How to Knit a Reindeer
Complete Size - 5cm width x 11cm length x 10cm height
What you will need...
Total time - 6 Hours 30 Minutes Each Knitted Reindeer
3.25mm knitting needles (UK 10, US 3)
Double knitting yarn - Light brown, dark brown, beige and red.
Sewing up needle
Scissors
Toy filling/stuffing
Before You Start...
Abbreviations
K = Knit P = Purl St = Stitch Sts = Stitches
Cast On - I use the thumb method.
St-st = stocking stitch. Alternating a row of knit stitches (right side), with a row of purl stitches (wrong side).
K2tog = Decrease by knitting two stitches together, making one stitch from two.
ssk = 'slip, slip, knit'. Decrease by knitting two stitches together, making one stitch from two.
Inc = Increase - by knitting into the front and the back of the same stitch, to make two stitches out of one.
Cast off - K wise or P wise according to pattern. US - bind off.
B&t tightly - Break off yarn and thread yarn through the remaining stitches on needle, pull up tightly and fasten off.
TOP TIP
The antlers are rather delicate and easy to squish so this is better suited to a shelf rather than being a regular playmate - unless you don't mind the odd repair job!
The legs are small to stuff but a little finger works a treat to squish it down to the end.
How to Make it...
Made from one knitted body piece, one knitted head piece, four knitted leg pieces, and two knitted ear pieces. Eight small lengths of finger-knitting are needed in total, to make up the two antlers, with another small finger-knitted piece for the tail. All pieces are sewn together with added stitching for the facial features.
** PDF Download Now Available! **
Add to Basket or Click on Link in Ravelry to buy now...
Benefits of PDF Downloads!
- No endless scrolling! Compact pattern can be seen more easily over a clear three-column arrangement.
- Standard easy-read font (large print option available on request.)
- Download your favourites – Add them to your own personal folder to locate quickly and easily.
- Avoid any internet connection issues – download and knit wherever you like!
Printer-friendly Easy Print…
- No screen glare or eye strain.
- Mark where you get up to, to more easily carry on from where you left off.
- Colourful front page with pictured finished item, then black and white text-only – be kind to our planet, only print the pages you need!
Body Piece
Make 1
Time - 80 Minutes
Piece Size 15 cm x 10 cm
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn Light brown
Cast on 4sts
P 1 row
Inc Kwise into every St (8sts)
P 1 row
Inc Kwise into every St (16sts)
P 1 row
Next row (K1, Inc Kwise) to the end (24sts)
P 1 row
Next row (K2, Inc Kwise) to the end (32sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 9 rows
Next row (K2, K2tog) to the end (24sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 5 rows
Next row (K2, Inc Kwise) to the end (32sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 9 rows
Next row (K2, K2tog) to the end (24sts)
P 1 row
Next row (K1, K2tog) to the end (16sts)
P 1 row
Next row K2tog to the end (8sts)
B&t tightly
Legs
Make 4
Time - 15 Minutes Each
Piece Size 5 cm x 6 cm
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn Light brown and beige
Begin at top of leg and using light brown yarn, cast on 10sts
Beginning with a P row st-st 15 Rows
Break of yarn and join on beige
K4, inc Kwise twice, K4 (12sts)
P 1 row
Next row K2tog to end (6sts)
B&t tightly
Head Piece
Make 1
Time - 60 Minutes
Piece Size 7.5 cm x 14 cm
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn Light brown
Cast on 4sts
P 1 row
Inc Kwise into every St (8sts)
P 1 row
Inc Kwise into every St (16sts)
P 1 row
Next row (K1, Inc Kwise) to the end (24sts)
P 1 row
Next row (K2, Inc Kwise) to the end (32sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 5 rows
K11, ssk, K6, K2tog, K11 (30sts)
P 1 row
K11, ssk, K4, K2tog, K11 (28sts)
P 1 row
K11, ssk, K2, K2tog, K11 (26sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 5 rows
K2, (K2tog, K2) to end (20sts)
P 1 row
Next row K2 (K2tog, K1) to end (14sts)
P 1 row
Next row K2tog to end (7sts)
B&t tightly
Ear Piece
Make 2
Time - 5 Minutes Each
Piece Size 3 cm x 1.5 cm
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn Light brown
Cast on 8sts
Beginning with a P row st-st 3 rows
K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog (5sts)
B&t tightly
Antlers & Tail
Make 4 Separate Pieces for Each Antler
Make 1 piece for tail
Time - 20 Minutes Per Antler
5 minutes for tail
No needles
Yarn Beige
Using a single length of yarn, finger-knit one length of approximately 6cm, one length of approximately 3cm, and two lengths of approximately 2cm.
Yarn Light brown
Using a single length of yarn, finger-knit one length of approximately 2cm, to form the tail.
Piece it Together...
Sewing-up time - Total of 1 Hour
Stitching of facial features - Total of 15 Minutes
Sewing Up
Body Piece - With right side of st-st on the outside, beginning at cast-on edge, gather up cast-on stitches and continue to sew across row ends using mattress stitch for a neat finish, up to the B&t end. Just before reaching the end, stuff firmly and then pull up tightly and fasten off.
Place tail in position and sew into place.
Legs - With right side of st-st on the outside, beginning at foot, pull up tightly and continue in mattress stitch sewing across row ends up to the cast-on edge, but leaving this cast-on edge open. Stuff firmly and continue to leave open until all four legs are complete.
Place or pin legs onto body into position and sew the open cast-on edge of the legs into place. Fasten off all other loose ends.
Head - With right side of st-st on the outside, beginning at cast-on edge, gather up cast-on stitches and continue to sew across row ends up to the B&t nose end. Just before reaching the end, stuff firmly and then pull up tightly and fasten off.
Ears - With right side of st-st on the outside, fold the ear piece in half, across the cast on edge. Oversew across row ends, down towards the cast-on edge. Pin the ear pieces either side of the head, lying them flat against the head, pointing forwards. Oversew the ear cast-on/cast-off edges onto the headpiece. This sewing position allows a neater look from the front view.
Place head into position at the front of the completed body piece and sew strongly into place. Fasten off all loose ends and ensure that if any pins have been used, that they are removed when complete.
Facial Features
Using red yarn, stitch a nose on centrally to the front of the face.
Using dark brown yarn, stitch on eyes and mouth as shown in the picture.
Fasten off all loose ends.
Make it Different...
Instead of a red nose, you may wish to sew on a small button or use a different colour. Instead of a Rudolf reindeer, it can then be made to be a stag.
You may wish to use larger needles to make him a bit bigger without adding any extra time.
Experiment with some different facial features to give him your own bit of character.
This basic pattern may also be used to make other similar-looking animals. Instead of making the antlers, use other colours to make a horse or make up a little horn shape to help make a unicorn!
For a smaller project but keeping things Christmassy - add the knitted santa, knitted snowman, knitted angel or little knitted reindeer to your collection!
Behind the Scenes!
These patterns are all made up as I go along, learning from mistakes along the way. Every time I create a new pattern, I record it in the Updates part of this site (effectively my blog…) There is a story behind each creation, and this can help give you some more ideas and encouragement.
All done?
Feel free to share your successes or any other tips or suggestions by contacting me. If it's all gone swimmingly and you're ready for your next challenge, have a look at what to try next!