A festive Christmas wind spinner with gingerbread, peppermint candy, stocking, holly and scalloped spiral details
This tutorial recreates the look of the reference ornament: a large gingerbread-cookie style top medallion, a long red-white-green spiral ribbon, and dangling Christmas charms including gingerbread people, peppermint candies and a mini stocking. The overall effect is playful, dimensional and ideal for hanging from a branch, hook, window, doorway or Christmas tree.
This is a photo-inspired reconstruction, not the original designer’s written pattern. Stitch counts are chosen to reproduce the visual structure and may need small adjustments depending on yarn thickness and tension.
Finished Size
• Total hanging length: approximately 75-90 cm / 30-35 in
• Top medallion: 18-22 cm / 7-9 in across
• Spiral section: 45-55 cm / 18-22 in
• Gingerbread charm: 8-10 cm / 3-4 in tall
• Peppermint candy: 5-6 cm / 2-2.5 in diameter
• Mini stocking: 7-9 cm / 2.75-3.5 in tall
Skill Level
Intermediate. You should be comfortable with working in the round, color changes, shaping, surface embroidery, small amigurumi-style pieces, applique assembly and blocking.
Materials
| Material | Suggested Amount / Use |
| Caramel / gingerbread brown yarn | 120-160 g; DK or light worsted cotton/cotton blend |
| Christmas red yarn | 100-130 g |
| White yarn | 80-100 g |
| Olive or holly green yarn | 50-70 g |
| Dark brown yarn | small amount for facial embroidery |
| Black yarn or embroidery floss | small amount for eyes and mouth |
| Orange yarn | small amount for nose if desired |
| 2.5-3.5 mm crochet hook | choose size that gives firm stitches |
| Tapestry needle | for sewing and embroidery |
| Stitch markers | for rounds |
| Scissors | 1 pair |
| Wooden or acrylic beads | 6-10 beads in red/green; 10-15 mm suggested |
| Fiberfill | small amount for 3D candies/stocking if desired |
| Optional safety eyes | 6-8 mm; use embroidery instead for child-safe decor |
| Optional clear thread or fishing line | for hidden charm suspension |
Stitch Abbreviations
• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• inc = increase
• dec = decrease
• BLO = back loop only
• FLO = front loop only
• MR = magic ring
• rep = repeat
Construction Overview
The ornament is worked as separate parts: (1) scalloped gingerbread medallion, (2) peppermint centerpiece, (3) holly leaves and berries, (4) long striped spiral ribbon, (5) gingerbread people, (6) peppermint candies, (7) mini stocking, and (8) bead-and-cord hanging system. All pieces are assembled after blocking.
Part 1 – Gingerbread Scalloped Top Medallion
1. Round 1: With caramel yarn, make an MR. Ch 3 and work 11 dc into the ring. Join. (12 dc)
2. Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each stitch around. Join. (24)
3. Round 3: Ch 3, *1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (36)
4. Round 4: Ch 3, *2 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (48)
5. Round 5: Ch 3, *3 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (60)
6. Round 6: Ch 3, *4 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (72)
7. Round 7: Work a decorative scallop: *skip 1 stitch, 5 dc in next stitch, skip 1 stitch, sl st in next*. Repeat around.
8. White icing round: join white yarn along the inner base of the scallops and surface-crochet a loose line of slip stitches around. Alternatively, work a round of sc in white before the final scallop round.
9. Optional: add a thin caramel border around the outermost white section to reinforce the cookie look.
Part 2 – Peppermint Centerpiece
Make a flat red-and-white peppermint disk approximately 6-7 cm / 2.5 in wide.
10. With white, MR, work 12 dc into ring and join.
11. Round 2: Alternate color wedges. Work 2 dc in white, switch to red for 2 dc, then repeat around so red and white sections begin to form a pinwheel.
12. Round 3: Continue increasing evenly while preserving the same red-white wedge positions. Each wedge should widen toward the outside.
13. Finish with 1 round of sc in red or white. Fasten off.
14. Sew the peppermint disk firmly to the center of the caramel medallion.
Part 3 – Holly Leaves and Berries
Make 6-8 small leaves and 5-7 berries for the top medallion and stocking.
15. Leaf: ch 8. Working along one side: sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc, sc. Work 2-3 sc in end chain, then mirror the stitches down the opposite side. Join.
16. Add one surface slip-stitch vein down the center of each leaf.
17. Berry: MR, 6 sc. Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch. Round 3: sc around. Lightly stuff if desired, then close with a drawstring finish.
Part 4 – Long Christmas Spiral Ribbon
The spiral is the main visual feature. It should be firm enough to hold a corkscrew shape but flexible enough to drape naturally.
