
Free Christmas pattern
Reindeer tapestry crochet pillow
64 × 74 stitches, 6 yarns, single crochet. Fits a 16 in (40 cm) pillow insert when your gauge is 4 stitches per inch.
About 7 pages to print
Save to PinterestA reindeer looks out from the green background of this Christmas pillow cover, with dark brown antlers, big ears lined with cream, rosy cheeks, and a dark nose above a cream muzzle. Cream stars and single-stitch flakes of snow are scattered all around it. You start at the bottom with easy rows of green and the cream muzzle, and the face above is a wide block of brown with dark brown shading down one side. The antlers come last and are the slowest part: each one has three points, and the top rows switch between brown and green up to 12 times.
The chart
- Green 3050 stitches
- Brown 884 stitches
- Dark brown 457 stitches
- Cream 240 stitches
- Graphite 93 stitches
- Red 12 stitches
Other sizes
| Your gauge | Front panel size |
|---|---|
| 14 stitches in 4 in (10 cm) | 18.3 × 18.4 in (46.4 × 46.7 cm) |
| 16 stitches in 4 in (10 cm) (this pattern) | 16 × 16.1 in (40.6 × 40.9 cm) |
| 18 stitches in 4 in (10 cm) | 14.2 × 14.3 in (36.1 × 36.3 cm) |
| 20 stitches in 4 in (10 cm) | 12.8 × 12.9 in (32.5 × 32.7 cm) |
Working at a different gauge? Enter it in the size calculator with 64 stitches and 74 rows.
How to make it
Yarn and hook
Start with worsted weight yarn (medium, 4) and a 4 mm (US G-6) or 4.5 mm (US 7) hook. A hook one or two sizes smaller than the yarn label suggests makes a denser fabric that hides the carried strands. Swatch in two colors and measure: if you get more than 4 stitches per inch, go up a hook size; if you get fewer, go down.
Reading the chart
Each box in the chart is one single crochet stitch. The boxes are drawn a little wider than they are tall, so the chart matches the pillow's proportions. For a 16-inch (40 cm) square, aim for 16 stitches and about 18.5 rows in 4 inches (10 cm).
- Row 1 is at the bottom.
- Read odd rows (right side) from right to left and even rows (wrong side) from left to right.
- Row numbers sit on the side where that row starts; stitch numbers count from the right.
- Left-handed? Read every row the other way, on the chart and in the rows written out, and the picture still comes out as charted.
New to charts? How to read a tapestry crochet chart shows which way each row goes on a small sailboat.
Chain 65 in the first color for row 1. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work row 1 for a total of 64 stitches. Chain 1 and turn between rows. In the rows written out, each row's colors are listed in the order you work them.
Carrying the colors
Lay the unused colors along the top of the row below and crochet over them, so they ride inside the stitches. Change color on the final pull-through of the stitch before the new color begins: with two loops on the hook, pull the new color through both. Keep the carried strands relaxed so the fabric does not pucker. When you will not use a color for several rows, cut it, leave a tail, and join it again where it next appears.
The back
Crochet a second panel of 64 stitches by 74 rows in one color, and check it against the front: plain single crochet can come out a different size, so change the hook or the number of rows until the two match. Or sew on a fabric back cut to the front's size plus seam allowance; for an envelope back, use two hemmed pieces that overlap.
Assembling the pillow
Weave in the tails, then gently block the front to 16 inches (40 cm) square, following the care instructions on the yarn label. Put the panels wrong sides together and join three sides with single crochet or whip stitch through both edges. Push in a 16-inch (40 cm) pillow insert (a cushion pad in the UK) and close the fourth side the same way.
