If there is one Christmas make I can never resist, it is a crochet reindeer. Two antlers and a round little nose, and suddenly a plain ball of brown yarn turns into the most cheerful face of the season — on a plush for the mantel, a bauble for the tree, a hat for the baby, even a lovey for a first Christmas. Every December my project basket fills up with brown yarn in three shades, and every December I tell myself this year will be different. It never is.
So here are twenty of my favourite reindeer designs, all genuinely free: big cuddly amigurumi, a six-centimetre mini, six tree ornaments, three appliqués, a baby lovey and cuddler, two hats and a party-ready headband. I have noted the yarn, the sizing and the honest little details for each one as we go. Pick your favourite, put the kettle on, and let's build your herd.
1. Randall, the Scarf-Wearing Sweetheart
We are starting with Randall, Nicole Chase's gentle amigurumi deer, and he might be the most giftable reindeer on this whole list. He is worked in worsted yarn with a 4 mm hook at advanced-beginner level, finishing about five and a half inches tall sitting and seven and a half standing. His nose is embroidered on, and his red scarf with little pompoms is completely optional: skip it and he becomes a year-round woodland deer. Nicole's photo tutorial is wonderfully clear, walking you through every join and fold with pictures at each step. The full pattern is free on her blog; an ad-free formatted PDF is available to buy if you prefer printing, but you never need it to make him.
Pattern: Randall the Reindeer by Nicole Chase at The Nicole Chase — Get the free pattern
2. Texture for Days: The Wheat Stitch Reindeer
Briana K built this reindeer around texture you can see from across the room, and it works beautifully. Her signature Wheat Stitch — raised puff rows worked with back-loop-only rounds — runs from the crown of the head all the way down the one-piece body, so the only sewing is two antlers and a snout. In worsted yarn on a 4 mm hook he stands ten and a half inches tall, dense enough to sit up proudly with no stuffing peeking through. The eyes are entirely optional — embroider them, or leave the face minimal — and a simple braided scarf from scraps finishes the look. She rates him intermediate, at six to eight hours — roughly two evenings. The complete written pattern is free on her page, with a step-by-step video tutorial alongside it.
Pattern: Wheat Stitch Reindeer by Briana K at Briana K Designs — Get the free pattern
3. The Big Cuddly One With the Embroidered Smile
If you want a reindeer with real presence under the tree, Petra Salisbury's design at Cuddly Stitches Craft is the big one: ten inches seated, and thirteen and a half inches from toes to antler tips. He is worked in a sport-weight cotton blend on a small 2.5 mm hook for a smooth, detailed finish, and his nose and mouth are embroidered rather than plastic — only the 12 mm safety eyes are supplies, with a clever eye-sculpting technique for real expression. My favourite detail: the fluffy eyelash-yarn bands on his arms and legs, like little winter cuffs. This is an intermediate pattern and a proper weekend project, not an evening one. The full pattern is free on her site; an ad-free printable version is sold in her Etsy shop for a small fee if you like working from paper, but the online version is complete.
Pattern: Rudolf the Reindeer by Petra Salisbury at Cuddly Stitches Craft — Get the free pattern
4. Ray, the Beginner-Friendly Classic
Ray is the reindeer I point to when a friend says she wants to try amigurumi but feels nervous. Stephanie at Grace and Yarn designed him in worsted yarn on a 3.5 mm hook with photographs at every stage — joining legs into body, placing eyes, sewing on antlers — so you never guess where a piece belongs. The construction is clever, too: the legs flow straight into the body, saving the fiddliest sewing for last. He gets a white muzzle, a nose you can make red or black depending on how Christmassy you are feeling, and a simple fringed scarf in any colour you love. The whole pattern is free on her blog, with an inexpensive ad-free printable in her Etsy and Ravelry shops if you want one. She also allows selling finished reindeer with credit given — a lovely craft-fair make.
Pattern: Ray the Reindeer by Grace and Yarn — Get the free pattern
5. The Felt-Eyed Favourite, Safe for Little Hands
Viana Boenzli's seated reindeer at Maplewood Road is the one I would make for a toddler, and the reason is thoughtful — his big expressive eyes are soft felt, stitched on, so there are no small plastic parts anywhere on him. He measures about eleven inches tall sitting down, worked in medium-weight yarn on a 3.25 mm hook using nothing more exotic than single, half double, double and treble crochet. The head and body are one piece, the cream felt belly is sewn on at the end, and a fringed scarf is included in the pattern if you want the full storybook look. He has that soft, much-loved feel of a toy that gets dragged around by one antler — in the best possible way. The complete pattern is free on her page, no downloads or sign-ups needed.
