Crochet Santa Candy Cane Holder

What Is a Crochet Santa Candy Cane Holder?

A crochet Santa candy cane holder is a small decorative pouch or sleeve designed to look like Santa Claus. It’s typically shaped to hold candy canes, but you can also use it for small gifts, pencils, or other goodies. It’s an ideal accessory for Christmas stockings, tree decorations, or holiday tablescapes.

These adorable crochet candy cane holders also make great DIY Christmas Gift Tags!

Christmas Traditions

When I was a young girl, my grandparents started a family tradition for all of us grandkids. Each year for our birthdays and Christmas season, they would make and gift us a handmade Christmas ornament.

Their goal was that each of us would have a set of Christmas ornaments for our own Christmas tree someday, after we moved out of our parents’ house.

I decided to start crocheting ornaments for my own grandkids so when they are fully grown, they too will have a set of Christmas memories for their own tree.

Last year, I made the crochet gingerbread man candy cane holder, a candy cane snowman ornament, and crochet reindeer candy cane holder.

This year, I’m excited to add Santa and one more friend (coming soon!).

Customization Ideas

• Personalized Colors: Experiment with different colors for a unique Santa.
• Add Sparkle: Use metallic yarn or sew on sequins for a touch of holiday glitz.

Why Make Crochet Santa Candy Cane Holders?

• Quick and Fun: This project is simple enough to finish in an afternoon, making it ideal for busy holiday schedules.
• Budget-Friendly: Use leftover yarn from other projects to craft these charming holders.
• Great Gifts: Handmade items are always cherished, and these are perfect for teachers, coworkers, and family members. They also make fantastic gift tags!
• Eco-Friendly: Skip the store-bought plastic decorations and create something reusable and sustainable.

Related: Check out Santa’s cute friends! We have a Gingerbread Boy & Girl, a Snowman, and a Reindeer candy cane holder ornament. And more friends to come!

Where to Use Crochet Santa Candy Cane Holders

• Christmas Tree Ornaments: Hang them on your tree filled with treats.
• Stocking Stuffers: Tuck them into Christmas stockings as an extra surprise.
• Gift Tags: Use them to decorate your holiday gift packages.

Yarn

I used Lily Sugar n’ Cream for my Santa crochet candy cane holder pattern. I love the color choices available in the Lily Sugar n’ Cream line and it’s easy to mix and match with Peaches and Cream and Bernat Handicrafter. All 3 are very similar cotton yarns.

Although I chose a 100% cotton yarn for my crochet candy cane holder, you can use most any other fiber. Acrylic, wool, and even acrylic, wool, or cotton blends will work great for your Santa Christmas tree decorations.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch(s): chain(s)
• sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sp: space
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• invsc2tog: invisible single crochet decrease
• Rnd: round
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• SM: stitch marker
• FLO: front loop only
• yo: yarn over
• Join yarn with a standing single crochet

Experience Level

• Easy

Gauge

• Measurements are given throughout the pattern.

Size

• One Size: 3.5″ W x 5.25″ H (not including hat pom-pom or hanging loop)

Special Stitches

• Invisible Single Crochet Decrease (invsc2tog): Insert hook into the FLO of stitch indicated, insert hook into the FLO of the next stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru all loops on hook.
• Join yarn with a standing single crochet: Begin with a slip knot on your hook, insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo and draw thru both loops on hook. 

Pattern Notes

• Turning chains are not included in stitch count unless noted otherwise.
• Yarn Notes: Lily Sugar n’ Cream was used for the sample pictured in the photos. Another comparable worsted weight yarn may be used as long as gauge is met.
• Lily Sugar n’ Cream Yarn (70.9 g / 2.5 oz / 120 yards / 109 m / 100% cotton).
• Yardage & Colors
  • Red: 20 yards
  • Black: 5 yards
  • Soft Ecru (cream): 25 yards
  • White: 12 yards
  • Green: 2 yards
• Crochet Candy Cane Holder Construction: This Santa crochet candy cane holder pattern is constructed by crocheting a few small pieces and then assembling them. First, you’ll crochet two heads for Santa. Then you’ll crochet a hat, beard, mustache, nose, and mittens. After assembling all pieces, you’ll crochet a simple hanging loop and attach it.