The rows written out
Show all 74 rows
- Row 1 (RS): 64 Green
- Row 2 (WS): 64 Green
- Row 3 (RS): 2 Green, 1 Cream, 61 Green
- Row 4 (WS): 2 Green, 1 Cream, 41 Green, 1 Cream, 19 Green
- Row 5 (RS): 29 Green, 6 Dark brown, 29 Green
- Row 6 (WS): 27 Green, 6 Brown, 4 Dark brown, 27 Green
- Row 7 (RS): 26 Green, 2 Dark brown, 8 Cream, 2 Brown, 26 Green
- Row 8 (WS): 21 Green, 1 Cream, 4 Green, 1 Brown, 10 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 15 Green, 1 Cream, 10 Green
- Row 9 (RS): 9 Green, 3 Cream, 13 Green, 14 Cream, 25 Green
- Row 10 (WS): 10 Green, 1 Cream, 13 Green, 1 Brown, 14 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 13 Green, 1 Cream, 10 Green
- Row 11 (RS): 24 Green, 1 Dark brown, 6 Cream, 2 Graphite, 6 Cream, 1 Brown, 12 Green, 3 Cream, 9 Green
- Row 12 (WS): 10 Green, 1 Cream, 13 Green, 1 Brown, 5 Cream, 1 Graphite, 2 Cream, 1 Graphite, 5 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 24 Green
- Row 13 (RS): 23 Green, 1 Dark brown, 16 Cream, 1 Brown, 23 Green
- Row 14 (WS): 23 Green, 1 Brown, 7 Cream, 2 Graphite, 7 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 23 Green
- Row 15 (RS): 23 Green, 1 Dark brown, 1 Brown, 4 Cream, 6 Graphite, 4 Cream, 2 Brown, 23 Green
- Row 16 (WS): 22 Green, 3 Brown, 3 Cream, 8 Graphite, 3 Cream, 1 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 22 Green
- Row 17 (RS): 22 Green, 2 Dark brown, 1 Brown, 2 Cream, 10 Graphite, 2 Cream, 3 Brown, 22 Green
- Row 18 (WS): 22 Green, 4 Brown, 1 Cream, 3 Graphite, 1 Cream, 6 Graphite, 1 Cream, 2 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 7 Green, 1 Cream, 14 Green
- Row 19 (RS): 22 Green, 1 Dark brown, 4 Brown, 1 Cream, 8 Graphite, 1 Cream, 6 Brown, 21 Green
- Row 20 (WS): 21 Green, 7 Brown, 1 Cream, 6 Graphite, 1 Cream, 5 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 21 Green
- Row 21 (RS): 20 Green, 2 Dark brown, 22 Brown, 20 Green
- Row 22 (WS): 13 Green, 1 Cream, 6 Green, 22 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 20 Green
- Row 23 (RS): 19 Green, 2 Dark brown, 24 Brown, 19 Green
- Row 24 (WS): 19 Green, 24 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 19 Green
- Row 25 (RS): 19 Green, 1 Dark brown, 26 Brown, 18 Green
- Row 26 (WS): 18 Green, 1 Brown, 3 Red, 20 Brown, 3 Red, 1 Dark brown, 11 Green, 1 Cream, 6 Green
- Row 27 (RS): 5 Green, 3 Cream, 10 Green, 1 Dark brown, 3 Red, 20 Brown, 3 Red, 1 Brown, 18 Green
- Row 28 (WS): 17 Green, 28 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 11 Green, 1 Cream, 6 Green
- Row 29 (RS): 17 Green, 2 Dark brown, 28 Brown, 17 Green
- Row 30 (WS): 6 Green, 1 Cream, 10 Green, 28 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 17 Green
- Row 31 (RS): 17 Green, 2 Dark brown, 28 Brown, 9 Green, 3 Cream, 5 Green
- Row 32 (WS): 6 Green, 1 Cream, 10 Green, 29 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 17 Green
- Row 33 (RS): 17 Green, 1 Dark brown, 5 Brown, 3 Graphite, 12 Brown, 3 Graphite, 6 Brown, 17 Green
- Row 34 (WS): 16 Green, 6 Brown, 5 Graphite, 10 Brown, 5 Graphite, 4 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 17 Green
- Row 35 (RS): 17 Green, 1 Dark brown, 4 Brown, 5 Graphite, 10 Brown, 5 Graphite, 6 Brown, 16 Green
- Row 36 (WS): 16 Green, 6 Brown, 1 Graphite, 1 Cream, 3 Graphite, 10 Brown, 1 Graphite, 1 Cream, 3 Graphite, 4 Brown, 2 Dark brown, 16 Green
- Row 37 (RS): 13 Green, 5 Dark brown, 5 Brown, 3 Graphite, 12 Brown, 3 Graphite, 7 Brown, 3 Dark brown, 13 Green
- Row 38 (WS): 10 Green, 36 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 4 Brown, 3 Dark brown, 10 Green
- Row 39 (RS): 8 Green, 2 Dark brown, 2 Brown, 5 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 30 Brown, 4 Cream, 4 Brown, 8 Green
