Add a touch of handmade charm to your holiday season with this Crochet Ragdoll Reindeer Ornament! It’s a quick and versatile project that works perfectly as a holiday tree ornament, gift topper, or even a festive little gift card holder! Enjoy this quick and easy FREE crochet pattern!
Happy Monday! It’s the fourth week of July which means it’s the fourth and final week of our Christmas in July event! Stephanie of Grace and Yarn and I have had so much fun bringing you four new and fun holiday inspired crochet patterns again this year for the 6th year in a row! We can’t wait for next year’s event!
In case you’ve missed it, each Monday in July, Stephanie and I have released a new crochet pattern to help get you started on your holiday crocheting nice and early! This Ragdoll Reindeer Ornament is the fourth and final pattern release. Be sure to head to our Christmas in July blog post to check out the other pattern releases this month, including an adorable plush snowman, fuzzy penguin, and a sweet little Christmas light!
For our Christmas in July event details, or want the links to the patterns, you can head to our main Christmas in July info post HERE!
Now…about the Ragdoll Reindeer Ornament!
Now that we’ve talked about Christmas in July, let’s get to this fun new ragdoll reindeer ornament! At only 6″ tall including the antlers, this reindeer is the perfect size for decorating or cuddling! If you are using your reindeer as an ornament or gift topper, a loop can be added to the top for hanging. For an extra cute and festive gift card holder, you can follow the instructions to add a pocket to the back.
To make your ragdoll reindeer ornament, you’ll start by working up the body/head in two separate panels. Then you’ll add the antlers, eyes, muzzle, and nose. Next, the panels will be joined together and stuffed. Finally, add a scarf for a festive accessory! Enjoy working up this crochet pattern!
This ragdoll reindeer ornament is one of four ragdoll ornament patterns on the blog! Be sure to check out our ragdoll snowman, penguin, and cat!
Remember to like Loops and Love Crochet on Facebook and join the Loops and Love Crochet Group for sharing your finished projects! I’d also LOVE it if you followed @loopsandlovecrochet on Instagram! If you like crochet video tutorials, check out (and subscribe to) my Loops and Love Crochet YouTube Channel!
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The Ragdoll Reindeer Ornament crochet pattern is available for FREE on this website. If you’d like an ad-free, printable PDF version, you may purchase it for a small fee from my Etsy or Ravelry shops. Thank you so much for supporting Loops & Love Crochet!
Materials
- Worsted-weight (#4) yarn – Any worsted-weight #4 yarn can be used for this project. I used WeCrochet/Knit Picks Brava yarn in Espresso (brown) for the body, Almond (beige) for the antlers and muzzle, and Red for the nose. Approximately 70 yds are needed for this project, mostly in the main brown color, with a smaller amount of beige, and a couple yards of red.
- Crochet Hook – 3.5mm crochet hook
- Safety Eyes – two 10 mm safety eyes
- Stuffing – any fiber based stuffing
- Yarn needle – I use bent yarn needles for weaving in ends and sewing on parts.
- Embroidery thread (optional) – a small amount of black for the muzzle.
- Scissors for cutting yarn (these little ones are my favorite!)
Stitches Used
- Ch – chain
- Sl St – slip stitch
- SC – single crochet
- HDC – half double crochet
- INC – single crochet increase – work 2 SC stitches into the same stitch.
- DEC – single crochet decrease – work a SC decrease over the next 2 stitches. Insert hook into the first stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.
Important Notes
- Worked in Rows – This pattern is worked up in rows. After each row you will be chaining 1 and turning. Make the first stitch of the next row in the same stitch as the chain 1. The chain 1 does not count towards the stitch count for each row.
- Right Side/Wrong Side – In ragdoll style patterns, there is often a “right side” and a “wrong side” to help make sure each part lines up correctly with the other parts when panels are joined together. In this pattern, both panels are the same when finished and will line up properly when stacked on top of each other for joining. If you want to make sure the stitches are facing the same way, you can line up your panels so the end where you started with the slip knot is on the same side for each panel when you stack them.
