Rudolph the Reindeer Knit Cushion

Time: Weekend Project

Skill Level: Easy

Size: 1 Reindeer Cushion: 17 by 16.5 inches (45 by 44 cm)

Gauge: 16 sts and 16 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn: Studio Donegal Donegal Aran Tweed (DK) (100% Wool; 88 yards [80 meters]/50 grams)

4741 Brown (MC), 4 balls; 4585 Fawn(CC1), 1 ball; 4754 Red (CC2), 1 ball; 1443 Báinín (CC3), 1 ball; 4824 Green (CC4), 1 ball.

Hook/Needles: US size 7(4.5 mm) 24” straight needles; US size 7(4.5 mm) 6” Dpn needles

Notions: Crochet hook for edging, toy stuffing, yarn holder or waste yarn, darning needle.

Abbreviations

CDD: Centered double decrease): Dec 2 sts, slip 2 stitches together knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitches over.

m1r: Make 1 st right leaning; Pick up bar between sts from the front with LN needle and K through back.

m1l: Make 1 st left leaning; Pick up bar between sts from the back with LN needle and K through front.

Special Stitches

Crochet Edging: Sl hook into first sts of both edges together, place yarn around hook and pull through.* Sl hook into next sts of both edges, place yarn around hook and pull through sts, place yarn around hook again and pull through both sts*. Rep from * to * until end of edging.

Pattern Notes

This set of cushions is worked in intarsia from the bottom up. Front and back are worked separately before being sewn together and stuffed. Ears are worked flat, lightly stuffed and joined with crochet edging and attached to the cushion. The antlers are worked in the round, stuffed as they are knit before sewing on to the cushion. Then features are added with embroidery.

Pattern

Front

CO 7 sts with CC2

Follow chart from row 1 through 97, including all shaping and color changes.

BO

Back

With MC, cast on 7 sys.

Row 1 (RS): Knit. (7 sts)

Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.

Row 3: K1, m1r, k5, m1l, k1. (9 sts)

Row 5: K1, m1r, k7, m1l, k1. (11 sts)

Row 7: K1, m1r, k9, m1l, k1. (13 sts)

Row 9: K1, m1r, k11, m1l, k1. (15 sts)

Row 11-45: Work in patt. est. (51 sts)

Row 47-77: Work in St st.

Row 79: K1, ssk, k45, k2tog, k1. (49 sts)

Row 81: K1, ssk, k43, k2tog, k1. (47 sts)

Row 83: K1, ssk, k41, k2tog, k1. (45 sts)

Row 85: K1, ssk, k39, k2tog, k1. (43 sts)

Row 87: K1, ssk, k37, k2tog, k1. (41 sts)

Row 89: K1, ssk, k35, k2tog, k1. (39 sts)

Row 91: K1, ssk, k33, k2tog, k1. (37 sts)

Row 93: K1, ssk, k31, k2tog, k1. (35 sts)

Row 95: K1, ssk, k29, k2tog, k1. (33 sts)

Row 97: K1, ssk, k27, k2tog, k1. (31 sts)

BO

Ears (Front) (make 2)

CO 7 sts with CC1

Row 1 (RS): K2, m1r, k3, m1l, k2. (9 sts)

Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.

Row 3: K2, m1r, k5, m1l, k2. (11 sts)

Row 5: K2, m1r, k7, m1l, k2. (13 sts)

Row 7: K2, m1r, k9, m1l, k2. (15 sts)

Row 9: Knit.

Row 11: K2, m1r, k11, m1l, k2. (17 sts)

Row 13-18: Work in St st.

Row 19: K2, ssk, k9, k2tog, k2. (15 sts)

Row 21: Knit.

Row 23: K2, ssk, k7, k2tog, k2. (13 sts)

Row 25: K2, ssk, k5, k2tog, k2. (11 sts)

Row 27: Knit.

Row 29: K2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2. (9 sts)

Row 31: Knit.

Row 33: K2, ssk, K1, k2tog, k2. (7 sts)

Row 35: K2, cdd, k2. (5 sts)

Row 37: K1, cdd, k1. (3 sts)

Row 39: Cdd. (1 st)

Break yarn and pull through live st to fasten off.

Ears (Back) (Make 2)

CO 7 sts with MC

Row 1 (RS): K2, m1r, k3, m1l, k2. (9 sts)

Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.

