Hello ombre! This corner to corner crochet deer afghan will be a hit with your favorite baby, hipster or hunter! The free c2c downloadable graph pattern is below or you can purchase the ad-free PDF with written row-by-row instructions here.
UPDATE: I put together a corner to corner crochet video tutorial with lots of tips for beginners which you can find here. This photo tutorial on how to read a c2c graph and this tutorial on how to change colors and keep your yarn under control might be helpful as well! You can find all my free c2c crochet patterns here.
This little deer has been frolicking around in my brain since I learned how to do corner to corner crochet (c2c) last year. I figured an iconic deer silhouette blanket is one of the few corner to corner crochet designs that’s equally at home in a baby nursery, dorm room or man cave. I mean, how many of your crochet projects can you say that about!?
I had so much fun choosing the colors for this ombre afghan. I don’t often gravitate toward blue, but there are so many gorgeous blues in Vanna’s Choice yarn that I just decided to order myself a giant blue yarn cloud.
If this palette doesn’t suit you or your decor though, there are a bundle of beautiful pinks/reds as well as shades of green in Vanna’s Choice that I think would create a fantastic ombre effect as well.
If you’ve never worked corner to corner crochet before, do not fear! This week, I shared a step-by-step tutorial on how to c2c for beginners that will get you started. You’ll also want to check out my tutorial on how to change colors in c2c crochet to learn how to “paint” your beautiful ombre deer out of yarn! And this beginner corner to corner crochet video tutorial is a must watch to get the hang of working the corner to corner stitch.
And if you’ve worked c2c, but never to create a graphgan before, this c2c deer is pretty good one to start with. (You can see my first one here. It was a wee bit ambitious!) The large sections of color mean that the color changes are more approachable and you’ll get plenty of practice before you reach the antlers, which are a little more detailed.
If crocheting a blanket with a picture in it feels intimidating, try this beginner corner-to-corner blanket pattern to practice the basics. Then come back and try this pattern!
I’ve never written the row-by-row instructions for one of my c2c graph patterns and now I know why–it’s a TON of work! 🙂
But, I wanted to offer instructions for those crocheters who work best from a written pattern instead of a graph. So in the printable ad-free PDF, you’ll get the graph, the row-by-row instructions as well as a complete printable tutorial on c2c crochet in case you’re unfamiliar with the technique. (You can purchase the PDF here!)
The dimensions of the afghan I made are well suited for a baby blanket or chair throw. After finishing my blanket though, I thought that there would be many a burly men left out of the corner to corner crochet deer fun if I didn’t add a larger sized pattern as well. So, if you’d like to make a more adult-sized blanket, you can get the larger graph pattern with row-by-row instructions in the ad-free PDF. You can purchase it here on Love Crafts or here on Etsy.
Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for sponsoring this post and enabling more free patterns on Make and Do Crew!
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back to this post. Do NOT use my photos as your own sales photos. You can read my policies here. Now let’s make something awesome!
Related: 33+ Crochet Blanket Border Ideas
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More Free Christmas Crochet Patterns
From tree ornaments to c2c crochet patterns to adorable elf hats with ears, we’ve got you covered with many more crochet patterns for Christmas. We also have loads of quick gifts to crochet and gift ideas for crocheters to add to your own list (hint!)
See more free Christmas crochet patterns →
“BE A DEER” CORNER TO CORNER CROCHET DEER AFGHAN PATTERN
Download the baby blanket size free graph pattern here.
(Updated on 5.3.17 to adjust right ear of deer.)
Sizes:
Baby blanket: 38.5” x 42.5”
Larger Throw: 44” x 55” (available in the PDF)
Supplies:
• Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn (100 g/170 yards)
(6) Linen (13 for larger throw)
(1) Pistachio
(1) Aquamarine
(1) Aqua
(1) Peacock
(1) Sapphire
(1) Navy
• Size H [5.0 mm] crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• corner to corner crochet deer graph
• row-by-row written pattern (optional)
Gauge:
4.5 tiles = 4”
Abbreviations (US Terms)
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
sk – skip
ch – chain
sl st – slip stich
RS – right side
corner-to-corner stitch (c2c) – explained in more detail in this post on How To Corner to Corner Crochet
Overall Pattern Notes:
• The free baby blanket size graph is a free download. Enjoy! If you’d like the written row by row instructions or the graph and written instructions for the throw-sized afghan, you can find them in the ad-free printable PDF available for $3.99 here.
• To work this corner to corner graph, begin with the pixel (tile) in the lower right corner. This will correspond to Row 1 in the written pattern.
• Each pixel in the graph corresponds with one tile in your afghan. A tile = 3 ch (the tch) + 3 dc
• It can be extremely helpful to cross off each row in the graph and/or written pattern as you work it.
• For additional C2C instruction, check out my post on How to Corner to Corner Crochet and How to Change Colors in C2C.
Adding a Border
Once final tile is completed, rotate afghan so RS is facing. Work border stitches loosely enough that they don’t cause the afghan to pucker. Increase your hook size if necessary.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 2 sc into each tile around afghan placing [2 sc, 2 ch, 2 sc] in each corner tile, sl st to first sc of round to join.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc working [sc, ch 1, sc] in each ch-2 corner space, sl st to first sc of round to join. Fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in ends and give your spiffy new work of art to your favorite hipster, huggable baby or hunter (or even better, keep it for yourself!)