- Row 40 (WS): 7 Green, 3 Brown, 6 Cream, 30 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 7 Cream, 3 Dark brown, 7 Green
- Row 41 (RS): 5 Green, 3 Dark brown, 9 Cream, 1 Dark brown, 30 Brown, 8 Cream, 3 Brown, 5 Green
- Row 42 (WS): 4 Green, 3 Brown, 8 Cream, 31 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 2 Brown, 8 Cream, 2 Dark brown, 5 Green
- Row 43 (RS): 4 Green, 2 Brown, 7 Cream, 5 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 32 Brown, 7 Cream, 2 Brown, 4 Green
- Row 44 (WS): 3 Green, 13 Brown, 2 Green, 27 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 1 Green, 13 Brown, 1 Dark brown, 3 Green
- Row 45 (RS): 3 Green, 1 Dark brown, 11 Brown, 4 Green, 26 Brown, 4 Green, 12 Brown, 3 Green
- Row 46 (WS): 6 Green, 6 Brown, 8 Green, 24 Brown, 8 Green, 6 Brown, 6 Green
- Row 47 (RS): 21 Green, 22 Brown, 21 Green
- Row 48 (WS): 22 Green, 20 Brown, 22 Green
- Row 49 (RS): 24 Green, 16 Brown, 24 Green
- Row 50 (WS): 24 Green, 4 Dark brown, 8 Brown, 4 Dark brown, 24 Green
- Row 51 (RS): 24 Green, 4 Dark brown, 8 Green, 4 Dark brown, 24 Green
- Row 52 (WS): 24 Green, 4 Dark brown, 8 Green, 4 Dark brown, 24 Green
- Row 53 (RS): 23 Green, 4 Dark brown, 10 Green, 4 Dark brown, 23 Green
- Row 54 (WS): 23 Green, 4 Dark brown, 10 Green, 4 Dark brown, 23 Green
- Row 55 (RS): 22 Green, 5 Dark brown, 10 Green, 6 Dark brown, 21 Green
- Row 56 (WS): 2 Green, 1 Cream, 15 Green, 8 Dark brown, 12 Green, 8 Dark brown, 18 Green
- Row 57 (RS): 16 Green, 10 Dark brown, 12 Green, 10 Dark brown, 16 Green
- Row 58 (WS): 15 Green, 11 Dark brown, 12 Green, 11 Dark brown, 15 Green
- Row 59 (RS): 14 Green, 11 Dark brown, 14 Green, 11 Dark brown, 14 Green
- Row 60 (WS): 13 Green, 5 Dark brown, 1 Green, 5 Dark brown, 16 Green, 4 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 13 Green
- Row 61 (RS): 3 Green, 1 Cream, 8 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 16 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 12 Green
- Row 62 (WS): 11 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 18 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 6 Green, 3 Cream, 2 Green
- Row 63 (RS): 3 Green, 1 Cream, 7 Green, 4 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 20 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 4 Dark brown, 11 Green
- Row 64 (WS): 10 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 19 Green, 6 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 10 Green
- Row 65 (RS): 9 Green, 5 Dark brown, 2 Green, 7 Dark brown, 18 Green, 7 Dark brown, 2 Green, 5 Dark brown, 4 Green, 1 Cream, 4 Green
- Row 66 (WS): 3 Green, 3 Cream, 3 Green, 4 Dark brown, 3 Green, 7 Dark brown, 18 Green, 7 Dark brown, 3 Green, 4 Dark brown, 9 Green
- Row 67 (RS): 10 Green, 2 Dark brown, 3 Green, 8 Dark brown, 9 Green, 1 Cream, 8 Green, 8 Dark brown, 3 Green, 2 Dark brown, 5 Green, 1 Cream, 4 Green
- Row 68 (WS): 15 Green, 4 Dark brown, 1 Green, 3 Dark brown, 7 Green, 3 Cream, 8 Green, 3 Dark brown, 1 Green, 4 Dark brown, 15 Green
- Row 69 (RS): 14 Green, 5 Dark brown, 1 Green, 4 Dark brown, 8 Green, 1 Cream, 7 Green, 4 Dark brown, 1 Green, 5 Dark brown, 14 Green
- Row 70 (WS): 14 Green, 4 Dark brown, 3 Green, 3 Dark brown, 16 Green, 3 Dark brown, 3 Green, 4 Dark brown, 14 Green
- Row 71 (RS): 2 Green, 1 Cream, 10 Green, 5 Dark brown, 3 Green, 3 Dark brown, 16 Green, 3 Dark brown, 3 Green, 5 Dark brown, 13 Green
- Row 72 (WS): 13 Green, 4 Dark brown, 4 Green, 3 Dark brown, 13 Green, 1 Cream, 2 Green, 3 Dark brown, 4 Green, 4 Dark brown, 13 Green
- Row 73 (RS): 14 Green, 2 Dark brown, 32 Green, 2 Dark brown, 14 Green
- Row 74 (WS): 64 Green
You are welcome to sell pillows you make from this pattern. Please share a link to the pattern's web page instead of the pattern itself.

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