Pattern: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Viana Boenzli at Maplewood Road — Get the free pattern
6. A Six-Centimetre Mini for First-Timers
Sometimes you want a whole reindeer in an evening, in the palm of your hand — and here he is. Supergurumi's tiny sitting reindeer finishes at just six centimetres, crocheted in Schachenmayr Catania sport-weight cotton on a 2.5 mm hook, in camel and coffee with a signal-red embroidered nose. The head and body are worked in one piece in spiral rounds, the antlers join a big and small piece together, and almost everything is plain single crochet and increases — perfect for a nervous first-time amigurumi maker. A set of three on the mantel, each with a slightly different nose, looks like a tiny herd. The pattern is free in full on the page; the designer simply asks that the pattern itself not be copied or republished, which is only fair. Small hook, small yarn, very small reindeer, enormous charm.
Pattern: Amigurumi Reindeer by Supergurumi — Get the free pattern
7. A Tiny Red-Nosed Face for the Tree
Now for the ornaments, and we are starting with a classic. This little red-nosed face comes from Sewrella's Christmas Traditions crochet-along, worked in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton on a tiny C-2.75 mm hook, which gives it that crisp, bauble-like finish cotton does so well. It is really just a sweet rounded head — cafe au lait face, ecru ears and simple two-part antlers — cinched closed at the top and crowned with a round red nose sewn over the tip. With no body to fuss with, you can finish one comfortably in an evening. Make a whole set with slightly different expressions and your tree will look like it is smiling back at you. The full pattern is free on her page; an ad-free, large-print PDF is available in her Etsy shop if you prefer it, but it is entirely optional.
Pattern: Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer Ornament by Sewrella — Get the free pattern
8. The Little Loaf in a Christmas Sweater
Red Ted Art's reindeer made me laugh out loud, because he is a loaf. A round, chubby, chonky little loaf of a reindeer wearing his own tiny two-colour Christmas sweater, worked in DK yarn with beige muzzle, clever chain-stitched antlers and four stubby legs sewn underneath. He is designed as a tree bauble — add a ribbon and hang him — but he sits just as happily on a shelf, and the designer points out that the same pattern in plush yarn becomes an adorable loaf plushie instead. He is one of a trio of ornament friends on her site, so a polar bear and pig in blankets can join him. There is a little sewing involved, and the result is worth every seam. The complete pattern is free on her page.
Pattern: Reindeer Ornament by Red Ted Art — Get the free pattern
9. The Ragdoll That Doubles as a Gift Card Holder
Loops and Love Crochet's ragdoll reindeer is two flat panels joined with a whisper of stuffing, and at six inches tall he is the most versatile ornament in this collection. Hang him on the tree with a loop, use him as a gift topper — or add the optional pocket to his back and he becomes a gift card holder — the sweetest way I know to dress up the least handmade present of all. He is worked in worsted yarn on a 3.5 mm hook with about seventy yards in total, finished with a red nose and a tiny scarf, and he was designed for her Christmas in July event alongside Grace and Yarn. The pattern is free on her blog; an ad-free printable PDF is in her Etsy and Ravelry shops for a small fee if you would like it.
Pattern: Ragdoll Reindeer Ornament by Loops and Love Crochet — Get the free pattern
10. The Jingle Bell Cutie
Here is an ornament with a built-in surprise: a reindeer whose whole body is a jingle bell. Jennifer Renaud at A Crocheted Simplicity crochets the head — with the little arms worked directly onto it, no sewing them on later — plus ears, antlers, muzzle and nose, then perches the whole character on a two to two-and-a-half inch jingle bell, so he tinkles whenever the tree branch moves. The finished ornament is about three and three-quarter inches wide, rated easy, in worsted yarn on a 4 mm hook. No jingle bell in the shops? She offers alternatives: a big yarn pom, or a plain shatterproof bauble. The pattern is free in full in her blog post; an ad-free, print-friendly PDF with all the photo tutorials is on Ravelry and Etsy if you want the tidy version.
