Crochet Santa Free Pattern for a Kitchen Towel Topper

Nov 25, 2023 | Crochet patterns

A crochet Santa free pattern for a festive holiday towel holder by Nana’s Crafty Home!

Deck your kitchen with festive charm and whimsy with this free crochet pattern for a Santa Towel Topper. This delightful pattern for a fun and jolly Santa will be the perfect addition to your Christmas holiday kitchen!

I have been gradually adding to my ever-growing list of seasonal towel toppers over the last several years. After I released my Christmas Granny Square Blanket last Christmas I knew that several of those squares would make a fun addition to my towel toppers including the ever lovable and iconic Santa!

I used my Santa Granny square as an inspiration for this pattern and I love how he turned out! His fuzzy beard, rosy red mouth, jolly red hat and twinkling black eyes are exactly how I remember the Santa figure of my youth.

An adorable addition to your own kitchen this Christmas or he would make the perfect last-minute gift for someone special. And, since you know Santa Claus might be lonely on his own, be sure to check out my Mrs. Claus Towel Topper for the perfect holiday kitchen pairing!

Table of Contents

Crochet Santa Towel Holder Pattern Details

My easy crochet santa free pattern begins with two panels of single crochet worked in a perfect single crochet circle. For his face I am using some color work – white for his beard, cream for his face and red for his hat. I am using the tapestry color work method for most of his face by dropping the color I am not using, working over it until needed and then picking it up again. This method will help with the amount of ends you will have to weave in. However, if you prefer you can also fasten off and join again when needed.

The single crochet stitches worked for his beard as well as the first round of red for his hat are worked in the back loops only. This will leave the front loop of those stitches to come back and crochet on his beard. The beard is a very simple slip stitch, ch 2 worked in each of those unused front loops.

I used Red Heart Super Saver* yarn for my crochet santa free pattern. Red Heart Super Saver yarn is a medium weight #4 acrylic worsted weight yarn. But, you could certainly use any yarn you have on hand – a fantastic project for scraps! The beard for my santa is the fuzzy Bernat Pipsqueak yarn but you could also use regular worsted weight white yarn if desired.

I have man towel topper patterns that utilize a hidden 3″ ring* which allows the towel to be removable. I purchase my rings from Amazon* but you can substitute with inexpensive plastic shower rings, wood rings or even elastic hair ties. All have been used successfully by other makers.

*This post contains affiliate links. You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase. I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Get ready to transform your kitchen with my vibrant collection of free crochet towel topper patterns, bursting with charm for every season! These clever designs feature a hidden 3″ ring for effortless towel removal and washing, showcasing playful Christmas, fresh spring, sunny summer, and quirky gnome themes. Perfect for crocheters of all levels, these patterns are your ticket to a cozy, colorful kitchen.

This crochet Santa towel holder pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF! You can purchase the individual pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)

Purchase the ad-free pdf of the crochet Santa Claus Towel Topper pattern for a small fee. Thank you so much for supporting my work!

If you would like daily crochet inspiration be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter and Tumblr!

To get notified of my free crochet patterns and future giveaways, sign up for my newsletter. I never share or sell your information to third parties — it stays private!

You may also like the following free patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

Santa Gnome Christmas Ornament free crochet pattern

Santa Towel Topper free crochet pattern

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

Red Heart Super Saver Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic, 7 oz / 370 yds)

White 0.2 oz / 11 yds (White)
Aran 0.2 oz / 11 yds (Cream)
Hot Red 0.5 oz / 27 yds (Red)

Bernat Pipsqueak Weight 5 / Bulky

Whitey White 0.4 oz / 12 yds (Fuzzy)

Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook
1 – 3” plastic ring
2 – 10 mm black safety eyes
1 – 3/4” button
Embroidery floss for sewing on button
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch Markers

Approximate finished size: 5 1/2” round (not including towel)

Gauge: 5” = 9 rounds of sc

Abbreviations:

WS = wrong side
RS = right side
MC = magic circle
ch(s) = chain(s)
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
sk = skip
sp = space
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
hdc = half double crochet

Pattern Notes:

Work in continuous rounds, do not join, instead use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Towel topper is worked in two panels which are then joined together at the end.
Plastic ring is crocheted over while working back panel.
When changing colors on face, carry and work over colors (tapestry crochet method) not being used unless otherwise indicated.