Bethany says
I love this pattern. I bought the bigger version and there are sever mistakes on it. For instance, row 75 and row 79. There was one more on the earlier rows that had a wrong stitch count but I didn’t mark it down on my paper. Just a FYI so you can correct it for the rest of people making it.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Bethany,
Thanks so much for letting me know. I have corrected those errors (plus the earlier one you mentioned). I really appreciate you leaving a comment in order to help future crocheters. 🙂
Jess
Emily says
I bought the pattern so I could have the larger pattern and it’s still coming out very small! It’s still the size of a baby blanket and I’m even using a larger hook then recommended.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hmm. That’s strange! Are you using a worsted weight yarn? Are you making your c2c stitches with double crochet? Have you made a small swatch to see if it’s meeting the pattern gauge?
Let me know and I’m happy to help further if I can!
Jess
Lindsey says
I bought the pattern and am making the bigger throw, i am on row 75 which is decreasing and it says i should have 37 total tiles but when you add up the row its 47 so i need some help with this
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Lindsey,
Thanks so much for purchasing my pattern. 🙂
Is this the first point that you had the incorrect number of little tiles? Did you have the correct number at the end of row 62 when you started decreasing? I’m wondering if maybe you’d only been decreasing on one side and therefore more tiles than you need? If I were you, I’d lay out the blanket and just count the squares in a few places to see if I could pinpoint where things went wrong. (Compare it to the graph as you go.) If you’d like to email me a photo, I might be able to help you by looking at it as well.
Hope that sorts it out for you!
Jess
Renee M says
I saw this posted on Moogly’s Hookin’ on Hump Day #140 and immediately fell in love with it! My husband, son, and daughter all think it’s very cool, too. My daughter is getting a room makeover and asked if I would make this in her new room colors. It’s going to have a gray background and shades of teal and blue for the deer, so it will be similar to yours. I’ve never done C2C before, so I’m excited to try something new. Thanks for all the work you put into writing the pattern – I am very much a written pattern follower, but the graph and photos look like they will be super helpful as well. The small fee is well worth it since this is a new process for me and I want to make the larger size. Thanks again for sharing!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Renee!
Thanks so much for saying hello! How fun that this will be part of your daughter’s new room makeover! I loved re-designing my room as a kid too. Let me know if you have any c2c questions as you work. 🙂
Jess
Addicted Crocheter says
The graph you’ve posted doesn’t match your sample afghan… the spaces between the antlers, the shape of the ears, where the color changes appear on the head… they’re all different.
A friend of mine made the afghan and is so disappointed that it looks so different from what she was expecting.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey there,
I’m a little confused by your feedback. The graph that’s linked in the supplies section of this pattern is the exact graph I used to create the sample. If you look square by square, I think you’ll see that it’s the same. The larger size graph, which is included in the printable pattern as a bonus is also the exact same deer, only with extra linen space around the deer head. Assuming she made hers with double crochet c2c, she should have ended up with an afghan that looks very similar to the one pictured.
Perhaps your friend would like to send me a photo so I can better understand what you’re referencing.
Thanks.
Jess
Marnie says
Hi Jess – i am curious, what does the back side of the afghan look like? is it a mess of strings? I am thinking of making this as a Christmas gift for my in-laws. Better get started now! lol.
Offthehookforyou says
What a beautiful graph- so different to anything I normally see! Found you via moogly hookin on a hump day- thanks for sharing,
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey! Welcome! Isn’t C2C awesome? There’s just so many different ways to work it.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jess
theresa says
Beautiful afghan! I am thinking I would like to make the larger size BUT would like to skip the ombre coloring and use only dark brown to simply make it look like a silhouette. What is your opinion on this? Thank you for your advice and lovely pattern!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Theresa,
I think that would work out great. It would also whiz by because you wouldn’t have to sort out any color changes. There are a lot of great browns in the Vanna’s Choice line, so you could even do a brown ombre if that suited you.
I’d love to see what you make if you’d like to share a pic when you finish!
Jess
niki says
where do i get the larger throw pdf? is it also free? not the written instructions, just the graph
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Niki,
The smaller graph is free. The larger graph and the line by line instructions are included in the paid printable PDF. I usually just share a free graph for my c2c patterns, but this time I spent a few hours writing up the line by line instructions because I know some people like to work that way.
Happy crocheting!
Jess
Alexis says
I paid for the pattern, but I didn’t get the larger throw graph with it. Did I miss something?
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Alexis,
It’s toward the end of the pattern and there should be written instructions and a graph for the larger throw. Please send me an email if you still don’t see it and I’ll resend you the PDF! 🙂
Jess
Sam Higby says
I’m just curious on a couple things.
1) with the main color how many rolls did you use?
2) with the other 6 colors, about how much did you use from each roll?
just trying to figure out if I have the yarn for it.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Sam,
I used 6 skeins for the main color and then about 1/3-1/2 of a skein of each color. So maybe about 70-90 yards per color.
Happy crocheting!
Jess
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
The free graph is in the supplies section where is says “deer graph.” It’ll open in a new tab where you can print or download it.
Happy crocheting!
Jess
Kimberly says
It says free c2c deer pattern, but I can’t find the free printable version. The link just takes me to the paid..Am I missing something?
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Kimberly–
If you click the link in the supplies section that says “Deer graph,” you’ll get the free graph to download/print/etc.
Happy crocheting!
Jess