“When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!” “
-A Visit from St. Nicholas BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE
Now I know what you may be thinking, Is Chris a reindeer or caribou? Both! Caribou are reindeer, depending on where you live in the world you will have heard them called by both names. Typically, reindeer are only referred to as caribou in North America, particularly in Canada. When I lived in Alaska, one of the schools I went to was called Caribou Elementary, which originally gave me the idea to choose Caribou when I saw it on the list. Plus the fact that it is heavily a part of Christmas culture also helped. =P
Caribou live in the “North Pole” of the world, aka the tundra. Like the majority of arctic species, they are suffering because of global warming. While it is not the only reason for the population decrease, global warming is VERY REAL and very dangerous! The second leading cause for the disruption in Caribou population has to do with….humans. Mining and construction/developments made in the habitat reduces their roaming range, their reproductive grounds, and their food sources.
“The Taimyr herd of migrating Siberian tundra reindeer (R. t. sibiricus) in Russia is the largest wild reindeer herd in the world,[4][5] varying between 400,000 and 1,000,000. What was once the second largest herd is the migratory boreal woodland caribou (R. t. caribou) George River herd in Canada, with former variations between 28,000 and 385,000. As of January 2018, there are fewer than 9,000 animals estimated to be left in the George River herd, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.[6] The New York Times reported in April 2018 of the disappearance of the only herd of southern mountain caribou in the lower 48 states, with an expert calling it “functionally extinct” after the herd’s size dwindled to a mere three animals.[7]“
– Wikipedia
These decreasing numbers are very concerning not only to me but also to our tundra ecosystems. Just like the “Circle of Life” tells us, every species plays a part in how the world works and caribou are no exception. They provide food for predators, which directly affects species like wolves, bears and native people;, as well as being a critical role in the health of the tundra soil. Their feces provides nitrogen for the soil and their foraging aids in the decomposition and nutrients in the soil.
Sources:
While we are each only one person, each of working together can make a difference. So let’s go into the new year trying even harder than the last to reduce our carbon footprint! I challenge each of you that make “Chris the Caribou” and post a picture of him with an example of how you reduce your carbon footprint in the comments with the #cafedelcraft ! I look forward to seeing your Caribou!
One last thing!
SUPER SPECIAL thank you, to my big brother Christopher for drawing this caribou for me to make! You’re the best!
Materials
Yarn:
- Paintbox Simply Aran – Light Caramel (208)
- Paintbox Simply Aran – Soft Fudge (209)
- Paintbox Simply Aran – Coffee Bean (210)
- Paintbox Simply Aran – Paper White (200)
- Paintbox Simply Aran – Pillar Red (214) (Optional Jingle Bell Collar)
- Paintbox Simply DK – Pure Black (101)
Tools:
- 3.5mm Crochet Hook (a 3.25mm or 4.00mm could be used depending on your tension)
- 12mm Safety Eyes
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Marker
- Sewing Pins
- Polyfil
- 13mm Jingle Bells (gold) (Optional for Jingle Bell Collar)
- Pet Slicker Brush
Stitches Used
U.S. Terminology
Right Handed Instructions
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| ST | Stitch |
| SK | Skip Stitch |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SCINC | Single Crochet two in same stitch (Increase) |
| SC2TOG | Single Crochet two together (Decrease) |
| BLO | Back Loop Only |
| HDC | Half-Double Crochet |
| * | Stitches inside asterisk are repeated |
| , | A comma is used to indicate when to move on to the next step in the round/row. |
Special Techniques Used
Do not join a round unless the pattern says to do so. Otherwise pieces worked in the round will be done in the spiral method.
Body
Yarn color: Soft Fudge
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *scinc, sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *sc, scinc, sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, scinc, 2 sc* repeat x6. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *scinc, 5 sc* repeat x6. | (42 stitches) |
| Round 8-11: | 42 sc. | (42 stitches) |
| Round 12: | *sc2tog, 5 sc* repeat x6. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 13-14: | 36 sc. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 15: | *2 sc, sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x6. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 16-19: | 30 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 20: | *sc2tog, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 21: | 24 sc. | (24 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing on the head later. Stuff with polyfil and set aside.
Head
Yarn color: Soft Fudge
Note: The Head is worked Bottom up. Meaning the last round is the top of the head.
