Add a sprinkle of holiday cheer to your home with the Christmas Elf Towel Roll Holder, a playful crochet project that’s both festive and functional! 🧶🎄 With his pointy hat, big ears, striped legs, and mittened hands holding a towel roll, this merry little helper is ready to bring smiles to your kitchen or bathroom all season long. Whether perched on a countertop or gifted to a fellow holiday enthusiast, he’s sure to become a favorite part of your seasonal décor.
Perfect for crocheters who love whimsical details and joyful makes, this pattern invites you to explore fun shaping, bright colors, and a dash of Christmas magic. Customize your elf’s outfit, add a jingle bell or two, or pair him with other handmade holiday characters for a full festive lineup. The Christmas Elf Towel Roll Holder is a delightful way to stitch up warmth, charm, and a little North Pole mischief—one loop at a time! 🧵✨
🎄 Christmas Elf Towel Roll Holder Crochet Pattern
Cheery elf with curled green hat, zig-zag red brim, round nose, rosy cheeks, red mittens, black belt & buckle, candy-cane legs, yellow ruffles, and big black shoes. Wire-reinforced arms hug a standard paper-towel roll.
Skill Level
Intermediate–Advanced (shaping, color changes, sturdy assembly, wire)
Finished Size
Seated height: 40–45 cm (16–18 in). Fits one standard paper-towel roll.
Materials
- Worsted yarn:
- Green 150 g (hat, body, sleeves)
- Red 100 g (brim, collar, mittens, leg stripes)
- White 50 g (leg stripes)
- Beige/Tan 75 g (head, ears, nose)
- Brown small (hair tuft)
- Black 50 g (belt, shoes, smile)
- Yellow/Gold 30 g (buckle, cuffs, pom-pom)
- 4.0 mm hook (G/6)
- Safety eyes 12 mm (black)
- Fiberfill
- 18-gauge floral/armature wire for both arms (+ cutters/pliers)
- Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors
- Blush or pink felt circles for cheeks
- Optional weight (poly-pellets/washer) for base
Abbreviations (US)
MR magic ring; sc single crochet; hdc half double crochet; dc double crochet; inc 2 sc in one st; dec invisible decrease; ch chain; sl st slip stitch; BLO back loop only; FLO front loop only; FO fasten off. Work in a spiral unless noted.
HEAD & FEATURES
Head (Beige/Tan)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc x6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) x6 (36)
R7: sc around (36)
R8: sc around (36)
R9: sc around (36)
R10: sc around (36)
R11: sc around (36)
👉 Insert 12 mm eyes between R10–R11, 8 sts apart.
R12: sc around (36)
R13: sc around (36)
R14: (4 sc, dec) x6 (30)
R15: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
R16: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
R17: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
Stuff very firmly.
R18: dec x6 (6)
FO, close and weave in.
Nose (round, stuffed)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc x6 (12)
R3: sc around (12)
R4: (sc, dec) x4 (8)
FO, stuff lightly, sew centered between eyes.
Ears ×2 (Beige/Tan)
R1: 4 sc in MR (4)
R2: inc x4 (8)
R3: (sc, inc) x4 (12)
R4: sc around (12)
FO. Do not stuff; pinch base flat, add one tacking stitch to curve. Sew at head R9–R12, angled slightly up.
Hair Tuft (Brown)
Row1: ch 16, sc in 2nd ch and across (15)
FO and sew as a curved fringe peeking from under brim.
Face Embroidery
Add wide smile with black thread; add blush circles under eyes.
HAT (Green with Red zig-zag brim, Yellow pom)
Cone (Green)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: (sc, inc) x3 (9)
R3: sc around (9)
R4: (2 sc, inc) x3 (12)
R5: sc around (12)
R6: (3 sc, inc) x3 (15)
R7: sc around (15)
R8: (4 sc, inc) x3 (18)
R9: sc around (18)
R10: (5 sc, inc) x3 (21)
R11: sc around (21)
R12: (6 sc, inc) x3 (24)
R13: sc around (24)
R14: (7 sc, inc) x3 (27)
R15: sc around (27)
R16: (8 sc, inc) x3 (30)
R17: sc around (30)
R18: (9 sc, inc) x3 (33)
R19: sc around (33)
R20: (10 sc, inc) x3 (36)
R21: sc around (36)
R22: sc around (36)
R23: (11 sc, inc) x3 (39)
R24: (12 sc, inc) x3 (42)
R25: sc around (42)
R26: sc around (42)
R27: sc around (42)
FO. Shape tip to bend.
Zig-Zag Brim (Red) — 14 points
Join at hat edge.
R1: sc around (42)
R2: sl st in next st, ch4, sc in 2nd ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch (forms point), skip 2 sts on hat; rep around to make 14 points.
