How to Crochet a Dog with Reindeer Ears Christmas Ornament

Hi, I am Amy, and I cannot resist a puppy in reindeer antlers. This sweet little dog ornament gets its Christmas makeover from a tiny brown headband with two branched horns, a cute embroidered nose, and simple shaping that keeps the whole make nice and compact.

The head and body are worked as one piece, so there is very little sewing for the main shape. You will add the nose, floppy ears, and antler band at the end, and that is where the personality really appears. Take your time placing the face and your pup will look cheerful from every angle.

It is a lovely scrap-friendly project too. A little beige and brown yarn turn into a keepsake ornament for your tree, a gift topper, or a sweet handmade present for a dog lover.

Materials

• DK weight yarn in beige, approximately 12 g
• DK weight yarn in light brown, approximately 3 g
• Black yarn, small amount, for the nose and eyebrows
• White yarn, small amount, for eye highlights
• 3 mm crochet hook
• 4 mm crochet hook, if substituting worsted-weight yarn
• 7 mm safety eyes, 1 pair
• Polyester stuffing
• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers
• Embroidery floss
• Scissors

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• st: stitch
• inc: increase, work 2 sc in the same stitch
• dec: decrease, crochet 2 stitches together
• sl st: slip stitch
• MR: magic ring

Gauge & Size

• Terminology: US crochet terms
• Size: finished size varies with your yarn weight and hook size
• DK weight yarn with a 3 mm hook makes the smaller ornament
• Worsted-weight yarn with a 4 mm hook makes a somewhat larger ornament

Head and Body

The head and body are worked continuously as one piece in beige yarn.

Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 8 sc into the ring. [8]

Round 2: Inc in each st around. [16]

Round 3: (1 sc, inc), repeat around. [24]

Round 4: Work 1 sc in each st around. [24]

Round 5: (5 sc, inc), repeat 4 times. [28]

Rounds 6 to 9: Work 1 sc in each st around. [28]

Round 10: Work 9 sc, then 3 inc by placing 1 inc in each of the next 3 sts, work 5 sc, then 3 inc, finish with 8 sc. [34]

Rounds 11 to 13: Work 1 sc in each st around. [34]

Place the safety eyes between Rounds 9 and 10, keeping approximately 3 stitches between the eyes and centering them over the increases made in Round 10. Secure the backs before continuing. For a child- or pet-safe ornament, embroider the eyes instead.

Round 14: (1 sc, dec), repeat 11 times. [23]

Round 15: Work 11 dec, then 1 sc. [12]

Add polyester stuffing before the opening becomes too small. Do not pack it too tightly; the body should hold its rounded shape without stretching the stitches apart.

Round 16: Dec in each st around. [6]

Fasten off with 1 sl st into the next stitch. Leave a long yarn tail, thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches, pull tight to close, make a surface knot, and weave in the end.

Nose

Work the nose separately in beige yarn.

Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 5 sc into the ring. [5]

Round 2: Inc in each st around. [10]

Round 3: Work 1 sc in each st around. [10]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Use black yarn to embroider a small triangular nose and a short vertical line beneath it for the mouth.

Reindeer Horns

Each antler is made from one small horn and one large horn joined together. Make 2 complete antlers.

Small Horn, Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 5 sc into the ring. [5]

Small Horn, Rounds 2 to 3: Work 1 sc in each st around. [5]

Fasten off and leave a short tail. Tuck the magic-ring tail inside the horn.

Large Horn, Rounds 1 to 4: Work 1 sc in each st around, starting from a magic ring of 5 sc. [5]

The extra round makes the large horn longer than the small horn.

Joining, Round 5: Work 5 sc into the small horn, then 5 sc into the large horn. [10]

Round 6: (3 sc, dec), repeat twice. [8]

Round 7: (2 sc, dec), repeat twice. [6]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing the completed horn to the band. Repeat to make the second antler.

Ears

Make 2 ears.

Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 6 sc into the ring. [6]

Round 2: (1 sc, inc), repeat 3 times. [9]

Rounds 3 to 4: Work 1 sc in each st around. [9]

Round 5: (2 sc, inc), repeat 3 times. [12]

Rounds 6 to 7: Work 1 sc in each st around. [12]

Round 8: (1 sc, dec), repeat 3 times. [9]

Round 9: Work 1 sc in each st around. [9]

Fasten off, flatten the ear, and leave a long tail for sewing.

Reindeer Band

Using brown yarn, make a slip knot with a long starting tail.

Foundation: Ch 10.

Round 1: In the 2nd ch from the hook, work 1 inc. Work 1 sc in each of the next 7 ch, then work 3 sc into the last ch. Turn the work and crochet 1 sc along the other side of the chain across the next 7 ch, then sl st into the first sc. [20]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for securing the band to the head. Sew the completed horn sections evenly onto the band.

If you would like to see the shaping as you work, here is the video tutorial that goes with this design:

Finishing & Assembly

Center the nose beneath the safety eyes and sew it securely to the face. Weave in the remaining yarn tail.

Flatten each ear and position it on the side of the head at approximately Round 6. Sew the ears securely using their long yarn tails.

Place the brown band across the top of the head between the ears and secure it with the long tails. The band can also be tied beneath the chin with a bow, or sewn directly into place.

Use white embroidery thread to add small highlights around the eyes, and embroider the eyebrows with black yarn.

Before trimming the last ends, hold the ornament facing you and check that the eyes are level, the nose is centered, the ears sit at similar heights, and the horns are securely attached to the band.

Tips

Change the main colour to white, grey, or brown to suggest different dog breeds while keeping the brown band for contrast.

Add a tiny scarf, a miniature Christmas bell, or a small star for extra holiday character.

Embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes if the ornament is for small children or pets.