This Crochet Reindeer Pattern makes a chubby little amigurumi reindeer with a round brown head, soft floppy ears, tiny branched antlers, a shiny red nose, and a striped scarf. It has short stubby legs, so it sits happily on a shelf, a mantel, or under the tree. Make one as a gift, or make a whole herd in different colors.
Pattern Information
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate, with shaping and sewing.
Terms: US crochet terminology.
Construction: The head, body, legs, ears, antlers, and nose are worked separately in continuous rounds, then sewn together. The scarf is worked flat in rows.
Estimated size: About 14 cm (5.5 in) tall including antlers, with a head about 7 cm wide, using DK-weight cotton. Actual dimensions depend on yarn, tension, and stuffing.
Pattern note: This is an original design based on the title concept. Stitch counts have been checked, but the pattern has not been physically crocheted or independently tested. Adjust the placement of the features to suit your yarn and taste.
Materials
- DK-weight cotton yarn in warm brown, approximately 50 g, for the head, body, legs, and ears.
- Cream or tan yarn, approximately 10 g, for the hooves and antlers.
- Red yarn, approximately 10 g, for the nose and scarf.
- White yarn, approximately 5 g, for the scarf stripes.
- Black yarn or embroidery thread for the mouth and optional embroidered eyes.
- A 2.75 mm hook as a starting point (use a hook small enough to keep the fabric dense).
- Two 8 mm black safety eyes, or black yarn for embroidered eyes.
- Fiberfill, stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, and removable pins.
- Optional: a little pipe cleaner for stiffer antlers, and a blush or pink thread for the cheeks.
Use embroidered eyes and leave out the pipe cleaner if the reindeer is for a baby or young child.
Stitches and Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MR | magic ring |
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| inc | 2 sc in one stitch |
| dec | invisible single crochet decrease over the next 2 stitches |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
Work in a spiral without joining or turning unless directed otherwise. Numbers in brackets give the completed stitch count. Repeat parentheses the stated number of times. Move the marker at the start of every round.
Before You Begin
Crochet tightly so the stuffing does not show through the stitches. Stuff firmly but evenly, especially the head, which should be round and smooth. The ears, antlers, and legs need only light stuffing.
Make the head first and pin the features in place before you commit to the eyes. A small change in eye spacing or nose height gives the reindeer a very different personality.
Head (brown)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Round 7: (5 sc, inc) × 6. [42]
Rounds 8–14: Sc in every stitch. [42 per round; 7 rounds]
Insert the safety eyes between Rounds 10 and 11, with about 8 stitches between them. Fit the backs securely. Pin the nose at the center front on Round 12 or 13, between and just below the eyes.
Round 15: (5 sc, dec) × 6. [36]
Round 16: (4 sc, dec) × 6. [30]
Round 17: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Stuff the head firmly now, and keep adding small amounts of filling as the opening narrows.
Round 18: (2 sc, dec) × 6. [18]
Round 19: (Sc, dec) × 6. [12]
Round 20: Dec × 6. [6]
Fasten off, thread the tail through the remaining front loops, draw closed, and hide the end.
Body (brown)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Round 3: (Sc, inc) × 6. [18]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) × 6. [24]
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) × 6. [30]
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) × 6. [36]
Rounds 7–13: Sc in every stitch. [36 per round; 7 rounds]
Round 14: (4 sc, dec) × 6. [30]
Round 15: (3 sc, dec) × 6. [24]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff the body firmly, flatten the bottom slightly so it sits upright, and leave the opening open for sewing.
Legs (make 4)
Start with cream yarn for the hoof:
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 3. [9]
Round 3: Sc around. Change to brown on the final yarn-over of the last stitch. [9]
Rounds 4–9: Sc around. [9 per round; 6 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Stuff lightly, leaving the top unfilled for easy sewing.
Ears (make 2, brown)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: (Sc, inc) × 3. [9]
Rounds 3–4: Sc around. [9 per round]
Fasten off with a long tail. Do not stuff. Flatten the ear and pinch the open end together before sewing.
Antlers (make 2, cream or tan)
Main branch: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Rounds 2–9: Sc around. [6 per round; 8 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. If you use a pipe cleaner, fold the ends over and push it inside before stuffing lightly.
Side branches (make 2 for each antler):
Round 1: 4 sc in MR. [4]
Rounds 2–4: Sc around. [4 per round; 3 rounds]
Fasten off with a long tail. Sew one side branch near the middle of each main branch and the second near the top, angling both slightly outward and upward.
Nose (red)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
Round 2: Inc in each stitch. [12]
Rounds 3–4: Sc around. [12 per round]
Round 5: Dec × 6. [6]
Stuff lightly before closing. Fasten off with a long tail, draw closed, and sew to the pinned position on the face with small, secure stitches.
Scarf (red and white)
With red, ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. [5 sc]
Rows 2–40: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. [5 sc]
Change color every 2 rows, alternating red and white, and carry the unused yarn up the side. Fasten off and weave in the ends. For a fringe, cut six short pieces of white yarn and tie three to each end.
Assembly and Face
- Features: Embroider a small smile with black yarn about 2 rounds below the nose, with a short vertical line from the nose to the middle of the smile. Add a tiny highlight stitch to each eye if you like.
- Ears: Sew the ears to the sides of the head at about Rounds 6–8, tilted slightly outward.
- Antlers: Sew one antler to the top of the head just inside each ear, angled slightly outward.
- Legs: Sew the legs to the lower body. Place the front two close together at the front and the back two toward the rear, so the reindeer can sit or stand.
- Head: Pin the head over the body opening, with the closure underneath, and sew all around with small stitches. Check that the head sits straight before you finish.
- Scarf: Wrap the scarf around the neck and sew it lightly at the back to hold it in place.
Hide every tail and check that the eyes, ears, and antlers hold firmly with a gentle tug.
Practical Tips and Troubleshooting
The head looks lumpy. Add stuffing in small pieces rather than large clumps, and roll the head between your palms to smooth it.
The antlers flop over. Use a bit of pipe cleaner (for older children and adults) or stuff them a little more firmly, then stitch the bases tightly to the head.
The reindeer leans or tips over. Check that the legs are the same length and flatten the bottom of the body before sewing them on.
The nose looks too big. Use a smaller hook or skip the last row of the nose (Round 4), so it ends at Round 3 plus the closing round.
The eyes look uneven. Pin the eyes before inserting them, and check the face from the front and from above before fastening the backs.
FAQ
Can I make it bigger? Yes. Use a thicker yarn and a matching hook. For a jumbo reindeer, work the head and body from chunky yarn with a 4 mm hook.
Can I embroider the eyes? Yes. Make two black satin-stitch ovals at Rounds 10–11 with 8 stitches between them, and add a small white highlight for a shiny look.
Can I make it in different colors? Absolutely. Use gray, cream, or light caramel for the head and body, and try green, navy, or plaid for the scarf.
Can I turn it into an ornament? Yes. Skip the legs, sew a loop of yarn to the top of the head between the antlers, and hang it on the tree.
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