This pattern is for an opening book, containing a complete nativity set! The set can be used both as decorative items or they can be played with / used to tell the nativity story – a real heirloom project to be passed down the generations!

The pattern contains lots of photos to help you every step of the way. It is written in English, using American crochet terms. All of my patterns have been independently tested prior to publication.

You will need:
Yarn of your choice. Yarn weight doesn’t really matter - the size of your project will simply turn out bigger or smaller! I used stylecraft special aran weight yarn (equivalent to weight 4, worsted weight) and my finished book measures approximately 14cm wide x 17cm long x 8cm deep. The internal storage space within the book measures 11.5cm wide x 15cm long x 6.25cm deep. The nativity figures measure 7cm tall. Please ensure that you use the same weight yarn throughout the entire project.

For the book (pages 4 - 18) you will need the following colours / quantities:

• Dark Blue (approx. 147m).
• Cream (approx. 140m).
• Beige (approx. 126m).
• Light Grey (approx. 12m).
• Khaki Green (approx. 6m).
• Dark Green (approx. 2.5m).
• Dark Brown (approx. 3.5m).
• Medium Brown (approx. 3m).
• White (approx. 1.5m).

For the nativity set (pages 19 - 34) you will need the following colours / quantities:

• Skin tone (approx. 20.5m).
• White (approx. 23.5m).
• Dark Yellow (approx. 9.5m).
• Light Yellow (approx. 4.5m).
• Dark Pink (approx. 7m).
• Dark Grey (approx. 8m).
• Light Grey (approx. 21m).
• Dark Blue (approx. 10.5m).
• Light Blue (approx. 4.5m).
• Dark Green (approx. 5.5m).
• Light Green (approx. 5.5m).
• Purple (approx. 8m).
• Cream (approx. 5.5m).
• Lilac (approx. 4.5m).
• Dark Brown (approx. 11.5m).
• Medium Brown (approx. 7m).
• Beige (approx. 18.5m).

Please note = The amount of yarn used will vary according to yarn weight, hook size and stitch tension so these measurements are only a rough guide and are based on using aran weight yarn with a 4mm hook. The pattern refers to the colours that I used, however these can be substituted for colours of your choice.

You will also need:

• A suitable size hook for the yarn you have chosen - I used a 4mm hook.
• Some toy stuffing.
• A small amount of finer yarn or thread in pink, black, skin tone, dark yellow & dark grey for adding the facial details to the nativity set and the details on the book cover.
• Coins or metal washers - each of the people have a 1p coin inside their base, to help weight them and make them stand more easily. A 1p coin is 20mm in diameter, so you could use any suitable sized coin or metal washers.
• 1.25 sheets of plastic canvas. I used Trimits 7 count plastic canvas sheets that were 26cm x 33cm (that’s 10.25 x 13.5 inches). The ‘7 count’ means that the plastic has 7 holes per inch - a higher count means more holes which results in a thinner, more flexible canvas. Get a 7 count canvas if you can as this is fairly thick and sturdy.
• Some small beads for using as stars on the book’s front cover & a needle & thread to attach them.
• Other tools you will need are a tapestry needle, some scissors and some stitch markers.

You are welcome to sell the items that you make using this pattern, but please do not sell / share the pattern itself. Thank you.