Crochet Reindeer Ornament Free Pattern: Christmas Amigurumi

There’s something really special about making your own holiday decorations, don’t you think? This year, I wanted to create a few crochet Christmas ornaments that are simple, quick and fun. And I’m excited to share this crochet reindeer ornament free pattern with you.

This cute Christmas reindeer is a joy to make and turns out adorable every time. It’s perfect as a Christmas tree decoration, a special little gift or even a fun stocking filler. This Christmas Amigurumi pattern comes with two different antler options, so you can choose the one that best matches your style or skill level.

How to Crochet a Reindeer Ornament

– This crochet Christmas decoration is worked in continuous rounds so no need to slip stitch to join the rounds. This way you will avoid having a visible seem on your crochet toy.

– Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round.

– All stitches are worked in both loops unless stated otherwise.

– Always use a crochet hook at least one size smaller than the size recommended on the yarn label to avoid large gaps and the stuffing showing.

– The snout, nose, ears and antlers are crocheted as separate pieces and need to be sewed on at assembly stage.

– This pattern comes with two different options to crochet the reindeer antlers, so you can choose the one that best matches your style or skill level.

– The use of safety eyes or buttons poses a choking risk for children under the age of 3 therefore I recommend using embroidery instead.

Before You Start this Crochet Reindeer Ornament Free Pattern

Pattern Notes

Difficulty level: beginner to intermediate

Finished size – using 2.5 mm crochet hook (B/1) and Sport weight yarn (4ply #2):

• height: 7.5cm (3″)
• width: 8cm (3.25″)

Pattern Gauge

Flat crochet circle 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter:

• when using 2.5 mm hook (B/1) and Sport weight yarn (4ply #2)
• 7 rounds with 42 stitches in the last round

Yarn Requirements

This crochet reindeer ornament free pattern will work great with the below yarns.

• 100% cotton yarn
• 100% acrylic yarn
• blend of cotton/acrylic
• Sport weight yarn (4ply #2)
• Light worsted weight yarn (DK #3)
• Worsted weight yarn (Aran #4)

Yarn I used for this crochet ornament:

• Sport weight yarn (4ply #2)
• 55% cotton and 45% acrylic blend
• beige yarn – YarnArt Jeans – color 07 – (50g/160m)
• cream yarn – YarnArt Jeans – color 03 – (50g/160m)
• dark brown yarn – YarnArt Jeans – color 70 – (50g/160m)
• red yarn – YarnArt Jeans – color 90 – (50g/160m)

Purchase YarnArt Jeans yarn from Amazon or from Etsy.

Materials and Equipment

Materials needed:

• black thread embroidery yarn
• white/cream thread embroidery yarn for facial features
• string for a hanging loop
• polyester fibre fill

Crochet hook size:

• 2.5 mm crochet hook (B-1) for Sport weight yarn (4ply #2)
• 3 mm crochet hook (C-2) for Light worsted weight yarn (DK #3)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook (E-4) for Worsted weight yarn (Aran #4)
• if using a different weight of yarn then refer to the hook size recommendations on the yarn label but go at least one size smaller

I highly recommend this ergonomic crochet hooks set from Amazon as it comes in a stylish case and with other handy accessories such as stitch markers etc.

Other equipment needed:

• scissors
• tapestry needle
• stitch marker
• pins with large heads
• 6 mm safety eyes

Pattern Abbreviations

This crochet reindeer Christmas ornament pattern is written using US terms.

MR: magic ring/magic circle

CH: chain

ST: stitch

SL ST: slip stitch

SC: single crochet stitch

HDC: half double crochet stitch

INC: increase = two single crochet stitches in the same stitch

INV DEC: invisible decrease = insert the hook into the front loop of the first stitch (two loops on hook) and immediately insert it again into the front loop of the next stitch (three loops on the hook). Yarn over and draw through the first two loops on the hook (two loops on the hook). Yarn over and draw through the two loops on the hook to finish your invisible decrease

FO: fasten off

INV FO: invisible fasten off

(…..) x 6: repeat the pattern inside the brackets by the given number (in this example, repeat the pattern in the brackets 6 times)

{…}: number shown inside these brackets equals the number of stitches at the end of each round

Video Tutorials

If it is your first time dipping your toes in the world of Amigurumi, then you may find these Amigurumi tutorials handy before you get started with this crochet Xmas ornament pattern.

And don’t forget to watch my step-by-step video tutorials for extra help with my Amigurumi patterns. Many of my videos also have a left handed version available.

Need Help with this Cute Christmas Reindeer Ornament?

The fastest way to get help with this free crochet pattern is to leave your question in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

Or join our Cuddly Stitches Community Facebook group to ask for support with this pattern. Many of the members have experience with my free crochet patterns and will be more than happy to help. You can also share your creations, chat to fellow Amigurumi makers or exchange tips and tricks.

How to Download My Amigurumi Patterns

My free Amigurumi patterns are supported by ads on this website and are not downloadable or printable. But you can download the ad-free PDF pattern for a small fee from my Etsy store or Ravelry shop.

Your generous contribution will help towards the cost of materials and running this website. So I can continue to publish my free online patterns on this blog for everyone to enjoy.

