How to Crochet a Gingerbread Man Ornament

Make a slip knot with brown yarn, leaving a tail to weave in later, and chain 4. For row 1, single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across, so you have 3 stitches. Chain 1 and turn at the end of every row. In row 2, put two single crochets in the first stitch, then one in each of the last two, for 4. Rows 3 and 4 are 4 single crochets each.

In row 5, single crochet across the 4 leg stitches, then chain 7. That chain makes room for the body and the second leg. Turn and work row 6 back along it: 6 single crochets into the chain and 4 into the top of the leg, for 10 stitches. The work wants to twist here, so keep the chain flat as you go. Rows 7, 8 and 9 are 10 single crochets each.

Now the body narrows toward the neck. In row 10, single crochet two stitches together at the start, then single crochet the next 8, for 9 stitches. Row 11 is a decrease and 7 single crochets, for 8. In row 12, decrease at both ends with 4 single crochets between, for 6. That small dip is the neck, and it is where the arms join later.

The head grows out from the neck. Rows 13, 14 and 15 each start and end with two single crochets in one stitch, which takes you from 8 to 10 to 12 stitches. Work rows 16, 17 and 18 even at 12. Then reverse it: rows 19 to 22 decrease at both ends, down to 10, 8, 6 and 4. Chain 1, cut the yarn and pull it through, then weave in the ends.

Turn the panel upside down so the legs point up. Make a slip knot, insert your hook at the far right of the bottom edge, and single crochet. Work 3 more single crochets across, for 4. Rows 2, 3 and 4 are 4 single crochets each. In row 5, decrease once and single crochet the last 2, for 3 stitches. Fasten off and weave the tails into the leg.

Join brown yarn on one side of the body, right below the neck dip. Single crochet 4 stitches down the edge to start the arm. Row 2 is 4 single crochets. In row 3, decrease once and single crochet 2, for 3. Row 4 is one more decrease and 1 single crochet, for 2. Cut the yarn, flip the panel over and add the second arm the same way on the other side.

Thread a long piece of white yarn onto a yarn needle. Come up from the back near the end of an arm and leave a tail behind. Make a slanted stitch, come back up beside it, and go down through the top of the last stitch to form a zigzag. Work across the arm, the legs and the forehead. Knot the ends together on the back and trim.

Count down from the top of the head and push a 12 mm safety eye between rows 6 and 7, about 3 stitches in from the edge. Place the second eye on the same row, check that they match, then snap the washers on the back. For the mouth, use black yarn and stitch a wide V below the eyes. Leave it a little slack so it curves into a smile, then knot it on the back.

Make a magic circle with pink or blue yarn. Work 4 single crochets into the ring, then pull the tail to close it tight. Slip stitch into the first single crochet and cut the yarn, leaving long tails. Make a second button. Sew each one to the front panel by running a tail through its edge stitches, then go around again with the other tail and knot on the back.

Stack the two panels with the right sides out and the stitches lined up. Start at the top of one arm, insert the hook through both layers, and single crochet around the edge. At the armpits, shoulders and between the legs, slip stitch instead so the corners stay crisp. Stop at the top of the other arm, stuff the body lightly, then the head, and finish the round. Weave the last tail to the inside.