Three Wise Men: Crochet Nativity Add-On

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Over a year ago, in Novmber of 2015, I posted the pattern for my crocheted Nativity set. From that time I had planned to make a set of Wise Men to go along with it. Originally I hoped to make them that year and publish the pattern before Christmas but with the craziness of that time of year it didn't happen. Then I thought maybe I would try to get it done in July for a Christmas in July type post which would give people plenty of time to work on it for Christmas, but I had a baby in July so a lot of things that I had planned didn't happen. Then I thought I would get it done before Christmas for sure. But once again I didn't get them done. I thought about waiting to finish them and post the pattern until closer to Christmas but then I realized that I obviously have a problem with getting them done by the time I plan to so I thought it would be best if I just got them done now and posted the pattern. It may seem like kind of a wierd time to publish a Christmas pattern but I figured it was either get it up now or it might never get done. Besides, today actually happens to be 3 Kings Day so in a way it works. Also, now anyone who wants to make a nativity set for Chirstmas has almost a whole year to get them done.

The bodies of the wise men are made almost identical to Joseph and the shepherd, the only difference is that I made the purple one a little taller so that they weren't all three exactly the same size. I also used colors that were a lot brighter, kind of jewel tones, for a more royal look. I made three different headresses and gifts for each of them to carry.

The wise men and the headdresses are all made with worsted weight yarn. I used a couple different brands, most of it is Red Heart Super Saver, with some Lion Brand and Big Twist Brand from JoAnn. For the gifts and small accents on the headdresses I felt like I wanted to use a thinner yarn so that they could be make a little more delicate, less clunky than they would have been with a worsted weight yarn. I happened to have a package of Lion Brand BonBons in the Party colorway that I had picked up one time because they were on clearance and I figured I would find some way to use them. They worked perfectly because the colors were perfect for what I wanted and they have a sparkly thread through them which worked well for the things I was making. I believe the weight category for these particular ones was 2, if you can't find the bonbons Vanna's glamour might actually be the same yarn or it is at least very similar. The nice thing about the bonbons was several colors in small amounts.

*Purchase an ad-free version of this pattern on Etsy or Ravelry 

How to Crochet Three Wise Men

You will need:

• worsted weight yarn in desired colors (I used Big Twist Gold, Red Heart Super Saver Buff, Dark Orchid, Jade, Real Teal, Burgundy, White, Lion Brand DIYarn Cream, Red Heart With Love Mulberry)
• Lion Brand BonBons, Party (or other lightweight #2 yarn in similar colors, sparkly metallic and jewel tones)
• G crochet hook
• D crochet hook
• yarn needle
• 1/4 yard muslin or cotton fabric 
• sewing needle and thread
• Poly Pellets weighted stuffing beads
• Stuffing

Instructions:

Gold Wise Man

Use a G hook unless other wise noted

Body-

Make a weighted insert to put in the base by cutting a circle about 6-8" in diameter, stitch a running stitch all the way around the outside of the circle, pull thread to cinch up slightly to create a bowl shape, pour in some weighted stuffing beads, cinch up the rest of the way and stitch closed, set aside 

Start with the gold yarn or the color you are going to use for the body

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (24 sc)

Round 5: [1 sc in first 3 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (30 sc)

Round 6: [1 sc in first 4 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (36 sc)

Round 7: 1 sc blo in each stitch (36 sc)

Rounds 8-13: 1 sc in each stitch (36 sc)

Round 14: [1 sc in first 10 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (33 sc)

Rounds 15-17: 1 sc in each stitch (33 sc)

Round 18: [1 sc in first 9 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (30 sc)

Rounds 19-20: 1 sc in each stitch (30 sc)

Round 21: [1 sc in first 8 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (27 sc)

Rounds 22-23: 1 sc in each stitch (27 sc)
Now is a good time to add the weighted insert to the base of the figure and begin stuffing, continue stuffing as you work

Round 24: [1 sc in first 7 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (24 sc)

Rounds 25-26: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Round 27: [1 sc in first 6 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (21 sc)

Round 28: 1 sc in each stitch (21 sc)

Round 29: [1 sc in first 5 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (18 sc)

Round 30: [1 sc in first stitch, sc2tog] (12 sc)

switch to tan/skin color yarn

Round 31: 2 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Rounds 32-36: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Round 37: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, sc2tog] (18 sc)

Round 38: [1 sc in first stitch, sc2tog] (12 sc)

Round 39: sc2tog around (6 sc)

Finish off

Make 2 arms-

start with skin color (on one of your arms leave a long tail at the beginning so that you can use it to sew the hands to the gift, but only on one)

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: [1 sc in first 2 stitched, 2 sc in next] repeat around (8 sc)

change to clothing color

Rounds 3-11: 1 sc in each stitch (8 sc)

stitch arms to the side of the body at the neck

Headdress-

with Burgundy

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (24 sc)

Rounds 5-6: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)
Finish off and cut leaving long tail for sewing

with cream
ch 3
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in next ch (2 sc)
Row 2-32: ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch (2 sc)
finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Place the burgundy piece on the head and stich in place to secure
Wrap the cream band around just under the back edge of the burgundy piece and around to meet in the middle of the front, pulling the two ends up to meet and overlap in the front. Then using some of the BonBon yarn (I used a blueish color) make a couple of stitches of in that color then stitch around in gold to make a jewel.