Crochet Reindeer Ornament Free Pattern: Step by Step

You can find the free crochet reindeer ornament pattern below. I have included lots of photos to make it easier for you to follow the detailed instructions. Some sections of the pattern also include step-by-step video tutorials needed for that specific part of the pattern.

Head

Yarn color: beige

Construction: crochet as a ball starting from the top of the head towards the bottom

R1: MR – 6 x SC into the ring {6} – watch this video tutorial on How to crochet a magic ring

R2: INC in each ST around {12}

R3: (SC in next ST, INC) x 6 {18}

R4: SC in next ST, INC, (SC in next 2 STs, INC) x 5, SC in next ST {24}

R5: (SC in next 3 STs, INC) x 6 {30}

R6: SC in next 2 STs, INC, (SC in next 4 STs, INC) x 5, SC in next 2 STs {36}

R7: (SC in next 5 STs, INC) x 6 {42}

If you wish, you can attach a hanging loop to the head at this stage. Use a string or crochet a chain, pull it through the middle of the magic ring and secure it to the inside of the head so it can’t be pulled out.

R8-R15 (8 rounds): SC in each ST around {42}

You can now insert safety eyes between rounds R11 and R12 leaving 6 stitches in between the eyes.

R16: (SC in next 5 STs, INV DEC) x 6 {36} – watch this video tutorial on How to crochet an invisible decrease

R17: SC in next 2 STs, INV DEC, (SC in next 4 STs, INV DEC) x 5, SC in next 2 STs {30}

R18: (SC in next 3 STs, INV DEC) x 6 {24}

Start stuffing the head

R19: SC in next ST, INV DEC, (SC in next 2 STs, INV DEC) x 5, SC in next ST {18}

R20: (SC in next ST, INV DEC) x 6 {12}

R21: SC in each ST around {12}

Stuff well, FO closing the hole using a yarn needle and weave the yarn tail in

Watch this video tutorial on How to close a hole in an Amigurumi piece

Snout

Yarn color: cream

R1: MR – 6 x SC into the ring {6}

R2: INC in each ST around {12}

R3: (SC in next ST, INC) x 6 {18}

R4: SC in each ST around {18}

R5: SC in next 5 STs, INC x 3 {21}

INV FO and leave a long tail for sewing – watch this video tutorial on How to fasten off: Invisible Finish

No need to stuff the snout at this stage as you will stuff it while sewing it on

Nose

Yarn color: red

R1: MR – 6 x SC into the ring {6}

INV FO and keep both yarn tails for sewing – when doing INV FO you will normally insert the needle into 2nd ST of the round (as shown in my video) but on this occasion I inserted the needle into the 1st ST of the round so I ended up with a nose that has 7 stitches. I think it looks neater this way. 🙂

Ears

Yarn color: beige

Construction: crochet from the top of the ear downwards

R1: MR – 6 x SC into the ring {6}

R2: (SC in next 2 STs, INC) x 2 {8}

R3: (SC in next 3 STs, INC) x 2 {10}

R4: (SC in next 4 STs, INC) x 2 {12}

R5-R6 (2 rounds): SC in each ST around {12}

R7: INV DEC all around {6}

Do not stuff, FO leaving a long tail for sewing

Pinch the bottom of each ear in half and sew it together before attaching the ears to the head at assembly stage.

Antlers – Option 1

This option is a bit more difficult than option 2 so may be more suitable for an experienced crocheter.

Yarn color: brown

Construction: crochet as two separate pieces to start with; you will then join them together at a later stage

To join the two pieces together continue to crochet R5 of the second piece – this video tutorial shows how to join toes but you may find it helpful as it’s using the same technique – watch this video tutorial on How to join toes in Amigurumi

R6: SC in next 2 STs, INV DEC, SC in next 3 STs, INV DEC, SC in last ST {8}

R7: INV DEC, SC in next 2 STs, INV DEC, SC in last 2 STs) {6}

INV FO and leave a long tail for sewing – Pic 6

You can close the little gap in between the pieces now as well

Antlers – Option 2

This option is much easier and faster to make. It is also easier to attach to the head.

Yarn color: brown

1. CH 8x – Pic 7
2. HDC into 3rd CH from the hook (go into back bump of each chain as well), HDC into next 2 CHs – Pic 8
3. CH 5x – Pic 9
4. HDC into 3rd CH from the hook (go into back bump of each chain as well), HDC into next 2 CHs – Pic 10
5. SC into the same CH you made the last HDC into on the starting chain (Pic 11), HDC into the last 3 CHs
6. FO and keep both yarn tails for sewing – Pic 12

Assembly

– Sew the snout to the reindeer’s head between R11 and R18, stuff while sewing it on

– Sew the nose onto the snout using the two yarn tails (no need to stitch all the way round the nose) and embroider the muzzle using a long piece of black thread yarn

– Sew the antlers on – two rounds away from the centre of the magic ring

– Sew on the ears – two rounds away from the antlers

– Embroider the eye brows using a long piece of black thread yarn – between R9 and R11. Watch this video tutorial on How to embroider nostrils on Amigurumi. In this video I embroider nostrils but you can use the same technique for embroidering the eye brows.

– Embroider the fawn spots using a long piece of cream/white thread yarn – between R5 and R9

Congratulations on completing your crochet Christmas bauble! I hope this crochet Christmas reindeer pattern was clear, simple to follow and a joy to make.