Jingle Bell Santa Ornament Free Pattern – Knit a Cozy Holiday Charm

Jingle Bell Santa Ornament Free Pattern – Knit a Cozy Holiday Charm

Bring a handcrafted touch to your Christmas tree this year with this adorable knitted Santa ornament. This quick project uses plush worsted weight yarn and classic Fair Isle details to create a timeless, cozy holiday charm. The best part? A hidden jingle bell is tucked inside, so your ornament softly chimes with every gentle movement. Whether you're a seasoned knitter or a confident beginner looking for a fun weekend project, this pattern is designed to be approachable, detailed, and utterly delightful.

This little Santa stands about 4 inches tall, shaped like a teardrop with a rounded head and a slightly wider body. The red hat features two cream stripes near the brim, and a simple I-cord loop makes hanging a breeze. The body is predominantly red with a cream and black Fair Isle band that resembles a festive belt, complete with a tiny gold buckle. It's soft, textured, and full of handmade charm—perfect for gifting or adding to your own holiday décor collection.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. All materials are readily available at your local yarn shop or online.

Yarn

• Main Color (MC): Worsted weight yarn in red (approximately 50-60 yards)
• Contrast Color (CC): Worsted weight yarn in cream (approximately 10 yards)
• Black (BC): Worsted weight yarn in black (approximately 5 yards)
• Yellow/Gold (YC): Small amount of worsted weight yarn for the buckle (or use felt)

Notions & Tools

• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) double-pointed needles OR a 16-inch circular needle for magic loop
• Tapestry needle: For weaving in ends and assembly
• Jingle bell: Approximately 20mm in diameter
• Fiberfill stuffing: For the head (a small amount)
• Stitch markers: Optional, but helpful for keeping track of rounds
• Scissors

Gauge

22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge is not critical for this project, but aim for a tight fabric to prevent the stuffing from showing through. If your stitches are loose, consider going down a needle size.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This ornament is knitted in the round from the top down. You'll start with a magic ring for the hat, increase for the head, then work the body with a Fair Isle band. The jingle bell is inserted before closing the bottom. Let's get started!

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two together (decrease)
• Kfb: Knit front and back (increase)
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• Rnd: Round
• MC: Main color (red)
• CC: Contrast color (cream)
• BC: Black
• YC: Yellow/Gold

Hat (Worked Top-Down)

The hat is worked from the top of Santa's head downward. You'll begin with a magic ring to create a seamless, closed top.

1. Rnd 1: With MC, make a magic ring, K6 into the ring. (6 sts)
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st around. (12 sts)
3. Rnd 3: *K1, Kfb* around. (18 sts)
4. Rnd 4: *K2, Kfb* around. (24 sts)
5. Rnd 5: *K3, Kfb* around. (30 sts)
6. Rnd 6: *K4, Kfb* around. (36 sts)
7. Rnd 7: *K5, Kfb* around. (42 sts)
8. Rnd 8: *K6, Kfb* around. (48 sts)
9. Rnd 9: *K7, Kfb* around. (54 sts)
10. Rnd 10: *K8, Kfb* around. (60 sts)
11. Rnd 11-14: K all sts in MC. (60 sts)
12. Rnd 15: Switch to CC, K all sts. (60 sts)
13. Rnd 16: Switch to MC, K all sts. (60 sts)
14. Rnd 17: Switch to CC, K all sts. (60 sts)
15. Rnd 18: Switch to MC, K all sts. (60 sts) — This creates the hat brim.

Pro tip: When switching colors, carry the unused yarn loosely up the inside of the work to avoid long floats that can catch on fingers.

Head (Continue in MC)

Now you'll shape the head by working decreases. Keep your tension even for a smooth, rounded shape.

