beginning and the end of the last row together, ending at the middle of the last row (which is now the fold. Does that make sense? All the decreases in the middle help form the hood, round shape, the back just needs to be stitched up and closed.
You are welcome to send me a photo so I can see what’s going on. Bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com
Love, love, love your patterns! I made your nativity set and I’m just wondering if you are making any new additions this year? Would love more animals….
I can’t commit, but I am *hoping* to add another one in November. We will see!
I will continue to follow in hopes that you add a new piece so I can add it to mine I love making this last year
Thank you so much for sharing this! It’s amazing how real the Nativity scene becomes just by following your instructions.
Thank you! So glad you like it! ❤️
I just started your little navity screen thank you.
You’re welcome!
How many nativities are you able to make out of all that yarn? I’m assuming you’re using 50 gr balls?
Yes 50 gr. I believe you can get 2 out of the suggested supplies, but I think you could get more if you mixed around the colors. Some of them are used up more, so switching them around would get the whole amount of yarn to go farther.
This is so wonderful. I will be buying the entire set pattern off Etsy! Thanks for sharing. One question however. I know color wise you haven’t found a comparable brand of yarn to the one you recommend. But texture and weight wise what should I be looking for? Weight 1? Cotton? Wool? Acrylic? Thanks!
So glad you like it! The yarn I used is a fingering weight 100% wool.
A lot of the yarn colors you have listed are out of stock, is there another brand of yarn you would recommend? I’m asked by a family member to make for her kiddos 😍
I am sorry! I can’t recommend any other yarn, as I have only used this one. There are lots of neutrals you can choose that I think would work really well. I haven’t found another kind with the same array of colors and rustic look. I am sorry I am not more help!
Totally fine! Thank you for your response!!
I’m using Red Heart yarn, and a 3.125mm hook. They may not have the rustic look but are coming out beautiful!!
Question tho on Cape #2…
For round 1 should it be DC in 3rd stitch instead of 2nd stitch to give you 21sts?
Thank you Brittany for sharing alternatives.
Nooo, you took the patterns down! 😆 I totally understand, it was generous for you to offer them for free, but I’m sad because I smack dab in the middle of making this darling nativity.
They are available in my shop and in my Endless Bundle! I want to keep designing crochet patterns and keep blogging, but everything is changing and I must make changes to make this blog viable, I am sorry :( Thank you for understanding!
Are there any animals that go with this pattern?
Just one sheep, the link is the last link of the link list.
Good morning from Lima, Peruvian capital city… it s a warm n pleasant sunny day here, all is calm, all is warm, praying for all those people around the world GOD THROU this storm we are going throu passes to soon see the rainbow shines again. Kindly let me you are a genious, your pieces of Joseph, Mary and Jesus are unbelievable handmade, congratsssss… and too many thanks for sharing the pattern with all the patience and good will. Please do care and keep safe, best regards! Liliana
Hi Beth,
I am crocheting your nativity Mary. Some of your rows say to join and some do not say join. Is that an over sight or do I really not join?
Sorry about that! You will join every row.
Thank you!!
I can’t get the stable link to open.
Hm, I’m sorry it appears to be working for me! You can search it straight on Etsy, the shop is called JJLadells
Thank you for sharing! I love the set and it is easy to work.
You are very welcome!
Thank you for making this pattern available for us. I love it. It was a lot of fun to make. I still need to get the shepherds’ hooks and a crèche, but otherwise it is finished.