Crochet Christmas bag pattern with three festive character designs
Add handmade charm to your holiday season with this crochet Christmas bag pattern! This fun and festive design lets you create three adorable versions—a Santa, Snowman, and Gingerbread Man—all using the same easy base pattern. Simply change the yarn colors and add a few small embellishments for each character.
Whether you’re filling them with candy, small gifts, or stocking stuffers, these Christmas crochet bags are sure to bring smiles to everyone on your list. They also make wonderful reusable gift bags or cheerful holiday décor pieces you’ll love displaying year after year. The full free pattern is below.
If you enjoy festive home projects, you might also like my Santa Basket Crochet Pattern—another fun and easy Christmas design to make and display.
Why you’ll love this pattern
If you enjoy fun and festive holiday projects, this crochet Christmas bag pattern is sure to become a favorite. Each design is simple to make, adorable to display, and perfect for gift giving.
- Three patterns in one: Make a Santa bag, snowman bag, and gingerbread man bag using one simple base design.
- Beginner-friendly stitches: Uses basic crochet stitches like single crochet and chains—perfect for all skill levels.
- Customizable: Choose your favorite colors or mix and match to suit your holiday theme.
- Reusable & eco-friendly: Replace paper gift bags with a handmade keepsake your loved ones will treasure.
- Perfect for gifting: Great for filling with candy, stocking stuffers, or small gifts for teachers, friends, or family.
Looking for more quick and festive ideas? Try my Crochet Wreath Ornament Pattern for a cute matching décor piece that complements your holiday bags.
Crochet Christmas bag pattern details
Here’s everything you need to get started and make your crochet Christmas bags a success. Below you’ll find the skill level, materials, finished size, gauge, and helpful notes to guide you along the way.
Skill level
Easy / Beginner-friendly – this pattern uses basic stitches (single crochet and chains) and simple construction, making it a great project for confident beginners.
Materials needed
- Crochet hook size I-9 (5.5 mm) – Or the size needed to match the gauge.
- Worsted weight yarn (#4) – I used acrylic yarn.
🎅Santa: red, black, yellow
⛄️Snowman: white, black, orange
🤎Gingerbread man: brown, white, red, black - Yarn needle – For weaving in ends neatly.
- Scissors – To cut your yarn.
- Stitch markers (optional) – Helpful for keeping track of rounds and stitch counts.
Finished size
The finished bag measures approximately 8.25 inches (21 cm) wide and 11 inches (28 cm) long, not including the handles.
Gauge
9 stitches and 10 rounds = 2 inches (5 cm)
- If you have too many stitches, use a larger hook.
- If you have too few stitches, use a smaller hook.
Crochet abbreviations
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- blo = back loop only
- ch / chs = chain / chains
- st / sts = stitch / stitches
- sl st = slip stitch
Pattern notes
- This Christmas bag pattern is worked in the round from the base up.
- Use stitch markers to help keep track of rounds if needed.
- The ch 2 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.
- Join each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the round.
- The bag pattern is written in US crochet terms.
Free crochet Christmas bag pattern instructions
Ready to start stitching? Let’s dive into the color sequence and step-by-step instructions to bring your Christmas crochet bags to life.
Color sequence
Follow the color sequence below to customize your Christmas crochet bag pattern for Santa, Snowman, or Gingerbread Man.
Santa
- Red (Rounds 1–23) → bag base and body
- Black (Rounds 24–34) → belt section
- Red (Rounds 35–56) → upper section / top of bag
Snowman
- White (Rounds 1–50) → body
- Black (Rounds 51–56) → hat or trim section
Gingerbread man
- Brown (Rounds 1–6) → base
- White (Rounds 7–10) → icing accent
- Brown (Rounds 11–46) → main body
- White (Rounds 47–50) → top icing
- Brown (Rounds 51–56) → top border
Base of the bag
- Round 1 (64 sts): Ch 31, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 28 chs, 3 sc in last ch. Turn to work along the back side of the starting chain, sc in next 29 chs, 3 sc in the last ch. Join with sl st to first sc.
