Striped Seed Stitch Deer Plush Free Knit Pattern

Striped Seed Stitch Deer Plush – Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This little deer is the perfect first soft toy for anyone who has knitted a scarf and wants to try something a bit more magical. Worked in squishy velvet yarn and bumpy seed stitch, it has a rounded barrel body and a matching head striped in bright rainbow colors every four rows, with a soft cream snout, ears, antlers, and tail. The velvet gives it a plush, cuddly feel that begs to be squeezed, while the stripes add a cozy mountain-cabin charm. Every piece is knitted flat, so you only need straight needles and simple increases and decreases — no complicated shaping required.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted-weight velvet yarn (100% polyester, approx. 100 yd / 50 g per skein), in the following amounts:
  • A – red: 30 yd
  • B – orange: 25 yd
  • C – yellow: 25 yd
  • D – green: 25 yd
  • E – blue: 25 yd
  • F – purple: 25 yd
  • G – cream: 20 yd (snout, ears, antlers, tail)
• Needles: 4.0 mm (US 6) single-point needles; 4.0 mm (US 6) double-pointed needles for ears and antlers
• Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers, polyester fiberfill stuffing, small amount of black worsted yarn for eyes and nose, scissors
• Finished size: Approx. 9 in / 23 cm tall including antlers, 6 in / 15 cm long body, 4.5 in / 11 cm wide body

Abbreviations

• CO – cast on
• k – knit
• p – purl
• kfb – knit into the front and back of the same stitch (makes one extra stitch)
• k2tog – knit two stitches together (decreases by one)
• p2tog – purl two stitches together (decreases by one)
• p3tog – purl three stitches together (decreases by two)
• inc 1 st each end – increase one stitch at the beginning and one at the end of the row (kfb into the first and last stitch)
• dec 1 st each end – decrease one stitch at the beginning and one at the end of the row (k2tog at the start, k2tog at the end)
• seed stitch – R1: [k1, p1] to end; R2: [p1, k1] to end; repeat R1–2
• sts – stitches

Gauge

18 sts and 26 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in seed stitch, lightly stretched. Knit a small swatch in seed stitch, stretch it gently, and count your stitches and rows to confirm the toy will come out at the right size.

Tips Before You Start

• Velvet yarn can shed and slip, so keep your tension relaxed and avoid tugging the working yarn too hard.
• Leave long tails (at least 8 in / 20 cm) at the start and end of every piece — you will use them for seaming.
• Change color every 4 rows in the sequence A, B, C, D, E, F, then repeat. Carry the old color loosely up the side rather than cutting it each time.
• Stuff lightly and gradually as you sew up each piece; overstuffing will stretch the seed stitch and show the filling.

Step-by-Step Instructions

All pieces are worked flat in seed stitch. Change color every 4 rows in the sequence A, B, C, D, E, F, repeating.

Body (A)

CO 22.

Rows 1–2: seed stitch (22 sts).

Row 3: [k1, p1] to last 2 sts, kfb, p1, k1 (23 sts).

Row 4: seed stitch (23 sts).

Row 5: inc 1 st each end (25 sts).

Row 6: seed stitch (25 sts).

Row 7: inc 1 st each end (27 sts).

Row 8: seed stitch (27 sts).

Row 9: inc 1 st each end (29 sts).

Row 10: seed stitch (29 sts).

Row 11: inc 1 st each end (31 sts).

Row 12: seed stitch (31 sts).

Row 13: inc 1 st each end (33 sts).

Row 14: seed stitch (33 sts).

Rows 15–40: seed stitch (33 sts), changing color every 4 rows.

Row 41: k2tog, seed stitch to last 2 sts, k2tog (31 sts).

Row 42: seed stitch (31 sts).

Row 43: dec 1 st each end (29 sts).

Row 44: seed stitch (29 sts).

Row 45: dec 1 st each end (27 sts).

Row 46: seed stitch (27 sts).

Row 47: dec 1 st each end (25 sts).

Row 48: seed stitch (25 sts).

Row 49: dec 1 st each end (23 sts).

Row 50: seed stitch (23 sts).

Row 51: dec 1 st each end (21 sts).

Row 52: seed stitch (21 sts).

Row 53: dec 1 st each end (19 sts).

Row 54: seed stitch (19 sts).

Row 55: dec 1 st each end (17 sts).

Row 56: seed stitch (17 sts).

Row 57: dec 1 st each end (15 sts).

Row 58: seed stitch (15 sts).

Row 59: dec 1 st each end (13 sts).

Row 60: seed stitch (13 sts).

Row 61: dec 1 st each end (11 sts).

Row 62: seed stitch (11 sts).

Row 63: dec 1 st each end (9 sts).

Row 64: seed stitch (9 sts).

Row 65: dec 1 st each end (7 sts).

Row 66: seed stitch (7 sts).

Row 67: dec 1 st each end (5 sts).

Row 68: seed stitch (5 sts).

Row 69: dec 1 st each end (3 sts).

Row 70: seed stitch (3 sts).

Row 71: k2tog, p1 (2 sts).

Row 72: p2tog (1 st). Break yarn and pull through the last stitch.

Head (A)

CO 18.

Rows 1–2: seed stitch (18 sts).

