Christmas decorations come down in January, but winter keeps going until March. These 24 free crochet winter home decor patterns are made for that stretch. They're snowflakes, snowmen, chunky throws, candle cozies and pillows that look right from the first frost to the first crocus, with no Santa in sight. Every pattern is written out in full, rounds or rows with stitch counts, on the designer's own site. There's no signup and nothing to buy.
A few notes before you start. Most of these use worsted (#4) or super bulky (#6) yarn, so they work up fast. The throws and poufs can be done in a weekend. Use cotton or wool for anything near a candle. Acrylic melts, and every candle cozy designer below says the same thing: wrap jar candles only, never a bare flame. Snowflakes and lace runners hold their shape better if you starch them. Several designers sell an optional ad-free PDF, but the full pattern is free on the page. If a stitch name stops you, the crochet abbreviations list explains it.
Snowflake garlands, mitten garlands and wall decor
Garlands and wall hangings are the quickest way to make a room feel wintry. Each motif takes about the length of a TV episode.
Crochet Snowflake Star Garland — Sarahndipities. Simple six-point star motifs worked in two rounds of single crochet and chain-3 loops, then strung together. Worsted on a 5.5mm hook, so they're chunky and quick. The design combines a Star of David with a snowflake, so it suits Hanukkah as well as winter. US terms.
Snowflake Wall Hanging — Blue Star Crochet. Lacy snowflakes in DK cotton on a 4mm hook, about 14.5 cm across, stiffened and tied to a pine branch or a wooden stick. It's a lovely way to bring the outdoors in. Hang it on a door or above a mantel.
Crochet Mitten Garland — Crochet to Play. Little 3-inch mittens worked in half double crochet rounds, with a sewn-on thumb and a picot cuff. Cotton yarn on a 3.5mm hook. Make them in blues and whites and they stay up through February.
Easy Crochet Mitten Garland — Just Be Crafty. Worked flat in single crochet with a back-loop ribbed cuff, then cinched at the top. Twelve mittens make a 55-inch garland. The designer frames it as an Advent calendar, but it doubles as a winter mantel garland. Worsted on a 4.5mm hook. Beginner friendly.
Snowflake pillows and table linens
Filet Crochet Snowflake Pillow — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. An 18-inch pillow front with a big snowflake in filet crochet, written out row by row as filled and open squares. Fine cotton on a 3.5mm hook, with a note on using worsted instead. Beginner-friendly, and a nice introduction to filet.
Snowflake Pillow — Annie Design Crochet. A textured cream cover in alternating single and double crochet, with a crab-stitch edge and a red snowflake appliqué. Fits a 17-inch pillow form and can be resized. The pattern is called a Christmas pillow, but a single snowflake works all winter.
Crocheted Snowman Pillow — Nana's Crafty Home. A 12-inch pillow with a snowman in single-crochet tapestry colourwork, worked from a chart. It's a friendly first colourwork project. Worsted on a 5mm hook, with gauge given.
Snowflake Table Runner — Petals to Picots. Lace snowflake motifs joined as you go into a 28½ × 8½ inch runner. Sport weight on a 3.5mm hook. Intermediate. It looks beautiful on a dark wood table.
Snowflake Table Runner — Crochet N Crafts. The heirloom version, in size 10 thread on a 1.5mm hook. Four-inch snowflakes with cluster shells are joined three across into an 11-inch runner. Intermediate. For a matching set, add a crochet doily, or browse more crochet table runner patterns.
Chunky throws and floor poufs
Super bulky yarn and a big hook mean a throw in a weekend. It's the cosiest thing you can make for January.
Wintertide Throw — Mama In A Stitch. A stitch-sampler lapghan with bands of bean stitch, granite stitch, front-loop half double crochet and bobbles. Eight skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick on an 11.5mm hook make 32 × 42 inches, and there are notes for going bigger. Best if you already know the basics.
Popping Posts Throw — The Loopy Lamb. Rows of single crochet with front-post double crochet "pops". Five balls of Bernat Blanket on a 12mm hook make a 43 × 52 inch throw. Easy.
The Brumble Throw — Pretty Darn Adorable. Alternating single and double crochet on a 15mm hook, so it's as easy as a blanket gets. It makes 50 × 60 inches, with resizing notes and a video. Beginner. Our fall and winter blanket roundup has more.
