This Crochet Bag of Popcorn Ornament Pattern creates a cheerful, dimensional decoration with a striped popcorn bag, a raised pile of popcorn, and an embroidered smiling face. It is a fun project for holiday trees, kitchen-themed displays, gift wrapping, or handmade ornament exchanges. The construction uses simple single crochet, half double crochet popcorn pieces, basic shaping, and straightforward sewing. For another dimensional ornament idea, you may also enjoy this crochet flower ball ornament pattern.
Why You’ll Love This Crochet Project
- It combines crochet and embroidery. The bag is crocheted, while the charcoal yarn creates a simple backstitch smile and French knot eyes.
- The popcorn topping has real dimension. Thirty small popcorn pieces are arranged so the center rises higher than the edges.
- It makes a playful handmade decoration. Add it to a Christmas tree, seasonal display, gift package, or kitchen-themed collection.
- The colorwork is easy to recognize. Alternating Soft White and Cherry Red creates the appearance of a striped popcorn bag.
- It practices useful techniques. You will work in rounds, change colors every two stitches, shape oval pieces, sew components together, and add stuffing.
My Crochet Flower Tip: Keep the stuffing firm enough to support the ornament’s shape, but add it gradually so the top can be sewn on with a gently raised center.
Pattern Overview
The ornament is made in four main stages:
- Crochet the striped Bag in Soft White and Cherry Red.
- Crochet the Lemon Top of Bag.
- Make 30 small Lemon Popcorn pieces.
- Stuff, assemble, embroider the face, attach the ribbon, and weave in the ends.
The bag is worked in rounds from a chain foundation. The top is shaped with increases, and each popcorn puff is made from a chain and four half double crochets. The finished ornament is assembled with a yarn needle and matching Lemon yarn.
The supplied pattern uses these US crochet abbreviations:
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- slip st: slip stitch
- join with slip st: join in the stated first stitch with a slip stitch
When the instructions specify 3 sc in last ch or 2 sc in last ch, work the increase placement exactly as written.
Materials You’ll Need
- Red Heart® Super Saver®, color A: 1 skein each of 316 Soft White
- Red Heart® Super Saver®, color B: 1 skein each of 319 Cherry Red
- Red Heart® Super Saver®, color C: 1 skein each of 235 Lemon
- Red Heart® Super Saver®, color D: 1 skein each of 3950 Charcoal
- Only a small amount of each yarn color is needed
- Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 3.75 mm [US F-5]
- Polyester fiberfill
- 18″ [45.5 cm] thin gold ribbon for the hanger
- Yarn needle
The Soft White and Cherry Red yarns form the striped bag. Lemon is used for the top and popcorn pieces, while Charcoal is used for the embroidered face.
Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions
Stitches Used
- Sc: single crochet
- Hdc: half double crochet
- Slip st: slip stitch
- Join with slip st: join in stated first stitch with slip stitch
- 3 sc in last ch / 2 sc in last ch: increase placement exactly as written
Bag
With A, ch 12.
Round 1 Right Side
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 9 ch,
3 sc in last ch;
working along opposite side of foundation ch,
sc in next 9 ch,
2 sc in last ch;
join with slip st in first sc 24 sc.
Color-changing note: The yarn color is changed every 2 stitches in the following rounds. See Round 2–16 instructions below for the stated color sequence.
Rounds 2–16 Work in Rounds
For each round:
With A, ch 1,
sc in same sc as joining,
sc in next sc;
with B, sc in next 2 sc,
*with A, sc in next 2 sc;
with B, sc in next 2 sc;
repeat from * around;
join with slip st in first sc.
Fasten off both A and B.
Top of Bag
With C, ch 6.
Round 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 ch,
3 sc in last ch;
working along opposite side of foundation ch,
sc in next 3 ch,
2 sc in last ch;
join with slip st in first sc 12 sc.
Round 2
Ch 1,
2 sc in same sc as joining,
sc in next 3 sc,
2 sc in each of next 3 sc,
sc in next 3 sc,
2 sc in each of last 2 sc;
join with slip st in first sc 18 sc.
Round 3
Ch 1,
2 sc in same sc as joining,
sc in next sc,
2 sc in next sc,
*sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around;
join with slip st in first sc 25 sc.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Popcorn
With C,
*ch 3, 4 hdc in 3rd ch from hook;
join with slip st in top of the ch-3;
repeat from * 29 more times.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Finishing
Bag Assembly
Stuff Bag with fiberfill.
With C, sew edges of Top of Bag to top edges of Bag, adding a little more stuffing before completing the seam so that center is slightly risen.
Position and Sew Popcorn
Using the photograph as a guide, arrange Popcorn on Top of Bag so that the center of the pile of Popcorn is higher than the edges.
With C, sew Popcorn in place, sewing between each puff of Popcorn.
Face
With yarn needle and D, using the photograph as a guide, embroider a back stitch smile and French knot eyes on front of Bag.
Hanging Loop Ribbon
Fold gold ribbon in half.
Insert crochet hook around a few stitches at top of ornament, place ribbon fold on hook and draw through to form a loop.
Thread ends of ribbon through loop and pull to tighten.
Tie ends together with bow or overhand knot to form hanging loop.
Finalizing
Weave in any remaining ends.
Ways to Display Your Finished Crochet
- Hang it on a Christmas tree. The gold ribbon makes it ready for a branch, especially alongside other handmade food or kitchen-themed ornaments.
- Use it as gift decoration. Tie the ornament to a wrapped package instead of using a standard bow.