Gift-

with D hook and brown BonBon yarn

ch 10
Row 1: sc in second ch and each to the end (9 sc)
Row 2-5: ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch across (9 sc)
Round 6: ch 1, work 4 sc down the short side of your rectangle, work in blo of each stitch along long side, work 4 sc in other short side and in blo across the other long side, slip stitch to first sc (26 sc)
Round 7-8: ch 1, sc in each stitch around, slip stitch to first sc (26 sc)
Finish off

Repeat rows 1-6 for top half of box

with contrasting color slip stitch the two halves together, when partially attatched stuff the box and finish slip stitching all the way around

Using the long tail left on one of the hands stitch from that hand, through the gift, and into the other hand then back through the gift and into the first hand. finish off and cut yarn.

Teal Wise Man

Make the body and arms exactly the same as the gold wise man using Jade yarn or desired color.

Headdress-

with teal yarn

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (24 sc)

Rounds 5-7: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Round 8: [1 sc in first 7 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (27 sc)

at this point you will begin working in rows, turning at the end of each

Row 9: sc in next 18 stitches

Rows 10-14: ch 1, turn, 1 sc in each stitch (18 sc)

Row 15: ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next 16 stitches, 2 sc in last stitch (20 sc)

Rows 16-17: ch 1, turn, 1 sc in each stitch (20 sc)

Finish off, weave in ends

Place on head

with copper color bonbon yarn and D hook

ch 39, join with sl st to first ch
Round 1: ch 1, sc in each stitch around, sl st to first stitch
Round 2: (ch 3, sl st in same stitch, sl st in next 3 stitches) repeat around
Finish off leaving long tail for sewing

Stitch in place around the headdress

Gift-

with bonbon yarn and D hook

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (24 sc)

Rounds 5-8: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)
Round 9:  [1 sc in first 2 stitches, sc2tog] (18 sc)
Lightly stuff the pouch
Round 10: [1 sc in first stitch, sc2tog]
Round 11-12: 1 sc in each stitch
Finish off and weave in ends

with contrasting color weave between rows 10 and 11, pull to cinch and tie to secure.

Stitch the gift in the hands in the same way as the gold wise man

Purple Wise Man

Body-

Make a weighted insert to put in the base by cutting a circle about 6-8" in diameter, stitch a running stitch all the way around the outside of the circle, pull thread to cinch up slightly to create a bowl shape, pour in some weighted stuffing beads, cinch up the rest of the way and stitch closed, set aside 

Start with the purple yarn or the color you are going to use for the body

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (24 sc)

Round 5: [1 sc in first 3 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (30 sc)

Round 6: [1 sc in first 4 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (36 sc)

Round 7: 1 sc blo in each stitch (36 sc)

Rounds 8-14: 1 sc in each stitch (36 sc)

Round 15: [1 sc in first 10 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (33 sc)

Rounds 16-19: 1 sc in each stitch (33 sc)

Round 20: [1 sc in first 9 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (30 sc)

Rounds 21-23: 1 sc in each stitch (30 sc)

Round 24: [1 sc in first 8 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (27 sc)

Rounds 25-26: 1 sc in each stitch (27 sc)
Now is a good time to add the weighted insert to the base of the figure and begin stuffing, continue stuffing as you work

Round 27: [1 sc in first 7 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (24 sc)

Rounds 28-29: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Round 30: [1 sc in first 6 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (21 sc)

Round 31: 1 sc in each stitch (21 sc)

Round 32: [1 sc in first 5 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (18 sc)

Round 33: [1 sc in first stitch, sc2tog] (12 sc)

switch to tan/skin color yarn

Round 34: 2 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Rounds 35-39: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)

Round 40: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, sc2tog] (18 sc)

Round 41: [1 sc in first stitch, sc2tog] (12 sc)

Round 42: sc2tog around (6 sc)

Finish off

Make 2 arms-

start with skin color (on one of your arms leave a long tail at the beginning so that you can use it to sew the hands to the gift, but only on one)

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: [1 sc in first 2 stitched, 2 sc in next] repeat around (8 sc)

change to clothing color

Rounds 3-12: 1 sc in each stitch (8 sc)

stitch arms to the side of the body at the neck

Headdress-

with berry yarn

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)

Round 4: [1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc in next] repeat around (24 sc)

Rounds 5: 1 sc in blo of each stitch (24 sc)
Rounds 6-7: 1 sc in each stitch (24 sc)
Row 8: sc in next 10 stitches
Row 9-15: ch 1, turn, sc in 10 stitches (10 sc)

with white yarn
ch 30 join with sl st
ch 1, hdc in each stitch around, sl st to first stitch to join (30 sc)
finish off leaving long tail for sewing

place headress on head with white band around the bottom and stitch in place, with bonbon yarn stitch around each third stitch 3-4 times.

Gift-

with bonbon yarn and D hook

Round 1: in mr, ch1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 sc)

Round 3: [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next] repeat around (18 sc)
Round 4-5: 1 sc in each stitch around (18 sc)
Round 6: [1 sc in first stitch, sc2tog] repeat around (12 sc)
Stuff lightly
Round 7: sc2tog around (6 sc)
Round 8-10: 1 sc in each stitch (6 sc)
change to contrasting color
Round 11: 1 sc in each stitch (6 sc)

finish off and sew into hands in the same way as the previous two.