FO, weave in.
Pom-pom (Yellow)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc x6 (12)
R3: sc around (12)
R4: sc around (12)
R5: dec x6 (6)
FO, stuff and sew to hat tip.
COLLAR (Red, pointy)
R1: ch 54, join to ring (54)
R2: sc around (54)
R3: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc in same st; skip 2 sts; sl st in next; rep around to get 13–14 points.
FO, leave tail for sewing at neck.
ARMS WITH MITTENS ×2 (wire-reinforced)
Mittens (Red)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc x6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
R4: sc around (18)
R5: sc around (18)
R6: sc around (18)
R7: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
R8: sc around (12)
R9: sc around (12)
Sleeves (Green)
R10: sc around (12)
R11: sc around (12)
R12: sc around (12)
R13: sc around (12)
R14: sc around (12)
R15: sc around (12)
R16: sc around (12)
R17: sc around (12)
R18: sc around (12)
R19: sc around (12)
R20: sc around (12)
R21: sc around (12)
R22: sc around (12)
Cuff Ruffle (Yellow)
R23: (sc, hdc, dc) in same st, sl st next st around.
FO, leave a long tail for sewing.
Wire & Stuffing:
Bend a U-shaped wire that spans both arms plus the body width. Insert one arm from cuff to mitten, loop end tucked in; stuff around wire. Repeat on other side so the wire meets/overlaps inside the torso for strength.
BODY (Green torso, black 3-row belt, taper at top)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc x6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) x6 (36)
R7: sc around (36)
R8: sc around (36)
R9: sc around (36)
R10: sc around (36)
R11: sc around (36)
R12: sc around (36)
R13: (4 sc, dec) x6 (30)
R14: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24)
R15: Change to Black – sc around (24)
R16: Black – sc around (24)
R17: Black – sc around (24) ← wide belt (3 rounds)
R18: Change to Green – sc around (24)
R19: sc around (24)
R20: (6 sc, dec) x3 (21)
R21: (5 sc, dec) x3 (18)
R22: sc around (18)
FO, stuff very firmly (add optional weight in bottom).
Belt Buckle (Yellow, square)
R1: ch 10, sc in 2nd ch and next 7 (8), 3 sc in last ch; continue along underside of chain, sc 8, 2 sc in first ch; join (22)
R2: sc to corner, inc, sc to next corner, inc around (work the two increases at the 3-sc corners)
FO, shape into a neat square frame and sew centered over the black belt (leave middle open so black shows through).
SHOES & LEGS ×2
Shoes (Black – longer toe)
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc x6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)
R5: BLO sc around (24)
R6: sc around (24)
R7: sc around (24)
R8: sc around (24) ← adds length
R9: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18)
R10: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
R11: sc around (12)
R12: sc around (12)
Do not FO; continue with leg. Stuff shoes firmly.
Striped Legs (start with Red, 1-round stripes)
R13: Red – sc around (12)
R14: White – sc around (12)
R15: Red – sc around (12)
R16: White – sc around (12)
R17: Red – sc around (12)
R18: White – sc around (12)
R19: Red – sc around (12)
R20: White – sc around (12)
R21: Red – sc around (12)
R22: White – sc around (12)
R23: Red – sc around (12)
R24: White – sc around (12)
R25: Red – sc around (12)
R26: White – sc around (12)
R27: Red – sc around (12)
R28: White – sc around (12)
R29: Red – sc around (12)
R30: White – sc around (12)
R31: Red – sc around (12)
R32: White – sc around (12)
R33: Red – sc around (12) ← finish with Red under green shorts
FO, stuff lightly up the calf.
Ankle Ruffles (Yellow)
Join Yellow at top of each leg:
R1: (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in same st, sl st next around.
FO.
ASSEMBLY
R1: Sew legs under body so they dangle when elf sits on an edge.
R2: Feed U-wire through body from one arm socket to the other; stitch arms on firmly at body R7–R9.
R3: Sew head to top of body; hide wire overlap behind stuffing.
R4: Sew collar around neck seam, points outward.
R5: Sew hat to head above ears; curve tip and attach pom-pom; let brown tuft peek out.
R6: Attach buckle centered on the black belt.
R7: Embroider mouth; add blush circles beneath eyes. Weave in all ends.
USE AS TOWEL-ROLL HOLDER
- Sit elf on a shelf/counter edge.
- Bend wired arms forward to cradle a paper-towel roll; palms face inward.
- Adjust curl of hat and ruffles.
- If needed, add a small weight in the body base for anti-tip stability.
Notes
- Gauge not critical; keep stitches tight for structure.
- Stuff firmly, especially shoes and head.
- All rounds are written separately to match the photo’s proportions and details exactly.
Enjoy your festive helper! 🧝✨