Crochet Santa Candy Cane Holder Pattern

Santa’s Head (Make 2)

Make 2: You will make two heads (a front and a back). Because the Santa’s head has two layers, you don’t need to weave in all the ends from adding all of the little details. Once you join the two layers, all those ends will be hidden.

Note: The Santa’s head is worked in continuous rounds to keep from having an unsightly seam. Do not join at the end of each round, instead use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move the scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.

Rnd 1 (RS): With soft ecru yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: [ (sc, hdc) in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, (hdc, sc) in the next st ] work from [ to ] 2 times. Do not join. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: [ sc in the next st, (sc, hdc) in the next st, 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, (hdc, sc) in the next st, sc in the next st ] work from [ to ] 2 times. Do not join. (20 sts) At this point, your oval should measure approximately 1.375″ W x 1.75″ H.

Rnd 4: [ hdc in each of the next 3 sts, (2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st) 3 times ] work from [ to ] 2 times, hdc in each of the next 2 sts. Do not join. (26 sts) At this point, your oval should measure approximately 1.785″ W x 2.375″ H.

Row 5: [ hdc in each of the next 3 sts, (2 hdc in the next st, hdc in each of the next 2 sts) 3 times ] work from [ to ] 2 times, hdc in each of the next 2 sts. Do not join. (32 sts)

Row 6: sc in each of the next 4 sts, (sc, hdc) in the next st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, (hdc, sc) in the next st, sc in each of the next 7 sts, (sc, hdc) in the next st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, (hdc, sc) in the next st, sc in each of the next 3 sts. Do not join. (38 sts)

Approximate size of your oval head should be approximately 2.75″ W (at the widest point) x 3.5″ H.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Make a second Santa Head, then continue on to the Santa Hat.

Santa Hat

Gauge: In sc with a 5.00mm crochet hook: 4.5 sts = 1.25″; 4.5 rows = 1.25″

Note: The Santa hat is worked in continuous rounds to keep from having an unsightly seam. Do not join at the end of each round,

instead use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move the scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.

Set-Up: With red yarn & a 5.50mm crochet hook, ch 21, being careful not to twist the ch, sl st to the back hump of the 1st ch.

Rnd 1 (RS): Switch to a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 1, working into the back humps of the foundation ch, sc in each ch around. Do not join. (21 sts) Begin working in a spiral and use a scrap piece of yarn to mark the beginning and end of each round. Move this scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.

Rnds 2 – 3: FLO sc in each st around. (21 sts)

Rnd 4: (FLO sc in each of the next 5 sts, FLO invsc2tog) 3 times. (18 sts)

Rnds 5 – 6: FLO sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Rnd 7: (FLO sc in each of the next 4 sts, FLO invsc2tog) 3 times. (15 sts)

Rnds 8 – 9: FLO sc in each st around. (15 sts)

Rnd 10: (FLO sc in each of the next 3 sts, FLO invsc2tog) 3 times. (12 sts)

Rnds 11 – 12: FLO sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 13: (FLO sc in each of the next 2 sts, FLO invsc2tog) 3 times. (9 sts)

Rnds 14 – 15: FLO sc in each st around. (9 sts)

Rnd 16: (FLO sc in the st, FLO invsc2tog) 3 times. (6 sts)

Fasten off leaving a tail of yarn to close the tip of the hat. With a yarn needle and tail of yarn, close the tip of the hat. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Pom-Pom for Santa’s Hat. Santa Hat should be approximately 3″ W x 6.25″ H (laid flat).

Pom-Pom for Santa’s Hat

Wrap white yarn around your finger approximately 20 times. Cut the yarn and carefully slide it off your finger. Cut a piece of white yarn and tie it around the center of the yarn. Knot to secure it. Cut through the loops of yarn on each side. Trim to create a round pom-pom. Attach the pom-pom to the tip of Santa’s hat.

Continue on to Santa Hat Trim.

