A crocheted Santa pen topper is the kind of Christmas desk accessory that makes the whole office smile. This free crochet Santa pen topper pattern gives you everything you see in the reference photo, the spiral-wrapped forest green pen cozy with red candy-cane twist, gold beads, tiny white pompom dots, a midpoint holly cluster, and a fully detailed Santa Claus figure with red hat, white fluffy beard, rosy cheeks, red coat with white trim, and tiny gloved hands gripping both sides of the pen.
The pen cozy works over any standard thick ballpoint pen or pencil. The Santa topper slides onto the pen top and stays in position through the tension of the fitted coat ring. Both pieces work in DK weight cotton yarn and every technique is explained in full detail below including the spiral wrap, the mane-free beard, and the small-scale Santa construction that makes this project uniquely satisfying to finish.
Materials Needed
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Yarn (forest green) | DK weight (3) cotton, approximately 15g |
| Yarn (Christmas red) | DK weight (3) cotton, approximately 20g |
| Yarn (white or cream) | DK weight (3) cotton, approximately 15g |
| Yarn (skin tone / peach) | DK weight (3) cotton, approximately 8g |
| Yarn (dark green) | DK weight (3) cotton, approximately 5g |
| Hook | 3.0mm (US C/2 or D/3) |
| Safety eyes | Two 6mm black (or embroider with black yarn) |
| Polyfill stuffing | Approximately 5g for Santa head |
| Tapestry needle | For sewing pieces and weaving ends |
| Stitch markers | At least 2 |
| Gold beads | 15 to 20 small gold seed beads |
| Beading needle + clear thread | For attaching beads |
| White pompoms | 6 to 8 small pompoms, approximately 5mm each |
| Pink embroidery floss | For rosy cheeks |
| Ballpoint pen | 1 standard thick pen, barrel approximately 10 to 12mm diameter |
| Scissors | Sharp fabric scissors |
Finished Size
| Piece | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Pen cozy length | Approximately 13cm (5 in) |
| Santa topper height | Approximately 5.5cm (2.25 in) |
| Total decorated pen height | Approximately 18 to 20cm (7 to 8 in) |
| Santa head diameter | Approximately 3cm (1.2 in) |
Skill Level
Intermediate. The pen cozy is basic sc in the round. The Santa figure uses standard amigurumi construction at a small scale. No advanced stitches are needed anywhere in this pattern. Estimated time: 2.5 to 4 hours.
Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | Magic ring |
| ch | Chain |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| sc | Single crochet |
| hdc | Half double crochet |
| dc | Double crochet |
| inc | Increase: 2 sc in same stitch |
| dec | Invisible decrease: through front loops of 2 sts together |
| BLO | Back loop only |
| rnd | Round |
| rep | Repeat |
| [X] | Stitch count at end of round or row |
Pattern Notes
Pen stays inside the cozy permanently. Insert the pen into the cozy tube at Round 4 and leave it inside for all remaining rounds. Choose your pen before you begin.
Work tighter than usual. Use a 3.0mm hook rather than the DK-recommended 3.5mm to keep the fabric dense so stuffing does not show through the Santa head and the cozy holds its tube shape firmly around the pen.
The red spiral is applied after the cozy tube is complete. It is a twisted red cord wound diagonally around the outside of the finished green tube and tacked in place at regular intervals. It is not crocheted in as you work the rounds.
The Santa coat ring must fit over the pen with the cozy on it. Before beginning the coat, measure the circumference of the pen with the cozy on it and test a 5-round sample tube to confirm fit before committing to the full coat construction.
Part 1 — Pen Cozy Tube
White Bottom Border
With white yarn. Foundation: Ch 16. Join with sl st to first ch.
Rnd 1: Ch 1. Sc in each ch around. Join. [16 sc]
Rnd 2: Ch 1. BLO sc in each st around. Join. [16 sc]
Rnd 3 (scallop): (Sc in next st. Sk 1 st. 3 dc in next st. Sk 1 st.) rep 4 times around. Join. Fasten off. [4 shells]
Green Tube Body
Insert the pen into the white border foundation ring now. Keep the pen inside for all remaining rounds.
Join forest green at any stitch of Rnd 1.
Rnds 4 to 42: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join. [16 sc] — 39 rounds, approximately 12.5cm of green tube.
White Top Border
Rnds 43 to 44: Switch to white. Sc around. Join. [16]
Rnd 45: Ch 1. BLO sc around. Join. [16] Fasten off leaving a long tail.
Red Spiral Decoration
Cut one 150cm (60 inch) length of red yarn. Fold in half. Twist both strands together until they coil into a firm 2-strand cord. Starting at the bottom of the green section, wind the cord diagonally around the outside of the tube in a candy-cane spiral completing 7 to 8 full turns from bottom border to top border. Tack to the surface every 2cm using a tapestry needle and matching thread. Sew one small gold bead at every other tacking point using a beading needle and clear thread, double-stitched through each bead for security. Sew 6 to 8 white pompom dots along the green surface between the spiral turns.
Part 2 — Holly Cluster for Pen Body
Holly leaves (Make 3): With dark green yarn. Ch 8. Sc in 2nd ch. Sc. Hdc. Dc. Hdc. Sc. Sl st in last ch. Work back along the other side: sc. Hdc. Dc. Hdc. Sc. Sl st. Join. Fasten off. Each leaf is approximately 2.5cm long.
