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Ronald the Fat Little

Reindeer
Ronald is a festive little chap. A bit
cheeky though, eating all of Santa's
mince pies that were kindly left for
him. As a result, Ronald has a little
bit of a belly on him and needs to get
back into sleigh-pulling training.

This pattern is written using

American terms (sc =UK dc)

All rounds are worked in a

continuous
spiral, use a stitch marker to keep
track of the first stitch in a round.

Materials Required:

• Some DK weight yarn - I used cotton or cotton mixes - in brown, natural

and red.
• A small amount of black yarn for embroidering the mouth
• A suitable hook for the yarn - I used a 3.5mm hook (size E)
• A pair of 6mm safety eyes, or buttons if you'd rather use those.
• Toy stuffing
• Plastic stuffing pellets (optional, but does help Ronald to stand up)
• Fabric to contain pellets. Circle approx. 12cm diameter.
• Needle for sewing together
• Scissors
• Stitch marker
• Pipe cleaners to use in antlers, optional but finish it nicely.

Techniques Used:

• Single crochet
• Increase - 2sc in same stitch
• Decrease - sc2tog
• BLO - crocheting into back-loop only
• Magic ring method - alternatively ch2 and sc into 2nd loop from hook

Copyright A Bunch of Buttons 2012

 Page 2 of 5

Legs
Round 1 Using natural colour yarn, 6sc in magic ring (6)

Round 2 2sc in each stitch around (12)

Round 3 Working in BLO 2sc in next stitch, sc in next, repeat all way (18)
around

Round 4 sc in each stitch around (18)

Round 5 - 6 Change to brown yarn. sc in each stitch around (18)

Fasten off after the first 3 legs are complete, but do not
fasten off for the last leg, as this is where you will begin the
body.

Body
Round 1 Continuing from leg 4, sc in 12 stitches of the current leg, (48)
and then 12 stitches in each of the remaining 3 legs,
joining them all together. There will be a gap between the
legs which can be sewn closed with brown yarn.

Round 2 - 3 sc in each stitch around (48)

Round 4 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 7 stitches, repeat around (54)

Round 5 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 8 stitches, repeat around (60)

Round 6 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 9 stitches, repeat around (66)

Round 7 - 11 sc around. Stuff legs. (66)

Round 12 sc2tog, sc in next 9 stitches, repeat around (60)

Round 13 sc2tog, sc in next 8 stitches, repeat around (54)

Round 14 sc2tog, sc in next 7 stitches, repeat around (48)

Round 15 sc2tog, sc in next 6 stitches, repeat around (42)

Round 16 sc2tog, sc in next 5 stitches, repeat around (36)

Round 17 sc2tog, sc in next 4 stitches, repeat around. Begin stuffing (30)

body, using toy stuffing and plastic pellets encased in
fabric pouch if required, see notes.

Round 18 sc2tog, sc in next 3 stitches, repeat around (24)

Round 19 sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches, repeat around (18)

Round 20 sc2tog, sc in next stitch, repeat around. Finish stuffing (12)

body.

Round 21 sc2tog around. Fasten off leaving a tail to sew opening (6)
closed.

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 Page 3 of 5

Head

Round 1 Using natural colour yarn, 6sc in magic loop (6)

Round 2 2sc in each stitch around (12)

Round 3 2sc in first stitch, sc in next, repeat around (18)

Round 4 sc around in BLO (18)

Round 5 Sc around (18)

Round 6 Change to brown yarn. sc around (18)

Round 7 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 5 stitches, repeat around. (21)

Round 8 sc around (21)

Round 9 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 6 stitches, repeat around. (24)

Round 10 sc around (24)

Round 11 sc in next 9 stitches, (2sc in next, sc in next) 3 times, sc in (27)

next 9 stitches

Round 12 sc around (27)

Round 13 sc in next 11 stitches, (2sc in next, sc in next) 3 times, sc (30)

in next 10 stitches

Round 14 sc around (30)

Round 15 2sc in first stitch, sc in next 4 stitches (36)

Round 16 - 17 sc around. Attach safety eyes, I attached mine around row (36)
13, approx 6 stitches apart. Embroider on mouth using
black DK weight yarn.

Round 18 sc2tog, sc in next 4 stitches, repeat around. Begin stuffing (30)

head.

Round 19 sc2tog, sc in next 3 stitches, repeat around (24)

Round 20 sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches, repeat around (18)

Round 21 sc2tog, sc in next stitch, repeat around (12)

Round 22 sc2tog around. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew head to (6)
body. Using a tapestry needle, weave tail through
remaining 6 stitches and pull to close hole.

Ears

Make 2

Round 1 Using brown yarn, 6sc in magic ring (6)

Round 2 2sc in the first 3 stitches, chain 2, 2sc in the next 3 (12)
stitches. Slip stitch into first and fasten off leaving a long
tail. Sew to head pinching ear together to shape.

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Nose
Round 1 Using red yarn, 6sc in magic ring (6)

Round 2 2sc in each stitch (12)

Round 3 sc around (12)

Round 4 sc in next stitch, skip one stitch, repeat around. Fasten off (6)
leaving tail to sew to head. Stuff lightly.

Antlers
Make 2

Main antler:

Round 1 Using natural colour yarn, 6sc in magic loop (6)

Round 2 - 11 Sc around. Stuff lightly as you go, or use a pipe cleaner to (6)
help shape the antlers. Fasten off leaving long tail to sew
to head.

Branch:

Round 1 6sc in magic loop (6)

Round 2 - 6 Sc around. Stuff lightly as you go. Fasten off and sew to (6)
main antler.

Sew to top of just above and in between eyes.

Tail

Round 1 Using brown yarn, 6 sc in magic loop. Do not completely (6)

close ring, leave a small opening as you will lightly stuff
tail from this end.

Round 2 - 4 sc around (6)

Round 5 2sc in first, sc in next, repeat around. (9)

Round 6 sc around (9)

Round 7 sc2tog, sc in next, repeat around (6)

Round 8 sc2tog around. Slip stitch in first stitch. Fasten off, leaving (3)
a long tail for sewing to body. With a tapestry needle
thread tail back through work. Stuff lightly through magic
ring end and sew to rear of body.

Copyright A Bunch of Buttons 2012

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Notes
If you choose to use plastic pellets to add to the stuffing, they
will need to be contained in a 'pouch' or they may leak
through the stitches. You do not have to use plastic pellets,
but the reindeer stands better with a bit of weight in his
lower belly! If you don't, you will need to be careful when
sewing the head to the body, to ensure he is not top heavy!
The best way to contain the pellets is to make a fabric
drawstring pouch. this is very quick and simple, and doesn't
need to look great as you won't see it. I use a circle of plain
white fabric, approx. 12 diameter. Using any yarn and a
tapestry needle make a running stitch all the way around,
about 1cm in from the edge of the circle. This will form the
drawstring. Pull gently on the end to close the pouch a little.
Fill with plastic pellets so it pulls closed comfortably. It
doesn't need to be too big, as long as there is enough weight
to ensure the reindeer stands up. Knot the end of the yarn
and make sure that the pellets cannot escape. Add the
pouch to the bottom of the reindeer's belly, after you stuff
the legs. Continue to stuff around the pouch as usual.

Please feel free to make Ronald the reindeer

for yourself, or somebody else as a gift. If you
choose to sell the finished reindeer, please
credit the pattern to A Bunch of Buttons.

Copyright A Bunch of Buttons 2012