- Video Tutorial – There is a video tutorial for another pattern (Ragdoll Penguin) that shows how to join ragdoll panels together. This would also be helpful for joining together the reindeer panels. You can find the video here on my YouTube channel.
Finished Size
- When complete, your ragdoll reindeer ornament will measure approx. 6” tall (from the bottom to the top of the antlers).
Crochet your Ragdoll Reindeer – The Pattern
Reindeer Body and Head Panel (make 2)
Row 1: In brown yarn, ch 13, INC in 2nd ch from hook, SC in next 10 sts, INC in last st, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 2: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 3: INC, SC next 12 sts, INC, ch 1, turn (16)
Rows 4-8: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn (16)
Row 9: DEC, SC next 12 sts, DEC, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 10: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 11: DEC, SC next 10 sts, DEC, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 12: DEC, SC next 8 sts, DEC, ch 1, turn (10)
Row 13: DEC, SC next 6 sts, DEC, ch 1, turn (8)
Row 14: INC, SC next 6 sts, INC, ch 1, turn (10)
Row 15: INC, SC next 8 sts, INC, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 16: INC, SC next 10 sts, INC, ch 1, turn (14)
Rows 17-21: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 22: DEC, SC next 10 sts, DEC, ch 1, turn (12)
The ears and the top of the head will be worked in the remaining rows. Some rows will only be worked part of the way across. See photos below.
Row 23: DEC, sc next 8 sts, DEC, ch 6, turn (10 + extra chains)
Row 24: Working in the ch sts, SC in 2nd ch from hook, SC in next 4 chs, ch 1, turn (5)
Row 25: SC in first 4 sts, INC in last, ch 1, turn (6)
Row 26: SC in each of the 5 sts along the top of the ear, then add one SC in the next st below (at the end of the previous row), then SC in the 10 sts across the top of the head to the other side, ch 6, turn (16 + extra chains)
Row 27: Working in the ch sts, SC in 2nd ch from hook, SC in next 4 chs, ch 1, turn (5)
Row 28: SC in first 4 sts, INC in last, ch 1, turn (6)
Row 29: SC in each of the 5 sts along the top of the ear, then add one SC in the next st below (at the end of the previous row), sl st in next st to join to head, fasten off (6)
Cut yarn and weave in all ends. Repeat instructions above to make second panel.
Antlers
Two antlers will be crocheted onto each reindeer panel, for a total of 4 antlers. See the photos below to help with the steps for working up the antlers.
Right antler: With light brown yarn, make a slipknot. Insert crochet hook into the first stitch next to the stitch you joined to when fastening off. Pull through the slipknot, chain 8, starting in 2nd ch from hook, 2 HDC in first 2 chs, sl st in next ch. Chain 4, starting in 2nd ch from hook, 2 HDC in first 3 sts, then SC in last 4 chs back down towards head, sl st join in the next st to the left of where you started the antler. Fasten off, cut yarn, weave in ends.
Left antler: Repeat instructions above for the left antler. Skip 4 sts from where you left off with the right antler. Join yarn for the second antler in the next stitch. Weave in all ends.
Repeat antler steps above again for the second reindeer panel.
Choose one of the panels to be the front of the reindeer. The eyes, muzzle, and nose will be attached to the front panel.
Eyes
Choose one of the panels to be the front of the reindeer. Make sure the front/right side of the antler stitches are facing up on the reindeer panel. Insert safety eyes between rows 20 and 21. Place each eye approximately 3 stitches in from the outside edge. Fasten the backs.
Muzzle
Round 1: In light brown yarn, ch 4, 2 SC in 2nd ch from hook, SC next st, 4 SC in last st. Continue around so you are working on the other side of the chain. SC in next st, 2 SC in last st (this is the same stitch as where you placed the 2 SC at the start of the round), join, ch 1 (10)
Round 2: *INC, SC in next st, repeat from * around, join to first st (15)
Fasten off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing. Use black embroidery thread or strand of yarn to sew a vertical line through the center of the muzzle to the bottom.
