The Cheery Santa Who Hangs Smart in the Middle of the Tree

The newest character in my craft room is a proper little Santa: a crochet face with a red hat, a fluffy white beard and the happiest expression, made to hang in the middle of the tree where everyone can see him. He is this week's journal star.

He is crocheted from soft cotton yarn in three parts — cream face, red hat trimmed with white, and a curly white beard — with a gold ribbon loop for hanging. With twinkling lights behind him (as in my photos) he catches the glow beautifully, front row and centre of the tree.

He is £8 and I am always happy to make more, so if this Santa has already flown to a new home, a fresh one can be made to order. Wrap him in tissue after Christmas and he will be just as cheery next year.

He sits happily with the rest of the family: the reindeer bauble above him, the freestanding snowman below, and a ribbon pudding or two in between. Handmade things collected one or two each year are what make a tree feel like yours.

You can find him here in the online shop. Thank you, as ever, for reading the journal — and may your tree have someone cheery at its heart!