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,
Muchas gracias, Betania. Lo probaré.
Thank you so much, Betania. I will try it
Hola Betania. Estoy haciendo el burrito (Donkey) y siguiendo los patrones tuyos que compré en diciembre. La figura no queda simétrica. Se va desplazando. Incluso las patas quedan ladeadas. ¿No habría que ir corrigiendo un punto de desplazamiento en cada vuelta a partir de un determinado momento?
Hola Marcia!
La costura se inclinará ligeramente, pero ¿puedes probar con el SC de “punto de cruz”? Esto ayudará a que los puntos se alineen mejor (lo siento, si mis palabras son incorrectas, usé el traductor de Google)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iaqhpBayDA
I have the original set of the Nativity, but need the animals. I have the wise men and the shepards, the manger and baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph and the Angel. Also has the star and the palm trees. Can I get a price on just the animals?
Hi Carol! If you purchased the full set previously, you get all the updates for free! Send a screenshot of your receipt and I will get a copy to you :)
Bethany at whistleandivy dot com
I bought the set about three years or so ago and do not have a clue where the receipt is or if I even kept it. I’ve done a set (partial) for my granddaughter every year (Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus one year, shepards next year and this last year I did the wise men.) I really want to get her some animals to go with it. So, don’t mind paying for them but need to know how much.
Would you please send me an email and let me know know which email email address you would have used to buy it? I can look through my records and see if I can find you.
I don’t have a pattern that includes just animals, I only have the full set available.
Hi! I started Mary’s head today! I have quite a tight tension when I crochet so I actually tried a 3.75 hook. I could see the holes especially where there were two sc in one stitch to increase. I bumped down to the 3.5, but you can still see the stuffing at the very bottom where you decrease using 8 sc tog. Is that going to be a problem since it’s going to attach to the body? Should I try to do the smaller hook just on those stitches? Or make the whole thing again with the smaller hook?
The decrease row will look a bit holey, but you should be fine!
Would like all of the updated pieces please. There is no way to attach the screen shot of my receipt
Please send it via email, you can reply to the comment reply email.
I can’t find the free pattern on the website.
The green box with the figure photos, each links to the free pattern.
Hi
I am wanting to purchase your WHOLE set of nativity pieces instructions.
I got the yarn on WeCrochet and I see the pattern there for $6.99 https://www.crochet.com/rustic-nativity-set/p/17954D
Does that pattern set have the ALL PIECES of the nativity? camel- sheep- etc?
I want to be sure I am getting the COMPLETE instructions for ALL pieces.
Thanks!
No, that pattern is an old listing, and I don’t have access to update it myself on their website. It would be best to purchase it from the links on this page.
Hi! I got your patterns for the nativity set. Working on the camel but I don’t really get what you mean for row 31 – how do you tack it down by working through the loops on your piece and the loops on the ch, do I go round the outside of the leg or just go across the dc stitch in the leg closest to row 31 or something else? Hope to hear from you soon!
You are working through 2 layers, one is the regular stitch on the round, and the other is the very tip of the leg piece. This tacks it down in a shape that resembles an animal leg folded under itself.
It makes sense now. Thank you!
Great! You are welcome!
If I purchase the complete nativity set pattern today will it include the camel? If not maybe I should wait until it includes the camel …what do you suggest?
Hi Susan! The camel is included but all future updates are included in your purchase! So whenever you buy it, you will get updates if/when a new figure is released :)
I purchased the pattern on Etsy in November of 2022. How can I get an updated pattern that includes the donkey and camel? Thanks.
Hi Nancy! Please reply to the comment email with a screenshot of your receipt and I will get it to you!
I purchased the full pattern and see payment has processed through link. But I do not see the new pattern through an email link or to open on a new page. Where will the pattern come?
Where did you make your purchase? and did you make it using the email you provided here?
This the link on this item page on your blog site. Payment went through link. And yes same email.
I have links to both shops on this page, so it’s helpful to know which shop you used when searching for your purchase. Regardless, I was able to find you! I sent an email with the pattern uploaded. Sorry for the inconvenience!
I purchased the yarn bundle from We Crochet. Pattern is not included and the pattern can be downloaded for free here Rustic Crochet Nativity Set. I’m now on your website, it says I have to pay $8.50 for the nativity patterns. I see Mary, Joseph, and baby free on blog, but I would prefer to have one download containing all the patterns. Where can I get a free download of the nativity as advertised on We Crochet?
Hm, that is a mistake on their website, there is no free download, just the free patterns in-text on my website, and the full downloadable PDF for a fee. Thank you for letting me know about the mistake on their website, I will reach out to them to change it.
I would like the camel pattern, I bought the yarn set and pattern on we crochet. How do I send you a copy of my receipt? looking forward to making this set! thank you!
You can reply to this comment email with the receipt! Thanks!
I purchased the entire nativity set last year. How do I get the camel pattern now? Thank you!
Hi Kay! Please reply to this comment email with a screenshot of your receipt, and I will get you an updated copy! Thanks!
Hi there! I bought all of the yarn years ago when all the patterns were free during the CAL. I finally dug the yarn out & I’m starting my nativity! I noticed the yarn color list has been updated. I have Rooibos Heather & Ash instead of Gosling & Pumice Heather. Will the 2 colors I have work or should I buy the 2 new ones listed? Thanks so much!
Hi Heather! Roobios is a dark reddish brown, I omitted it from this newest one because I used it only for one of the wisemen’s cloaks, and it seems like a waste to have a full skein that wasn’t used for multiple pieces. Ash is a true gray, I used it that one year because Marble Heather was hard to find, it was always sold out! Gosling and Pumice heather are lighter shades of gray that I used to make the donkey , so if you are just making the Holy Family, you don’t need those colors.
Love this nativity! I ordered the yarn suggested at Wecrochet – Is it enough yarn for the Complete ALL figures or just the holy family? thanks
Oh yes! You can complete 2 or even more sets of you mix and match colors.
How do I get the camel?!? I have all the rest, but I really want that camel!!
I couldn’t find the pattern.
The free mini set or the paid full pattern?
I just bought a copy of the pattern before you released the CAL could I get a copy with the camel?
Yep! Send me an email with a screenshot of your receipt and I will get it to you! You can reply to the comment reply email.
I already have this pattern. How can I get the camel pattern?
Please email me a screenshot of our receipt and I will send you an updated copy: Bethany at whistleandivy dot com