November 13, 2024 6 min read
Who says coal has to be a bad thing? If you're looking for a little humor to throw into your Christmas stockings this year, crochet coal is the perfect choice. It's a fun, simple project that can be a hilarious last-minute stocking stuffer. Whether you're gifting it to the "naughty" list or just adding a bit of Christmas laughter for family and friends, crochet coal is quick, easy, and sure to be a hit.
And guess what? All you need is some yarn and a hook—no stuffing required! Let's dive into how you can whip up a ball of "coal" in no time.
Before getting started, it's important to gather all your materials.
If you’re following along and would like a written pattern to keep things simple, you can find easy-to-read patterns for crochet coal here. These patterns are perfect for beginners and are written in plain English.
Want to see more Christmas patterns? Check out these Christmas crochet designs.
Set yourself up in a space where you can easily manage your yarn and use your hook. If you’re using a darker yarn like black or gray, good lighting will help make it easier to see the stitches. It’s also helpful to leave a longer tail when starting, so you can easily knot and sew it later.
If you're new to crocheting with black or dark gray yarn, here are a few tips to make things easier:
To start making your crochet coal, we’ll begin with what I like to call the “bottom bun”—the base layer where all future layers will connect.
In this round, you’ll be making double crochets.
In this round, we’ll increase to start shaping the base:
And there you have it! The bottom bun is done, with a nice circular foundation for the middle layers to sit on.
The middle filling is what gives the coal its shape. We are going to crochet three layers of double crochets here to build the bulk of the coal.
Each of these middle layers follows the same pattern, so once you’ve completed one, you can repeat it two more times.
Once you’ve created your middle layers, it’s time to join them to the bottom layer:
Repeat this process for the remaining middle layers, each time joining them to the bottom bun using slip stitches.
Finally, let’s add our top bun, which closes off the coal.
For the second row:
To finish your crochet coal, you’ll need to knot the bottom bun and top bun together.
Once all the layers are securely knotted and sewn, your crochet coal is ready!
Take a moment to adjust the coal’s shape. Gently massage it into a round shape to avoid any flat spots. If you want to experiment, you can even make some colorful versions by using different yarn types, though traditional black or gray looks the most realistic.
For more Christmas fun, we’ve got garlands, stockings, and even crochet pickles that are fun patterns to explore for decorating your home.
Crochet coal is not just a fun Christmas gift—it’s a great crochet practice project. Whether it’s for a gag gift, decoration, or simply a playful addition to someone’s stocking, it brings laughter and creativity to the holiday season. You can even explore adding your special touch with different colors or embellishments.
Want more holiday ideas? Check out these beginner-friendly crochet patterns for a fun Christmas day. And if you make coal, be sure to share your results—I'm excited to see what you come up with!
Happy crocheting!
1. What type of yarn should I use for crochet coal?
2. What size crochet hook is recommended for this project?
3. Is this project suitable for beginners?
4. How long does it take to crochet one piece of coal?
5. Do I need any stuffing for crochet coal?
6. Can I use different colors for the crochet coal?
7. How can I adjust the size of my crochet coal?
Known for her friendly approach and detailed tutorials, Christa Patel brings her expertise and love of crochet to her audience at the Secret Yarnery. With a wide range of free patterns, live chats, and a popular podcast, Christa creates an inviting space for anyone looking to dive into crochet and develop their skills in a supportive, creative environment.
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Everything I need in one place to be creative and I can photocopy extras of the pages I use most to customise my planning. I use it as my main diary, even for work and upcoming events. It inspires me to focus on my creative pursuits too. Love it!
Love this item going to put little gifts in it on the tree ,just tying in tails.
I am really impressed with the quality of this written pattern as well as the video tutorial. Both are clear and detailed. I am not done with my striped cardigan yet, but it's coming together nicely (though I'm not so sure about my choice to use up yarn I already have with individual stripes!)... so many tails to sew in!! My advice would be to buy self-striping yarn like she does in the video.
Easy to follow pattern! Super base for the rectangle or other larger projects.
Keep the tutorials coming and with written and visual instructions to follow along so beginners can learn. Thank you for your help.
I think there is a mistake in the written pattern. It says to do a half double crochet twice, when it is only supposed to be once
Thank you to the Secret Yarnery for this pattern! Can't go wrong with this one, it really is easy and fast to make - I'm on my 2nd one already and plan to do more! You really don't need to look any further if you're looking to make a scarf - you will not be disappointed. In fact, you'll have fun making it (I did!) Happy crocheting!
Thank you for writing a pattern that is amazingly easy to follow and help me produce a stunning piece!!
Wow! I can't believe I made this beautiful toran. Well, yes I can since I followed this easy pattern! Again, wow! How fun was this to make! Super-duper easy to make and you can be as creative as you like by choosing colours, placement of colours to form pattern(s), number of leaves, etc. so it truly can be personalized for any occasion! Love the Secret Yarnery patterns and tutorials - thank you so much for your time, efforts, and for sharing your talent with the rest of us in the world!
The best pattern & tutorial I have ever come across. Loved how you used the needle to clearly point out where the stitch was to go. Have made 3 hats already. Many more on my to do list. Thanks so much
The yarn world is vast & has several yarn naming & grading systems. This chart really helps to get the right weight of yarn, size of needle, gauge & yardage/meterage when using patterns or yarns from other countries. And it covers both knit & crochet. Thank you for putting together this very useful tool, Secret Yarnery.
I love this pattern. Very easy to follow and fun to make.
Glad I found this pattern. I love it.
It was very easy to do. I have already made 4