Easy Crochet Reindeer Christmas Ornament Pattern: Spiral Tutorial

Create a statement holiday decoration with this crochet reindeer Christmas ornament pattern. A friendly amigurumi reindeer sits above a long, two-sided crochet ribbon that is wet-blocked into four smooth turns, decorated with holly, and finished with two little bells.

Pattern integrity note: The supplied source refers to a separate Santa head pattern that was not included. The compatible head rounds below are a HooksyLane reconstruction and have not been physically test-crocheted. Make a small sample and confirm the head scale before final assembly.

Skill level	Intermediate
Terminology	US crochet terms
Finished length	Approximately 17-19 in / 43-48 cm, excluding the display hook
Ribbon	Approximately 34.5 in / 88 cm before shaping; four visible turns
Hooks	3.0 mm for ribbon; 2.5 mm for amigurumi
Yarn	DK or light-worsted smooth cotton/cotton blend

Why This Spiral Ornament Works

The project is built differently from a quick curlicue. You crochet a long, flat ribbon, add a narrower lining, border both layers, and then wet-block the strip around a temporary cylinder. Nine loose attachments to a hidden central cord stabilize the finished curves without forcing the ribbon into shape.

Materials

• Medium brown, dark brown, cream, red, dark green, pink and metallic-gold DK yarn
• 3.0 mm and 2.5 mm crochet hooks
• Two 8 mm safety eyes or black embroidery thread
• Polyester stuffing, yarn needle, scissors and at least 10 removable markers or clips
• 40 in / 102 cm strong white cotton cord, about 1-1.5 mm thick
• A smooth 2.5 in / 6.5 cm cylinder at least 14 in / 36 cm long, covered with plastic
• Two small jingle bells, or yarn for two crocheted bells

Decorative-use warning: Safety eyes, beads, bells and jump rings are choking hazards. Keep this ornament away from babies, young children, pets and open flame.

Gauge and Abbreviations

Ribbon gauge: 18 hdc x 14 rows = 4 in / 10 cm with the 3.0 mm hook. Amigurumi gauge: 22 sc x 24 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm with the 2.5 mm hook.

US abbreviations: BLO = back loop only; ch = chain; dec = decrease; hdc = half double crochet; inc = increase; MR = magic ring; sc = single crochet; sl st = slip stitch; st(s) = stitch(es).

Part 1: Crochet the Two-Sided Ribbon

Brown Outer Ribbon

FoundationWith brown and 3.0 mm hook, ch 9.

Row 1Starting in the second ch from hook, 8 hdc. Ch 1, turn. [8]

Rows 2-1218 hdc. Ch 1 and turn after Rows 2-120. Fasten off after Row 121. [8]

If your row gauge differs, stop when the relaxed strip measures approximately 34.5 in / 88 cm. Divide the actual number of rows into eight equal sections.

Cream Inner Ribbon

FoundationWith cream and 3.0 mm hook, ch 7.

Row 1Starting in the second ch from hook, 6 hdc. Ch 1, turn. [6]

Rows 2-1216 hdc. Ch 1 and turn after Rows 2-120. Fasten off after Row 121. [6]

Center the cream strip on the wrong side of the brown strip, leaving an equal brown margin along both long edges. Whipstitch it in place with cream yarn. With metallic gold, single crochet around both layers, working one stitch in every row end and a chain-1 corner.

Embroider or attach a small holly motif to the brown side near Rows 24, 54, 84 and 114.

Part 2: Mark and Wet-Block Four Turns

1. Place permanent markers at Rows 1, 16, 31, 46, 61, 76, 91, 106 and 121.
2. Add one temporary clip halfway between each pair of permanent markers.
3. Cover a 2.5 in / 6.5 cm cylinder with clean plastic and lightly dampen the ribbon.
4. Wrap the ribbon diagonally around the cylinder to create four full turns. Keep the brown side outward and do not twist the strip.
5. Use the temporary clips to smooth each curve. Allow the ribbon to dry completely.
6. Remove the temporary clips first, then slide the dry spiral off the form.

Part 3: Add the Hidden Central Cord

1. Cut 40 in / 102 cm of white cotton cord and fold it in half.
2. Tie an overhand knot 3 in / 7.5 cm below the fold to form the hanging loop.
3. Below the knot, mark nine anchors at 0, 1.65, 3.30, 4.95, 6.60, 8.25, 9.90, 11.55 and 13.20 in (0-33.6 cm in 4.2 cm steps).
4. Thread the cord through the open center of the dry spiral.
5. At Anchor 1, attach the nearest long edge using two loose whipstitches through the border and both cord strands.
6. At Anchor 2, attach the opposite long edge. Continue alternating sides through Anchor 9.

Important: Each anchor should only touch and stabilize the curve. Tight stitches will collapse the radius or create a sharp bend.

