Deer Head Applique

**Edit** For a revised version of this pattern and a photo tutorial please see this updated blog post REVISED DEER HEAD APPLIQUE WITH PHOTO TUTORIAL

Hello out there! My name is Kat and I have a love for crafting! One of my most favorite crafts is crocheting, so I started a shop about 2 years ago and things sort of took off from there. My shop is called Rebel Skein, and because the main purpose of this blog is to share crochet patterns and tutorials with you all I thought it was appropriate for a blog name too. 

My abuela taught me how to crochet when I was 5 years old. As a kid, I would make doll clothes and pot holders. As I got older, I liked to make my own quirky accessories. I was always a little odd when it came to fashion...okay, I was very odd! My junior year of high school I dressed like an old man every single day for the entire year. I had a closet full of plaid golf pants, bright polo shirts, and Cuban guayabera shirts. There was another year where every piece of clothing I owned was shiny, sparkly, or fuzzy...that was an interesting year.

My shop and my kids are a full time job! I have 2 crazy, rowdy, goofy boys that keep me pretty busy. Eli is 7 and Evan is 2. I have an addiction to internet cat videos, and I listen to way too much 90's alternative music. I love sci-fi! Huge geek here. Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Doctor Who are among my favorites. I'm sure I'll be sharing plenty more about myself in posts to come, so enough about me for now!

Let's get to the good stuff! The reason you really came here! The patterns! Today, I'm sharing a pattern for a deer head applique that I came up with yesterday. I encourage you to sell what you make from my free patterns, but don't sell my patterns or distribute them as your own. Please use your own photos as well. If you want to give me credit it is appreciated, but if not you're still okay in my book! ;-)

You can make yours bigger or smaller with different sized hooks. This would also make a cute reindeer if you added a red button to the nose area! I might make some Christmas hats like that myself. I sewed mine on with a needle and thread instead of yarn. It looked better that way. Happy hooking! I hope you enjoy! (I've had a few people test this pattern already and everything seems to be okay so far. Let me know if you have any questions.)

Deer Head Applique- 3.25 MM

(For rows 1-8 chain 1 and turn after each row.)

R1- Chain 3, SC in second ch from hook, SC in next chain (2 sc)

R2- 2 SC in each stitch (4 sc)

R3- SC in each st (4 sc)

R4- 2 SC in first st, SC in next 2 st, 2 SC in last st (6 sc)

R5- SC in each stitch (6 sc)

R6- 2 SC in first st, SC in next 4 st, 2 SC in last st (8 sc)

R7- SC in each stitch (8 sc)

R8- SC2tog, SC in next 4 st, SC2tog (6 sc)

R9- SC in each stitch (6 sc), chain 1 DO NOT TURN

SC around the head, putting 2 SC in each top corner, slip stitch into the first SC 

(Now you'll be starting on the left ear)

Chain 5, slip stitch into second chain from hook, SC in next, HDC in next, SC in next, slip stitch into the SC your chain started on (on the head), 

Now you'll be crocheting on the opposite side of the chain, SC in first ch, HDC in next, SC in next, slip stitch into first slip stitch on opposite side,

finish off.

Count 5 stitches from the left ear and join your yarn. This is where your right ear will start. Chain 5, slip stitch into second chain from hook, SC in next, HDC in next,

SC in next, slip stitch into the SC your chain started on (on the head), Now you'll be crocheting on the opposite side of the chain, SC in first ch, HDC in next,

SC in next, slip stitch into last stitch on opposite side, finish off.

(Now you'll be starting with the right antler and working your way all the way over to the left antler) Join yarn in SC to the left of the right ear. Chain 12, slip stitch into

second chain from hook, then slip stitch into next 4 chains, chain 9, sl st into second ch from hook, then sl st next 4 chains, chain 6, sl stitch second chain from hook,

then slip stitch all the way down to the joining SC. Slip stitch into joining SC.

Slip stitch into next SC, chain 4, sl st into second chain from hook, then sl st next 2 chains, sl st into joining SC on head, sl st next two SC. Chain 4, sl st into second ch

from hook, then slip stitch next 2 chains. Slip stitch into joining SC on head. Slip stitch into next SC.

(Last antler) Chain 15, sl st into second SC from hook, sl st next 4 chains, chain 6, sl st second chain from hook, sl st next 8 chains, chain 6, sl st second chain from hook,

SC down to joining SC, finish off.