Free Christmas Pudding Knitting Pattern Using Straight Needles

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a traditional Christmas pudding, especially when it has been recreated with yarn and a pair of straight knitting needles. This free Christmas pudding knitting pattern will help you make a charming little decoration filled with handmade festive character.

Measuring approximately 7cm wide by 7cm high, the finished pudding is small enough for seasonal table displays, gift boxes and Christmas decorations. You can also add an optional ribbon loop if you would like to hang it from your Christmas tree.

The entire project is worked flat. The rounded pudding, shaped icing, two holly leaves and three berries are all knitted separately before being sewn together, so you will not need circular or double-pointed needles.

Is This Christmas Pudding Knitting Pattern Right for Me?

This pattern is suitable for Advanced Beginner knitters. It uses straightforward increases and decreases to create the rounded pudding and shaped icing, making it a lovely project for developing your shaping skills.

You will need to be comfortable with:

• Knitting and purling
• Increasing with Make 1
• Decreasing with Knit 2 Together and Knit 3 Together
• Working back and forth on straight needles
• Sewing knitted pieces together
• Stuffing and finishing a small three-dimensional project

The project is compact and manageable, making it an enjoyable choice for a festive afternoon of knitting.

Download the Free Printable PDF Pattern

Christmas Pudding Materials

• Scheepjes Catona 4 ply cotton yarn:
  • 1 × 10g ball of Hazelnut #503
  • 1 × 10g ball of Snow White #106
  • 1 × 10g ball of Poppy Rose #390
  • 1 × 10g ball of Forest Green #412
• 2.5mm knitting needles (US 2 / UK 12)
• Small amount of black thread
• Toy stuffing
• Three stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Small piece of cardboard for a 2.5-inch (approximately 6.4cm) circle
• Optional: Narrow ribbon for a hanging loop

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Affiliate disclosure: The recommended yarn and knitting-needle buttons contain affiliate links. This means Peach Unicorn Designs may receive a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Knitting Abbreviations

• k – Knit
• p – Purl
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• m1 – Make one stitch by lifting the strand between the stitches from front to back with the left needle, then knitting into the back of it
• k2tog – Knit the next two stitches together
• k3tog – Knit the next three stitches together
• SM – Stitch marker
• ( ) – Repeat the instructions within the brackets the specified number of times

You can find helpful demonstrations on the Peach Unicorn Designs knitting video tutorial page:

• Knit Stitch tutorial
• Purl Stitch tutorial
• Make 1 tutorial
• Knit 2 Together tutorial

Christmas Pudding Pattern Notes

• Tension gauge: 26 stitches × 36 rows over 10 × 10cm
• Finished size: Approximately 7cm wide × 7cm high (2.75 × 2.75 inches)
• The pattern is suitable for Advanced Beginner knitters.
• All pieces are worked flat on straight knitting needles.
• The pudding is sewn together using Mattress Stitch.
• The icing, two holly leaves and three berries are made separately.
• The finished Christmas pudding is intended as a decorative item and not as a toy.
• An optional ribbon loop can be added if you would like to hang the pudding.

Free Christmas Pudding Knitting Pattern

Christmas Pudding

Using Hazelnut #503

Work from the top of the pudding to the bottom.

Cast on 9 sts.

Row 1 and ALL ODD rows – p

Row 2 – (k1, m1) 8 times, k1 (17 sts)

Row 4 – (k2, m1) 8 times, k1 (25 sts)

Row 6 – k (25 sts)

Row 8 – (k3, m1) 8 times, k1 (33 sts)

Row 10 – k (33 sts)

Row 12 – (k4, m1) 8 times, k1 (41 sts)

Row 14 – k (41 sts)

Row 16 – (k5, m1) 8 times, k1 (49 sts). Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.

Row 18 – (k9, m1) 5 times, k4 (54 sts)

Place a stitch marker on the first stitch of Row 19.

Rows 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 – k (54 sts)

Row 30 – p (54 sts). Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.

Row 32 – (k4, k2tog) 9 times (45 sts)

Row 34 – (k3, k2tog) 9 times (36 sts)

Row 36 – (k2, k2tog) 9 times (27 sts)

Row 38 – (k1, k2tog) 9 times (18 sts)

Row 40 – (k2tog) 9 times (9 sts)

Leaving a long yarn tail, thread the tail through the remaining nine loops on the needle and pull firmly to close.

Making Up the Pudding

1. Using black thread, sew small stitches randomly around the pudding to represent the currants. Position them between Rows 16 and 30, using the stitch markers as a guide.
2. Using the remaining yarn tail, sew the side seam from the base of the pudding up to Row 19, marked by the stitch marker.
3. Cut a 2.5-inch (approximately 6.4cm) circle from the cardboard and place it inside the base of the pudding.
4. Continue sewing the remaining side seam.
5. Stuff the pudding firmly.
6. Thread the yarn tail through the nine cast-on stitches and pull firmly to close the opening at the top.
7. Secure and weave in all remaining ends.

Christmas Pudding Icing

Using Snow White #106

Cast on 9 sts, leaving a long yarn tail.