19. Rnd 19-22: K all sts. (60 sts)
20. Rnd 23: *K8, K2tog* around. (54 sts)
21. Rnd 24: *K7, K2tog* around. (48 sts)
22. Rnd 25: *K6, K2tog* around. (42 sts)
23. Rnd 26: *K5, K2tog* around. (36 sts)
24. Rnd 27: *K4, K2tog* around. (30 sts)
25. Rnd 28: *K3, K2tog* around. (24 sts)
26. Rnd 29: *K2, K2tog* around. (18 sts)
27. Rnd 30: *K1, K2tog* around. (12 sts)
28. Rnd 31: K2tog around. (6 sts)
29. Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 6 sts, pull tight, and weave in the end. This closes the top of the head.

Important: Do not stuff the head yet. You'll do that during assembly.

Body (Worked from the Bottom Up)

The body is worked separately, starting at the bottom edge and decreasing toward the top. This allows you to insert the jingle bell before closing.

1. CO 60 sts with MC. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
2. Rnd 1-5: K all sts in MC. (60 sts)
3. Rnd 6: Switch to CC, K all sts. (60 sts)
4. Rnd 7: Switch to BC, K all sts. (60 sts)
5. Rnd 8: Switch to CC, K all sts. (60 sts)
6. Rnd 9: Switch to MC, K all sts. (60 sts)
7. Rnd 10-12: K all sts in MC. (60 sts)
8. Rnd 13: *K8, K2tog* around. (54 sts)
9. Rnd 14: *K7, K2tog* around. (48 sts)
10. Rnd 15: *K6, K2tog* around. (42 sts)
11. Rnd 16: *K5, K2tog* around. (36 sts)
12. Rnd 17: *K4, K2tog* around. (30 sts)
13. Rnd 18: *K3, K2tog* around. (24 sts)
14. Rnd 19: *K2, K2tog* around. (18 sts)
15. Rnd 20: *K1, K2tog* around. (12 sts)
16. Rnd 21: K2tog around. (6 sts)
17. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail (about 12 inches). Before closing, insert the jingle bell into the body. Thread the tail through the remaining 6 sts, pull tight, and secure with a knot. Do not cut the tail yet—you'll use it for assembly.

Note: The jingle bell should sit snugly inside the body. If it's too loose, add a small piece of fiberfill around it to keep it in place.

Assembly

Now it's time to bring your Santa to life!

1. Stuff the head lightly with fiberfill. Be careful not to overstuff—you want it soft and squishy, not firm.
2. Sew the head to the body using the yarn tail from the body. Align the hat brim (the cream stripes) with the top of the body. Use a whip stitch or mattress stitch, making sure the seam is neat and hidden. Weave in the end securely.

Belt (Optional but Adds Charm)

This little detail really makes the ornament pop!

1. With BC, CO 6 sts.
2. Work in I-cord for about 6 inches. (To make an I-cord: K6, slide stitches to the other end of the needle, K6 again, repeat. The yarn will pull through to form a tube.)
3. Bind off.
4. Wrap the I-cord around the body just below the Fair Isle band. Sew the ends together at the back.
5. For the buckle, cut a small square of YC felt (about 1/2 inch) or knit a tiny YC square. Sew it in place over the front of the belt.

Hanging Loop

1. With MC, CO 10 sts.
2. Work in I-cord for 4 inches.
3. Bind off.
4. Fold the I-cord in half and sew the ends to the top of the hat to create a loop. Make sure it's securely attached.

Finishing Touches

1. Weave in all ends using a tapestry needle. Be thorough—this ensures your ornament lasts for years.
2. Add a face: Using YC or pink yarn, embroider a small nose on the face area. For the eyes, use BC to make two small French knots or straight stitches. Keep it simple and cute!
3. Steam block gently to shape the ornament. Avoid flattening the texture—just a light pass with a steam iron or steamer will do.

And there you have it—a charming, handcrafted Jingle Bell Santa ornament ready to grace your tree or brighten someone's holiday! The soft chime of the hidden bell will remind you of the joy of handmade gifts every time you pass by.

Happy knitting, and may your holidays be filled with warmth and creativity!