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *scinc, sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *sc, scinc, sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, scinc, 2 sc* repeat x6. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *scinc, 5 sc* repeat x6. | (42 stitches) |
| Round 8-11: | 42 sc. | (42 stitches) |
| Round 12: | *sc2tog, 5 sc* repeat x6. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *2 sc, sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x6. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 14-18: | 30 sc. | (30 stitches) |
Add 12mm Safety Eyes between Rounds 15-16 with about 4 sc between them.
| Round 19: | *sc2tog, 3 sc* repeat x6 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 20: | *sc, sc2tog, sc* repeat x6. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 21: | *sc2tog, sc* repeat x6. | (12 stitches) |
Stuff with Polyfill.
| Round 22: | 6 sc2tog | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a small tail for sewing shut. Use the Amigurumi Close Method to sew the piece shut.
Place the Head on the open end of the Body, using the long tail from the body and the Amigurumi Piece Join Method, attach the body to Round 4 of the Head.
Muzzle
Yarn Color: Light Caramel
| Round 1: | Ch 5, *scinc, 3 sc* rotate piece and repeat, no join. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *2 scinc, 2 sc, scinc* repeat x2. | (16 stitches) |
| Round 3: | Sc, scinc, 7 sc, scinc, 6 sc. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4-5: | 18 sc. | (18 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing to head. Attach to the Head between Rounds 8-11, centered between the eyes. Using Black yarn, create two vertical lines slanting inward at the bottom, and a smile.
Antlers
Yarn Color: Light Caramel
Part 1
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2-4: | 6 sc. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail, that will be used to close the opening left by the join.
Part 2
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *scinc, sc* repeat x3 | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3-5: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail, that will be used to close the opening left by the join
Part 3
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *scinc, sc* repeat x3 | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *sc, scinc, sc* repeat x3. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 4-8: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
Do not fasten off, pick up one “Part 2”
| Round 9: | 1 sc into the first stitch of “Part 2”, 5 sc, sk 3 st on “Part 2”, sk 3 st on “Part 3”, 9 sc. | (15 stitches) |
| Round 10: | *sc, sc2tog* repeat x2, 9 sc. | (13 stitches) |
Do not fasten off, pick up one “Part 1”
| Round 11: | Sc, sc2tog, 4 sc, 1 sc in first st of “Part 1”, 2 sc, sk 3 st on “Part 1”, sk 3 st on “Part 3”, 3 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 12: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *sc, sc2tog, sc* repeat x3. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 14-15: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing to the head. Repeat “Part 3” for the second antler. Using the tail ends of “Part 1” and “Part 2” sew the openings that are left by the join. Stuff antlers lightly and position the antlers on the top of the head between Rounds 18-21, sew in place once satisfied.
Ears
Make x2
Yarn Color: Soft Fudge
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *scinc, sc* repeat x3 | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *sc, scinc, sc* repeat x3 | (12 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *scinc, 3sc* repeat x3 | (15 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *2 sc, scinc, 2 sc* repeat x3 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *scinc, 5 sc* repeat x3 | (21 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *3 sc, scinc, 3 sc* repeat x3 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 8-9: | 24 sc. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 10: | 24 sc, ch 1 | (24 stitches) |
Do not fasten off, continue as follows….
- sl st the first and twenty fourth stitch of Round 10 together.
- sl st the second and twenty third stitch in Round 10 together.
- sl st the third and twenty second stitch in Round 10 together.
- sl st the fourth and twenty first stitch in Round 10 together.
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing to head.Pin Ear to head, between Rounds 11-17, with the pinched section facing the same direction as the eyes. Use the Amigurumi Piece Join Method to sew in place once satisfied with placement.
Hip Piece
Make x2
Yarn Color: Soft Fudge
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *scinc, sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *sc, scinc, sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | 9 sc, 6 scinc, 9 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | 30 sc. | (30 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing, and pin to the body between Rounds 6-15. The hip piece should be in line with the ears. Begin to sew in place using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method, stuff before fully sewing shut. Repeat for second Hip Piece on opposite side of body.
Back Hooves
Make x2
Yarn Color: Coffee Bean and Soft Fudge
Begin with Coffee Bean.
