Deck the halls with festive cheer with this free crochet reindeer pattern! This delightful Christmas ornament is ideal for all skill levels, so bring a little magic to your home or tree – or why not give it as a wonderful festive gift?
Free crochet project: Reindeer
Finished size approximately 12 cm x 7 cm.
You will need:
- Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 Mercerised 100% mercerised cotton (approx 174yd/160m per 50g)
- 1 x 50g ball in 009 Nougat (A)
- 1 x 50g ball in 001 White (B)
- 1 x 50g ball in 40 Tomato (C)
- 1 x 50g ball in 17 Cognac (D)
- Black embroidery thread
- 2mm (US B/1) crochet hook
- Darning needle
- Polyester filling
- Scissors
To make the head:
Rnd 1: With A, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: (Dc2inc) 6 times (12 sts).
Rnd 3: (1 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (18 sts).
Rnd 4: (2 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (24 sts).
Rnd 5: (3 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (30 sts).
Rnd 6: (4 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (36 sts).
Rnds 7-14: 1 dc in each st around (36 sts).
Rnd 15: (4 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (30 sts).
Rnd 16: (3 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (24 sts).
Rnd 17: (2 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (18 sts).
Stuff then fasten off. Cut yarn and weave in the end.
To make the body:
Rnd 1: With A, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: (Dc2inc) 6 times (12 sts).
Rnd 3: (1 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (18 sts).
Rnd 4: (2 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (24 sts).
Rnd 5: (3 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (30 sts).
Rnd 6: (4 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (36 sts).
Rnd 7: (5 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (42 sts).
Rnd 8: (6 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (48 sts).
Rnds 9-18: 1 dc in each st around (48 sts).
Rnd 19: (6 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (42 sts).
Rnd 20: (5 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (36 sts).
Rnd 21: (4 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (30 sts).
Start stuffing.
Rnd 22: (3 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (24 sts).
Rnd 23: (2 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (18 sts).
Finish stuffing.
Fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew together the head and body.
To make the muzzle:
Rnd 1: With B, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: (Dc2inc) 6 times (12 sts).
Rnd 3: (1 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (18 sts).
Rnds 4-6: 1 dc in each st around (18 sts).
Fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing.
Attach to the centre of the face, lower half towards the body (use photograph for guidance), stuffing in the meantime.
To make the nose:
Rnd 1: With C, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: (1 dc, dc2inc) 3 times (9 sts).
Rnds 3 and 4: 1 dc in each st around (9 sts).
Rnd 5: (1 dc, dc2tog) 3 times (6 sts).
Fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing. Weave the tail through the FLO on all 6 sts, pull to close and sew, a bit askew, on to the muzzle. There is no need for stuffing.
To make the ears (make 2)
Rnd 1: With A, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: (1 dc, dc2inc) 3 times (9 sts).
Rnd 3: 1 dc in each st around (9 sts).
Rnd 4: (2 dc, dc2inc) 3 times (12 sts).
Rnd 5: 1 dc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 6: (2 dc, dc2tog) 3 times (9 sts).
Rnd 7: 1 dc in each st around (9 sts).
Fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the ears to the head, one on each side, leaving space for the antlers. There is no need for stuffing.
Long antlers (make 2):
Rnd 1: With D, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: (1 dc, dc2inc) 3 times (9 sts).
Rnd 3: 1 dc in each st around (9 sts).
Rnds 4-10: 1 dc in each st around (9 sts).
Fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew the long antlers on to the head, one on each side, between the ears. There is no need for stuffing.
Short antlers (make 2)
Rnd 1: With D, working into MC, 6 dc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: 1 dc in each st around (6 sts).
Fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew each short antler to the long antler, pointing towards the other antler. There is no need for stuffing.
Final details
Embroider eyes on the head with a piece of black embroidery thread. Embroider decorations on the belly and head with B, using V-shaped stitches.
Ornament option
To make a loop for hanging the ornament, join A to the top of the reindeer’s head with a sl st, dc in same st, then make as many ch as you like. I suggest you do that until you have a string of about 6in (15cm). Sl st in the last dc you made, fasten off, cut yarn and weave in the end.
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