Pattern: Reindeer Jingle Bell Ornament by A Crocheted Simplicity — Get the free pattern
11. A Round Little Face From the 12 Days of Ornaments
This cheerful round face was Day 10 of Maria's Blue Crayon's 12 Days of Christmas Crochet Ornaments, with a detail I have not seen anywhere else: the eyes are crocheted white circles with safety eyes set into their centres, for a wide-awake, cartoon-cute expression. The head is worked in worsted yarn on a G-4.00 mm hook in joined rounds, the tan antlers are simple tubes — no branching to wrestle with — and the red nose is sewn on before stuffing so it sits perfectly centred. It is a quick evening make, and the near-perfect sphere hangs beautifully straight on the tree. If you fall in love, there are eleven more ornaments in her series to keep him company. The pattern is free on her blog; an ad-free formatted PDF is available on Ravelry and Etsy if you prefer working from a download.
Pattern: Reindeer Ornament by Maria’s Blue Crayon — Get the free pattern
12. The Flat Panel Ornament With the Clever Antlers
Spin a Yarn Crochet's ornament has my favourite origin story in this collection: she took her avocado keychain pattern, changed almost nothing, added antlers — and there he was, a reindeer. He is built from two flat body panels, a round red nose and two antlers, finishing about three and a half inches long on a 3.25 mm hook. The antlers deserve a special mention: each is worked in a single row, with the right and left versions mirrored so the branches face opposite ways, and step-by-step photos show you how the wonky-looking chain becomes a proper antler with one confident tug. The panels are crocheted together around the edges with the stuffing tucked in as you go. The pattern is free on her page, and she happily allows selling finished ornaments as long as you link back to her post.
Pattern: Reindeer Ornament by Spin a Yarn Crochet — Get the free pattern
13. A Reindeer Built From a Heart
GoldenLucyCrafts is famous for her heart-shaped designs, and her reindeer might be the cleverest of them all: the whole face starts as a crocheted heart, and one more round adds ears and slip-stitched antlers, so the heart's curves become his cheeks and forehead. She gives you two sizes — about three and three-quarter inches in worsted yarn with a 5 mm hook, or a dainty two inches worked in size-3 crochet thread with a 2.75 mm hook. Finish him with a tiny pom-pom nose, or a small crocheted or felt red circle instead. Sew him onto cards, blankets and stockings, string several into a garland, or add a loop and hang him on the tree. The pattern is free on her page with a video tutorial alongside it; a print-friendly, ad-free PDF is in her Etsy shop if you would like one.
Pattern: Heart Reindeer Appliqué by GoldenLucyCrafts — Get the free pattern
14. The Full-Bodied Appliqué With a Blue Scarf
Most appliqué reindeer are just faces, but Melissa Hassler at Lovable Loops gives you the whole animal: head, round body, four little legs with dark hooves, branching antlers and a red nose, about eight inches long and four inches wide. The loveliest detail is the scarf — crocheted directly onto the head in a cheerful blue, with a little tail hanging down, so it can never slide out of place. The pieces are all beginner-level, in worsted yarn on a 3.5 mm hook, stitched together at the end, and her page includes a video tutorial alongside the written instructions. Sew him onto a stocking, blanket, gift bag or holiday pillow and he instantly becomes the whole decoration. The complete pattern is free on her page.
Pattern: Reindeer Appliqué by Melissa Hassler at Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
15. A Woodland Face Appliqué, Red Nose Optional
Jan Bay's reindeer face is the grown-up of the appliqué world: a calm, woodland face about six and a quarter inches wide and six and a half tall, built from fifteen flat pieces — head, two-tone ears, muzzle, and antlers assembled from stems and prongs for three proper rounded tips. Everything is flat, nothing is stuffed, and the eyes and mouth are embroidered curves — no plastic parts at all. Keep the little nose in dark brown and he belongs on winter nursery makes and woodland blankets long after Christmas; swap that single piece to red and the holiday look is unmistakable. One honest note, which Jan states plainly on her page: the pattern has not been physically test-made, so her measurements are careful estimates from the stitch counts. The full pattern is free on her site.
