Reuben the Reindeer

Every year in early December I usually experience a huge burst of festive-induced creativity. I never go searching for inspiration, but without fail inspiration will find me when I least expect it and I am always powerless to resist the call. 

Last year you might remember me crocheting this lovely quirky bird from a pattern in Simply Crochet magazine - you can read more about it in this post.

This lovely pattern was designed by Kate McCully of Make Me Roar Design, and you can buy the PDF pattern directly from her website if it's calling to you {Speckled Bird Decoration}

Last week when I was beginning to feel the creative festive urge creep upon me, I happened to remember that hot off the back of the speckled bird I bought another of Kate's patterns last year. It may surprise you to know that despite my rather chaotic approach to life I am actually very tidy and organised with my computer files (it's one of life's mysteries) so I was easily able to find the pattern PDF sitting patiently waiting for me to bring it to life.

The pattern I purchased was for a cute little crochet reindeer named Reuben. Kate made two versions of her reindeer - the traditional colourway that you can see above, and a more funky colourway that you can see (here).

You can purchase and download the reindeer pattern directly from Kate's website - it's very reasonably priced and the pattern is extremely well written with plenty of photos to help with the assembly process. You can find it (here)

Kate made her reindeer using aran weight yarn, but I decided to jump in with good ol' Stylecraft Special DK as I happen to have a stash of it for just such an occasion. Using DK instead of aran meant that my Reuben would be smaller, but I didn't mind that really. I decided to follow a traditional colour palette using White and Parchment for Reuben's main body parts, Walnut for his antlers and Lipstick for his festive jumper.

There is no getting away from it - amigurumi crochet is extremely fiddly compared to the long, relaxing rows of blanket making that I'm used to. There is lots of pattern reading and counting involved, and it's not at all kind to hands and fingers which feel stiff and achey. 

But I persevered and managed to complete most of the fiddlesome crochet across the space of an evening, finishing off the last bits of stitching the following morning. 

There is something undeniably satisfying about crocheting a project that is completed in many parts - it's why I enjoy making wreaths and garlands so much. It's fun to see the design slowly take shape, and to watch the personality of the animal slowly begin to seep through the stitches. 

I had to wait a few days for some beady eyes to arrive in the post (Reuben needed 8mm eyes) and although I was nervous about trying to bring him to life, it was also quite exciting. 

Well, what can I say??????????? For some reason unknown to me, Reuben seems to have a ginormous head and a teensy body, and I've no idea what happened to make him so top heavy. I followed the pattern precisely (intense counting and marking down of rows) and yet he has a giant head and withered arms?? Ah well, it's all part of his endearing character.....although I admit that after putting his eyes in and attaching his head to his body, I was very concerned for his welfare. He looked so bewildered!

Ohmygosh, the above photo makes me hoot with laughter every time....oh Reuben!!!!!!!!! Just look at your face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the thing - even though the pattern tells you exactly how far up the head to position the eyes, it's still remarkably hard to get it right. And of course once you've attached the little safety backings to the eyes, there is no turning back and the expression that stares back at you is the one you have to be happy with.

Bloody hell, I almost gave up at this point. But I hoped and prayed that ears and antlers would transform the whole look....

....and I took great care with the positioning and stitching of the final body parts.

So here I present to you a finished Reuben, wearing his best festive jumper and trying his level best to achieve the Cute Factor. Awwwwww, I do have such a soft spot for him, despite his top-heaviness and his slightly not-all-there stare.

Actually, he looks really sweet on the mantel, and I'm happy to give him a place to live for a little while, alongside the giant speckled bird and my current candle crush (still not over the mulled wine scent, this is the second candle I'm burning now). 

So that is this year's festive make ticked off the list and I feel I can rest easy now that I've scratched that itch. Incidentally, I am LOVING my Festive Garland and remembered that I took loads of photos to make a tutorial for it last year. Typically though, I didn't think to actually write down the pattern (of course I didn't) but having just had a quick look at the photos I think I can probably work most of it out from memory. I'm hoping to do that this week, it's only a year late after all.

Before I go, thank you so much for all your comments on my last post, especially the ones about knitting and fairisle. I am so inspired and  excited about trying something new - I had a look at "Katie's Kep" which was recommended, oh-my-GOSH, there are over a thousand projects logged on Ravelry made with that pattern and the colour possibilities have me hyperventilating. It's deliciously exciting, all of it. I think it may have to wait until after the Meadow Cal, but that's fine, it'll be worth the wait. Thanks again for all your lovely words in response to my posts, I appreciate you all so much

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Comments

[Tracy Bache]

Oh my days you did make me laugh out loud about Reuben and his "not all there"stare!😂That's how I'm looking at the moment. Or could it be the menopausal glaze?Either way got brain fog lately.😂

[susan]

I love your little Reuben! Very cute!

[PixieMum]

Just watched on BBC1 Countryfile a feature on retail in country market towns big mention of Skipton, DH recognised a shop we visited. Regretfully no mention of Attic24, Coopers Cafe or Yarndale.

[Rachel]

Right - Been thinking exactly the same about challenging myself to do something new with knitting. And colour work is something I’ve never tried particularly, apart from a small piece of FI at a workshop in a local yarn store, maybe three years ago. I’ve saved the pattern and may have a go next year along with you.