Santa Hat Trim

Rnd 1 (RS): With white yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, join yarn with a standing sc in the FLO of a stitch near where you joined the foundation ch of the Santa Hat, FLO sc in each st around the edge of the Santa Hat. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (21 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sl st in both loops of the first st, (ch 1, sl st in both loops of the next st) work from ( to ) 20 times, ch 1. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (21 sl sts + 21 ch-1s)

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Nose.

Nose

Rnd 1 (RS): With soft ecru yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 4 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (4 sts)

Rnd 2: BLO sc in each st around. Do not join. (4 sts)

Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail of yarn to attach it to the head. Continue on to the Mustache. Nose should be approximately 1/2″ in diameter.

Mustache

Row 1: With white yarn & a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 8, working into the back hump of the foundation ch, sl st in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, sl st in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next ch, sl st in the next ch. (7 sts)

Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail of yarn to attach it to the head. Continue on to the Beard. Mustache should be approximately 2″ W.

Beard

Row 1: With white yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 20, working into the back hump of the foundation ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in each of the next 3 chs, 2 hdc in the next ch, dc in each of the next 2 chs, 2 dc in the next ch, (dc in the next ch, 2 dc in the next ch) work from ( to ) 2 times, dc in each of the next 2 chs, 2 hdc in the next ch, sc in each of the last 4 chs. (24 sts)

Fasten off leaving a 12″ tail of yarn for attaching beard to Santa’s head later. Continue on to the Holly Leaves. Beard should be approximately 3″ W x 2.5″ H.

Holly Leaves (Make 2)

Row 1: With green yarn and a 4.00 mm crochet hook, (ch 2, sl st in the 2nd ch from your hook) twice, ch 2, sl st into the first ch of the row. You should have a leaf with 3 points.

Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail for sewing. Continue on to Holly Berries. Leaves are approximately .625″ H.

Holly Bearies

With a 10″ piece of red yarn, make a knot in the middle of it, then make 2 more knots on top of the first knot.

Continue on to Attaching Holly Leaves & Berries to the Hat.

Attaching the Holly Leaves & Berries to the Hat

Step 1: Using a yarn needle and tail of yarn, attach both of the holly leaves near the right-hand side of the hat when the hat is positioned like the photo below (the shaping on the left).

Step 2: Using a yarn needle and tail of yarn, attach each of the holly berries to the hat as shown in the photo below.

Weave in ends. Continue on to Candy Cane Holder Hands.

Candy Cane Holder Hands (Make 2)

Note: Santa’s Hands are worked in continuous rounds (spiral). I suggest using a scrap of yarn as a stitch marker to help keep track of rounds.

Rnd 1 (RS): With black yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 9, work 3 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in each of the next 6 chs, 3 sc in the last ch, rotate to work on the opposite side of the ch, sc in each of the last 6 chs. Do not join. (18 sts) Use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning and end of the next round.

Rnd 2: (2 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc in each of the next 6 sts) work from ( to ) 2 times. Join with a sl st to the 1st sc. (24 sts)

Fasten off leaving a tail of yarn to sew Santa’s hand onto his head. Hand should be approximately 1″ W x 2.625″ L.

Make a second hand then continue on to Attach Nose.

Attach Nose

With tail of black yarn and a yarn needle, sew the nose onto Santa’s face as shown in the photo below.

Continue on to the Eyes.

Eyes

I chose to use 10mm black safety eyes for my Santa. If you’re doing the same, position them as shown in the photo above and secure them to Santa’s face.

If you’re going to use yarn to make your eyes, use an 18″ piece of black yarn and yarn needle, embroider eyes on Santa’s face.

Continue on to Blush (optional), Eyebrows (optional), or Joining the Santa Heads.

Blush

I added pink cheeks to Santa by lightly dabbing a Q-tip in my blush (make-up) and rubbing it in a gentle circle on Santa’s cheeks.

Continue on to Eyebrows (optional), or Joining the Santa Heads.

Eyebrows

Note: I added white eyebrows to my Santa, but you cannot see them and they ended up under Santa’s hat after I attached his hat. Feel free to skip this step.