Part 1
| Round 1: | Ch 5, scinc in 2nd ch from hook, 3 sc, rotate piece and continue, scinc in same, 3 sc, no join. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 2 scinc, 2 sc, 3 scinc, 2 sc, scinc. | (16 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *scinc, sc* repeat x2, 2 sc, *scinc, sc* repeat x3, 2 sc, scinc, sc. | (22 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *sc, scinc, sc* repeat x2, 2 sc,*sc, scinc, sc* repeat x3, 3 sc, scinc, sc. | (28 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *scinc, 3 sc* repeat x2, 2 sc, *scinc, 3 sc* repeat x3, 2 sc, scinc, 3 sc. | (34 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, scinc, 2 sc* repeat x2, 2 sc, *2 sc, scinc, 2 sc* repeat x3, 4 sc, scinc, 2 sc. | (40 stitches) |
| Round 7-8: | 40 sc. | (40 stitches) |
| Round 9: | 4 sc2tog, 30 sc, sc2tog. | (35 stitches) |
| Round 10: | 3 sc2tog, 25 sc, 2 sc2tog. | (30 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Place a stitch marker on the sixteenth stitch of Round 10. Using the Mattress Stitch, sew the following stitches together.
- Sew the first and thirtieth stitches together.
- Sew the second and twenty ninth stitched together.
- Sew the third and twenty eighth stitches together.
- Sew the fourth and twenty seventh stitches together.
- Sew the fifth and twenty sixth stitches together.
- Sew the sixth and twenty fifth stitches together.
This will leave you with 18 workable stitches. Weave in the end of your sewing yarn and stuff the remaining inside the hoove. Attach Soft Fudge to the marked first stitch of Round 10.
Part 2
| Round 11-13: | 18 sc. | (18 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing to Hip Piece, stuff firmly. Pin piece to the Hip piece so that it rests between the body and the magic circle of the hip piece. Once satisfied with placement, sew in place using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method. (see picture)
Front Legs
Make x2
Yarn Color: Coffee Bean and Soft Fudge
Begin with Coffee Bean.
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *scinc, sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 18 sc blo. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *sc2tog, sc* repeat x6. | (12 stitches) |
Switch to Soft Fudge
| Round 6-12: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *sc, sc2tog, sc* repeat x3. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 14-17: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing, and stuff up to the halfway point. Pinch the open end together and pin to the body, inset to the back hooves, slanted between Round 18 and 20 of the Body. The legs should be slanting upwards towards the center of the face. Sew in place using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method once satisfied with placement. (see picture)
Tail
Yarn Color: Soft Fudge
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *scinc, sc* repeat x3 | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing to body. Pin to the back bottom of the caribou, centered between the hip pieces at Rounds 7-9. Sew in place once satisfied with placement using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method.
Fuzzy Fur Patches
Make x4
Yarn Color: White
| Round 1: | Ch 4, 1 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 hdc | (3 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Using your pet slicker brush, brush out one side of the piece to create fuzzy fur. Using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method sew one to the inside of each ear, one between the antlers, and one under the tail.
Fuzzy Fur Chest Piece
Yarn Color: White
| Round 1: | Ch 6, scinc in 2nd ch from hook, 4 sc, rotate work and continue, scinc in same as last sc, 4 sc ending in the same stitch as first increase, no join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 2 scinc, 3 sc, 3 scinc, 3 sc, scinc. | (18 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Using your pet slicker brush, brush out one side of the piece to create fuzzy fur. Position piece vertically on the chest between the Front Legs, sew into place using the Amigurumi Piece Join Method once satisfied with placement.
Jingle Belle Collar
Yarn Color: Pillar Red
Before beginning, string 6 Jingle Bells onto your yarn.
| Row 1: | Ch 31, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 29 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Row 2: | Ch 1, turn, *2 sc, move 1 jingle bell up and sc, 2sc* repeat x5 | (30 stitches) |
| Row 3: | Ch 1, turn, 30 sc. | (30 stitches) |
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing the ends together. Wrap the piece around the “neck” of your caribou so that the jingle bells face outward, sew the ends together and weave in the end when finished.
Thank you for choosing my Pattern!
This pattern and all information contained in this post is the property of Tiffany Horton. You have permission to sell any finished product created using this pattern, a link back to this pattern is appreciated. The information contained in this post (the pattern, media,etc) may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or shared in anyway. Rewriting, reselling, distributing, or copying this pattern electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations, is prohibited.
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