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!)
brenda says
Thanks for the pattern as well as encouragement. I too did crochet the mistake in 16/26 but saw it before doing the other side so I just made it the same. I have not downloaded the corrected pattern. I have made 2 so far,
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Brenda,
I’m SO impressed that you’ve made two of these! And I’m glad you were able to find a work-around for the mistake. I’m sorry again about that. If you have any trouble downloading the updated pattern, feel free to email me and I’ll send it to you directly.
Happy crocheting!
jess
Danielle F says
Hello!! I purchased the larger pattern and I’m stuck on row 51. I’ve got the right amount of tiles up until I get to the last one. If I add the last tile, it makes 51, not 50. What am I doing wrong? I’ve ripped out a few rows and re-did them. No luck!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Danielle,
Oh man, I have sure been there. It’s frustrating isn’t it? Without seeing your afghan, I’m not exactly sure. What I’ve done in the past when this has happened to me though is to count the rows vertically and horizontally near the problem row to see if I can figure out when a tile suddenly appeared or disappeared. I hope that’s helpful!
Jess
Vi says
Nice looking blanket. I would like to purchase the pattern, but is there any way you could send it to my Ravelry account? Thanks
Mae says
Hello!
I was just wondering if there was a rough amount of yarn for the larger size blanket?
Thank you for the beautiful pattern! I can’t wait to start!!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Mae!
You’ll need about 13 skeins of the background “linen” color for the larger throw. The rest of the colors are the same amount as you’d need for the smaller blanket. 🙂
Happy blanket making!
Jess
Sharon says
Hi Jess I loved your pattern and did it in the larger size using DK yarn and a 3mm hook. It turned out smaller than you stated but I didn’t mind that but I have a problem. My work is lopsided, I did the decrease ok and followed the pattern exactly the way it read but I’m so disappointed it didn’t turn out an exact rectangle. Please try and tell me where I’ve went wrong. I can send you pictures if you like. Many thanks Sharon
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Sharon,
I have two thoughts. 🙂 One is that you can count the little square tiles on each side and make sure that you have the same number on the right and left and the same number on the top and bottom. If you don’t, that’ll tell you that you got off track somewhere during your crocheting.
Secondly though, I’ve often found that my c2c projects are slightly angled like a diamond and sort of stretched leaning to one side when I finish. I block them lightly by pinning them to the carpet (on top of a towel) and the lightly steaming the yarn with spritzes of steam from the iron. (This is for acrylic yarn–just be sure to never touch the iron to the yarn because it will melt!)
I hope one of those suggestions help you figure out what’s going on. I’m guessing it’s beautiful even with a little lopsidedness! 🙂
Jess
June Edwards says
hi..I purchased the larger patter…and I am confused..i am on row 52 first dec row…and I did on the first tile, but when you add up the stitches 17 2 6 5 2 3 3 1 2 8 which only add up to 49 not 50 don’t want to go any further till I hear from you thanks
l m says
Is there anyway of making the baby blanket pattern taller? I am halfway and it looks very square.
Thank you
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey,
It should be a little taller than square when you finish. Unfortunately, there’s not really a way to change the shape of the c2c pattern once you start it, but you could definitely add a border that’s taller at the top and bottom than at the sides.
Happy crocheting!
Jess
Madeline Johnson says
Hi Jess!
I wanted to thank you for the free graph! I was so excited to try this, and made it as a prayer blanket for a sweet little boy. I wish I could figure out how to post the picture here, cause it is awesome. I used my favorite worsted yarn in gray and green for the deer, and a size 7 yarn.
Yay!
-Madeline
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Oh wow, Madeline! That sounds awesome! I’d love to see it too. You can email me if you’d like or tag me on Instagram. (@makeanddocrew) or jess (at) makeanddocrew (dot) com.
Lovina m says
HI Jess,
I purchased this pattern as I really loved how it looked and am fairly new to C2C. I am doing the baby size and am on row 49 where I would start decreasing on both sides. I am finding that the blanket is looking very square and would like to make it taller. Would it work to continue decreasing on the width end but increasing on the height end until I reach the desired height? or will that make it lopsided?
Thank you for your help!!
June Edwards says
I purchased the pattern so I would have the larger size, I saved it and printed it all
19 pages I have written pattern but not the graft for the larger throw..did I miss it somewhere?
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey June,
Thanks for your purchase! It should have been at the very end of the PDF on page 22. I’ve just emailed you the PDF again just in case you don’t have it anymore. 🙂
Jess
Sam says
I printed out the free graph and it has a mistake, I thought I had made a mistake (devastated) then looked at the graph and it’s wrong on there, I’m almost finished so there’s no way of fixing it, it’s just one square but I’ll always see it now, number 16 across and 26 up (corner of the top of right ear) is coloured green and should be white! Awesome pattern though but thought I’d point it out for other perfectionists!
Kylie says
This same thing just happend to me. Didn’t notice until I was finished. Thought I’d made a mistake and was really upset as I was so careful counting. Not gonna lie. Even more upset now that I realised the mistake is in the pattern. The mistake sticks out like dogs balls and it’s a gift for a family members baby. I hope the pattern has been fixed!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Kylie,
I have corrected it in the graph and written pattern. I’m so sorry you’re frustrated and I completely understand. It was never my intention to include a pattern error, but unfortunately I haven’t fully turned into a fail-proof crochet robot. (Not yet at least! 🙂
If it’s any consolation, I think your family member will really appreciate all the love and thoughtfulness put into your gift and might not ever notice that it isn’t perfect.
Jess
Cierra says
I ourchaed the written pattern but it wouldn’t let me save it and now it says I need to purchase again?
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Cierra,
I’m sorry you had trouble. I just emailed a copy of it to the email address associated with this comment. If you don’t receive it, please let me know. Thanks for your purchase!
Jess