Nutcracker Prince Crochet Jingle Bell Ornament

A Tiny Tale: Who Is the Nutcracker Prince?

In the beloved story The Nutcracker, the Nutcracker begins as a wooden toy gifted to young Clara on Christmas Eve. But when midnight strikes and magic spills into the room, he springs to life—revealed not just as a toy soldier, but as a brave prince under a spell. After leading a battle against the Mouse King and protecting Clara from danger, he transforms back into his true princely form, guiding her through a shimmering world of snowflakes, sweets, and wonder.

This ornament captures that moment of transformation—the proud stance, the noble colors, and the heart of a hero wrapped in holiday magic.

Related: Make a Nutcracker collection beginning with the Nutcracker Crochet Jingle Bell Ornament, followed by the Nutcracker Prince (this ornament), that the Nutcracker toy transforms into.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

• Quick, fun, and perfect for scrap yarn
• Features a jingle bell for extra festive cheer
• Beginner-friendly with simple shaping
• Makes a charming addition to any ornament collection
• Perfect as a stocking stuffer, gift topper, or handmade collectable

Jingle Bell Alternatives

If you don’t have jingle bells and can’t find them anywhere close to you, here are a few great alternatives (see photos of all options near the end of this blog post):

1. Big Yarn Pom: The cheapest alternative is to make a big yarn pom and they’re super easy to make with the help of yarn pom makers!
2. Shatterproof Ornaments (plain): Another great options is to use a small 2.5″ diameter shatterproof ornament and hot glue the crocheted character to the top of it. You can find these ornaments in dollar stores and big box stores. If you have neither, there are lots of options on Amazon too.
3. Shatterproof Ornaments (decorative): Same as option 2 above, but these are a little pricier. Amazon has several fun shatterproof ornaments that are more decorative. I think they’ll add a fun twist to the ornaments. Here are a few examples of what I’m referring to: Option 1, Option 2, and Option 3.

Make It Your Own

Switch up the colors and create a whole battalion of Nutcracker soldiers—white and gold, royal blue, emerald green, or whatever matches your holiday décor. You can even turn him into a custom keepsake ornament by stitching the year on the back.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

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

Experience Level

• Easy

Gauge

• In sc with a 4.00mm crochet hook: 4 sts = 1″; 5 rows = 1.125″

Size

• One Size: 4″ W (hand to hand) x 4.25″ H (not including jingle bell 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

• Yarn Notes:  Lion Brand Yarn Pound of Love & Basic Stitch were used for the samples pictured in the photos.
• Pound of Love Yarn: 100% Premium Acrylic, (1,020 yards / 454 g / 16 oz / 932 m).
• Basic Stitch: 100% Acrylic, (185 yards / 100 g / 3.5 oz / 170 m)•
• Another comparable worsted weight yarn may be used as long as gauge is met.
• Colors & Yardage
  • Pound of Love Cherry: 23 yards
  • Pound of Love Black: 2 yard
  • Vanna’s Choice Mustard (gold): 10 yards
  • Basic Stitch Ivory (skin tone): 30 yards
  • Basic Stitch Nutmeg (brown hair): 2 yards
  • Light Pink Lips: 8″ long piece
• Nutcracker Prince Jingle Bell Ornament Construction: This jingle bell ornament is crocheted in a few pieces, then assembled. First, you’ll crochet the Nutcracker’s head and work his body and arms directly onto it. Next, you’ll crochet his golden crown. After that, make and attach a hanging loop. Then add facial features, stitch on his hair, stuff the head and body and, attach the Nutcracker Prince to the top of the jingle bell with yarn or hot glue.

Jingle Bell Alternatives: See the section above with the title “Jingle Bell Alternatives” for a few different options.

Nutcracker Prince Crochet Jingle Bell Ornament Pattern

Prince’s Head

Note: Prince’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 Skin Tone yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: (2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st) 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 2 sts) 6 times. (24 sts)

Rnds 5 – 10: Sc in each st around. (24 sts)

Rnd 11: (invsc2tog, sc in each of the next 2 sts) 6 times. (18 sts)

Switch to Red yarn on the last pull through of the last stitch of Round 11.

