Welcome back to the 2023 Rustic Nativity CAL! Today we will complete the holy family and make Joseph.

I saw a few creative variations in the Facebook Group last year for Joseph and I took a few of them to heart. A tie around his waist and a variation in color adds a lot! THANK YOU for your inspiration! 

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I saw a few creative variations in the Facebook Group last year for Joseph and I took a few of them to heart. A tie around his waist and a variation in color adds a lot! THANK YOU for your inspiration! 

CROCHET NATIVITY – JOSEPH

Please remember: You are free to use this pattern to make and sell, but do not republish or distribute this pattern in any way. DO NOT use my photos in your listings. Please do share my blog links! It’s a quick and FREE way of supporting Whistle and Ivy and more free crochet patterns in the future. 
PLEASE read my Disclaimer before working my free patterns! 

What you need: (affiliate links)
-Fingering Weight Yarn (Palette Yarn)
   [Briar Heather, Wheat Heather, Marble Heather (or Ash) , Bittersweet Heather, Hare Heather]
3.5mm Hook
Darning Needle

Abbreviations: (American terms)
Ch – Chain
Sc – Single Crochet
Sc2tog- SC decrease
St – Stitch


Gauge: Not important, make sure your stitches are tight enough that you can’t see stuffing or spaces between the stitches – Joseph Stands approx. 5″ tall

READY TO MAKE THE FULL SET?

The mini set (Joseph, Baby, Mary) are FREE! The full set includes a sheep, camel, donkey, wisemen, shepherds, stars, angel, and palm tree and is available in my shops:


Notes: Ch 1 does not count. Work the first st in the same st as the chain. Always join with the first st, not the chain. :

HEAD:
Use Wheat Heather

Magic Ring
1. Ch 1. Sc 8 in ring. Join. (8 sts)
2. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st. Join. (16 sts)
3. Ch 1. Sc in same st. *Sc in next 2 sts, work 2 sc in next st* work 5 times. Join. (21 sts)
4. – 6. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (21 sts)
7. Ch 1. Sc in next 3 sts. *Sc2tog. Sc in next 2 sts* work 4 times. Sc2tog. Join. (16 sts)
Stuff Head.
8. Ch 1. Sc2tog 8 times. Join. (8 sts)
9. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (8 sts)

Join Briar Heather
Body:
1. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st. Join. (16 sts)
2. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (16 sts)
3. Ch 1. *Sc in next 3 sts. Work 2 sc in next st* work 4 times. Join. (20 sts)
4. – 7. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (20 sts)
8. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in same st. Sc in next 9 sts. Work 2 sc in next st. Sc in next 9 sts. Join. (22 sts)
9. – 11. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (22 sts)
12. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in same st. Sc in next 10 sts. 2 sc in next st. Sc in next 10 sts. Join. (24 sts)
13 – 14. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (24 sts)
15. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in same st. Sc in next 11 sts. Work 2 sc in next st. Sc in next 11 sts. Join. (26 sts)
16. – 18. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (26 sts)
Join Hare Heather
19. – 21. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join. (26 sts)

22. Ch 1. Hdc in each st around. Join. (26 sts)
23. Work in Third Loop:
Ch 1. Sc in same st. Sc2tog. *Sc in next st. Sc2tog* work 7 times. Sc in next 2 sts. Join. (18 sts)
Stuff. Place small stones or weights.
24. Ch 1. Sc in same st. Sc2tog. *Sc in next st. Sc2tog* work 5 times. Join. (12 sts)
25. Ch 1. Sc2tog 6 times. Join. (6 sts)
Break yarn, leave a long tail. Sew the small remaining hole shut with tail.

CLOAK:
Use Marble Heather
Magic Ring
1. Ch 1. Sc 10 in ring. Join. (10 sts)
2. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st. Join (20 sts)
3. Ch 1. *Sc in next 2. Work 2 sc in next st* work 6 times. Sc in next 2 sts. Join (26 sts)
4. – 5. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join (26 sts)
Join Bittersweet Heather. 
6. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join (26 sts)
Pull up Marble Heather (or Ash) 
7. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Join (26 sts)
You will be working the back, with will be turning, instead of working all around the circle. 
8. Ch 1. Sc2tog. Sc in next 15 sts. Sc2tog. Turn. (17 sts)
9. Ch 1. Sc in next 17 sts. Turn. (17 sts)
10. Ch 1. Sc2tog. Sc in next 13 sts. Sc2tog. Turn (15 sts)
11. Ch 1. Sc in each st. Turn (15 sts)
12. Ch 1. Sc2tog. Sc in next 11 sts. Sc2tog. Turn (13 sts)
13. Ch 1. Sc in each st.  (13 sts)
Break yarn. Weave in tail. 

crochet nativity Joseph cloak free crochet pattern

The ends of the cloak tend to curl a tad, so you can wet block it if you need. I secured it to Joseph’s head with a small dab of hot glue in each bottom corner (I know my kids will play with all the accessories and undoubtedly lose something, so I am nipping that in the bud). 

