This beautiful rustic crochet nativity set is a perfect addition to your holiday decor. It’s lovey to display and perfect for little hands to play with as well. Make one of these gorgeous nativity sets for yourself and make one to gift away this year! This post contains affiliate links which means I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Happy November! It’s time for our newly instated holiday tradition of our crochet Nativity Crochet Along!
WHAT IS A CROCHET ALONG?
Simply put, a crochet along (CAL) is simply a guided crochet project where we all work together, one day at a time!
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
Each day of the CAL, I will share the links/parts of the patterns we will be working on, and we will all work together. Sharing your progress is completely optional, but you may find enjoyment in doing so, and complimenting the work of others!
HOW DO I JOIN?
It’s each day, I will send out an email, and make a post on Facebook with the piece we will be working on that day. We will work together (in our own homes) on the same parts! You can be as active as you want to be!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The CAL itself has no fee, and the first 4 pieces patterns are FREE (Joseph, Mary, Baby, Manger) ! If you would like to work the entire set, you can get the full pattern in my shops:
Whistle and Ivy Shop
Ravelry
Etsy
It’s also available in my Endless Bundle, my all-access pass that includes my entire pattern library! Get it for one month for just $8.99! Learn more.
WHAT ARE THE DATES?
Nov. 10 – Nov 17. 2021
Want to get email notifications? Join my email list!
CROCHET NATIVITY SET – FREE CROCHET PATTERN
What you need:
– Size F hook (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!
This year, I altered my set slightly and condensed the colors so you wouldn’t need to buy so many colors. This might affect how many sets you can make with the suggested yarn, so please keep that in mind. You will be able to make one with the new suggestions, and I think possibly two, but this isn’t guaranteed!
I still have the full list in the PDF, so you can decide which way you want to go.
Condensed Color List: (For full set)
Briar Heather
Hare Heather
Bittersweet Heather
Oyster Heather
Wheat Heather
Marble Heather or Ash
Verdant Heather
Almond
Full Color List: (for full set)
Briar Heather(chocolate brown)
Hare Heather (taupe manger)
Wonderland Heather (Mary’s Blue cloak)
Bittersweet Heather (very dark brown)
Oyster Heather (cream)
Wheat Heather (faces)
Marble Heather (light, heather gray)
Ash (dark gray)
Almond (tree trunk)
Rooibos Heather (reddish brown)
Verdant Heather (forest green)
For Holy Family Mini Set (free patterns)
Hare Heather (taupe manger, bottom of Joseph
Oyster Heather – Mary’s Cloak, Baby Body
Briar Heather – Joseph Body
Wheat Heather – Faces
Marble Heather – Joseph Cloak, Mary Body
ALTERNATIVE YARN:
These are my suggestions for alternatives, I haven’t used these personally but I think they might make a good substitute if you would rather not use the yarn I have suggested.
– 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)
– WeCrochet Lindy Chain
– Paintbox DK Cotton
– Sheepjes Catona
– Creche
I wanted more of a rustic look to my creche, so I had my husband make me a new one this year. He made it with a lovely gray stain that I LOVE.
He has a few he is willing to sell, you can grab one here. We are only shipping to the US and Canada at this time as we try out shipping physical products. Thanks for your understanding! This could change in the future.
– Small Weights/washers/rocks:
I highly recommend putting small weights in the bottom of each figure to help them stand up better. Some crocheters have used washers with great success!
If you want to get a head start, here are the links to the free mini nativity set: Mary, Joseph and Baby/Manger.
The entire set includes 13 total figures: Along with the free pieces, you get 3 wisemen, 2 shepherds, a palm tree, a small laying sheep, an angel, and stars backdrop.
You can get the PDF in my shops:
Whistle and Ivy Shop
Ravelry
Etsy.,
You can also get the pattern included in the Whistle and Ivy all-access pass! The ENDLESS BUNDLE includes the entire library of patterns PLUS courses, videos, printable and more! Starting at just $8.99 per month!
⭐️LEARN MORE⭐️
Can’t wait to get started! Please let me know if you have questions!
xoxo,
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.