Row 3: inc 1 st each end (20 sts).

Row 4: seed stitch (20 sts).

Row 5: inc 1 st each end (22 sts).

Row 6: seed stitch (22 sts).

Row 7: inc 1 st each end (24 sts).

Row 8: seed stitch (24 sts).

Row 9: inc 1 st each end (26 sts).

Row 10: seed stitch (26 sts).

Row 11: inc 1 st each end (28 sts).

Row 12: seed stitch (28 sts).

Rows 13–28: seed stitch (28 sts), changing color every 4 rows.

Row 29: dec 1 st each end (26 sts).

Row 30: seed stitch (26 sts).

Row 31: dec 1 st each end (24 sts).

Row 32: seed stitch (24 sts).

Row 33: dec 1 st each end (22 sts).

Row 34: seed stitch (22 sts).

Row 35: dec 1 st each end (20 sts).

Row 36: seed stitch (20 sts).

Row 37: dec 1 st each end (18 sts).

Row 38: seed stitch (18 sts).

Row 39: dec 1 st each end (16 sts).

Row 40: seed stitch (16 sts).

Row 41: dec 1 st each end (14 sts).

Row 42: seed stitch (14 sts).

Row 43: dec 1 st each end (12 sts).

Row 44: seed stitch (12 sts).

Row 45: dec 1 st each end (10 sts).

Row 46: seed stitch (10 sts).

Row 47: dec 1 st each end (8 sts).

Row 48: seed stitch (8 sts).

Row 49: dec 1 st each end (6 sts).

Row 50: seed stitch (6 sts).

Row 51: dec 1 st each end (4 sts).

Row 52: seed stitch (4 sts).

Row 53: k2tog twice (2 sts).

Row 54: p2tog (1 st). Break yarn and pull through.

Snout (G)

CO 14.

Rows 1–2: seed stitch (14 sts).

Row 3: inc 1 st each end (16 sts).

Row 4: seed stitch (16 sts).

Row 5: inc 1 st each end (18 sts).

Row 6: seed stitch (18 sts).

Rows 7–14: seed stitch (18 sts).

Row 15: dec 1 st each end (16 sts).

Row 16: seed stitch (16 sts).

Row 17: dec 1 st each end (14 sts).

Row 18: seed stitch (14 sts).

Row 19: dec 1 st each end (12 sts).

Row 20: seed stitch (12 sts).

Row 21: dec 1 st each end (10 sts).

Row 22: seed stitch (10 sts).

Row 23: dec 1 st each end (8 sts).

Row 24: seed stitch (8 sts).

Row 25: dec 1 st each end (6 sts).

Row 26: seed stitch (6 sts).

Row 27: k2tog, k2tog, k2tog (3 sts).

Row 28: p3tog (1 st). Break yarn and pull through.

Ears (make 2, G)

CO 8.

Rows 1–2: seed stitch (8 sts).

Row 3: inc 1 st each end (10 sts).

Row 4: seed stitch (10 sts).

Rows 5–12: seed stitch (10 sts).

Row 13: dec 1 st each end (8 sts).

Row 14: seed stitch (8 sts).

Row 15: dec 1 st each end (6 sts).

Row 16: seed stitch (6 sts).

Row 17: dec 1 st each end (4 sts).

Row 18: seed stitch (4 sts).

Row 19: k2tog twice (2 sts).

Row 20: p2tog (1 st). Break yarn and pull through.

Antlers (make 2, G)

CO 4.

Rows 1–2: seed stitch (4 sts).

Row 3: inc 1 st each end (6 sts).

Row 4: seed stitch (6 sts).

Rows 5–14: seed stitch (6 sts).

Row 15: dec 1 st each end (4 sts).

Row 16: seed stitch (4 sts).

Row 17: dec 1 st each end (2 sts).

Row 18: p2tog (1 st). Break yarn and pull through.

Tail (G)

CO 6.

Rows 1–2: seed stitch (6 sts).

Rows 3–8: seed stitch (6 sts).

Row 9: dec 1 st each end (4 sts).

Row 10: seed stitch (4 sts).

Row 11: k2tog twice (2 sts).

Row 12: p2tog (1 st). Break yarn and pull through.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the body side seam with mattress stitch, leaving a 2 in / 5 cm opening. Stuff the body firmly, then close the opening. Sew the head side seam, stuff it lightly, and sew the head to the top of the body. Sew the snout seam, stuff it lightly, and sew it to the front of the head. Sew the ear seams, fold each ear flat, and sew one ear to each side of the head. Sew the antler seams, stuff them lightly, and sew them to the top of the head. Sew the tail seam, stuff it lightly, and sew it to the back of the body. Embroider two eyes with black yarn using French knots, and embroider a nose with black yarn on the snout. Weave in all ends. Lightly steam or hand-shape the toy to even out the seed stitch, and let it dry fully before giving it a squeeze.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the rainbow sequence for two alternating colors (such as cream and brown) for a more traditional woodland deer.
• Use a smaller needle (3.5 mm / US 4) for a denser fabric that holds stuffing more neatly, or a larger one for a softer, squishier toy.
• Add a small ribbon bow or a tiny knitted scarf around the neck for extra cabin charm.

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