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!
This post contains affiliate links which means I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
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.
Let me help.
PICTURE THIS:
Instant access to a library of modern, easy-to-follow patterns
Gifting your handcrafted treasures to your loved ones.
Feeling accomplished by your beautiful makes
It’s time to make your crafting experience as joyful as it should be.
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,
If we have previously bought the original pattern, how do we get just the cow pattern?
You get all the updates at no extra cost! If you bought on ravelry or any of my shops, you should see an email soon. If you bought on Etsy, send me a message in the Etsy app and I will help you get it.
Hi Beth,
I love these! How big are they and what weight yarn did you use?
Thank you Patty! I used a fingering weight, and the Joseph figure is about 5″ tall.
Will there be an addition to the nativity this year 2026?
I am trying!
Hi, Bethany. First I want to thank you for these awesome patterns. I love them. I bought the nativity when you first brought them out, years ago. I would love to get the camel, donkey and sheep, if I could. I don’t have my receipt as I bought them so many years ago. How can I get the finished patterns? I made t hem for my granddaughter and would love to make her the rest of the set.
Hi Carol! Send me an email with your full name and any/all email addresses you would have used to make your purchase and I will see if I can track your purchase down.
Bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com
Do you have any videos to get started specifically with the nativity set? I bought the pattern from my son and he is confused by the slip stitches and chaining each round. He’s followed along with patterns before, but he is struggling with this one.
I can help! I don’t have a video, but they are designed using joined rounds instead of continuous rounds (a spiral).
For Joseph, for instance, you will work your magic ring, work 8 sc into the ring, then working a sl st into the 2 loops of the first sc you worked. The sl st does NOT count as a stitch. When you begin row 2, you will chain 1 (to gain the height you need) , then work your first st in the first sc from the previous round, which is also the same st you worked your sl st join. Work 2 stitches in each sc (counting helps tremendously until you get the hang of the seam), and when you get back to the beginning, you will ignore the sl st, ignore the ch 1, and join using a sl st into the top 2 loops of the FIRST sc worked of the round.
I need help with getting the pictures that go along with the nativity pattern. I bought that pattern, downloaded, and printed it, but only Joseph is pictured with the pattern. All the other photo spots have a ! where the pictire is suppose to be. What is wrong? I printed 30+ pages to get no pictures to go by.
Hi Sabrina! Are the photos loading on your digital copy?
It sounds like something may have gone awry during the downloading process, you might need to try downloading again, or check your settings, perhaps your computer has scanning software that is stripping the photos from the PDF.
Dear Bethany, last 27th November I bought your rustic Nativity Scene, I liked it very much and I have already made several versions for my family. I would like you to keep me in mind when you make new figures. Thank you very much.
Hi Pilar! I send an email blast whenever I updated the pattern, so look for that email :)
I just learned how to crochet in the round {using stitch markers). I am so confused why each round has a chain 1 at the beginning and a join at the end. I have started Joseph’s head several times thinking that I’d get it, but I need a wee bit of hand holding for this project. Help! This is the cutest crochet project I’ve ever seen, and I really want to figure it out! ❤️
Hi Heather! These are not worked in the round they are working in joined rounds :) You will start your round with a ch1, then work your first st in the *same* st as the chain. When you reach the end, be sure you are not working in the join sl st (look below and make sure you see the “V” shape of the sc from the previous row. You will finish with a sort of corner, the sl st join will be the bottom, and the ch 1 will be the side, ignore them both and join with the first sc you worked in the round. Does that help?
I am having hard time with the sheep head. If it is a continuous round what is the purpose of the chain at the end of each row? It seems to add extra stitches to each round treating in a bigger count at the end of the project. Thanks!
Holy Moly! this pattern is years old and has been purchased hundreds and hundreds of times, and neither myself nor anyone else has caught this (or no one how noticed it made me aware. Holy yikes! I am so sorry! Is your K*****@yahoo.com (censoring it out here for your privacy) a good email address to send an updated copy?
Hi, am I able to get an update please, I have my sheep to do yet.
Thanks
Jayne
Yes, please send a screenshot of your receipt to my email: Bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com.