Row 3: K2, m1r, k5, m1l, k2. (11 sts)

Row 5: K2, m1r, k7, m1l, k2. (13 sts)

Row 7: K2, m1r, k9, m1l, k2. (15 sts)

Row 9: Knit.

Row 11: K2, m1r, k11, m1l, k2. (17 sts)

Row 13-18: Work in St st.

Row 19: K2, ssk, k9, k2tog, k2. (15 sts)

Row 21: Knit.

Row 23: K2, ssk, k7, k2tog, k2. (13 sts)

Row 25: K2, ssk, k5, k2tog, k2. (11 sts)

Row 27: Knit.

Row 29: K2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2. (9 sts)

Row 31: Knit.

Row 33: K2, ssk, K1, k2tog, k2. (7 sts)

Row 35: K2, cdd, k2. (5 sts)

Row 37: K1, cdd, k1. (3 sts)

Row 39: Cdd. (1 st)

Break yarn and pull through live st to fasten off.

Make up Ears

Pin one back and front tog with WS facing each other. Work Crochet Edging along two long edges of the ear. Lightly stuff before closing short edge of ear.

Antlers (Make 2)

Antlers are worked in the Rnd. Knit all rnds.

The Antlers are worked in a stripe Patt.

Antler 1 is worked as follows; [CC3, CC2, CC3, CC5.] rep until end or BO.

Antler 2 is worked as follows; [CC3, CC5, CC3, CC2.] rep until end or BO.

Stuff Antler as you work.

CO 14 sts with CC3. Join in the Rnd, being careful not to twist the sts. Pm to mark beginning of

Rnd.  Work in stripe pattern.

Rnds 1-10: Work in St st in stripe pattern.

Rnd 11: K6, m1, k2, m1, k6. (16 sts)

Rnd 12 and all even Rnds:  Knit.

Rnd 13: K6, m1, k4, m1, k6. (18 sts)

Rnd 15: K6, m1, k6, m1, k6. (20 sts)

Rnd 17: K6, m1, k8, m1, k6. (22 sts)

Rnd 19: K6, m1, k8, m1, k6. (24 sts)

Rnd 21: K6, place next 12 sts on waste yarn, CO 2sts, k6. (14sts)

Rnd 23: K1, m1, k12, m1, k1. (16 sts)

Rnd 25: K2, m1, k12, m1, k2 .(18 sts)

Rnd 27: K3, m1, k12, m1, k3. (20 sts)

Rnd 29: K4, m1, k12, m1, k4. (22 sts)

Rnd 31: Place the previous 5 sts on yarn holder, rm, place next 5 sts on waste yarn, CO 1 st, pm, CO 1 st, k6. (14sts)

Rnds 32-40: Work in St st in stripe pattern.

Rnd 41: Ssk, k3, k2tog, ssk, k3, k2tog. (10 sts)

Rnd 43: Ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1, k2tog. (6 sts)

Rnd 45: K2tog 3 times. (3 sts)

Break yarn and pull through live sts to fasten off.

Top branch of Antler

Place sts back on to DPNs, Rejoin yarn in Stripe Sequence. Pick up and K1, K10, pick up and K1. (12sts)

Stuff Antler as you work.

Work 4 rnds in St St.

Rnd 5: Ssk, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, k2tog. (8 sts)

Rnd 6: Knit.

Rnd 7: Ssk, k2tog, ssk, k2tog. (4 sts)

Rnd 8: Knit.

Break yarn and pull through live sts to fasten off.

Bottom branch of Antler

Place sts back on to DPNs, Rejoin yarn in Stripe Sequence. Pick up and K1, K12, pick up and K1. (14sts)

Stuff Antler as you work.

Work 6 rnds in St St.

Rnd 7: Ssk, k3, k2tog, ssk, k3, k2tog. (10 sts)

Rnd 8: Knit.

Rnd 9: Ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1, k2tog. (6 sts)

Rnd 10: Knit.

Rnd 11: K2tog 3 times. (3 sts)

Break yarn and pull through live sts to fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends and block to dimensions.

With right sides together, sew cushion together with matching yarn or thread, leaving a small gap to turn out and to stuff. Turn cushion right way out, stuff and sew closed the gap with matching thread.

Attach Antlers and Ears to head using photos as guideline. With CC3, embroider sleepy eyes in place, again using photo as guide.