For this step, you can use white thread, OR pull apart the plies of white worsted weight cotton yarn and use only one ply.

With a 12″ piece of white yarn and yarn needle, embroider eyelashes on Santa’s face, near his eyes, as shown below.

Continue on to the Joining the Santa Heads.

Joining the Santa Heads

Step One: With the wrong sides together, lay your Santa heads on top of each other. Use locking stitch markers to help hold the two heads together while you join them.

Step Two: With a soft ecru piece of yarn that is 4 times the perimeter of Santa’s head, and a yarn needle, join the two Santa heads by inserting your yarn needle up through one stitch along the perimeter and down through the next stitch. Repeat this all the way around the edge of Santa’s head.

Weave in ends. Continue on to Attaching Candy Cane Holder Hands.

Attaching Candy Cane Holder Hands

Note: Make sure to sew the hands on as close to the bottom, outside edge of Santa’s head as possible to make sure the candy cane will fit through.

Tip! If you feel the candy cane holder hands will be a smidge tight, you can gently pull on them to stretch them out.

Step One: Lay your Santa face up. Position one end of a Santa hand under his head, as shown in the photo below. Fold the hand in half with the opposite end on top of his head.

Step Two: With a yarn needle and tail of black yarn, sew Santa’s hand onto the bottom edge of his head. Sew through all layers to secure the hand. Repeat for the second hand.

Weave in ends. Continue on to Attaching Santa’s Beard & Mustache.

Attaching Santa’s Beard & Mustache

Lay Santa’s beard on top of his face as shown in the photo below. With the tail of white yarn on the beard & a yarn needle, tack stitch Santa’s beard onto the top layer of his face. I only attached the beard along the inside edge, as shown below.

Position Santa’s mustache on top of his face, just under his nose. With tail of yarn & a yarn needle, attach the beard to his face. I only attached mine at the center of the mustache, right under his nose.

Weave in ends. Continue on to Attaching Santa’s Hat.

Attaching Santa’s Hat

With your Santa facing up, position his hat as shown in the photo on the right. Make sure to pull the hat down far enough to cover the top edges of the beard.

Use a yarn needle and 18″ piece of red yarn to sew the hat onto Santa’s head. Make sure to work through all layers. I attached the hat by sewing through the red stitches around the hat, just above the fur trim.

Continue on to Santa Hat Finishing.

Santa Hat Finishing

Bend Santa’s hat to the left, as shown below on the left. Use a 12″ piece of red yarn & a yarn needle and tack stitch the hat together so that the tail of the hat stays down, as shown below on the right. Weave in ends. Continue on to Hanging Loop.

Hanging Loop

With any color yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, create a chain that is 6″ long. Join with a sl st to the 1st ch.

Fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn. With a yarn needle & tail of yarn, sew the hanging loop onto the top of Santa’s Hat. Weave in ends.

Hanging Loop Alternative

You could also use a 6″ piece of ribbon as a hanging loop, instead.

Then attach it to the top of Santa’s hat, with a needle and thread.

Crochet Santa candy cane holders are a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season while showcasing your creative skills. These versatile decorations are sure to spread holiday cheer and become a cherished part of your festivities. Gather your materials, get cozy, and start stitching today!

Related: If you enjoyed making this gingerbread Christmas ornament, I think you’ll love the Reindeer Candy Cane Holder Ornament, Snowman Candy Cane Holder, and Gingerbread Man & Girl Candy Cane Holders too!

More Crochet Ideas for Christmas I Think You’ll Love

• Reindeer Crochet Dish Towel
• Mrs. Clause Kitchen Hand Towel
• Snowman Kitchen Towel
• Crochet Gingerbread Man Hot Pad
• O’ Christmas Tree Crochet Mason Jar Cozy
• Reindeer Crochet Coffee Sleeve
• O’ Christmas Tree Crochet Hand Towel

More Santa Christmas Decor

Do you LOVE Santa Decoration?

If so, you may fall in love with this crochet pattern for kitchen decor, the Santa Claus Kitchen Towel.