A playful winter hanging inspired by a blue-and-white crochet kitty ornament, featuring a soft cat head in a cozy pom-pom hat, a long striped spiral body, snowflake accents, beads, tiny pinecones, icicle-style charms and a jingle bell at the bottom. This project works beautifully as a Christmas tree decoration, door hanging, nursery ornament or handmade winter gift.
The finished length is easy to customize. Use a longer or shorter foundation chain for the spiral, change the yarn weight, or add and remove decorative motifs until the hanging has the proportions you like.
What you’ll need
• DK cotton, light worsted or soft acrylic yarn in white, pale icy blue, medium blue and deep royal blue.
• A 3 mm to 4 mm crochet hook, or the size that gives you a firm fabric.
• Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers and a small amount of stuffing.
• Black and blue embroidery thread for the face, or safety eyes if preferred.
• Optional decorations: white and blue beads, small snowflake charms, mini pinecones, icicle charms and a jingle bell.
• A strong hanging cord or sturdy yarn strand for the central support.
Abbreviations
US terms: ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, inc = increase, dec = decrease, MR = magic ring.
Construction overview
The hanging is made in separate pieces and assembled at the end. Crochet the kitty head and ears first, then make the winter hat, the striped spiral, and any small decorative pieces. A strong central cord runs from the top hanging loop to the bottom bell so the ornament stays balanced.
Kitty head and ears
Begin the head with 6 sc in a magic ring. Increase evenly in continuous rounds until you reach the desired width, then work several rounds without increasing. Start decreasing gradually, adding a small amount of stuffing before closing. Keep the head lightly stuffed so it stays neat and rounded rather than overly firm.
For each ear, crochet a small triangle in pale blue or white. Add a contrasting inner-ear section if desired, then sew the ears securely to the top sides of the head. Embroider the nose, mouth and eyelashes, and add the eyes. Small white stitches around the forehead and cheeks can create the frosty, textured look seen in the winter design.
Winter hat
Crochet a simple tapered cap in deep blue, working from the brim upward or from the tip downward. Add a fluffy white brim using loop stitches, faux-fur yarn or a separate crocheted strip. Finish with a soft pom-pom at the tip. Position the hat slightly to one side so one ear remains visible and the ornament keeps its playful character.
Striped spiral
Chain to the length you want for the main hanging section. To create the corkscrew shape, work multiple stitches into each foundation chain—usually 2 to 4 hdc or dc per chain, depending on how tight you want the curl. For a wider ribbon, make a narrow strip first and add extra rows or edging along both sides.
Use alternating rows or surface crochet in white, pale blue, medium blue and deep blue to create the icy striped effect. If the spiral does not curl enough, add more stitches per foundation chain; if it curls too tightly, use fewer.
Snowflakes and winter decorations
Crochet or attach small snowflakes at intervals along the spiral. Add bead clusters, miniature pinecones and icicle-style charms wherever they look balanced. Keep the decorations lightweight so the spiral hangs freely and does not twist to one side.
For a fully crocheted version, replace plastic or metal decorations with tiny stuffed bobbles, crochet snowflakes, miniature cones or simple tassels.
Assembly
Make a sturdy hanging loop at the top and run a strong central cord through or behind the kitty head and down the middle of the spiral. Attach the spiral to the cord at several points so the turns stay evenly spaced. Sew or tie on the decorative elements only after the main structure hangs straight.
Finish the bottom with a jingle bell or another slightly weighted charm. The extra weight helps the spiral hang vertically and keeps the curls open.
Finishing
Weave in every yarn end securely and check all sewn-on pieces. Shape the spiral gently by hand. If your yarn can tolerate steam, lightly steam from a distance without pressing the crochet flat. Make sure beads, bells and small parts are attached very firmly, especially if the ornament will be handled often or displayed around children or pets.
Colour variations
The pictured design uses a frosty palette of white and several shades of blue. You can also try red, green and white for a classic Christmas look; silver, white and navy for an elegant winter theme; pastel pink, lilac and mint for a softer style; or natural cream and grey for a Scandinavian-inspired version.
Questions I get asked
How do I make the spiral tighter? Work more stitches into each foundation chain or use a slightly smaller hook.
How do I make the hanging longer? Increase the foundation chain, join two spiral sections, or leave more space between the decorative accents.
Can I make it without beads and metal charms? Yes. Crochet small snowflakes, bobbles, mini pinecones or tiny stuffed motifs instead.
Can I use chenille yarn for the cat head? Yes, but use a hook small enough to keep the fabric dense so the stuffing does not show through.
Is this an exact stitch-for-stitch copy of the photo? No. It is a visual recreation guide inspired by the pictured ornament, so you may need to adjust stitch counts, proportions and spacing for your yarn and tension.