March into the holiday season with the Amigurumi Nutcracker Soldiers, a festive crochet project that brings timeless charm and a touch of whimsy to your handmade décor! 🎄🪖 With their regal uniforms, tall hats, and proud stances, these tiny guardians are ready to stand watch over your mantel, tree, or gift table. Inspired by the classic ballet and beloved holiday traditions, each soldier is a delightful blend of bold colors, crisp details, and cozy craftsmanship.
This pattern is perfect for crocheters who love character work and intricate touches. You can personalize your Nutcracker with gold epaulettes, decorative buttons, or even a tiny mustache for extra flair. Whether you’re crafting a single sentinel or a whole battalion of merry protectors, the Amigurumi Nutcracker Soldiers are a joyful way to celebrate the season—one stately stitch at a time! 🧶✨
Amigurumi Nutcracker Soldiers Crochet Pattern
Bring home the spirit of Christmas with this stunning pair of handcrafted Nutcracker soldiers. Towering at about 60–65 cm (24–26 inches) tall, they feature tall jeweled hats, structured military jackets, gold-trimmed boots, and flowing white beards. With their stately posture and charming details, these regal figures are perfect for decorating doorways, mantels, or Christmas displays.
🧶 Skill Level
Intermediate to Advanced – involves shaping, color changes, and detailed assembly.
📏 Finished Size
Approximately 60–65 cm (24–26 in) tall when assembled on base.
🪡 Materials
- Worsted Weight Yarn
- Beige/Peach (skin tone)
- Red – Jacket B
- Teal/Green – Jacket A
- Pink – Pants A + Hat B
- Blue – Pants B
- Green – Hat A
- Black – Boots, Belt, Pupils
- White – Beard, Hair, Collar, Cuffs, Epaulettes, Teeth
- Gold/Yellow – Trim, Buckle, Buttons, Boot embroidery
- Aqua/Light Blue – Eye irises
- Crochet hook: 3.5 mm (E)
- Fiberfill stuffing
- 2 plastic or cardboard discs (10–12 cm diameter)
- Beads or felt jewels for hat peaks (red or dark red/burgundy)
- Black embroidery thread
- Optional: 20-gauge craft wire for mustache, fabric stiffener, blush for cheeks
🔤 Abbreviations (US Terms)
MR = Magic Ring
sc = single crochet
inc = increase (2 sc in one stitch)
dec = decrease (sc2tog)
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
FO = fasten off
👤 Head (Beige)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 [30]
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 [36]
R7: (5 sc, inc) × 6 [42]
R8–R18: sc around [42]
Eye placement: Between rounds 13–14, spaced 8–9 sts apart.
R19: (5 sc, dec) × 6 [36]
R20: (4 sc, dec) × 6 [30]
R21: (3 sc, dec) × 6 [24]
R22: (2 sc, dec) × 6 [18]
Stuff very firmly and FO.
👃 Nose
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: (sc, inc) × 3 [9]
R3–R6: sc around [9]
R7: (sc, dec) × 3 [6]
Stuff lightly and flatten. Sew between eyes, just overlapping their lower edges.
👀 Eyes
White base: R1: MR, 6 sc [6]; R2: inc × 6 [12]; R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]; FO.
Iris (Aqua): R1: MR, 6 sc [6]; R2: inc × 6 [12]; FO.
Pupil (Black): R1: MR, 6 sc [6]; FO.
Sew pupil → iris → white base; add white highlight stitch.
Eyebrows: Embroider angled black stitches above each eye.
🎩 Hat
Crown (Green or Pink)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 [30]
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 [36]
R7: (5 sc, inc) × 6 [42]
R8–R35: sc around [42] → tall, cylindrical shape.
FO; lightly stuff for structure.
Brim (Gold)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 [30]
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 [36]
R7: sc around [36]; FO.
Sew brim to crown bottom so the crown slightly overhangs.
Zigzag Trim (Gold)
Join to brim edge: ch 6; sc in 2nd ch, hdc, dc, dc, hdc; sl st in next brim st.
Repeat around to form 8–10 large peaks.
Sew one jewel (dark red or burgundy) at each peak.
Top Pom-Pom (Gold)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: sc around [24]
R6: (2 sc, dec) × 6 [18]
R7: (sc, dec) × 6 [12]
Stuff firmly.
R8: dec × 6 [6]; FO and sew to top.
🧔 Hair & Beard (White)
Beard: Cut 70–80 strands (20–22 cm). Attach using latch-hook method in 4–5 dense rows below mouth. Trim to lower chest level.