Recommended Tutorials:

How to make a perfect circle tutorial

Tapestry crochet tutorial

Front Panel

Round 1: (RS) With cream, make a MC, ch 1, 3 sc in MC, switch to white, 3 sc in MC, switch to cream, tighten ring. (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in next 3 sts, switch to white, working in BLO, 2 sc in next 3 sts, switch to cream. (12)

Round 3: Working in both loops, *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * 2 times, switch to white, in BLO, repeat from * to * 3 times, switch to cream. (18)

Round 4: Working in both loops, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat from * to * 1 time, 1 sc in next st, switch to white, in BLO, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * to * 2 times, 1 sc in last st, switch to cream. (24)

Round 5: Working in both loops, *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * 2 times, switch to white, in BLO, repeat from * to * 3 times, switch to cream. (30)

Round 6: Working in both loops, 1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * 1 time, 1 sc in next 2 sts, switch to white and fasten off cream, in BLO, 1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * to * 2 times, 1 sc in last 2 sts, switch to red. (36)

Round 7: Working in BLO, *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * 2 times, switch to white and fasten off red, repeat from * to * 3 times, switch to red and fasten off white. (42)

Round 8: Working in both loops, 1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * 1 time, 1 sc in next 3 sts, switch to white and fasten off red, in BLO, 1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * to * 2 times, 1 sc in last 3 sts, switch to red and fasten off white. (48)

Round 9: Working in both loops, *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * 2 times, switch to white and fasten off red, in BLO, repeat from * to * 3 times, sl st to first st. (54)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Beard

With Fuzzy yarn, (working in FLO from rounds 2 – 9) sl st to first unused front loop from round 9, *ch 2, sl st in FLO of next st,* repeat from * to * to end of round. Repeat from * to * in FLO of every round working a ch-2 between rounds working in a zig-zag back and forth fashion without cutting yarn between rounds. Note: for round 7 you will work every FLO stitch around face to create fur lining of hat.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Back Panel

Round 1: (RS) With red, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc in MC. (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)

Round 3: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (18)

Round 4: 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat from * to * to last st, 1 sc in last st. (24)

Round 5: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (30)

Round 6: Working your stitches over plastic ring, 1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st, stop working sts over ring, 1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 2 sts, 1 sc in last 2 sts. (36)

Round 7: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (42)

Round 8: 1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 3 sts, 1 sc in last 3 sts. (48)

Round 9: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st to first st. (54)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Hanging Tab

Row 1: With red, (leaving a long tail for sewing), ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch. Turn. (4)

Row 2 – 20: Ch 1, sc in each st. Turn. (4)

Row 21 (button hole row): Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, sc in last st. Turn. (2 st + 2 ch)

Row 22: Ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, 1 sc in last st. (4)

Fasten off. Weave in end.

With embroidery thread, sew button to non-button hole end of tab 2-3 rows up in order to have room to sew on to topper at the end.

Hat

With red, ch 3.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in last ch. Turn. (2)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st. Turn. (4)

Rows 3 – 4: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st. Turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (6)

Rows 6 -7: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st. Turn.

Hat Pom Pom

With fuzzy yarn, make MC, ch 1, 4 sc in MC, sl st to first st.

Fasten off. Sew pom pom to small end of hat.

Weave in ends.

Mouth

With red, ch 2.

Fasten off.

Assembly

Attach black safety eyes to front of panel.

Sew mouth below round 2 of front panel.

With WS of panels facing (ring to inside of panels, open part of ring at bottom of face), use stitch markers to attach front and back panel together through red stitches of hat on front panel through back panel. Be sure that the top part of the ring is at the top part of the panels. With red, attach yarn at first stitch marker, sl st in each st through both front and back panels to next stitch marker.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

With long tail, sew hanging tab to top of back panel.

With long tail, sew hat to back panel.

Weave in remaining ends.

Social Media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nanascraftyhome

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanascraftyhome/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nanascraftyhome/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TonyaBush

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nanascraftyhome

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/829792060522798

Sign up for my Newsletter: https://nanascraftyhome.com/sign-up-for-my-free-newsletter/