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A couple of weeks ago I shared my mini nativity pattern that included a Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus in a manger. As I was working on it I had the idea to make a little stable to go along with them. I wanted to make something pretty simple and that would stand up on its own.
I kind of took inspiration from the Little People Nativity set. We used to have one, some of the pieces have gotten lost, but the stable in that set was basically 4 pillars holding up a roof. The roof, if I remember correctly had a slight peak to it. I didn't think I would be able to make that work but I decided to try something similar. I made a flat roof with 4 pillars holding it up and then added some pieces between the pillars to keep them in the right place. In my head I pictured the roof sort of slanting forward so I made the back pillars slightly taller. Honestly, if I were to do it again I probably would just make them all the same height because it didn't work as well as I had hoped. It sort of just makes the stable look like it could tip forward at any moment. So, if you make it you can choose to do the same as I did and make the back taller, or just make them all the same height and call it good.
To help the roof keep its shape and not be floppy I crocheted two roof pieces and then cut a piece of Stiffen, heavyweight interfacing from Fairfield World, to fit between them. Then I crocheted around the outside of the two pieces, sandwiching the interfacing in between. To give a little texture to the roof I added some long stitches randomly on the top. I wanted to give it almost a thatched type look. I don't know how accurate that is for Bethlehem 2,000 years ago but, like I said, I was using the Little People version as my model and that was how that one was, and I just wanted to add some sort of visual interest. The pillars are worked in the round, amigurumi style (spiral), and stuffed, then sewn to each corner. Last, thin single crocheted strips are sewn to the pillars to hold them in place.
How to Crochet a Mini Nativity Stable
You will need:
- worsted weight yarn in brown and tan
- G crochet hook
- Stiffen Heavyweight Interfacing
- Poly-Fil Fiberfill
- yarn needle
- scissors
Instructions:
Roof
For the roof you will make 2 identical pieces in size and shape, the only thing you will do differently between the 2 is that as you work the top, or outside, piece you will randomly work you single crochets into a stitch below the one you would normally work into. To do this simply insert your hook a row or two or three below the stitch you would be working into, pull up a loop until it is even with the row you are working, yarn over and pull through just like you normally would for a single crochet. I didn't really follow any sort of pattern for this part, just occasionally on the right side rows make some long stitches (it doesn't really matter which is the right side except that you will want your long stitches on the front so only work them every other row.
with tan yarn, make 2
ch 33
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch to the end (32 sc)
Row 2-16: ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch, when making the outside only make random long stitches as described above when making these rows (32 sc)
finish off, cut yarn on one, leave yarn to continue working on the other
Cut a piece of Stiffen just smaller than the rectangles you crocheted.
(My roof pieces are different colors just because I ran out of yarn in the color that I wanted to use and figured that you wouldn't really be able to see the inside part so I just made it a lighter tan, they should be the same color)
(My roof pieces are different colors just because I ran out of yarn in the color that I wanted to use and figured that you wouldn't really be able to see the inside part so I just made it a lighter tan, they should be the same color)
Layer the pieces so that you have the interfacing between the crochet pieces, using the yarn that you did not cut, sc all the way around the roof pieces to make one piece.
Pillars
I made my pillars two different lengths as I mentioned above, you can do the same or make them all the same length for a flat roof, if making them all the same I would make them all the shorter length.
Start with magic ring and work in a continuous spiral with brown yarn
make 2 (or 4 if making all the same height):
Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)
Round 3: 1 sc in bio of each stitch (12 sc)
Round 4-23: 1 sc in each stitch, finish off and cut yarn leaving long end for sewing
make 2 (if making 2 different heights):
Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)
Round 3: 1 sc in bio of each stitch (12 sc)
Round 4-28: 1 sc in each stitch, finish off and cut yarn leaving long end for sewing
stuff each pillar and sew one to each corner, if using 2 heights sew the longer ones on what will be the back and the shorter ones to the front
make 2 (or 4 if making all the same height):
Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)
Round 3: 1 sc in bio of each stitch (12 sc)
Round 4-23: 1 sc in each stitch, finish off and cut yarn leaving long end for sewing
make 2 (if making 2 different heights):
Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)
Round 3: 1 sc in bio of each stitch (12 sc)
Round 4-28: 1 sc in each stitch, finish off and cut yarn leaving long end for sewing
stuff each pillar and sew one to each corner, if using 2 heights sew the longer ones on what will be the back and the shorter ones to the front
Supports
with tan yarn you will make 1 long and 2 short supports, make them the length needed to reach between the pillars on the side and back, you may need to adjust the length depending on how tight you crochet.
long support (make 1)
leave long tail of yarn at the beginning for sewing
ch 4
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and each ch to the end (3 sc)
Row 2-32: ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch across (3 sc)
Finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing
short support (make 2)
leave long tail of yarn at the beginning for sewing
ch 4
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and each ch to the end (3 sc)
Row 2-16: ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch across (3 sc)
Finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing
Sew the long support between the back pillars about an inch from the bottom
Sew the short supports on the sides between the back and front pillars, first sew to the back just above the back support (about 2 inches from the bottom), then stand up the stable to help you decide where to sew it to the front so that it will stand correctly (mine is about an inch up on the front)
Once your supports are added the stable should stand up on its own. The Stiffen really helps keep the roof flat and the supports keep the pillars from spreading apart too much. Add you Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus and you have a small, kid friendly set.
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