Hello!
I am looking to make a nativity exactly like this, but in a “huggable” size with some weight in it. I have never made amigarumi items before, so I wondered how difficult this would be to start, and how to enlarge it if possible. Any suggestions?
Hi Cassie! If you are familiar with basic stitches, you can do it! The easiest way would be to use chunky yarn or even 2 strands of chunky yarn and work the pattern as-is. You will need to do some experimenting to get the size you are wanting.
I love the little structure you have in the original picture. Did you make that and if so what are the measurements for the wood? Also did you use 1/2″ or 1″ thick? Thanks so much.
Hi heather! The original photo down at the bottom shows a creche that was purchased online from a seller no longer in business. He used wood moulding scraps to make the creche.
Thank you. Are you referring to the one with the routed edges? I like the simpler grey one.
Hi! I LOVE your Rustic Nativity set and am hoping to purchase it soon. However, I’m allergic to wool. I know you listed different yarn alternatives, but do you know if they will give the same look? I usually use acrylic for everything, sometimes cotton…
Hi Tracy! The look will be different of course, BUT I was just at the craft store today and thought that the new Lion Brand Respun “Bonus Bundle” would be gorgeous to use! It’s got a rustic, wool look to it, and even though the label says it’s a #4 worsted, it is NOT. I would say its finer than a sport weight, so I think it would actually be a perfect weight for the nativity, plus the line has a lot of muted, rustic tones.
I have the patterns for all the pieces except the animals. How can I get them? Thank you
Hi Catherine! If you bought from Ravelry, you can log in and download it from your library, the newest version is there. If you bought from my shop, you can get the newest version by clicking the “view product” button in your receipt email. That button will always take you to the latest version when future updates come out. If you bought from Etsy, please send me an email with a screenshot of your receipt: bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com
You talk about using small weights, could you share a link or explain exactly what you used? Thank you!
Hi Melissa! I used small glass stones, but others have used washers with great success.
Is there any additions to the Nativity Set this year? Thank you!
Hi Stacey!
There won’t be any new additions this year, BUT I have a nativity “adjacent” project that will be coming out at the beginning of next year. More info is forth coming!
How do i get the camel? I purchased the rest of the set. I think i was told you can get the additional pieces for free
Yep! Please send me an email with a screenshot of your receipt and will get you and updated copy!
Bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com
Hi I have purchased the rustic nativity set but it does not have the camel yet. Could i get the camel?
Yes! Send me an email with a screenshot of your purchase receipt and I will reply with an updated copy! All purchases include all future updates!
Bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com
I’m working on the nativity set and came to the sheep. I can’t understand where exactly the head is positioned and mostly the face. Is it on the end of the head or on the side. Thanks so much. Enjoying doing this after having the patterns many years.
Hi Cheryl! I put it on the side so the sheep lays and looks to the side, but you can sew it on however if you prefer.
Hi Bethany – while doing the camel, the entire neck ends up turning at an angle – is there any way to ensure it aligns with the rest of the body? Thanks
Hi Melanie! You can try working a “cross stitch” sc, if you aren’t already.
Where can I find the pattern for the camel? I made this set years ago and would love to add the camel.
Hi Karen! If you purchased the full set, all additions are included! Please send me an email with a screenshot of your receipt and I will get you an updated copy!
Bethany (at) whistleandivy (dot) com
Where can I find some basic instructions for the nativity set? I need to see how to join and then after I chain one where do I start? I tried joining from a YouTube I watched but my baby Jesus looks horrible along the seam. Please help.
Hi Karen! I don’t have a video for the nativity, but I am happy to offer help. When you finish your sl st join, you will work that first sc in the first st of the previous row, the same stitch you joined with a sl st.
Hi I don’t understand how to attach the ears on the camel. Can you please help.
Hi Vidalia! Instead of sewing then on, you will just pull them through the head, Pull one end through one side of the head, leaving one ear on one side, the long middle strip in the middle/inside of the head, and the other side of the ear piece on the other side. Does that help?
I use a slightly smaller hook on the decrease rows and the first 2 rows of increase. It seemed to help make the transition less noticeable.