Nose
Round 1: In red yarn, magic circle, 6 SC into ring, join to first st (6)
Fasten off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew on the Muzzle and Nose
Sew the muzzle to the reindeer’s face between the eyes. The top of the muzzle approximately lines up with the middle of the eyes and the line sewn on points straight vertically. Sew up and down through each stitch around the outside of the muzzle, passing through a stitch on the reindeer. When you’ve gone the whole way around the muzzle, weave in ends and cut yarn.
Place the red nose at the top of the muzzle in the center. The center of the nose should line up with the line sewn on the muzzle. Sew the nose on by passing your yarn needle through each stitch on the nose and through a stitch on the muzzle. When you’ve gone all the way around the nose, weave in ends and cut yarn.
The reindeer facial features are now finished. Next, the two reindeer panels with be joined together and stuffed.
Joining the Reindeer Panels
Layer the two reindeer panels on top of each other. Both panels should have the right/front side of the antlers facing up so the stitches line up perfectly on all sides. Make sure the facial features should be on top. When joining the reindeer panels, start adding stuffing when you are about 2/3 of the way around. Stuff the head section first when you are finished crocheting around it (do not stuff the ears or antlers). Then slowly stuff the body as you continue to work the SC stitches around. Make sure you have added enough stuffing before the opening gets too small.
Make a slip knot with your brown yarn. Starting in the bottom right corner of the reindeer (bottom left if lefthanded), insert crochet hook through the corner stitch, passing through the same stitch on both layers. Place the slip knot on your hook and pull it through to the front of your project, chain 1, and SC in the same stitch and in each stitch around the outside of the reindeer, travelling up the side, across the top (up and around each ear and antler), back down the other side, and across the bottom.
Make two SC stitches in each of the two stitches at the tip of each ear and at the tip of each antler bump to prevent the stitches from curling. Make two SC stitches in the bottom left corner stitch. When you get back to the right corner stitch you started in, make another SC, and then join with the sl st to the top of the first SC. Cut yarn and weave in ends.
Scarf
To give your reindeer a scarf, you’ll need a chain long enough to go around the reindeer’s neck and tie a knot. Please note that you may need to change the number of stitches in your starting chain depending on scarf length preference and crochet tension.
Row 1: In an accent color (green pictured), ch 45, SC in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off, weave in ends, and cut yarn.
Pocket on Back (optional)
If you’d like to make a pocket on the back for a gift card or small candy cane or treat, follow the instructions below.
Row 1: In brown yarn, ch 13, SC in 2nd ch from hook and in each st across (12)
Rows 2-11: SC in each st across (12)
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Leave a tail for sewing onto back of reindeer.
Attaching the Pocket
Position the pocket on the back of the reindeer, with the bottom of the pocket lined up one row up from the bottom. Use your yarn needle to sew the pocket onto the back by passing your yarn needle with yarn in and out of each stitch around the pocket, passing through the stitches on the back of the reindeer. Keep the stitches to the back panel only, being careful not to sew right through to the front of the reindeer. Start at one of the top corners, then sew down one side of the pocket, across the bottom, and up the other side before weaving in the yarn tail. Remember to leave the top of the pocket open for the gift card or treat.
Hanging Reindeer Ornament
If you are making this reindeer as an ornament for a Christmas tree or as a gift topper, you’ll want to add a loop to the top. Cut a strand of yarn approximately 6 inches long. Pass the yarn through the back of the reindeer in a center stitch at the top. Tie yarn in a knot and then slide the yarn through the stitch so the knot is at the base of the loop and hidden on the back of the reindeer.
You’re all done your ragdoll reindeer! I hope you love it!
**Want to be kept in the loop? Be sure to like Loops and Love Crochet on Facebook and join the Loops and Love Crochet Group! Don’t forget to follow @loopsandlovecrochet on Instagram! Remember to tag Loops and Love Crochet when you post your finished projects on social media! I’d love to see them! **
*You may make and sell any items made from my patterns, but please link back to my blog or Loops & Love Crochet as the designer. Please do not copy this pattern or photos and share as your own, in part or in whole. Instead, link back to the Loops and Love Crochet blog (especially when selling items you make from my patterns). Thank you!