Welcome to Grandma’s Crafts! A little red yarn, a little white yarn, and a quiet moment with your hook are all you need to start these sweet candy cane ornaments. They are small enough to tuck into your holiday crafting basket and lovely for decorating a tree or finishing a wrapped gift.
The clever part is the construction: you crochet two curly strips, twist them together, and stitch a gentle bend into the top. There is no stuffing or complicated shaping to learn. If you are comfortable making chains and double crochet stitches, this is a friendly little project to try.
The red and white stripes give these ornaments that familiar Christmas charm, but you can have fun with other combinations too. Try cream and burgundy for a softer look, or choose colors to match your favorite tree decorations. Watching the two little coils twist together is part of the fun.
If you enjoy making gifts in batches, these candy canes are a lovely choice. You can crochet the strips first, then spend a cozy evening pairing them up and adding the finishing touches. Keep a few ready for gift bags, holiday cards, or those last-minute presents that could use something personal.
They’re also easy to bring out and enjoy year after year. Make a small matching set for your own tree, or share them with family so everyone has a little piece of your handiwork. Sometimes the simplest decorations become the ones we look forward to unpacking each December.
Project Details
Skill level: Beginner.
Finished length: Approximately 5 1/2 inches (14 cm).
Terminology: US crochet terms.
Construction: Two separately crocheted coils, twisted together and sewn into shape.
Materials
Caron Simply Soft: Harvest Red (A) and White (B).
The source lists one 6 oz/170.1 g ball of each color, with 315 yards/288 meters per ball. Together, the two balls make approximately 24 ornaments; you do not need two full balls for one candy cane.
5 mm crochet hook, US H/8, or a size that gives the stated gauge.
Scissors and a tapestry needle.
Gauge: 13 single crochet stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches (10 cm). This is the gauge provided by the original pattern, even though the coils themselves use double crochet.
Abbreviations and Stitch Help
ch: Chain.
dc: Double crochet.
sc: Single crochet, used in the gauge information.
To make a US double crochet, yarn over, insert the hook into the indicated chain, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through two loops, then yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops.
When an instruction says to work three stitches into one chain, insert your hook into that same chain three separate times. The extra stitches are what make the strip curl.
With A, chain 40. Keep your chain relaxed enough that you can insert the hook comfortably.
Count back from the hook, excluding the loop on the hook. Work 2 dc into the fourth chain from the hook. The three skipped chains serve as the first dc, so this first group contains three stitches when the beginning chain is included.
Work 3 dc into each remaining chain, all the way to the end. You will work into 37 foundation chains: the first receives 2 dc plus the beginning chain, and the other 36 receive 3 dc each. That gives 111 dc-equivalent stitches, including the beginning chain.
Fasten off. Leave a tail that is convenient to weave in. Let the strip curl naturally instead of trying to flatten it.
2. Make the White Coil
With B, repeat the red coil instructions exactly. You now have two matching spirals.
3. Twist the Coils Together
Place the coils side by side and wind them around each other. Adjust the spirals gently until the red and white sections sit evenly together.
Avoid pulling one coil tight while leaving the other loose. A balanced twist gives the ornament its familiar candy cane stripes.
4. Shape the Candy Cane
Measure approximately 2 1/2 inches (6 cm) down from the top and gently bend that upper section into a hook.
Thread a tapestry needle with red yarn and make a few loose tacking stitches to hold the bend. Catch the coils discreetly, checking the shape as you sew. Keep the stitches loose enough to preserve the rounded texture.
5. Add the Hanging Loop
Using red yarn, attach a loop at the top. Choose a loop length that fits your tree branch or ornament hook, secure both ends, and weave in all remaining yarn tails.
Helpful Tips
If the strip does not curl well, check that you worked three dc into every remaining foundation chain.
Count the foundation chains on both coils so their lengths match.
Shape and adjust the bend before securing it with stitches.
For a different look, try two contrasting colors while keeping the construction the same. Different yarns may change the finished size.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
A Little Handmade Holiday Cheer
These candy canes are a cheerful way to enjoy a small crochet project between larger makes. Add one to a gift, make a set for your tree, or share a few with someone who appreciates a handmade touch.