- Create a snack-themed display. Pair it with crocheted fruit, sweets, or other miniature food decorations.
- Decorate a kitchen or breakfast nook. Hang it from a cabinet knob or seasonal wall display, keeping it away from heat and moisture.
- Make a handmade ornament collection. Several playful ornaments can be arranged together in a basket or on a tabletop tree.
- Give it as a small handmade gift. Its compact shape makes it suitable for holiday exchanges, stocking gifts, or a host gift.
A floral-themed seasonal display can also pair well with related projects such as this crochet April flowers wreath pattern.
Caring for Your Crochet Project
Keep the finished ornament dry and protect it from crushing. Because it contains fiberfill, embroidered details, sewn-on popcorn pieces, and a ribbon hanger, gentle handling is best.
- Dust the surface with a soft, dry cloth or a clean, soft-bristled brush.
- For a small mark, use careful spot cleaning with minimal moisture rather than soaking the ornament.
- Do not wring, twist, or compress the stuffed bag.
- Allow any spot-cleaned area to dry completely before storing.
- Store the ornament in a dry container with enough room to prevent the popcorn pieces from being flattened.
- Keep it away from excessive heat, open flames, damp areas, and sharp hooks that could catch the yarn or ribbon.
- Before hanging it again, check that the ribbon loop and sewn popcorn pieces remain secure.
Tips for Better Results
- Mark the first stitch of each round. The bag is worked in joined rounds, so a removable stitch marker can help you identify the first single crochet.
- Count Round 1 carefully. The bag begins with 24 sc, and the top begins with 12 sc. These counts establish the shapes for the later assembly.
- Change colors deliberately. In Rounds 2–16, each color is worked for two stitches at a time. Keep both yarn colors accessible so the narrow stripes remain consistent.
- Keep joins neat. Join with a slip stitch in the first sc as directed rather than changing the joining position from round to round.
- Leave the long tails requested. The Top of Bag and Popcorn tails are used for sewing, so avoid cutting them short.
- Shape the popcorn pile before sewing. Arrange the pieces first, keeping the center higher than the edges, then sew between each puff with C.
- Add stuffing gradually. Overstuffing can make the top difficult to attach, while too little stuffing may leave the ornament flat.
- Use small, secure facial stitches. The smile and eyes are embroidered with D, so place them carefully on the front of the bag before final display.
For a project that uses floral color planning in a different format, a 3D flower granny square color chart can provide additional inspiration for coordinating handmade displays.
Creative Ways to Customize Your Project
The approved pattern uses Soft White, Cherry Red, Lemon, and Charcoal to create a recognizable popcorn bag. The following ideas are optional styling changes and do not alter the original instructions.
- Try a seasonal bag palette. Replace the red and white appearance with two coordinating colors for a birthday, school, or party-themed ornament.
- Change the popcorn color. A pale cream shade can create a buttery appearance, while a warm yellow can make the topping look extra cheerful.
- Use a contrasting face. A dark shade is easiest to see against the bag, but another strong contrast can create a different expression.
- Add a coordinated ribbon. The pattern specifies thin gold ribbon, but an optional ribbon color can match the bag or other decorations.
- Create a themed ornament set. Make several versions with different bag stripes while keeping the Lemon popcorn topping consistent.
- Experiment only with awareness of size changes. Substituting yarn or changing the hook size may affect gauge, finished dimensions, stitch definition, stuffing requirements, and the fit between the bag and top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this project suitable for a newer crocheter?
It uses single crochet, half double crochet, slip stitches, increases, joined rounds, sewing, stuffing, and simple embroidery. A newer crocheter who is comfortable reading round-by-round instructions can work through it carefully.
What hook size does the pattern use?
The pattern calls for a Susan Bates® crochet hook measuring 3.75 mm [US F-5].
How many popcorn pieces are made?
The Popcorn section instructs you to repeat the puff sequence 29 more times after the first piece, for a total of 30 popcorn pieces.
Which colors are used for the face?
Use color D, 3950 Charcoal, with a yarn needle to embroider the backstitch smile and French knot eyes.
Can the colors be changed?
Yes, color changes are an optional customization. Keep in mind that changing yarn type, yarn thickness, or hook size may affect the ornament’s size and the way the components fit together.
How is the top attached to the bag?
Stuff the Bag with fiberfill, then use C to sew the edges of the Top of Bag to the top edges of the Bag. Add a little more stuffing before completing the seam so the center is slightly risen.
How should the popcorn pieces be positioned?
Arrange them using the photograph as a guide, with the center of the pile higher than the edges. Sew them in place with C, sewing between each puff.
How is the ornament hung?
Fold the 18″ ribbon in half, draw the fold through a few stitches at the top with a crochet hook, pull the ribbon ends through the loop, and tie the ends together with a bow or overhand knot.
Can the finished ornament be washed?
Gentle spot cleaning is the safest approach for this stuffed, sewn ornament. Avoid soaking, wringing, or machine washing, and protect the ribbon and embroidered details from excessive moisture.
Conclusion
This Crochet Bag of Popcorn Ornament Pattern combines simple crochet shapes, playful colorwork, dimensional popcorn pieces, and embroidered details in one cheerful decoration. Take care with the stitch counts, stuffing, and arrangement of the popcorn so the finished piece keeps its rounded shape. For a related popcorn-themed crochet reference, see the Free Easy Red Heart Bag of Popcorn Ornament Crochet Pattern.