Part 4: Crochet the Reindeer Head

Rnd 1With medium brown, 6 sc in a magic ring. [6]

Rnd 2Increase in each stitch around. [12]

Rnd 3(1 sc, inc) x 6. [18]

Rnd 4(2 sc, inc) x 6. [24]

Rnd 5(3 sc, inc) x 6. [30]

Rnd 6(4 sc, inc) x 6. [36]

Rnds 7-1236 sc. Place 8 mm eyes between Rounds 9 and 10 with 7 stitches between them.

Rnd 13(4 sc, invisible dec) x 6. [30]

Rnd 14(3 sc, invisible dec) x 6. [24]

Rnd 15(2 sc, invisible dec) x 6. [18]

Rnd 16(1 sc, invisible dec) x 6. [12]. Stuff firmly but do not distort the shape.

Rnd 17Invisible dec x 6. [6]. Close and hide the tail.

Cream Muzzle

Rnd 1With cream, ch 6. From the second ch: 1 sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 sc in last ch; working along the opposite side, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 2 sc in first ch. [12]

Rnd 2Inc, 3 sc, inc in each of next 3 sts, 3 sc, inc in each of last 2 sts. [18]

Rnd 318 sc. Fasten off with a long sewing tail; add a thin layer of stuffing while attaching.

Red Nose

Rnd 1With red, 6 sc in MR. [6]

Rnd 2Inc x 6. [12]

Rnd 312 sc.

Rnd 4Invisible dec x 6. [6]. Stuff lightly, close and sew to the muzzle.

Sew the muzzle to the lower front of the head with a thin layer of stuffing. Add the red nose, embroider a short vertical line and curved smile, and place pink cheek stitches beside the muzzle.

Part 5: Ears, Antlers and Chest

Ears – Make 2

Outer brown: Ch 6. From the second ch work sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 5 dc in the last ch; continue along the opposite side with dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Inner cream: Ch 5. From the second ch work sl st, sc, hdc, 5 dc in the last ch; continue along the opposite side with hdc, sc, sl st. Sew one inner piece to each outer piece.

Antlers – Make 2

1. Hold two strands of dark brown together and ch 13.
2. From the second chain, sl st in that chain and in the next 3 chains.
3. Upper branch: ch 5; sl st back along all 4 chains.
4. Sl st in the next 2 chains of the main chain.
5. Lower branch: ch 4; sl st back along all 3 chains.
6. Sl st in every remaining main-chain stitch. Fasten off and block flat.

Chest

Rnd 1With brown, 6 sc in MR. [6]

Rnd 2Inc x 6. [12]

Rnd 3(1 sc, inc) x 6. [18]

Rnd 4(2 sc, inc) x 6. [24]

Rnds 5-724 sc.

Rnd 8(2 sc, invisible dec) x 6. [18]. Stuff lightly, flatten and fasten off.

Collar

With red, ch 25. Starting in the second ch, work 24 sc. Sew around the neck and add a small bell at the center front.

Part 6: Crochet Two Bells

Rnd 1With gold yarn, 6 sc in MR. [6]

Rnd 2Inc x 6. [12]

Rnds 3-412 sc.

Rnd 512 sc in BLO. [12]

Rnd 6(1 sc, inc) x 6. [18]

Rnd 718 sc.

Rnd 8(Sl st in next st, 3 hdc in next st) x 9. Fasten off. [9 scallops]

For each clapper, make a tiny 6-sc yarn ball or sew a small bead inside on a short thread. Add green leaves and three red berries above each bell if desired.

Final Assembly

1. Thread the center cord through the chest and head before closing final seams.
2. Sew the chest directly below the head.
3. Attach muzzle, nose, ears and antlers; keep both antlers symmetrical behind the ears.
4. Wrap and sew the collar around the neck.
5. Secure the top of the two-sided ribbon immediately below the chest.
6. Attach one bell to each cord end below the final anchor.
7. Hang the ornament vertically and adjust any loose anchor without flattening the spiral.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
Sharp corners in the spiral	Re-dampen the ribbon, add temporary clips and allow it to dry fully. Keep permanent anchors loose.
A turn reverses direction	Release the incorrect anchor and resume alternating between the two long edges.
Ribbon edge waves	Remove 4-8 border stitches evenly. If it pulls inward, add 4-8 stitches evenly.
Reindeer leans	Keep the cord centered, reduce chest stuffing and reinforce the neck seam.

Prefer the Printable Version?

Get the organized HooksyLane PDF with US terms, tables, diagrams and a clean assembly checklist.Get the Printable PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use acrylic yarn?Can I make the ornament shorter?Why should the spiral be blocked before adding the cord?Can I embroider the eyes?Is the supplemental head tested?

Finish Your Christmas Spiral

Once the four turns hang evenly and the central cord stays straight, your reindeer spiral is ready for seasonal display. Store it flat or loosely coiled, then reshape the curves gently before hanging it again next Christmas.