How to Make Crochet Coal: Perfect Last-Minute Christmas Gift!

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.

Materials and Tools

Before getting started, it's important to gather all your materials.

• Yarn: You'll want black or dark gray yarn to make your coal look realistic. However, I’ll be using rainbow yarn in this tutorial so you can easily see the stitches.
• Crochet hook: I'm using a 6mm hook, but you can also use a 5mm or 4mm hook depending on how dense or large you want your coal to be.
• Scissors: Handy for snipping those ends.
• Needle: To sew in the tails after you're done crocheting.

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.

Getting Started

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.

Tips for Handling Dark Yarn

If you're new to crocheting with black or dark gray yarn, here are a few tips to make things easier:

• Use natural light: If crocheting at night, try working under a daylight lamp.
• Contrast surfaces: Crochet against a light table or surface for better contrast.
• Go slow: It helps reduce mistakes if it’s hard to see the stitches.

Bottom Bun – Creating the Base Layer

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.

1. Leave a tail: 5 inches is perfect because you’ll use this later for knotting and sewing.
2. Make a slip knot: Form a slip knot and place it on your hook.
3. Chain 3 stitches: This will act as the foundation of your base layer.
4. Form a ring: Slip stitch into the first chain you made. You should now have a tight little ring, which is the foundation of your first round!

Round 1: Building the Base

In this round, you’ll be making double crochets.

• Chain 3: Counts as your first double crochet (DC).
• Make 11 more DCs: Inside the ring, working around for a total of 12 double crochets.
• Slip stitch to join: When you’re done with your 12 DCs, slip stitch into the top of the starting chain to complete the round.

Round 2: Expanding the Bottom Bun

In this round, we’ll increase to start shaping the base:

• Chain 3: This counts as your first double crochet.
• Double crochet twice into each stitch: Work two double crochets into every stitch from the round before. You will end up with 24 DCs.
• Slip stitch to join: Complete your round by slip stitching into the top of the starting chain.

And there you have it! The bottom bun is done, with a nice circular foundation for the middle layers to sit on.

Middle Layers – The “Filling”

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.

Starting the Middle Layers

• Chain 12: This is the starting round of your middle layer.
• Form a ring: Slip stitch into the first chain to form a closed circle.
• Chain 3: This counts as your first double crochet.
• Make 23 more DCs: Just like we did for the base, make 23 double crochets inside the ring, for a total of 24 DCs.
• Slip stitch to join: Just like before, slip stitch into the top of the chain 3 stitch to complete the round.

Joining the Layers

Once you’ve created your middle layers, it’s time to join them to the bottom layer:

• Find a chain space on the bottom layer: Using a slip stitch, join the first middle layer to any of the chain 1 spaces on the bottom.
• Work double crochets: From here, work two double crochets, chain 1, and two more double crochets into each chain space of the base layer. Continue this until your entire middle layer is attached to the bottom bun.

Repeat this process for the remaining middle layers, each time joining them to the bottom bun using slip stitches.

Top Bun – Finishing Off the Coal

Finally, let’s add our top bun, which closes off the coal.

1. Start with a longer tail: Like the base layer, leave around 4-5 inches for knotting.
2. Chain 3 to start: This counts as your first DC.
3. Work double crochets: Create 11 more double crochets into the circle, for a total of 12 DCs.
4. Slip stitch to join: Slip stitch into the top of the starting chain to complete the round.

For the second row:

• Chain 3 (first DC)
• Work two DCs into each stitch for a total of 24 DCs.
• Join to top: Slip stitch into the top chain, just like every other round.

Final Assembly

To finish your crochet coal, you’ll need to knot the bottom bun and top bun together.

Knotting for Stability

1. Find a chain 1 space: Pull the tail through the chain space.
2. Knot the buns: Knot the bottom and top buns tightly together. Because it’s hidden in the center, no one will see it!
3. Sew the edges: Use your needle to sew the remaining tails into the layers to ensure everything holds together.

Once all the layers are securely knotted and sewn, your crochet coal is ready!

Finishing Touches

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.

Tips and Tricks

• Trouble seeing dark yarn?: Work with brighter light or contrast the background color to make your stitches more visible.
• Use a smaller crochet hook for denser coal or a larger one if you want bigger pieces of coal.
• Be gentle with tension: If you want your coal to have a puffier look, consider loosening your tension on the yarn.

Conclusion

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!

FAQs

1. What type of yarn should I use for crochet coal?

• It's best to use black or dark gray yarn for a realistic coal appearance. However, you can use any color to add a fun twist or make your stitches easier to see.

2. What size crochet hook is recommended for this project?

• A 6mm crochet hook is recommended, but you can use a 5mm or 4mm hook for a denser or smaller piece of coal.

3. Is this project suitable for beginners?

• Yes, crochet coal is perfect for beginners! The project uses basic stitches like chain and double crochet, and is small and easy to complete.

4. How long does it take to crochet one piece of coal?

• Generally, it takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete one piece of crochet coal, depending on your crochet speed and familiarity with the pattern.

5. Do I need any stuffing for crochet coal?

• No stuffing is required. The structure of the crochet and the multiple layers provide sufficient shape and volume.

6. Can I use different colors for the crochet coal?

• Absolutely! While traditional coal is black or gray, using colorful yarn can add a whimsical and unexpected twist suitable for any festive decoration.

7. How can I adjust the size of my crochet coal?

• To make smaller coal, use a smaller hook or fewer rounds. For larger coal, opt for a larger hook and add extra rounds to expand the size.

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.