Do not fasten off red. Fasten off skin tone yarn. No need to weave in ends as they can become stuffing for the head. Continue on to the Body.

Body

Note: The Prince’s body 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 Red yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, BLO sc in the next st along the edge of the head and place a SM in the FLO of this same st to mark where to join yarn to later begin the collar, then BLO sc in each of the next 2 sts, place a SM in the BLO of the next st to mark where to join yarn for the 1st arm, loosely ch 4, skip each of the next 4 sts along the edge of the head, BLO sc in each of the next 5 sts, place a SM in the BLO of the next st to mark where to join yarn for the 2nd arm, loosely ch 4, skip each of the next 4 sts along the edge of the head, BLO sc in each of the last 2 sts. Do not join. (10 sc + 2 ch-4’s)

Rnd 2: Working in both loops, sc in each sc and ch around. Do not join. (18 sts)

Rnds 3 – 5: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in each st around. Switch to black yarn on the last pull through of the last stitch of the round. Do not fasten off red. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (18 sts)

Rnd 7: With Black yarn, ch 1, hdc in each st around. Switch back to red yarn on the last pull through of the last stitch of the round. Fasten off black. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (18 sts)

Rnd 8: With Red yarn, ch 1, sc in each st around. Do not join. Switch back to working in a spiral. (18 sts)

Rnd 9: BLO sc in each st around. Do not join. (18 sts)

Rnd 10: * invsc2tog, sc in the next st, rep from * 6 times. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (12 sts)

Fasten off, leaving an 18″ tail of yarn for attaching the body to the jingle bell later. Continue on to the Arms.

Arms

Note: Prince’s arms are 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 Red yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, join yarn with a standing sc in the BLO of the marked st, BLO sc in each of the next 3 sts along the last rnd of the head, sc in each st along the opening of the body. Do not join. (8 sts)

Rnds 2 – 4: Sc in each st around. (8 sts)

Switch to gold yarn on the last pull through of the last stitch of round 4.

Rnd 5: With Gold yarn, hdc in each st around. (8 sts)

Switch to skin tone yarn on the last pull through of the last stitch of round 5.

Rnd 6: With Skin Tone yarn, sc in each st around. (8 sts)

Rnd 7: Invsc2tog 4 times. (4 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn to close the tip of the hand closed. With a yarn needle and tail of yarn, close the top of the hand. Tuck ends inside the arm. Repeat for the second arm. Continue on to the Prince’s Collar & Shoulder Pads.

Prince’s Collar & Shoulder Pads

Note: The Prince’s Collar is worked in the front loops of the last round of stitches of the head. The side that you’re joining your yarn to is the Prince’s back side.

Rnd 1: See the photo below for how to position your nutcracker before joining yarn. With Gold yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, join yarn with a sl st in the front loop of the st you marked when beginning the body, FLO sl st in the each of the next 3 sts, (hdc, dc) in the FLO of the next st, (dc, hdc) in the FLO of the next st, FLO sl st in each of the next 7 sts, hdc, dc) in the FLO of the next st, (dc, hdc) in the FLO of the next st, FLO sl st in the last st. (20 sts)

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Jacket Details.

Jacket Details

Belt Buckle: To make the belt buckle, I cut a 24″ long piece of yarn. I then used a yarn needle and stitched a rectangle on my nutcracker’s black belt to create the belt buckle.

Gold Accents: I then stitched three straight lines across the chest of his jacket.

Prince’s Crown

Note: The Prince’s Crown 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 Red yarn & a 4.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: (2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st) 6 times. (18 sts)

Switch to gold yarn on the last pull through of the last stitch of round 3. Fasten off Red.

Rnd 4: (2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 2 sts) 6 times, then work 1 more sc in the last st. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. TURN to work the next round in the opposite direction. (25 sts)

Rnd 5: Working in BLO for the entire round, sl st in first st, (hdc in the next st, dc in the next st, ch 2, sl st in the 2^nd ch from your hook, dc in the next st, hdc in the next st, sl st in the next st) work from ( to ) 4 times, then hdc in the next st, dc in the next st, ch 2, sl st in the 2^nd ch, dc in the next st, hdc in the next st. Join with a sl st to the 1^st st. The Prince’s crown should have 5 Peaks.

