We are super excited to share our easy crochet reindeer pattern with you. This cute crochet reindeer is part of our Juna Series of super easy crochet animals and it is really too cute for words. This reindeer would make such a cute Christmas amigurumi pattern – or you could make the nose with another colour and make it as a cuddly amigurumi toy any time of the year. It is the second holiday amigurumi in the series after Bax the Christmas crochet bear and we hope you will love it!
We initially released this crochet reindeer pattern as a holiday crochet along and we really loved seeing all your fabulous makes. We had someone make it with embroidery (it turned out to be just over 2 inches tall!) – so you can use any yarn to make it smaller or bigger (I would love to see it in blanket yarn!). What I really like about this pattern is that it is really simple but it has a lot of details in it too like the sweater stripes being done in the back loops to give it texture. We made it as low-sew as possible – so you just have to sew on the ears, muzzle, and antlers. We really hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
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Free Crochet Reindeer Pattern
This easy crochet reindeer pattern is for your personal use only and cannot be sold, copied, or reproduced in any way without permission from the designers. You may sell finished objects made from this pattern in small quantities but please give credit to chaicoffeecrochet.com as the pattern designer.
Tools & Supplies You Need to Crochet A Reindeer
- Yarn: Less than 50 grams of DK yarn in brown, dark brown, beige, red, and two colours for the sweater.
- 2.75mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Polyfill stuffing
- Two 10 mm safety eyes
Amigurumi Reindeer: Stitches Used & Abbreviations
This pattern is written in US terms and crocheted in a spiral unless stated otherwise.
Sl st: slip stitch
Ch: Chain
SC: single crochet
INVDEC: invisible decrease
INC: two SC in the same stitch
BLO: back loops only
Crochet Reindeer Pattern Notes
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Finished size: Approximately 8 inches tall, using DK yarn. However, the sizing of your reindeer will vary based on the yarn you use.
- This reindeer was made using DK yarn. However, you may use any yarn with the relevant hook (usually, for amigurumi you go down 2-3 sizes from that recommended on the yarn label).
- This pattern is written in US terms.
- This pattern is crocheted in continuous rounds unless specified otherwise. Use a stitch marker on the first stitch of every round so that you don’t lose track of the start of your round.
- This pattern gives you an option to crochet in the arms. If you would like to do so, you must crochet the arms first and follow the steps outlined.
- The reindeer’s sweater has stripes. For a more seamless colour change, make a slip stitch instead of a SC for the first stitch of each new colour. Ensure that each colour change begins at the centre back of your reindeer. If you need to, do a few extra stitches in the previous round to ensure that you are beginning at the center back of your reindeer. Begin the new round at the centre back of your reindeer.
- The reindeer’s sweater is made entirely in back loops only to give the sweater a cute texture. If you are a beginner and are finding this challenging, you can crochet the sweater in both loops. The detailing will be a little different but it will still be super cute!
How to Crochet a Reindeer
Muzzle
Tip: The base shape of the muzzle is an oval, so we will be crocheting around chain, rather than a magic circle as we usually do with amigurumi. If you are new to crocheting around a chain, we have a tutorial on how to crochet an oval for amigurumi.
Using beige yarn
Round 1: Ch 5. Starting in the second chain from the hook, INC, 2SC, 4SC in the next chain as your work turns. Now continue on the other side of the chain. 2 SC and INC in the last chain (12)
Round 2: (INC) in each of the next two stitches, 2 SC, (INC) in each of the next four stitches, 2 SC, (INC) in each of the next two stitches (20)
Round 3: (SC, INC) twice, 2 SC, (SC, INC) four times, 2 SC, (SC, INC) twice (28)
Round 4-6 (3 rounds): 28 SC (28)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Arms (make 2)
Using brown
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: (5 SC, INC) twice (14)
Round 4-5 (2 rounds): SC around (14)
Round 6: (5 SC, INVDEC) twice (12)
Stuff the bottom of the arms lightly.
Note: We will now be making the sleeves for the reindeer’s sweater. The colours for the sweater will be noted as C1 and C2. In our reindeer, C1 is green and C2 is white.
Change to C2
Round 7: (4 SC, INVDEC) twice in BLO (10)
Change to C1
Round 8-9 (2 rounds): SC around in BLO (10)
Change to C2
Round 10-11 (2 rounds): SC around in BLO (10)
Change to C1
Round 12-13 (2 rounds): SC around in BLO (10)
Change to C2
Round 14-15 (2 rounds): SC around in BLO (10)
Change to C1
Round 16: SC around in BLO (10)
Do not stuff the rest of the arm. If you want to crochet (instead of sew) on the arms of your reindeer, pinch the two ends of the arm together, chain one, and single crochet through both sides to close the arm. Weave in the ends. If this is the first time you’re doing this, see our tutorial on how to crochet parts into amigurumi without sewing.
Legs (make 2)
Stuff legs lightly as you go.
Using dark brown
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: (SC, INC) six times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC, INC) six times (24)
Change to brown
Round 5: SC in BLO around (24)
Round 6-12 (7 rounds): SC around (24)
Fasten off for the first leg. Leave a long tail to sew the hole between the legs when joining.
Repeat rounds 1-12 for the second leg but don’t fasten off.
Body
Now we will join the legs of our reindeer. If you are unfamiliar with this, we have a tutorial on how to join legs for amigurumi.
Round 13: Sl st into the first unworked stitch of the first leg. SC in the remaining 23 stitches of the first leg and the 24 stitches of the second leg. (48)
Use the yarn tail from the first leg to sew closed any hole between the legs.
Round 14: SC around (48)
Change to C1
Round 15-16 (2 rounds): SC around (48)
Change to C2
Round 17: SC around (48)
Round 18: SC around in BLO(48)
Change to C1
Round 19-20 (2 rounds): SC around in BLO (48)
Change to C2
Round 21-22 ( 2 rounds): SC around in BLO (48)
Change to C1
Round 23-24 ( 2 rounds): SC around in BLO (48)
Change to C2
Round 25-26 (2 rounds)*: SC around in BLO (48)
Change to C1
Round 27-28 (2 rounds): SC around in BLO (48)*
*Note: If you want to crochet your arms in, crochet them on during Round 28, on each side of the body. To attach the arms, crochet through both the body and the arm. (See our tutorial on how to crochet in the arms.)
Change to brown
Round 29: SC around in BLO (48)
Round 30-41 (12 rounds): SC around (48)
Now stuff the muzzle and sew it on between rounds 31 and 37 , approximately. Insert the eyes between rounds 35 and 36 approximately 12 stitches apart, centred around the muzzle
Stuff the body.
Round 42: (6 SC, INVDEC) six times (42)
Round 43: (5 SC, INVDEC) six times (36)
Round 44: (4 SC, INVDEC) six times (30)
Round 45: (3 SC, INVDEC) six times (24)
Round 46: (2 SC, INVDEC) six times (18)
Round 47: (SC, INVDEC) six times (12)
Ensure that the body is stuffed firmly.
Round 48: INVDEC six times (6)
Fasten off. Insert needle in front loop of each stitch and pull tight to close. If you prefer to sew on the arms, sew them on between Rounds 27 and 28.
Ears (make 2)
Using brown
Do not stuff
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2: (SC, INC) three times (9)
Round 3: (2 SC, INC) three times (12)
Round 4-6 (3 rounds): SC around (12)
Round 7: (2 SC, INVDEC) three times (9)
Round 8: (SC, INVDEC) three times (6)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Pinch the bottom of each ear together and sew it closed (see photo).
Sew the ears on between Rounds 7 and 8 from the top of your reindeer’s head, with one ear on each side.
Antlers (2)
Using dark brown
Do not stuff
First Part
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2-6 (5 rounds): 6 SC (6)
Fasten off.
Second Part
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2-4 (3 rounds): 6 SC (6)
Do not fasten off. We will now join both parts.
Round 5: SC into the first unworked stitch of the first part. SC in the remaining 5 stitches of the first part. Now you will be crocheting into the stitches in the second part. (INV DEC) three times (9)
Round 6: (SC, INVDEC) three times (6)
Round 7: 6 SC (6)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew the antlers on between Rounds 3 and 5 from the top of your reindeer’s head
Nose
Using red yarn
Round 1: Ch 4. Starting in the second chain from the hook, 2SC, 3 SC in the next chain as your work turns. Now continue on the other side of the chain. 1 SC and INC in the last chain (8)
Round 2: 8 SC (8)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly and sew the nose on between Rounds 2 and 4 of your reindeer.
Your adorable reindeer is now ready!