Berries (Make 3): With red yarn. MR. 6 sc. Pull tight. Fasten off leaving a long tail. Each berry is a small round bump approximately 5mm across.
Join the three leaves at their bases overlapping, place the three berries clustered at the center, and sew the whole cluster to the green tube approximately midway down the pen at one side of the spiral line.
Part 3 — Santa Claus Topper
Santa Head
Work in skin tone or peach yarn.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc. [6]
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. [12]
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) rep 6 times. [18]
Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) rep 6 times. [24]
Rnds 5 to 8: Sc around. [24] — 4 even rounds. Place safety eyes between Rnds 5 and 6, approximately 4 stitches apart. Secure washers firmly.
Rnd 9: (Sc 2, dec) rep 6 times. [18]
Begin stuffing firmly.
Rnd 10: (Sc 1, dec) rep 6 times. [12]
Rnd 11: Dec 6 times. [6]
Fasten off. Close opening. Set aside.
Santa Red Hat
Work in red yarn from the tip downward.
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc. [4]
Rnd 2: Sc around. [4]
Rnd 3: Inc in each st around. [8]
Rnd 4: Sc around. [8]
Rnd 5: (Sc 1, inc) rep 4 times. [12]
Rnd 6: Sc around. [12]
Rnd 7: (Sc 2, inc) rep 4 times. [16]
Rnd 8: Sc around. [16]
Rnd 9: (Sc 3, inc) rep 4 times. [20]
Switch to white.
Rnd 10: Sc around. [20]
Rnd 11: BLO sc around. [20] Fasten off leaving a long tail.
Pom-pom: Wrap white yarn around one finger 15 times. Slide off. Tie firmly at center. Cut loops. Trim into a neat round ball approximately 1cm diameter. Sew to the hat tip at the MR center.
Hat holly: Make 2 tiny leaves using Ch 5 and the same leaf construction above. Make 1 tiny berry. Sew to the left side of the white hat band.
White Beard and Mustache
Beard: Work in white yarn.
Ch 14. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch. Sc. Hdc 3. Dc 4. Hdc 3. Sc. Turn. [13 sts]
Row 2: Ch 1. Inc in first st. Hdc to last st. Inc. Turn. [15]
Row 3: Ch 1. Sc across. Turn. [15]
Row 4: Ch 1. Sc across. [15] Fasten off leaving a long tail.
Mustache: Ch 10. Hdc in 3rd ch. Hdc 6. 3 hdc in last ch. Hdc 6 back. Hdc in first ch. Fasten off. [small oval shape]
Nose
Work in peach yarn. MR. 6 sc. Pull tight into a small round bump. Fasten off leaving a tail.
Arms (Make 2)
Work in red yarn.
Rnd 1: MR, 5 sc. [5]
Rnds 2 to 5: Sc around. [5] — 4 rounds.
Switch to white.
Rnds 6 to 7: Sc around. [5] — white glove section.
Fasten off leaving a long tail. Each arm is a small tube approximately 1.5cm long.
Santa Coat Ring
Work in red yarn.
Foundation: Ch 20. Join with sl st. [20 ch]
Rnds 1 to 6: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. [20] — approximately 2cm total.
Switch to white.
Rnd 7: Sc around. Join. [20]
Rnd 8: BLO sc around. Join. Fasten off.
Join white at Rnd 1 bottom edge. Work 1 sc border round around the bottom edge. Fasten off.
Assembly
Position the Santa hat on the head with the white trim sitting at approximately Round 2 from the top. Sew all the way around the hat trim inside edge. Tilt the hat slightly right.
Using pink floss, embroider 4 to 5 satin stitches in a soft circle on each cheek below and outside each eye. Work small diagonal eyebrow stitches above each eye in black floss.
Sew the peach nose to the face center between and below the eyes. Position the mustache just below the nose. Sew at the center. Position the beard below the mustache to cover the lower face from cheek to cheek. Sew along the curved top edge only, allowing the lower beard to hang free.
Position the Santa head centered on top of the coat ring. Sew the head base to the top of the coat tube all the way around, working the join twice.
Sew one arm on each side of the coat tube at approximately Round 3 from the top, angling the white glove end inward and slightly downward. Slide the finished Santa coat ring over the pen top, positioning it above the green cozy section over the white top border. Tack the coat base to the white border with 2 to 3 stitches to hold in position. Press each arm against the pen sides and tack the glove end to the green cozy surface so both arms stay in the hugging position.
Tips and Tricks
- Insert the pen into the cozy tube at Round 4 and keep it there for all remaining rounds. Working around the actual pen gives constant feedback on the fit and prevents a finished cozy that is too tight or too loose.
- Work the red spiral cord slightly looser than feels right before tacking. The cord tightens as each tacking stitch is sewn down. A cord worked too taut will buckle the green tube inward at every tacking point.
- Sew the Santa arms last, after the coat ring is on the pen. The hugging arm position only makes visual sense once the Santa is fully positioned on the pen. Arms sewn before the coat is in place are nearly impossible to angle correctly.
- Make the Santa head at 24 stitches maximum circumference for a 3cm diameter. A larger head looks cartoonish and makes the pen top-heavy and uncomfortable to write with.
- Use cotton yarn for the pen cozy rather than acrylic. Cotton holds the tubular shape without blocking, resists stretching during handling, and gives the sharpest stitch definition at this small scale.
