Reindeer Brooch
A few weeks ago, I celebrated a special anniversary with one of my best friends: we had known each other 20 years! Unbelievable, but it was definately something to celebrate so we treated ourselves to afternoon tea at a local hotel. One of the attractions of this hotel is that it is set in a deer park. Although it mating season and we were unable to enter the enclosure, we were allowed to feed them grass pellets through the railings.
If you make this crochet reindeer brooch, I would love to see it so why not tag me on Instagram using #Crochetcloudberry ?
Just looking at these sweet little creatures gave me the inspirationation for this reindeer brooch, which can be made with a red rudolf nose or a simple brown nose depending on how Christmassy you want the brooch to be.
If you like wildlife inspired brooches you may also like the fox head brooch.
You can also purchase, an inexpensive add free tutorial from my Etsy shop. You will recieve two pattern versions, one beautifully laid out with photos and the other in black and white without images so that it can be easily printed.
Materials
4ply cotton in the following colours:
- Colour 1 – Yarn and Colors Must Have Mini – Taupe
- Colour 2 – Yarn and Colors Must Have Mini – Brownie
- Colour 3 Yarn and Colors Must Have Mini – Birch
- Colour 4 – Yarn and Colors Must Have Mini – Cardinal
- 2.5mm crochet hook
- 2 x 3mm safety eyes
- Brooch finding
- Embroidery needle
- Sewing needle
- Sewing thread for brooch
Pattern notes
The pattern is written using UK terminology, for a conversion chart to US terminology click this link.
[Stitches written in bracked like this are worked in the same stitch.]
Size
The head is approx. 7cm by 5.5cm.
It is possible to use other yarn to make this reindeer head but the size will differ. When using other yarn please use a crochet hook 1 or 2 sizes smaller than is recommended on the yarn pack in order to get the neat tight appearance. Also the 4 ply cotton gives a sturdy head when sewn together, but when you use other yarn you may need to insert an oval piece of plastic (e.g., from a milk flagon) to ensure the head keeps its shape.
Crochet Tutorial
Head
Make 2. 1 in colour 1 and 1 in colour 2.
Join each round with a slip stitch and chain 1 to start each new round. This chain does not count as a stitch.
Foundation: Mc with 6 dc. (6)
Round 1: [2dc] in each stitch around. (12)
Round 2: 1dc, [2dc]. 6 times. (18)
Round 3: 2dc, [2dc]. 6 times. (24)
Round 4: 3dc, [2dc]. 6 times. (30)
Round 5: 4dc, [2dc], 4dc, [2dc], 4htr, [1htr, 1dc]. 2 times. (36)
Round 6: 5dc, [2dc], 5dc, [2htr], 5tr, [2htr]. 2 times. (42)
Nose
Make 1 in colour 2.
At the end of each row, chain 1 to turn. This chain does not count as a stitch.
Foundation: Chain 3.
Row 1: 1dc in second chain from hook, then 1 dc. (2)
Rows 2: Dc across. (2)
Row 3: [2dc], [2dc]. (4)
Rows 4 – 6: Dc across. (4)
Row 7: [2dc], 2dc, [2dc], dc. (6)
Row 8: [2dc], 4dc, [2dc]. (8)
Row 9: [2dc], 6dc, [2dc]. (10)
Row 10: [2dc], 8dc, [2dc]. (12)
Row 11: 4dc, htr, [2htr], [2htr], htr, 4dc. (14)
Row 12: Skip 1, 2dc, 2htr, [2tr], [2tr], [2tr], [2tr], 2htr, 2dc, ss. (16)
Leave a long tail to sew nose on to head and fasten off.
Antlers
Make 2 in colour 3.
The antlers are worked in continuous rounds (so that each round need not be joined with a slip stitch).
Part 1
Foundation: Mc with 4 dc.
Rounds 1 – 5. Dc around. (4)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew to the top of the head.
Part 2
Foundation: Mc with 4 dc
Rounds 1 – 3. Dc around. (4)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew to part 1 of the antler.
Ears
Make 2 in colour 2.
Foundation: Chain 5.
Row 1: 1dc in second chain from hook, then 3 dc. (4)
Fasten off.
Row 2: Attach colour 1. 4dc, 1dc into the turning chain of the foundation row (at this point you start working on the other side of your work and the following stitches go into the foundation chain), 4 dc (11).
Leave a long tail to sew to the head. Before sewing to the head, pinch the ears together at the bottom and put a few stitches in them so that the ears have a 3D effect.
Assembly
Using colour 3, sew the freckles onto the nose piece (Use images as guide). Use colour 4 to embroider the nose. if you want to make him into a Rudolf brooch. Then position the nose piece over the head piece in colour 1 and sew into place using colour 2. Position the safety eyes either side of the nose and attach.
Slip stitch the two head pieces together using colour 1 and 2 so that the colours match on the face.
Before sewing the ears to the head, pinch the ears together at the bottom and put a few stitches in them so that the ears have a 3D effect. Use colour 1 to attach the ears, just where the nose piece joins the deer’s “cheeks”.
Sew part 2 of the antler midway up part 1 of the antler. Then position the antler as the top of the head and sew in place with colour 3.
For the brooch, use sewing needle and thread to sew the brooch finding into place at the centre of the back of the head.
Congratulations, you have now made your very own reindeer brooch. As with all my free crochet patterns, you may sell finished items in small quantities but please credit Crochet Cloudberry as the designer where possible.
This pattern was inclueded in the oombawka Wednesday link party. You can check out more Christmas craft like this at favecrafts.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Widget not in any sidebars
One Comment
Pingback: