Free Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Crochet Pattern Guide

🎶 Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose! 🎶

This Christmas, brighten a child’s day with a handmade Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer amigurumi, crocheted with care. This cuddly doll is child-safe, featuring soft felt eyes with no small parts to worry about. At about 11 inches tall when seated, he’s the perfect snuggly companion for holiday play and cuddles.

Everyone loves Rudolph — after Santa, he’s one of the most recognizable symbols of the season.

This free crochet pattern for Rudolph uses basic stitches: single crochet (sc), half-double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), and treble crochet (tr). If you want a quick refresher on these stitches before starting, check the tutorial videos on the creator’s YouTube channel.

🧶 Materials

• About 200 yards of #4 medium-weight yarn in medium brown (example: Red Heart Soft in Toast) and small amounts of dark brown, white or cream, and red.
• Felt in white/cream, dark brown, and black for eyes and belly details.
• D-3 / 3.25 mm crochet hook.
• FiberFil stuffing.
• Scissors and yarn needle.
• Stitch markers.

🧷 Stitch markers

Stitch markers are useful throughout this amigurumi project. Most pieces are worked in-the-round, so markers help mark the start of each round. They’re also handy for positioning parts while assembling the finished doll.

📏 Finished size

This finished Rudolph measures approximately 11″ tall when seated.

⭐ Notes

• Pattern uses US crochet terminology.
• Most pieces are worked in-the-round without slip-stitching to join; stitch counts are included at the end of each row in parentheses.
• For increase (inc) and decrease (dec) techniques, refer to the author’s video tutorials if needed.
• The head and body are crocheted as one continuous piece. All other parts are made separately and sewn on at the end. Felt eyes and belly are cut and stitched by hand; sizes may vary by preference.

🪝 Crochet abbreviations for this pattern

• st – stitch
• ch – chain
• ch st – chain stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half-double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• (inc) – increase: two stitches worked in the same stitch
• (dec) – decrease: follow standard sc2tog or other decrease technique
• sc2tog – single crochet two stitches together (decrease)

📝 Pattern

Head and body

Foundation: Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Row 1: 2 sc in each st (12)

Row 2: 2 sc in each st (24)

Row 3: *Sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (31)

Row 4: Sc in each st around (31)

Row 5: *Sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (38)

Row 6: Sc in each st around (38)

Row 7: *Sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (45)

Row 8: *Sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (52)

Row 9: *Sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (59)

Rows 10–21: Sc in each st (59)

Row 22: *Sc in next 5 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (51)

Row 23: Sc in each st (51)

Row 24: *Sc in next 4 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (43)

Rows 25–26: Sc in each st (43)

Row 27: *Sc in next 3 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (35)

Rows 28–29: Sc in each st (35)

Row 30: *Sc in next 3 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (28)

Rows 31–32: Sc in each st (28)

STUFF BODY AT THIS POINT

Row 33: *Sc in next 3 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (23)

Row 34: Sc in each st around (23)

Row 35: *Sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (28)

Row 36: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (42)

Row 37: Sc in each st around (42)

Row 38: *Sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (56)

Rows 39–41: Sc in each st around (56)

Row 42: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (67)

Rows 43–50: Sc in each st around (67)

Row 51: *Sc in next 35 st, then sc, sc, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (59)

Row 52: *Sc in next 35 st, then sc, sc, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (54)

Rows 53–58: Sc in each st around (54)

Row 59: *Sc in next 5 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (46)

Row 60: *Sc in next 4 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (39)

Row 61: Sc in each st around (39)

Row 62: *Sc in next 3 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (32)

STUFF HEAD AT THIS POINT

Row 63: Sc in each st around (32)

Row 64: *Sc in next 2 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (24)

Row 65: *Sc in next st, inc in next st*; repeat around (16)

Row 66: *Sc in next st, inc in next st*; repeat around (11)

Row 67: Dec, dec, dec, then sew closed

Arms (make 2)

Foundation: With dark brown yarn, Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Row 1: 2 sc in each st (12)

Rows 2–3: Sc in each st (12)

Rows 4–10: Switch to main brown at row 4; sc in each st (12)

Row 11: *Sc in next 4 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (10)

Rows 12–17: Sc in each st (10)

Stuff, sew closed, knot off, and leave a long tail to attach to the body.

Legs (make 2)

Foundation: With dark brown yarn, Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Row 1: 2 sc in each st (12)

Row 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (18)

Rows 3–4: Sc in each st (18)

Rows 5–10: Sc in each st (18)

Row 11: *Sc in next 4 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (15)

Row 12: Sc in each st around (15)

Row 13: *Sc in next 3 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (12)

Row 14: Sc in each st around (12)

Stuff, sew closed, knot off, and leave a long tail to attach to the body.

Muzzle

Row 1: Ch 4

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 3 ch, turn (4)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in next 3, 3 sc in last stitch, work around opposite side sc in next 3, 3 sc in last stitch — forms an oval (12)

Row 4: Sc next 4, 2 sc in next (inc), sc next 4, 2 sc in next (inc), sc next 2 (14)

Row 5: *Sc next st, 2 sc in next (inc)*; repeat around (21)

Row 6: *Sc next st, 2 sc in next (inc)*; repeat around (31)

Row 7: Sc around (31)

Row 8: Patterned increases across row to shape muzzle (37)

Row 9: Shaping continues to expand (43)

Row 10: Sc around (43)

Sl st and pull tail through to sew muzzle to head.

Nose

Foundation: Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Row 1: Sc in each st (12)

Row 2: *Sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (16)

Rows 3–4: Sc in each st (16)

Row 5: *Sc in next 2 st, dec (sc2tog)*; repeat around (12)

Row 6: Dec repeatedly, then close and sew onto muzzle.

Outer ears (make 2)

Foundation: Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Row 1: *Sc next st, 2 sc in next st (inc)*; repeat around (9)

Row 2: *Sc next 2, 2 sc in next (inc)*; repeat around (12)

Row 3: *Sc next 3, 2 sc in next (inc)*; repeat around (15)

Row 4: *Sc next 4, 2 sc in next (inc)*; repeat around (18)

Rows 5–7: Sc around (18)

Inner ears (make 2)

Row 1: Ch 6

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 5, turn (6)

Row 3: Sc in 2nd from hook, sc next 3, turn (4)

Row 4: Sc in 2nd from hook, sc next 2, turn (3)

Row 5: Sc in 2nd from hook, sc next (2)

Row 6: Sc in 2nd from hook (1)

Sl st and leave a tail to stitch inner ear to outer ear.

Top of tail

Row 1: With brown yarn, ch 8

Row 2: Ch 1, sc next 6, then 3 sc in last st (10)

Row 3: Work around opposite side, adding textured stitches (hdc, dc, tr) to form tail shape

Sl st and leave a tail to sew onto body.

Underside of tail

Row 1: With cream yarn, ch 6

Row 2: Ch 1, sc next 4, then 3 sc in last st (8)

Row 3: Work around opposite side mirroring top of tail with textured stitches

Sl st and leave a tail to sew to top tail piece.

Main antlers (make 2)

Foundation: Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Rows 1–12: Work in-the-round: 8 sc each row for 12 rows.

Stuff lightly, close, knot off, and leave a tail to sew to head.

Mini-antlers (make 4)

Foundation: Magic Circle/Ring: 6 sc

Rows 1–4: Work in-the-round: 4 sc each row for 4 rows.

Leave a tail to sew mini-antlers onto main antlers.

Scarf

Foundation: Ch 54, turn

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn (54)

Row 2: Ch 2, dc in each st, turn (54)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st (54)

Add fringe by folding short lengths of yarn in half, pulling the folded loop through the edge stitches, and threading the tails through the loop. Trim to even length.

🦌 Putting Rudolph together and finishing touches

Use a yarn needle to sew arms, legs, ears, antlers, muzzle, nose, and tail onto the body with matching yarn. A simple whip stitch works well. Position parts with stitch markers before sewing to ensure correct placement.

Tail: Sew the cream underside onto the brown top, taking care not to stitch through to the visible side. Then attach the tail to the body with brown yarn.

Muzzle and nose: Sew the nose onto the muzzle first, then attach the muzzle to the head. Stuff the muzzle lightly when about halfway sewn to achieve the right shape.

Belly: Use two layers of cream felt if one is thin, and sew the belly in place with a running stitch using cream-colored yarn.

Eyes: Cut white, dark brown, and black felt to the desired sizes and stitch each layer in place with regular thread. Adjust shapes by trial and error to get the look you want.

Ears: Layer the inner ear onto the outer ear, taking care not to stitch through to the front. Fold the ear base slightly to create a curved shape and sew into place on the head.

Antlers: Sew the antlers to the top of the head just above the ears using dark brown yarn.

Scarf: Leave the scarf removable or tack it in a couple of spots with matching yarn so it stays in place.

Merry Christmas! 🎅🎄

Love crochet? Check out other patterns and projects on the creator’s site for more inspiration.

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Please respect the pattern: do not sell this pattern or finished items as your own work. For commercial use, contact the pattern owner.