Easy Crochet Floor Pouf — Homemade Heather. Worked in the round with double crochet and front-post increases, then stuffed with about 32 oz of polyfill. Bernat Roving on a 9mm hook. The designer says that if you've made a hat, you can make this.
The Foolproof Floor Pouf — The Snugglery. Two linked-double-crochet circles joined through the back loops. Super bulky cotton tube or t-shirt yarn on an 11.5mm hook makes an 18-inch pouf, and the size is easy to change. There's a video too.
Candle, jar and mug cozies
Small, quick and easy to give. A candle cozy is a lovely hostess gift.
Birch Bark Candle Cozy — Moogly. Two colours of cotton worked in rounds to look like a birch log. It fits a 3-inch jar candle and you can make it any height. Moogly recommends cotton or wool near flame, and so do we.
Candle Cozy — Easy on the Tongue. A simple single crochet base and body for a large three-wick jar candle (9 inches across), in DK cotton on a 4mm hook. US terms with UK equivalents.
Crochet Candle Cozies — Whistle and Ivy. A flat strip of double crochet in a cable-like crossover stitch, wrapped around the jar and closed with two chunky buttons. Adjust the chain to fit any jar. Medium weight on a 4.5mm hook.
Frosty Snowflake Mason Jar Cozy — The Stitchin' Mommy. A pint mason jar cozy in cotton with embroidered snowflakes. Put a tea light jar or a few pine sprigs inside. Worsted cotton on a 5mm hook.
Ridge Mug Sweater — 99% Coffee. A ribbed mug sleeve in half double crochet worked in the third loop, in two sizes for 10.5- or 11-inch mugs. It takes only 35 yards of worsted. For more, see our hot cocoa and mug cozy patterns.
Draft stopper and hot water bottle cover
Pretty and practical: these keep the cold out.
Long Cat Door Draft Stopper — Moogly. A striped cat, 36 inches long, that lies along the bottom of a drafty door. It's a half double crochet tube in Bernat Blanket on an 8mm hook, with legs, ears and a tail. It fits a 36-inch draft stopper insert and buttons closed for washing.
Cosmos Hot Water Bottle Cover — Jera's Jamboree. A flower granny square front with an envelope back, sized for a standard 2-litre bottle. Chunky yarn on 5mm and 6mm hooks. Intermediate. It's a UK site, but the pattern uses US stitch names.
Snowmen and pinecones
No-Sew Jumbo Snowman — The Loopy Lamb. An 8¾-inch snowman in Bernat Blanket, worked in single crochet rounds with no sewing at all. Easy. Make a family of three for the mantel.
Crispen the Snowman — Crystalized Designs. A soft, fluffy snowman in faux-fur yarn on a 9mm hook, with half double crochet rounds. Faux fur hides your stitches, so it's forgiving. Easy. Find more in our winter snowman roundup.
5-Minute Crochet Pinecone — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. A chain-20 strip of picot "scales" rolled into a 3-inch pinecone and sewn. Worsted on a 5mm hook. Pile a bowl of them on the coffee table, or add them to a winter wreath.
More cozy winter crochet
Keep going with cozy slippers, a holiday coaster or mug rug, or a set of winter mittens. Store your yarn stash in crochet baskets, and refresh the sofa with a new cover from our free crochet pillow patterns. For the season before, there's our Christmas garland roundup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What crochet decorations can I leave up after Christmas?
Anything that says winter rather than Christmas: snowflakes, snowmen, mittens, pinecones, birch logs, and plain cream, blue or grey throws and pillows. Leave out red-and-green colourways and Santa motifs, and the patterns above work from December to March.
What is the best yarn for crochet home decor?
Cotton for anything that gets washed or sits near a candle, such as table runners, cozies and coasters. Super bulky acrylic or wool blend for throws and poufs. Thread or sport weight for lace snowflakes and runners. Worsted acrylic is fine for garlands, pillows and snowmen.
Is it safe to crochet a candle cozy?
Only for candles in a jar, and only in cotton or wool, which char rather than melt. Never put yarn near an open flame, and keep the cozy below the rim of the jar. A battery LED tea light is the safest choice of all.
How do you stiffen crochet snowflakes?
Soak them in fabric stiffener, or a 50/50 mix of white glue and water, or a strong starch solution. Pin them flat on a foam board covered in plastic wrap, shape the points, and leave them to dry overnight.