Pattern: Reindeer Face Appliqué by Jan Bay at Unique Baby Gear Ideas — Get the free pattern
16. A Blanket Lovey for Baby's First Christmas
For a baby gift that will be photographed endlessly, Crafting Happiness's reindeer lovey is the one. A stuffed reindeer head with three-part antlers and long, huggable arms sits at the centre of a round blanket about fifty-five centimetres across, worked like a snowflake hexagon in brown with deep red rounds — festive, but soft enough for everyday cuddles. It is designed to be easy and beginner-friendly, in aran-weight yarn with a 5 mm hook for the blanket and 4 mm for the head and arms, with help videos for trickier stitches like the picot and long double crochet. The written pattern is free in full on her blog; the printable PDF with step-by-step photos is a perk for her Patreon members rather than a shop download.
Pattern: Rudolph the Reindeer Lovey by Crafting Happiness — Get the free pattern
17. The Flat Cuddler With Two Antler Options
Heather Corinne's cuddler is the lovey's flat, ragdoll-style cousin: front and back panels joined with a round of single crochet and a light layer of stuffing between, finishing about seven inches tall. She calls him intermediate, and it is really only the antlers talking — the panels are straightforward worsted-weight work in Red Heart Super Saver. Thoughtfully, she gives two antler constructions — magic-circle and chain versions — so you can pick whichever suits your hands. He makes a wonderful Christmas photo prop, and scaled up with a bigger hook and yarn he becomes a pillow. The pattern and a video tutorial are free on her blog, with an ad-free printable PDF available if you want it; her terms ask that the pattern be kept for personal use, though finished cuddlers may be sold with credit and a link back to her.
Pattern: Reindeer Cuddler by Heather Corinne — Get the free pattern
18. The Flip-Up Snout Hat, Baby to Adult
Sarah Zimmerman's reindeer hat at Repeat Crafter Me is a true classic, and the construction still makes me smile: the hat is worked in honey-coloured half double crochet, then three beige rounds at the brim flip up and fasten with a red button to form the snout, right where a nose should be. The ears are crocheted, and the pattern page gives you all six sizes, from 0–3 months right up to adult, so the whole family can match for the Christmas photo. One honest construction note: on the original hat the antlers and eyes are felt pieces cut from her free downloadable template, lightly stuffed — she later added a fully crocheted partner pattern for them if you would rather keep everything in yarn. However you finish it, that button nose gets compliments everywhere it goes. The complete pattern is free on her page.
Pattern: Reindeer Hat by Sarah Zimmerman at Repeat Crafter Me — Get the free pattern
19. The All-Crochet Deer Hat in Six Sizes
If you want a reindeer hat where absolutely everything is crocheted — no felt, no templates — Melissa Hassler's deer hat at Lovable Loops is your pattern. The top-down double crochet hat comes in the same six sizes, baby to adult, and then the magic happens in the details, all worked separately and sewn on: cream eye patches, big green-and-black crocheted eyes, a cream snout with a smiling mouth, two-tone ears, and branched antlers lightly stuffed so they stand up. She rates it advanced beginner; two hook sizes keep the details in proportion across the sizes. Work the nose in brown for a woodland deer that lasts all winter, or in red and it is unmistakably a Christmas reindeer. The full pattern is free on her page.
Pattern: Deer Hat by Melissa Hassler at Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
20. Antlers on a Headband, Ready for the Party
We are finishing with the fastest way to become a reindeer yourself: Chain 8 Designs' festive headband. A simple crocheted cover, shaped to hug the curve, slips over a plain one-inch plastic headband, and then the fun is all in the attachments: stuffed antlers in two sizes, ears with cream inners, and a little holly sprig with red bead berries at the base of one antler. It is worked in worsted yarn with G and F hooks; the designer made it for her daughter before deciding the whole family needed a set for Christmas pictures — I completely understand. Her safety note is worth repeating: if the headband is for a young child, sew the berries on securely rather than relying on glue. The pattern is free on her page, with a printable copy available in her Ravelry shop, and finished headbands may be sold with a link back.
Pattern: Festive Reindeer Headband by Chain 8 Designs — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty reindeer, my friend — plush ones for the mantel, tiny ones for the tree, appliqués for stockings and cards, a lovey for the baby, and antlers for every head in the family. Short on time? Start with the Supergurumi mini, the Sewrella face or the heart appliqué tonight. Have a whole cosy weekend? Randall, Ray and the big Cuddly Stitches reindeer are waiting. My own rule is one new reindeer every December, and somehow the herd keeps growing faster than the tree does.
Now tell me — are you team plush reindeer or team wearable antlers, and which of these twenty is going on your hook first? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your herd!