- Round 2 (70 sts): Ch 1, sc in next 29 sts, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 29 sts, 2 sc in each of last 3 sts. Join.
- Round 3 (82 sts): Ch 1, sc in next 29 sts, 2 sc in each of next 6 sts, sc in next 29 sts, 2 sc in each of last 6 sts. Join.
Body of the bag
- Round 4 (82 sts): Ch 1, sc in each stitch through the back loops only. Join with sl st to first sc.
- Rounds 5-53 (82 sts): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.
Adding the straps
Use locking stitch markers to mark the 20 center stitches on both the front and back of the bag. Start where you left off at the end of round 53.
- Round 54: Ch 1, sc in each st up to the first marker, ch 25, skip next 20 sts, sc in each st up to the next marker, ch 25, skip next 20 sts, sc in each remaining st around. Join with sl st to first sc.
- Round 55: Ch 1, sc in each st around, working 25 sc across each chain handle. Join.
- Round 56: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.
Adding Santa’s buckle
- With yellow yarn, ch 40 and join with a sl st to form a ring.
- Round 1: Ch 2, *sc in next 10 chs, ch 2*; repeat from * to * 3 more times. Join with sl st to first sc.
- The ch-2 spaces will form the corners of the buckle. Sew the buckle to the front of the bag, centered over the black belt between the handles.
Crochet snowman face pieces
Eyes
Make 2 in black
- Magic circle, ch 2, 10 hdc, join. (10 sts)
- Finishing: Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the eyes evenly spaced near the top center of the front of the bag.
Nose
Use orange yarn
- Ch 14, tr in 5th ch from hook, tr in next ch, dc in next 3 chs, hdc in next 3 chs, sc in next ch, sl st in last ch. Join, then work single crochets evenly around the nose.
- Finishing: Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Position the nose centered below the eyes and sew it in place with the wider end toward one side to resemble a carrot.
Smile
Use black yarn
- Thread a yarn needle with black yarn and stitch the snowman’s smile below the nose using backstitches or small straight stitches. Curve it gently for a cheerful expression.
Crochet gingerbread man face pieces
Eyes
Make 2 in black
- Round 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc, join. (6 sts)
- Round 2: Ch 2, 2 sc in each st around. Join. (12 sts)
- Finishing: Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew both eyes evenly spaced above the cheeks on the front of the bag.
Cheeks
Make 2 in red
- Round 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc, join. (6 sts)
- Round 2: Ch 2, 2 sc in each st around. Join. (12 sts)
- Round 3: Ch 2, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st; repeat around. Join. (18 sts)
- Finishing: Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the cheeks below the eyes, leaving space in between for the smile.
Smile
Use white yarn
- Chain 30 and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
- Shape the chain into a gentle curve and sew it between the cheeks to form the smile.
Finishing your Christmas bag
Weave in all ends securely. Block lightly if needed to shape the base and sides. Your crochet Christmas bag is complete! Fill it with treats or small gifts, and enjoy your handmade holiday creation year after year.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What skill level is this pattern?
A: This crochet Christmas bag pattern is perfect for beginners. If you can chain and single crochet, you’ll find it easy to follow.
Q: Can I make all three designs from one pattern?
A: Yes! The Santa, snowman, and gingerbread versions all use the same base pattern. You’ll just change the yarn colors and add a few simple embellishments for each character.
Q: What kind of yarn works best?
A: Medium weight (#4) yarn is ideal. Cotton yarn gives the bag extra sturdiness, but acrylic works great too if you want a softer texture.
Q: How big is the finished bag?
A: The finished size is about 8.25 inches (21 cm) wide and 11 inches (28 cm) long, not including the handles.
Q: Can I sell finished bags made from this pattern?
A: Absolutely! You’re welcome to sell finished bags made using this Christmas crochet bag pattern. Please credit Lovable Loops as the designer and link back to the free pattern when possible.
Q: Is there a printable version available?
A: Yes! You can find the ad-free, printable PDF version of this pattern in my Etsy shop.
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Let’s connect!
I’d love to see what you’re making! Come hang out with me on social media:
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Happy crocheting! 🧶 Don’t forget to pin this pattern so you can come back to it later!
— Melissa