Side Hair: 30–40 strands (12–14 cm); attach below hat brim, framing face evenly.
Mustache: Ch 15; sl st in 2nd ch, sc ×3, hdc ×3, dc ×4, hdc ×2, sc in last. Optional: insert thin wire for curl. Sew under nose and curve upward.
😁 Mouth & Teeth
Lip (Red): Ch 15; 4 rows sc (14).
Teeth (White): Ch 15; 2 rows sc (14).
Sew teeth onto red base; embroider 5–6 black lines for teeth separation.
Attach below nose, just above beard. Add small embroidered smile lines.
🎽 Body, Pants & Jacket
Lower Torso (Beige)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 [30]
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 [36]
R7–R11: sc around [36]
R12: (4 sc, dec) × 6 [30] → defines waist
Pants (Pink or Blue)
R13–R30: sc around [30] → tall pants section
Jacket (Teal/Green or Red)
R31: (4 sc, inc) × 6 [36]
R32–R33: sc around [36]
R34: (5 sc, inc) × 6 [42]
R35–R48: sc around [42]
Stuff body firmly as you go; FO with long tail.
Collar (White)
Join white yarn:
R1–R2: sc around [42]
R3: (6 sc, inc) × 6 [48] → FO and let edge roll outward.
Belt (Black)
Ch 43; 3 rows sc (42). Wrap around waistline; seam at back.
Buckle (Gold)
Ch 13; 3 rows sc; Row 4: sc 3, ch 6, skip 6, sc 3; Row 5: sc 3, 6 sc in ch-space, sc 3. FO.
Sew centered on belt front.
Buttons (Gold, 4×)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]; R2: inc × 6 [12]. FO, lightly stuffed.
Attach vertically on jacket front at R46, R41, R36, and R34.
Triangle Hem Panel (Pants Color)
Ch 12; sc in 2nd ch [11]
Row 2: ch 1, sc2tog, 7 sc, sc2tog [9]
Row 3: ch 1, sc2tog, 5 sc, sc2tog [7]
Row 4: ch 1, sc2tog, 3 sc, sc2tog [5]
Row 5: ch 1, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog [3]; FO.
Sew centered on the lower jacket front, point upward.
💪 Arms (2×)
Hand (Beige)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3–R6: sc around [12]
Cuff (White)
R7–R9: sc around [12]
Sleeve (Jacket Color)
R10: inc × 6 [18]
R11–R28: sc around [18]
Stuff lightly; FO.
Sew arms straight down along body sides, tucked beneath epaulettes.
Epaulettes (White, 2×)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: sc around [24]; gather center, stuff lightly, and sew to shoulders above arms.
🥾 Boots (Black + Gold)
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 [30]
R6–R8: sc around [30]
R9: 10 sc, dec × 5, 10 sc [25]
R10: 8 sc, dec × 5, 7 sc [20]
R11–R31: sc around [20]
Gold cuff: R32–R34: gold sc [20]
Black trim: R35: sc [20]; FO.
Stuff firmly.
Boot Embroidery (Gold):
Embroider 3 horizontal arched lines (∪) across boot front.
Each arch spans 8–10 stitches, spaced 3–4 rounds apart, beginning about 4 rounds above the sole.
🪵 Base (Tan or Black)
Make 2 identical discs:
R1: MR, 6 sc [6]
R2: inc × 6 [12]
R3: (sc, inc) × 6 [18]
R4: (2 sc, inc) × 6 [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 [30]
R6: (4 sc, inc) × 6 [36]
R7: (5 sc, inc) × 6 [42]
R8: (6 sc, inc) × 6 [48]
Insert cardboard disc between and sew edges together, lightly stuffing for firmness.
🧵 Assembly
- Attach head to body securely.
- Sew hat evenly on head.
- Add facial details: nose, mouth, beard, hair, mustache.
- Sew belt, buckle, buttons, and hem panel.
- Attach epaulettes and arms.
- Sew boots to base; attach body firmly atop boots.
- Optionally apply blush and fabric stiffener for crisp finish.
✨ Display Ideas
These Nutcracker soldiers make perfect guardians for your entryway or fireplace mantel. Their classic color pairing — green and red coats with gold details — creates a balanced, festive display. Place them under your Christmas tree or beside holiday lights to complete a traditional scene.
With their long pants, tall hats, arched boot trim, and regal detailing, these crocheted figures bring old-world holiday charm and craftsmanship to your festive home décor.