Fasten off, leaving a tail long enough to attach the crown to the prince’s head. Continue on to the Prince’s Hair.

Prince’s Hair

With brown yarn & a yarn needle, stitch on hair as noted and shown in the photos below.

Bangs

Find the centermost 6 stitches on his forehead. These stitches will be where you’ll add his bangs. With the yarn needle and yarn, begin at the top of the head around round 2 and stitch on hair over 2 or 3 rounds. You can either double strand the yarn in your yarn needle, or make two passes of yarn for each stitch.

Taper Hairline On Each Side of the Bangs

Taper the hairline on each side of the bangs by making little wisps of hair that are one stitch longer at a time. Example: First, make a wisp 5 rows long on each side. Next, make a wisp 6 rows long on each side. Lastly, make a wisp 7 rows long on each side.

Finishing hair

Continue to make little wisps around the remaining portion of the prince’s head that are approximately 7 rows long and two strands per stitch.

The photos above show the progression of how I stitched hair on my prince.

Continue on to Facial Features.

Facial Features

Eyes

I used (2) 6mm black plastic safety eyes for the Nutcracker. You can also embroider eyes with black thread or yarn.

With the Nutcracker facing you, as shown below, center the safety eyes on the head between Rounds 6 & 7, with 3 or 4 stitches between them.

Continue on to the Nose.

Nose

With a 12″ long piece of skin tone yarn and a yarn needle, create a nose on the Prince by going back and forth vertically around one stitch between his eyes, but slightly lower (see photos below). This creates a small bump for a nose.

Continue on to the Mouth.

Mouth

With pink yarn and a yarn needle, stitch on a small mouth as shown in the photo below.

Continue on to Attaching the Crown.

Attaching the crown

With tail of gold yarn and a yarn needle, secure the crown to the top of the Nutcracker Prince’s head.

Continue on to the 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 the Prince’s Crown. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Uniform Trim.

Hanging Loop Alternative

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

Then attach it onto the top of the Prince’s Crown, with a needle and thread.

Continue on to the Uniform Trim.

Uniform Trim

With a yarn needle and 6″ piece of gold yarn, add a little loop around the prince’s right shoulder.

Continue on to Attaching the Nutcracker Prince to the Jingle Bell Ornament.

Attaching the Nutcracker Prince to the Jingle Bell

If you did not use your ends to stuff your prince, or you feel he needs more stuffing, add batting (or yarn scraps), to his head and body. Don’t overstuff his body or it’ll be harder to attach him to the jingle bell.

Using the yarn tail left from his body and a yarn needle, secure the prince to the top loop of the jingle bell. Once he’s snug, secure the yarn, fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: If you struggle getting your prince tightly secured on top of the jingle bell, you can glue the bottom of his body to the top of the jingle bell.

Jingle Bell Alternatives

Related: If you enjoyed making this Nutcracker Christmas ornament, I think you’ll love the Nutcracker Jingle Bell Ornament, Snowman Jingle Bell Ornament, Reindeer Jingle Bell Ornament, Gingerbread Girl Jingle Bell Ornament, Mrs. Claus Jingle Bell Ornament, and Girl Elf Jingle Bell Ornament.

More Crochet Christmas Tree Decorations You’ll Love

• Santa Candy Cane Holder Ornament
• Santa Boot Ornament
• Gingerbread Boy & Girl Candy Cane Holder
• Cookies for Santa Ornament
• Gnome Candy Cane Holder Ornament

More Crochet Christmas Tree Decorations You’ll Love

• O’ Christmas Tree Crochet Hand Towel
• Reindeer Candy Cane Holder
• Gingerbread Man Crochet Hand Towel
• Crochet Gingerbread Man Hot Pad
• O’ Christmas Tree Crochet Mason Jar Cozy
• Reindeer Crochet Coffee Sleeve