[Kristen Arold-Bender]

My inspiration came instantly too this year, last month. I suddenly decided that I needed to make a Christmas Cozy( what we call our crocheted blankets every since our tiny beagle started picking her favorites up(throw to queen sizes) and carrying them around the house to snuggle in🤣 These days she has settled on a favorite that she feels is hers only-she holds a little in her mouth and gently kneads the cozy with her front paws. She will often run to get her cozy to bring it out to greet you when you come home. Every time I start a new one, she is sure it is for her collection. So, I thought we (she) don’t have a Holiday blanket for some reason and I was bound and determined to make a full sized throw, at least, before Christmas. I have always loved the Harmony blanket that I made from your pattern-the graduated square version. It has such a beautiful drape and as with all of the Stylecraft Special DK, they get even softer over time. That one is not long enough for the sons in my home-both over 6 feet and they like theirs to cover them fully. So, I added several rows to the length and one to the width. I am on the border now-I will finish it off this week and we will have a few days s to enjoy it this year🤣 I wanted a very festive, brightly colored Christmas cozy. I made each center square red (I’m a quilter too and that is a traditional starting square color for a log cabin and Christmasy. For my 2-5 rounds, I used sherbet, turquoise, empire, aspen, teal, silver, candy, fondant, fiesta, pistachio, apple, and bottle. Then, I joined them with the 6th round of all white. I am planning on an all white border, with a thin stripe of red somewhere in there-we’ll see how it’s looking! I need to get this checked off my list-yarn arrived last week for your CAL in January-yay! Thanks so much for all you share and your beautiful patterns and color selections. I actually found it quite hard to work with basically only 12 colors on the Christmas cozy-minus the red and white. I always love the large selection of your colors-all the more fun-so it was a good lesson using a little more limited palette. I’m like that with quilts too-the scrappier, the better!😍

[Gwen]

Reuben is adorable and made me smile!

[maxine]

I think I would give Rueben a smile.

[Esther]

Oh Lucy you have had me in stitches - the photo of dearest Ruben without his ears and antlers!!!! I agree with you!

[Beverley]

Reuben is so cute, a real little character. Long may he return to your mantepiece to share Christmas with you x

[Kate McCurrach]

He's gorgeous Lucy. I think his expression is great. Bewildered and slightly relieved perfectly captures this time in 2020. Xx

[Suzanne]

I’ve just finished your blooming flower cushion for my kitchen. I’ve started number two. So pretty.. I love your stuff...it makes me happy in sad times. Thanks Lucy Lockett!

[Femke]

Reuben the reindeer is very cute! I love the way he looks on your mantel.
I know exactly what you mean though. When I crochet amigurumi, there is always 'something' with them after assembling. But that's ok. They are all well loved in our house, and I guess that's what counts.

[Karen Dodgson]

Oh Lucy, I LOVE Reuben! He’s the cutest little reindeer, just a trainee little reindeer who can’t wait to grow up into a Very Important Reindeer just like his hero, Rudolph.
Now he’s on your mantelpiece he’s halfway there, and he’s earned his title Lucy’s Very Important Guardian of the Fireplace Reindeer 🥰

[Sabine Borel]

Dear Lucy,
Hello from Switzerland! First I would like to tell you that I like your pictures of your town so much. You live in a beautiful country. I also like your meadow blanket! It is a wonderful pattern and the colors are gorgeous. I ordered a yarnpack for this blanket and I am so looking forward to it. It should arrive tomorrow.... 😊
May I ask you which size of crochet you use to crochet this yarn? I don’t have all sizes in my collection and may have to order one.
Thank you and kind regards from Basel, where we will maybe begin a mini lockdown. So, having a nice project is absolutely necessary.
Sabine

[Teresa Kasner]

I think you did a perfect job on Reuben and Reindeer! I have an idea/suggestion to make him happier. I would make some black or brown embroidery floss, use two strands and make an upside down "Y" under his nose to make a mouth and you could turn the mouth into a smile. It's worth a try! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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*M*E*R*R*Y* * *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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[Joy]

I think Reuben Reindeer is lovely. 'Bewildered festive creature' just about describes me in December too xx

[Mary W]

Years ago my daughter was given a 'teachers gift' at Christmas and it has to be the strangest, most hideous thing - really scary. She gasped but told the child thank you and then quickly hid it before she scared anyone. When the teachers gathered to share their gifts, she waited to last and then surprised them. They literally gasped and said she won the prize for most horrible. When she brought home the fur covered, tissue box with eyes, straight up scary 'hair' and other strange things attached, she told us the child's grandma had made it for them to give, so for us to be polite. We hid it. Then it got to be funny because it came back to scare us many times during that long ago year. It was once placed in my brothers bird feeder in town to share the horror but it found it's way back to our front window during the night and we got quite a shock. Needless to say, it has become the favorite decoration of all. It is still scary but still fun to scare people with. We wouldn't part with it for anything. Your reindeer is totally cute even with it's imperfections that I don't see. They say why baby animals and people look so darn cute is because their heads and eyes are larger proportionally than grownups. So, unlike our hairy box-head, he fits right onto the cute list!

[Tineke]

Reuben is sweet, no problem he topples over because of his big head. There are some patterns to be put in picture tutorials there, are they XD Next year, after all the fuss is over. Love your mantle piece, looks so festive.

[gina in alabama]

He is just precious!!!

[Daisy BROMLOW]

He looks adorable !

[Anita]

Love him he's so cute 😍

[Lily D]

Have you tried compression gloves for your hands? My arthritic fingers suffer in the cold and make it painful to knit at this time of year and these gloves do help keep the mobility in my hands.

[Liz]

Reuben is so handsome. I’m in love😍

[emma]

I think Reuben is gorgeous - a real cutey.

[Sandra]

Rueben is so cute, he did look a little scary before the antlers went on but im so glad you persevered.
He looks great on the mantle 💕