Greetings, my fellow artisan. I am thrilled you approved the blueprint. We are building architecture with yarn today. The secret to Barnaby’s charm lies strictly in the mathematics of our cheek shaping and the low center of gravity in his torso. Respect the stitch counts, trust the process, and watch this darling creature emerge in your hands.
About This Creation
Barnaby is a study in the “Baby Schema” aesthetic. We achieve this by anchoring his wide-set eyes extremely low on the face, specifically between rounds fourteen and fifteen. His torso is heavily weighted at the base, tapering sharply upward to support his oversized, beautifully shaped head.
Project Snapshot
🧶 Skill Level: Intermediate
🧶 Time to Complete: 6 to 8 hours
🧶 Finished Size: Approximately 7 inches tall
Materials
🪡 Light brown, dark brown, and cream worsted weight yarn
🪡 2.5mm crochet hook
🪡 12mm safety eyes
🪡 Fiberfill stuffing
🪡 Tapestry needle and soft pink blush
Abbreviations
✨ sc: single crochet
✨ inc: increase (two single crochets in one stitch)
✨ dec: decrease (invisible decrease over two stitches)
✨ ch: chain
✨ sl st: slip stitch
✨ hdc: half double crochet
✨ BLO: back loop only
The Pattern
Head
Start with light brown yarn.
R1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [inc] x 6. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6. (18)
R4: [2 sc, inc] x 6. (24)
R5: [3 sc, inc] x 6. (30)
R6: [4 sc, inc] x 6. (36)
R7: [5 sc, inc] x 6. (42)
R8-R11: 42 sc. (42)
We will now build the chubby cheeks using asymmetrical increases.
R12: 12 sc, [inc] x 6, 6 sc, [inc] x 6, 12 sc. (54)
R13-R16: 54 sc. (54)
Insert 12mm safety eyes between R14 and R15. Space them exactly 9 stitches apart, perfectly centered over the front 6 sc gap between the cheek increases.
R17: [7 sc, dec] x 6. (48)
R18: [6 sc, dec] x 6. (42)
R19: [5 sc, dec] x 6. (36)
R20: [4 sc, dec] x 6. (30)
R21: [3 sc, dec] x 6. (24)
R22: [2 sc, dec] x 6. (18)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the head firmly, pushing the fiberfill outward to accentuate the rounded cheeks.
Cream Muzzle
Use cream yarn.
R1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [inc] x 6. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6. (18)
R4: 18 sc. (18)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Embroider a small dark brown “Y” shape over R1 for the nose.
Body
Start with light brown yarn.
R1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [inc] x 6. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6. (18)
R4: [2 sc, inc] x 6. (24)
R5: [3 sc, inc] x 6. (30)
R6: [4 sc, inc] x 6. (36)
R7: [5 sc, inc] x 6. (42)
R8-R10: 42 sc. (42)
R11: [5 sc, dec] x 6. (36)
R12-R13: 36 sc. (36)
R14: [4 sc, dec] x 6. (30)
R15: 30 sc. (30)
R16: [3 sc, dec] x 6. (24)
R17: 24 sc. (24)
R18: [2 sc, dec] x 6. (18)
Fasten off. Stuff the body, keeping the base heavy and wide.
Legs (Make 2)
Start with dark brown yarn.
R1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [inc] x 6. (12)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6. (18)
R4: 18 sc in BLO. (18)
R5: 18 sc. (18)
Change to light brown yarn.
R6: 6 sc, [dec] x 3, 6 sc. (15)
R7-R10: 15 sc. (15)
R11: [3 sc, dec] x 3. (12)
R12-R14: 12 sc. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Stuff only the bottom half of the leg.
Arms (Make 2)
Start with dark brown yarn.
R1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [inc] x 6. (12)
R3: 12 sc in BLO. (12)
R4: 12 sc. (12)
Change to light brown yarn.
R5-R12: 12 sc. (12)
R13: Do not stuff the top. Pinch the opening flat and crochet 5 sc across both layers to seal. (5)
Fasten off, leaving a tail.
Ears (Make 2)
Start with light brown yarn.
R1: 4 sc in magic ring. (4)
R2: [1 sc, inc] x 2. (6)
R3: [1 sc, inc] x 3. (9)
R4: [2 sc, inc] x 3. (12)
R5-R7: 12 sc. (12)
R8: Pinch flat and crochet 5 sc across both layers to seal. (5)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Fold the flat edge in half and place a single stitch through it to cup the ear.
Antlers (Make 2)
Start with dark brown yarn.
Main Stem:
R1: 5 sc in magic ring. (5)
R2-R6: 5 sc. (5)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Do not stuff.
Side Branch:
R1: 5 sc in magic ring. (5)
R2-R3: 5 sc. (5)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Sew the side branch to round 4 of the main stem.
Tail
Start with light brown yarn.
R1: 4 sc in magic ring. (4)
R2: [1 sc, inc] x 2. (6)
R3: [2 sc, inc] x 2. (8)
R4: 8 sc. (8)
Fasten off, leaving a tail.
Winter Scarf
Start with cream yarn.
Row 1: Ch 41, hdc in the 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (40)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Assembly
➡️ Stitch the head to the body, carefully aligning R22 of the head with R18 of the body.
➡️ Sew the cream muzzle to the face between R13 and R17, stuffing it lightly before fully closing the seam.
➡️ Attach the ears on either side of the head at R6.
➡️ Position the antlers securely at R3, ensuring they stand perfectly upright.
➡️ Sew the arms exactly at R17 of the body so they lay flush against his sides.
➡️ Pin the legs to R5 of the body. The ankle decreases from R6 must face forward to allow the hooves to sit flat. Sew securely.
➡️ Sew the tail to the back of the body over R6 and R7.
➡️ Wrap the scarf tightly around the neck and secure it with a simple knot.
➡️ Embroider small white spots across the forehead and back. Apply soft pink blush lightly directly beneath the eyes.
