A 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 free pattern has the full color chart (64 stitches by 74 rows, 6 colors), every row written out with its colors in the order you work them, a printable pattern, and the chart as a picture to download. It explains how to read the chart, carry the colors, make the back (crocheted or fabric) and put the pillow together.

You need: worsted weight yarn (medium, 4) in 6 colors (Green, Brown, Dark brown, Cream, Graphite, Red), a 4 mm (US G-6) or 4.5 mm (US 7) hook, and a 16 inch (40 cm) pillow insert. For the back, more yarn in one color, or fabric.

Gauge: 16 stitches and about 18.5 rows in 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet, carrying the colors. US terms.

We drew this design stitch by stitch. No image AI was used.