sweet baby dear plushie free amigurumi crochet pattern

Sweet Baby Deer - Free Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

child holding crochet deer plushie

Meet the Sweet Deer Plushie, a soft and whimsical amigurumi crochet pattern that’s full of woodland charm. Standing about 10 inches (25.5 cm) tall, this adorable deer is made with plush KnitPal Chenillique XL yarn in beautifully blended tones, giving it a velvety texture that’s perfect for cuddling. With its rounded ears, tiny horns, and sweet embroidered face, this little deer has a gentle, storybook personality that shines through every stitch. The pattern is worked in continuous rounds with simple shaping and includes thoughtful details like joined legs and attached arms, making it a fun and satisfying project for beginners ready to create a heartfelt handmade toy.

Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos

What You’ll Need

  • Yarn: 

    KnitPal Chenillique XL (weight #6 - 100% Polyester, 88 yds per 100 g)
    Approximately 1 ball in Enchanted Berry
    Black cotton yarn (weight #3) for embroidering nose, mouth, and eyebrows - 28" (70 cm)

  • Hook:
    US 7 / 4.5 mm
    Or size needed to obtain gauge

  • Notions:
    Stitch marker
    Scissors
    2-Plastic safety eyes - 14 mm
    Stuffing for toys
    Tapestry needle
    Sewing pins
    Long sewing pins or thin knitting needles (optional)

Details

  • Skill Level: Easy

  • Gauge: A 4-round gauge swatch = 3" (7.5 cm) in diameter with a US 7 / 4.5 mm hook
    Swatch:
    Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
    Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
    Round 3: (Sc, inc)x 6. (18 sts)
    Round 4: (Sc 2, inc)x 6. (24 sts)

  • Size: 10" (25.5 cm) tall

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • dec: invisible decrease (see below)
  • inc: increase (work 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch or space)
  • sc: single crochet
    sl st: slip stitch
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • (...)x # - work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed (#)
  • (# sts) - indicates the total number (#) of stitches you should have at the end of the round/row

Special Stitches

invisible decrease (dec) - insert hook in FRONT LOOP ONLY of next two stitches (which results in two more loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, pull through last two loops on hook

Example of working in continuous rounds

Notes 

  • Unless stated otherwise, this pattern is worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round, moving it up each round.

Pattern 

Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos

ARMS (MAKE 2)

Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Rounds 2-7 (6 rounds): Sc 6.
Row 8: Flatten top of Arm, aligning opposite sts; ch1 (does not count as a st throughout), insert hook in next 2 opposite sts and make a sc, continue making sc through both layers across row, turn. (3 sc).
Rows 9-10 (2 rows): Ch1, sc 3, turn. (3 sts)

Cut the yarn and fasten off.

EARS (MAKE 2)

Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: (Sc, inc)x 3. (9 sts)
Round 3: (Sc 2, inc)x 3. (12 sts)
Round 4: (Sc 3, inc)x 3. (15 sts)
Round 5: (Sc 2, inc, sc 2)x 3. (18 sts)
Round 6: (Sc 7, dec)x 2. (16 sts)

Flatten the top of the Ear, aligning opposite sts; ch1, insert hook in next 2 opposite sts and make a sc, continue making sc through both layers to close (8 sc total).

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for attaching to the Head.

HEAD

Round 1: 8sc in a Magic Ring. (8 sts)
Round 2: (Sc, inc)x 4. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc 3, inc)x 3. (15 sts)
Round 4: Sc 6, (inc)x 3, sc 6. (18 sts)
Round 5: Sc 3, (inc, sc)x 3, (sc, inc)x 3, sc 3. (24 sts)
Round 6: Sc 5, (inc, sc)x 3, (inc)x 2, (sc, inc)x 3, sc 5. (32 sts)
Rounds 7-11 (5 rounds): Sc 32.

Attach eyes in 8th and 17th sts of Round 5.

Round 12: (Sc 2, dec)x 8. (24 sts)
Round 13: (Sc, dec)x 8. (16 sts)

Stuff the Head.

Round 14: (Dec)x 8. (8 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn tail through each st of the last round and pull to close. Hide the yarn end inside the Head.

LEGS (MAKE 2)

Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc around. (12 sts)
Rounds 3-7 (5 rounds): Sc 12.

For the first Leg, cut the yarn and fasten off. For the second Leg, continue to the Body.

BODY

Continue from the second Leg to join the Legs together. Ch4
Round 1: Sc 12 in first Leg, sc 4 in ch-4, sc 12 in second Leg, sc 4 in ch-4. (32 sts)
Rounds 2-13 (12 rounds): Sc 32.

Stuff the Legs and Body.

Round 14: (Sc 2, dec)x 8. (24 sts)
Round 15: (Sc, dec)x 8. (16 sts)

In the next round, you will crochet the Arms on the Body. When indicated in the pattern, insert your hook in the first st of the Arm, then insert your hook in the next st of the Body, then complete a sc through both layers. Continue to sc through both layers across the Arm (3 sc total).
Note: You want the Arms to be on the sides of the Body. Adjust their position for your Deer if necessary.

Round 16: Sc 3, (join first Arm) sc 3, sc 5, (join second Arm) sc 3, sc 2. (16 sts)

Continue to stuff the Body.

Round 17: Sc 16. Sl st in the next st.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the Body to the Head.

HORNS (MAKE 2)

Round 1: 6sc in a Magic Ring. (6 sts)
Round 2: Sc 6.
Round 3: (Sc 1, inc)x 3. (9 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for attaching to the Head.

ATTACHING THE HEAD

Use long sewing pins or knitting needles to temporarily align the Head on the Body (I am using thin knitting needles in the photos in the downloadable PDF). Using the yarn tail from the Body, sew the Head to the Body. Secure the yarn end, then hide it inside the toy.

ATTACHING THE EARS

Fold the Ears and, using sewing pins, pin the Ears to the back of the Head between Rounds 9 and 12 of the Head. 
Using the yarn tail from each Ear, sew the Ears on the Head.
Secure the yarn ends, then hide them inside the toy.

ATTACHING THE HORNS

Using sewing pins, pin the Horns on the Head, between both Ears.
Using the yarn tail from each Horn, sew the Horns on the Head.
Secure the yarn ends, then hide them inside the toy.

EMBROIDERING THE NOSE & MOUTH

Using sewing pins, mark 2 sts in Round 1 of the Head, 2 sts apart (see photo in downloadable PDF). Next, mark the center of the Magic Ring. Mark a final st directly below the marked Magic Ring, in Round 2 (see photo in downloadable PDF)

Using the black cotton yarn and the marked stitches as guides, make a horizontal st in Round 1, then make a vertical st from the Magic Ring to Round 2 below, wrapping around the previous horizontal stitch so it is pulled down into a V shape.

Secure the yarn ends, then hide them inside the toy.

Download a printable pattern PDF with step-by-step photos


Share Your Finished Piece!

We love seeing your creations—and this pattern is especially meaningful.
If you post your Sweet Baby Dear on Instagram, please tag @knitpalusa so we can cheer you on!

And if you’d like more soft, gentle yarns perfect for charity crafting, KnitPal has so many beautiful options to keep your hooks busy and your heart full.

 

 

With permission of the designer, this pattern and photos are property of KnitPal and may not be altered, shared, or sold. Do not rewrite any part of this design and sell as your own design. You’re welcome to sell finished products made with this pattern, but please credit the design to KnitPal https://knitpal.com/

Anna Rainous
Posted on March 24, 2026
Anna Rainous
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