18. Foundation: with red yarn, ch 145-165 depending on desired length.
19. Row 1: Work 2 dc in the 4th chain from the hook and 2 dc in each remaining chain. The strip will begin curling automatically.
20. Row 2: Join white yarn to one long edge. Work *sc, ch 2, skip 1 stitch* across for a lacy white icing stripe.
21. Row 3: Join green yarn along the opposite inner edge. Work 1 sc in each stitch, adding an occasional ch-2 picot every 6-8 stitches if you want a leafy accent.
22. Row 4: With caramel yarn on the outer edge, work *sc, 3 dc in next stitch, sc in next* repeatedly to create a cookie-like scalloped trim.
23. Gently twist the strip into a loose helix. Steam very lightly or pin-block it in the desired corkscrew shape.
Part 5 – Gingerbread Person Charm (Make 2)
Use a firm gauge so the pieces hold their shape. Work front and back pieces if you want a stuffed charm, or make one flat piece for a lighter ornament.
24. Head: MR, 6 sc. Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12). Round 3: *1 sc, inc* around (18). Round 4: *2 sc, inc* around (24). Rounds 5-6: sc around.
25. Body: from the lower head edge, work 10-12 sc across. Continue 5-6 short rows, decreasing slightly toward the waist.
26. Arms: attach yarn at each upper side, ch 7-8, work back with sc. Add 1 extra row for thickness.
27. Legs: work two separate 6-7 stitch sections from the lower body, 4-5 rows each.
28. Outline hands and feet with white yarn using surface slip stitches to imitate royal icing.
29. Embroider black eyes and smiling mouth. Add 2-3 red button dots and a green bow tie or tiny neck leaf motif.
30. If making a stuffed version, crochet a second matching silhouette, place wrong sides together, sc around, lightly stuff before closing.
Part 6 – Peppermint Ball Charm (Make 2)
31. With white, MR and work 6 sc. Increase to 12, then 18 stitches.
32. Work 2-3 rounds even. Change between red and white in vertical sections to create the peppermint twist.
33. Begin decreasing evenly back to 12, then 6 stitches while stuffing firmly.
34. Close the opening. Add a white hanging loop at the top and an optional small tassel or knot at the bottom.
Part 7 – Mini Christmas Stocking Charm
35. With red, ch 12 and join carefully into a ring without twisting.
36. Rounds 1-5: sc around.
37. Heel shaping: work 6 sc, turn; repeat short rows over these 6 stitches for 3-4 rows. Fold and seam the heel.
38. Rejoin red yarn and work 6-8 more rounds around the leg.
39. Change to white and work 2 rounds of sc for the cuff.
40. Toe: with white, join at the front lower edge and work a small semicircle, decreasing to close.
41. Decorate with 2 small green holly leaves and 1 red berry.
Part 8 – Hanging Cords, Beads and Charm Placement
42. Make a top hanging loop from a 25-30 cm length of caramel yarn, jute or strong cord. Fold in half and knot securely.
43. Attach the loop to the top center of the medallion. Add one red bead above the medallion if desired.
44. Attach the spiral ribbon to the lower center of the medallion using several strong stitches.
45. Prepare 4-5 side cords from red yarn. Thread green or red beads onto each cord before attaching the charm.
46. Place charms asymmetrically along the spiral: gingerbread person near upper right, peppermint ball upper left, stocking mid-to-lower right, second gingerbread lower left, second peppermint near the bottom right.
47. Keep cords at slightly different lengths so the hanging elements do not collide.
48. Add 1-2 beads at the bottom point of the spiral for weight and a polished finish.
Suggested Assembly Order
49. Block the medallion flat.
50. Block or shape the spiral ribbon.
51. Sew peppermint center to the medallion.
52. Sew holly leaves and berries around the peppermint motif.
53. Attach spiral securely to the medallion.
54. Add hanging loop and top bead.
55. Attach side cords and charms one by one, checking balance as you go.
56. Weave in all ends and reinforce every hanging point.
Blocking and Finishing
57. Pin the medallion so all scallops are even.
58. Shape the spiral while damp and allow it to dry fully before hanging.
59. Do not over-steam amigurumi charms or stuffed pieces.
60. Trim loose fibers and hide knots inside seams.
61. Test the ornament by hanging it for several hours before final use; reinforce any point that stretches.
Color Variations
• Classic: red, white, caramel and holly green.
• Vintage candy shop: dusty red, cream, sage and tan.
• Elegant neutral: burgundy, ivory, forest green and mocha.
• Bright kids’ version: cherry red, snow white, lime green and gingerbread brown.
• Peppermint-only version: remove green and use red-white-caramel throughout