The Yuletide Treasure Pudding: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Festive Christmas Decoration with Holly Hat

Knit a Festive Yuletide Treasure Pudding Ornament

Bring a touch of handmade charm to your holiday decor with this delightful knitted Christmas pudding ornament. Featuring a rich, textured brown body, a creamy sauce drip, and a jaunty holly hat with red berries, this pattern is perfect for adding a cozy, festive touch to your tree or gift tags. Using clever increases and decreases, you'll create a plump, realistic shape that's both fun to knit and beautiful to display. This free pattern is ideal for intermediate beginners looking to expand their amigurumi skills.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in the following colors (small amounts of each):
  • Dark brown (for pudding body)
  • Cream (for sauce drip)
  • Forest green (for holly leaves and hat)
  • Red (for berries)
• Needles: US size 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a circular needle for magic loop
• Gauge: 22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (gauge is not critical for this ornament, but consistency helps achieve the correct size)
• Other: Fiberfill stuffing, tapestry needle, scissors

Step-by-Step Instructions

Pudding Body (Knit in the Round)

Using dark brown yarn, cast on 6 stitches. Distribute evenly on 3 DPNs (2 stitches per needle). Join in the round, being careful not to twist.

• Round 1: Knit all stitches.
• Round 2: *K1, M1 (make one by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting it through the back loop); repeat from * around (12 stitches).
• Round 3: Knit all stitches.
• Round 4: *K2, M1; repeat from * around (18 stitches).
• Round 5: Knit all stitches.
• Round 6: *K3, M1; repeat from * around (24 stitches).
• Round 7: Knit all stitches.
• Round 8: *K4, M1; repeat from * around (30 stitches).
• Rounds 9-16: Knit all stitches (10 rounds total).
• Round 17: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * around (24 stitches).
• Round 18: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around (18 stitches).
• Round 19: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around (12 stitches).

Stuff the pudding firmly with fiberfill.

• Round 20: *K2tog; repeat from * around (6 stitches).

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, and pull tight to close. Weave in end.

Sauce Drip (Knit Flat)

With cream yarn, cast on 5 stitches.

• Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
• Row 2: Purl all stitches.
• Row 3: K1, M1, k3, M1, k1 (7 stitches).
• Row 4: Purl all stitches.
• Row 5: Knit all stitches.
• Row 6: Purl all stitches.
• Row 7: K1, M1, k5, M1, k1 (9 stitches).
• Row 8: Purl all stitches.
• Row 9: Knit all stitches.
• Row 10: Purl all stitches.

Bind off loosely. Sew the sauce drip onto the top of the pudding, draping it slightly over one side for a realistic custard effect.

Holly Hat (Knit in the Round)

With forest green yarn, cast on 18 stitches. Distribute on 3 DPNs (6 stitches each). Join in the round.

• Rounds 1-3: Knit all stitches.
• Round 4: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around (12 stitches).
• Rounds 5-6: Knit all stitches.
• Round 7: *K2tog; repeat from * around (6 stitches).

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, and pull tight to close. Weave in end. This forms a small, pointed hat.

Holly Leaves (Knit Flat, Make 2)

With forest green yarn, cast on 3 stitches.

• Row 1: Knit all stitches.
• Row 2: K1, M1, k1, M1, k1 (5 stitches).
• Row 3: Knit all stitches.
• Row 4: K2, M1, k1, M1, k2 (7 stitches).
• Row 5: Knit all stitches.
• Row 6: K2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2 (5 stitches).
• Row 7: Knit all stitches.
• Row 8: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1 (3 stitches).
• Row 9: Knit all stitches.

Bind off. Sew the leaves to the base of the hat.

Berries (Knit in the Round, Make 3)

With red yarn, cast on 6 stitches. Distribute on 2 DPNs (3 stitches each). Join in the round.

• Round 1: Knit all stitches.
• Round 2: *K2tog; repeat from * around (3 stitches).

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, and pull tight to close. Weave in end. Sew berries onto the hat near the leaves.

Assembly

Sew the holly hat onto the top of the pudding, slightly off-center. Weave in all ends. Optionally, add a small loop of yarn at the top for hanging. Your Yuletide Treasure Pudding is now ready to adorn your holiday home!