You can also finish Joseph by tying a length of yarn around his waist. 

Get all the patterns on the main page here. 




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50 Comments

  1. I love this pattern I’m making a couple of sets. I downloaded the new modified pattern with the donkey and I started a new Joseph and the new pattern for his body is missing parts 19-21. It didn’t make any difference to me because I have finished him before but it might confuse someone new to the pattern. Thank you so much for the addition of the donkey, love it.

    1. Hello! So glad you love the little donkey!
      I checked my files and those rows are there on page four at the very top of the second column. Maybe your file was corrupted during the download? Send me an email I will get you a fresh copy.

  2. Hi Beth, was looking in my raverly library this a.m. at my nativity pattern snd it seems like pages are missing and not in order. I do not know how to prove that I purchased it however it is in my library and I have made several sets padt Christmases as gifts. What do I do to show proof of purchase or correct my situation. Thank you so much for your creativity and the beautiful pattern.

  3. Hello, my daughter purchased this pattern for me and i am suuper excited to finish it. My Mary is a bit odd shaped. is she kneeling or have i made a mistake?

  4. I made this set for myself last winter while I was recovering from major surgery. I absolutely love it. I did it in gingerbread colors and it turned out beautiful.

  5. Loving this so much. This is my first project using anything other than chunky yarn and I didn’t realize how tiny fingering yarn was until it arrived. It’s been a challenge getting use to the small hook and tiny yarn but I am getting there and have just finished Joseph. Thank you so much for this pattern. My nana is going to love it!

      1. Thank you! You’re so talented! I love how easily Joseph worked up. I’m gifting this set to my mother who could definitely use some Christmas spirit. Thanks again and happy holidays!

  6. Hello! Thanks a million for making and sharing these beautiful patterns! I have a question about Joseph. In row 22 do I still join at the end of that round?

  7. I’m loving this CAL. Could you tell me where you purchased the simple wood frame stable? I completes the rustic look so well.

    Thank you

  8. Stones aren’t in the materials list. I’m confused what these are and what they are for. Thanks for the excellent patterns and the help!

  9. Oh, thank you so much! I so want to make this nativity set. This will help teach my 2 year old grandson how baby Jesus was born and the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you so much for sharing this.

  10. Hi Bethany! I love this nativity! I have a question though. For the head, once you’ve completed a round you join and then to start the next round, chain one and then single crochet…Do you begin the SC in the same stitch? Like in the stitch you joined to, or in the following stitch?

    1. If you are not counting the chain as the first st (which the pattern doesn’t) you will work the first st in the same st as the Chaim. Does that make sense?

  11. I just finished Joseph tonight! I used a 1″ glass cabochon to stabilize the bottom and it worked very well! This is a simple and easy to understand pattern. Thank you for helping bring the true meaning of Christmas into our homes.

  12. Is there a reason you chose to join each round rather than working continuously? I’m not wild a out the crooked seam it produces.

  13. Finished Joseph last night :) I have been wanting a nativity set that our kids can play with ever since our oldest was born…9 years ago lol
    Patiently waiting for Mary :D

  14. Hi! I love this idea! My question is in the body, 22. and 23. – hdc is half double crochet, right? So when you say, ‘work in third loop’, for some reason I am confused with this? Can you elaborate please and thank you so much for all of these patterns!!

      1. Bethany, this is where I’m stuck, too. So we are to work on the ‘back’ third loop so the V’s we would normally use to stitch will be turned in and will not show, correct? Sorry for the question, but I’m new at this. Thank you for your help.

        1. No the back loop is farthest from you, so the v’s will still be facing toward you. Doe that make sense? You won’t turn your work, just flip your project down a bit to see the back of the stitch, but you still want the front of the stitches facing you.

  15. For Joseph’s cloak, the end of round 6 says to pull up ash gray. Ash gray is not on the list of colors needed for Joseph. Did you continue the cloak in the marble heather or the ash gray?

  16. Oh, thank you so much! I so want to make this nativity set. When my children were small, we made little figures from papier mache and dressed them in little pieces of material and silver paper from cigarette packets. This brings back the joy and excitement we had in preparing for Christmas. My kids are all grown up now and far away. They will be together for Christmas and I would like to send them this set all crocheted. They all have blankets I made for them too. Regards and thanks Julia Fraser