Crochet Christmas Pudding: A Plum Pudding Amigurumi with Holly
A brown stuffed pudding with a dripping cream topping, two holly leaves and three red berries. The British and Australian Christmas classic, in amigurumi form — as an ornament, a pincushion or table decor.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) in brown (30 yd), cream (10 yd), green and red scraps
- Hook
- 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Time
- About 1½ hours
- Finished size
- About 3 in (7.5 cm) across
You'll need
- Worsted (#4) brown — about 30 yd
- Cream or white — about 10 yd
- Green and red scraps
- 3.5 mm (E-4) hook
- Fibrefill
- Tapestry needle
In this post
A crochet Christmas pudding is a brown ball with a cream "custard" cap that drips down the sides. The drips come from a single round of graduated stitches: slip stitch, half double, double and treble. Two holly leaves and three berries on top finish it. In worsted yarn it's about 3 inches across.
It's a favourite in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, where plum pudding is part of Christmas dinner. Make it as a tree ornament, a pincushion for a crafter, or a set of three for the table.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
Pudding
- Rnd 1: In brown, 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. (18)
- Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. (24)
- Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. (30)
- Rnds 6–11: Sc in each st. (30)
- Rnd 12: (3 sc, dec) × 6. (24)
- Rnd 13: (2 sc, dec) × 6. Stuff firmly. (18)
- Rnd 14: (Sc, dec) × 6. (12)
- Rnd 15: Dec × 6. Close. (6)
Optional: scatter a few French knots in black or dark purple over the pudding for fruit.
Cream topping
- Rnds 1–4: In cream, 6 sc in a ring; inc in each (12); (sc, inc) × 6 (18); (2 sc, inc) × 6. (24)
- Rnd 5 (drips): *Sl st in the next, hdc in the next, (dc, tr, dc) in the next, hdc in the next, sl st in the next, sc in the next* × 4. Fasten off with a long tail. (4 drips)
- Attach: Centre the topping on the top of the pudding and sew around its edge.
Holly
- Leaf (make 2): In green, ch 7. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. Ch 1, then work the same sequence along the other side of the chain. Sl st to the tip.
- Berries (make 3): In red, 5 sc in a magic ring, pull tight and sl st. Use the tails to sew the berries to the centre of the topping.
Three ways to use it
| Use | Tip |
|---|---|
| Ornament | Make it in DK yarn with a 3 mm hook (about 2½ in) and add a ribbon loop |
| Pincushion | Stuff very firmly with wool roving or add a layer of crushed walnut shells for weight |
| Table decor | Make three sizes with 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 mm hooks and stack them on a cake stand |
Round out the festive table with gingerbread men and a crochet wreath topped with a crochet poinsettia.
Common questions
How do you crochet the dripping cream on a Christmas pudding?
Work the last round of the topping in graduated stitches — slip stitch, half double, then a (dc, treble, dc) group, then back down. Each group becomes one drip.
What size is a crochet Christmas pudding?
About 3 inches across in worsted yarn on a 3.5 mm hook. Use a smaller hook and DK yarn for an ornament.
Can I make it without stuffing?
Yes. Stop after Rnd 11, crochet a flat brown circle of 30 stitches for the base and sew it on to make a small lidless dish — or a cosy for a real pudding bowl.
Pudding, mince pies or pavlova at your Christmas table? 🎄
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