Row 1 and ALL ODD rows – p

Row 2 – (k1, m1) 8 times, k1 (17 sts)

Row 4 – (k2, m1) 8 times, k1 (25 sts)

Row 6 – (k3, m1) 8 times, k1 (33 sts)

Row 8 – (k4, m1) 8 times, k1 (41 sts)

Row 10 – (k5, m1) 8 times, k1 (49 sts)

From Row 12, the icing is worked in five separate sections.

Icing Section 1

Work on the next 10 stitches only, leaving the remaining 39 stitches unworked on the needle.

Row 12 – k (10 sts)

Row 14 – k2tog, k6, k2tog (8 sts)

Row 16 – k2tog, k4, k2tog (6 sts)

Thread the yarn tail through the remaining six loops, pull firmly to close and secure the ends.

Icing Section 2

Reattach the white yarn. Work on the next 10 stitches only, leaving the remaining 29 stitches unworked on the needle.

Row 12 – k (10 sts)

Row 14 – k2tog, k6, k2tog (8 sts)

Rows 16, 18 and 20 – k (8 sts)

Row 22 – k2tog, k4, k2tog (6 sts)

Thread the yarn tail through the remaining six loops, pull firmly to close and secure the ends.

Icing Section 3

Reattach the white yarn. Work on the next 10 stitches only, leaving the remaining 19 stitches unworked on the needle.

Row 12 – k (10 sts)

Row 14 – k2tog, k6, k2tog (8 sts)

Row 16 – k2tog, k4, k2tog (6 sts)

Row 18 – k2tog, k2, k2tog (4 sts)

Thread the yarn tail through the remaining four loops, pull firmly to close and secure the ends.

Icing Section 4

Reattach the white yarn. Work on the next 10 stitches only, leaving the remaining nine stitches unworked on the needle.

Row 12 – k (10 sts)

Row 14 – k2tog, k6, k2tog (8 sts)

Thread the yarn tail through the remaining eight loops, pull firmly to close and secure the ends.

Icing Section 5

Reattach the white yarn and work on the final nine stitches.

Row 12 – k (9 sts)

Row 14 – k2tog, k5, k2tog (7 sts)

Row 16 – k (7 sts)

Row 18 – k2tog, k3, k2tog (5 sts)

Row 20 – k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts)

Thread the yarn tail through the remaining three loops and pull firmly to close. Secure the ends.

Making Up the Icing

Using the long cast-on yarn tail, thread the yarn through the nine cast-on stitches and pull firmly to close the centre opening. Sew approximately halfway down the icing’s side seam.

Position the icing over the top of the pudding, arrange the five shaped sections evenly and sew securely into place. Weave in the remaining ends.

Holly Leaves – Make Two

Using Forest Green #412

Cast on 3 sts.

Row 1 and ALL ODD rows up to and including Row 7 – p

Row 2 – k (3 sts)

Row 4 – (k1, m1) 2 times, k1 (5 sts)

Row 6 – k (5 sts)

Row 8 – k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts)

Row 9 – Cast off the first 2 sts purlwise, p to the end of the row (5 sts)

Row 10 – Cast off the first 2 sts knitwise, k to the end of the row (3 sts)

Row 11 – p (3 sts)

Row 12 – (k1, m1) 2 times, k1 (5 sts)

Row 13 – p (5 sts)

Row 14 – k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts)

Row 15 – Cast off the first st purlwise, p to the end of the row (6 sts)

Row 16 – Cast off the first st knitwise. K to the end of the row (5 sts)

Row 17 – p (5 sts)

Row 18 – k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts)

Row 19 – p (3 sts)

Row 20 – k3tog (1 st)

Fasten off and secure the holly leaf into position on top of the icing. Make a second leaf in the same way.

Christmas Pudding Berries – Make Three

Using Poppy Rose #390

Cast on 7 sts.

Rows 1 and 3 – p

Row 2 – (k1, m1) 6 times, k1 (13 sts)

Row 4 – (k2, m1) 6 times, k1 (19 sts)

Thread the yarn tail through the remaining 19 loops and pull firmly to close. Sew the side seam, then thread the yarn through the seven cast-on stitches and pull to close the remaining opening.

Secure and weave in the ends. Make two more berries in the same way.

Position all three berries over the icing and holly leaves as shown, then sew them securely into place.

Optional Hanging Loop

Cut a length of narrow ribbon to your preferred hanging length. Fold the ribbon in half and securely sew both ends to the top of the finished pudding, behind the berries and holly leaves.

Your knitted Christmas pudding is now ready to add a little handmade charm to your festive display.

Download the Free Printable Pattern

If you would prefer to work from a printer-friendly copy, the complete Christmas pudding knitting pattern is available as a free PDF download.

The PDF can be printed at home or viewed on your phone, tablet or computer. No physical item will be sent, and no payment is required.

Download the Free Printable PDF Pattern

More Free Knitting Patterns

If you enjoyed creating this festive decoration, explore the complete collection of free Peach Unicorn Designs knitting and crochet patterns for more projects to make throughout the year.

You can also browse the Christmas knitting pattern collection for more handmade seasonal ideas.

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Copyright and Pattern Use

This Christmas pudding knitting pattern is protected by UK copyright law. The pattern may not be copied, redistributed, translated, republished or sold in any form, including through websites, email, photocopies or social media.

You are welcome to sell finished Christmas puddings made from this pattern, provided that Peach Unicorn Designs is credited as the pattern designer.

© Peach Unicorn Designs. All rights reserved.