This adorable Christmas Reindeer C2C Crochet Square is the perfect addition to your holiday crafting list. Designed as part of a festive series, this corner-to-corner (C2C) square features a charming reindeer face with rosy cheeks and classic antlers. It serves as an excellent gift for holiday parties, a cozy decor piece for your mantel, or a delightful market-table item for winter craft fairs. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or new to pixel-style designs, this pattern offers a fun and manageable way to bring holiday cheer to your home.
Our Touch: Gift and Use Ideas
While this square is designed to join with others in the series, it stands beautifully on its own. The vibrant Lush Green background provides a festive contrast to the warm tones of the reindeer, making it a striking wall hanging for a child’s bedroom or a nursery. You can also use this square as a unique coaster or a decorative pillow cover by adding a backing. For those looking to expand their holiday collection, this reindeer pairs wonderfully with other seasonal motifs, such as the easy crochet Christmas flower patterns or the easy crochet snowflake patterns available on our site. The reversible nature of C2C crochet means you can display it with either side facing out, offering versatility in how you style your holiday decor.
Project Overview
This project is a Corner-to-Corner (C2C) crochet square featuring a pixel-art style reindeer. C2C is a technique that turns pixel-style graphs into beautiful textured crochet pieces. You will start in one corner of the design (typically the lower right) and work diagonally in rows toward the opposite corner. This method is highly addictive and great for bringing character designs to life.
One of the best things about C2C crochet is that it is completely reversible! The back of your project becomes a mirror image of the front, so both sides are beautiful depending on how you would like to display your finished piece. This square is part of a “Christmas in July” series that includes a Penguin, Snowman, and Gingerbread Man, all ready to be joined into a whimsical Christmas blanket.
Materials
- Crochet Hook: Size H
- Notions: Tapestry Needle
- Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (or similar worsted weight) in the following colors:
- Buff Beige (snout)
- Café Latte (head)
- Coffee Brown (antlers and nose)
- Black (eyes and smile)
- Perfect Pink (rosy cheeks)
- Lush Green or Spring Green (background)
Note: If you prefer to make Rudolph, simply swap the dark brown nose for red yarn. For the background, Bernat Super Value in Lush Green was used as a substitute for Red Heart Super Saver in Spring Green, providing a bright, festive backdrop.
Gauge and Finished Size
This square measures approximately 18 x 18 inches. It is the same size as the Penguin, Snowman, and Gingerbread C2C Squares, making it ready to join with the rest of the series to create a cohesive blanket.
Abbreviations
Standard US crochet abbreviations are used. Key terms include:
- HDC: Half Double Crochet
- Ch: Chain
Pattern Notes
Stitch Construction: Each pixel square represents one block made up of a chain 2 + 3 half double crochets (HDC). The designer prefers using HDC instead of double crochet for a slightly tighter, neater stitch.
Following the Pattern: There are three ways to follow this pattern, so use whichever method works best for you:
- Reindeer Color Block Chart
- Reindeer Written Color Changes
- Reindeer Pixel Graph
Series Context: This square completes the cast of holiday friends alongside the easy corner-to-corner crochet tutorial basics. If you missed the first three squares, you can find links to the Penguin, Snowman, and Gingerbread Man patterns in the original source. Although the series started in July, starting your holiday project now ensures you have plenty of time to crochet, join the squares, and finish your blanket well before Christmas decorating season begins.
Pattern Instructions
Since C2C is a graph-based technique, the instructions are visual or color-coded. Follow your chosen method (Chart, Written Changes, or Pixel Graph) to create the reindeer design.
Starting the Square
Begin in the lower right corner. Each “pixel” or block consists of:
Ch 2, 3 HDC in the same stitch
Work diagonally across the graph, changing colors as indicated by your chart or graph to form the reindeer’s face, antlers, and background.
Color Changes
Change colors at the end of each block as required by the design. Ensure you carry the unused color up the side or weave it in as you go to maintain a neat finish. The specific color placements are:
- Buff Beige: Snout
- Café Latte: Head
- Coffee Brown: Antlers and nose
- Black: Eyes and smile
- Perfect Pink: Rosy cheeks
- Lush Green/Spring Green: Background
Finishing the Square
Continue working until the graph is complete, resulting in an 18 x 18 inch square. Fasten off and weave in ends with a tapestry needle.
Assembly
This pattern is a single square. To create a blanket, join this square with the Penguin, Snowman, and Gingerbread Man squares using standard C2C joining techniques. Joining instructions and final blanket assembly details will be shared separately to turn these festive friends into one cozy Christmas throw.
Tips
- Reversibility: Remember that C2C is reversible. If you want to display the “back” side for a different texture, you can flip the square.
- Yarn Substitution: If you don’t have enough Spring Green, Lush Green is a great substitute that maintains the bright, festive look.
- Rudolph Variation: To make Rudolph, simply use red yarn for the nose instead of Coffee Brown.
FAQs
What size hook should I use for this pattern?
Use a Size H crochet hook for the best results with the recommended yarn weight.
Can I use this square as a standalone project?
Yes! While designed to join with other squares, the 18 x 18 inch square makes a lovely wall hanging, pillow cover, or decorative accent on its own.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
If you are new to C2C, it is a great technique to learn. It is highly addictive and straightforward once you understand the basic block structure (ch 2, 3 HDC). You can refer to general C2C tutorials for help with the technique.
How do I join the squares together?
Joining instructions for the full blanket are provided separately. Typically, C2C squares are joined using slip stitches or single crochets along the edges to create a seamless look.
What yarn is best for this project?
Red Heart Super Saver is recommended, but any worsted weight yarn in the specified colors will work. The designer also successfully used Bernat Super Value for the background.
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