Stitch Your Own Cuddly Companion: The Ultimate Plush Reindeer Crochet Guide

ByLina Morgen

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How to Crochet a Cute Plush Reindeer: Step-by-Step Pattern

Create your own adorable plush reindeer, perfect for holiday decorations or a cuddly gift. This detailed guide will walk you through every step of the process, from the tiny hooves to the cozy overalls.

Materials Needed

  • Plush Yarn: (e.g., Wolans Bunny Baby or similar chenille yarn)
    • Main Color: Sandy/Beige
    • Accent Color 1: Brown (for hooves and antlers)
    • Accent Color 2: White (for muzzle and snood)
    • Accent Color 3: Red (for nose and sweater details)
    • Accent Color 4: Green or Milky White (for overalls)
  • Crochet Hook: 4.0mm
  • Stuffing: Fiberfill (~200g)
  • Eyes: 16mm safety eyes
  • Embroidery Thread: Black (for brows, lashes, and smile) and a stronger thread for sculpting/tightening.
  • Accessories:
    • Large eye needles
    • Stitch markers
    • Buttons (2 for overalls, 1 decorative)
    • Standard sewing needle and thread for the nose

Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sc: single crochet
  • inc: increase (two sc in one stitch)
  • dec: decrease (sc two stitches together)
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • BLO: back loop only
  • ( ) : The number in parentheses indicates the total stitch count for that round.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. The Legs (Make 2)

Using Brown yarn:

  • Round 1: Magic ring, 8 sc (8)
  • Round 2: 8 inc (16)
  • Round 3: sc, inc, 4 sc, 4 inc, 4 sc, inc, sc (22)
  • Round 4: 22 sc in BLO (22)
  • Round 5-6: 22 sc (22)
  • Round 7: 7 sc, 4 dec, 7 sc (18)
  • Round 8: 5 sc, 4 dec, 5 sc (14)

Change to Main Color:

  • Round 9: (5 sc, dec) x 2 (12). Stuff the foot firmly.
  • Round 10-18: 12 sc (12)
  • Round 19: (4 sc, dec) x 2 (10)

Stuff the upper part of the leg lightly. Fold the leg in half and join the sides with 5 sc. Ensure the seam runs parallel to the foot.

2. The Arms (Make 2)

Using Main Color:

  • Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc (6)
  • Round 2: 6 inc (12)
  • Round 3-4: 12 sc (12)

Change to Sweater Color (Solid or Striped Red/White):

  • Round 5: (4 sc, dec) x 2 (10)
  • Round 6-15: 10 sc (10)

Stuff lightly, fold in half, and join with 5 sc. Make sure the color transition is on the inside of the arm.

3. The Body

Using Main Color:

  • Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc (6)
  • Round 2: 6 inc (12)
  • Round 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
  • Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
  • Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
  • Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
  • Round 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
  • Round 8 (Joining Legs): 8 sc, join first leg with 5 sc, 16 sc, join second leg with 5 sc, 8 sc (42)
  • Round 9-10: 42 sc (42)

Change to Sweater Color:

  • Round 11-13: 42 sc (42)
  • Round 14: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
  • Round 15: 36 sc (36)
  • Round 16: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
  • Round 17: 30 sc (30)
  • Round 18: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
  • Round 19: 24 sc (24). Stuff the body firmly.
  • Round 20 (Joining Arms): 6 sc, join first arm with 5 sc, 7 sc, join second arm with 5 sc, 1 sc (24)
  • Round 21: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18). Stuff the neck.

4. The Head

Change to Main Color:

  • Round 22: 18 inc (36)
  • Round 23: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
  • Round 24: (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)
  • Round 25-26: 48 sc (48)
  • Round 27: (6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)
  • Round 28-32: 42 sc (42)

Eyes: Place safety eyes between rounds 28 and 29, with 8 stitches between them.

  • Round 33: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
  • Round 34: 36 sc (36)
  • Round 35: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
  • Round 36: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24). Stuff the head firmly, paying extra attention to the cheeks.
  • Round 37: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
  • Round 38: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
  • Round 39: 6 dec (6)

Fasten off and sew the hole closed.

5. The Muzzle and Nose

Muzzle (White Yarn):

  • Round 1: ch 5
  • Round 2: inc in 2nd ch, 2 sc, 3 sc in last ch, work along the other side of the chain with 3 sc (10)
  • Round 3: 2 inc, 2 sc, 3 inc, 2 sc, 1 inc (16)
  • Round 4: 16 sc, sl st to join (16)

Stuff the muzzle and sew it to the head between rounds 24-27 (at eye level).

Nose (Red Yarn):

  • Round 1: Magic ring, 4 sc. Join with a sl st, leaving a small tail for sewing.

Sew the nose onto the muzzle using thin sewing thread.

6. Antlers (Make 2)

Using Brown yarn. Each antler consists of two identical pieces joined together.

Piece 1:

  • Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc (6)
  • Round 2: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)
  • Round 3-4: 9 sc. Cut yarn, leaving a 10cm tail.

Piece 2: Repeat as above, but do not cut the yarn.

  • Round 5: (1 sc, dec) x 3 on Piece 1, then (1 sc, dec) x 3 on Piece 2 (12)
  • Round 6: 12 sc (12). Sew the small gap between the two pieces using the tail from Piece 1.
  • Round 7: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)
  • Round 8: 9 sc (9)

Stuff lightly and leave a long tail (~25cm) for sewing.

7. Tail and Ears

Tail (Main Color): Magic ring 6 sc $\rightarrow$ 6 inc (12) $\rightarrow$ 12 sc $\rightarrow$ 6 dec (6). Stuff and leave tail for sewing.

Ears (Make 2, Main Color): Magic ring 6 sc $\rightarrow$ 6 sc $\rightarrow$ 6 inc (12) $\rightarrow$ 2 rounds of 12 sc. Fold in half and join with 6 sc.

8. Final Details and Assembly

  • Face: Embroider eyelashes (one stitch above each eye), eyebrows, and a small smile using black thread. You can add a few white plush stitches on the forehead to simulate fur.
  • Assembly: Sew antlers between rounds 35-37. Sew ears close to the antlers. Sew the tail to the back.
  • Sculpting: Use a strong thread to pull the muzzle slightly inward or create indentations for the eyes to give the reindeer more expression.

9. The Overalls

Pants:

  • Chain a length that fits loosely around the body (e.g., 40 ch). Join into a circle.
  • Round 1-3: hdc around.
  • Round 4 (Tail hole): 2 hdc, ch 3, skip 3 sts, hdc to end.
  • Round 5: hdc into the ch-3 loop.
  • Round 6-8: hdc around.
  • Fold the piece and join the legs by working 4 sc across the inner seams.

Chest Piece: Identify the center 12 stitches of the waist. Work 3 rows of hdc in turning rows.

Straps: Attach yarn to the chest. Chain until it reaches the waist (e.g., 20 ch), chain 4 more for the loop, then sc back to the waist. Repeat for the other side.

Finishing: Sew buttons to the chest and add a decorative button to the front. Use a lighter to carefully singe the ends of synthetic yarn to prevent fraying.

10. The Snood (Scarf)

  • Chain a length that fits the neck (e.g., 30 ch).
  • Work 1 row of hdc back along the chain.
  • Sew the ends together and place it around the reindeer’s neck.

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